I've decided to incorporate payments!

I think it's about time I make this move

I was extremely hesitant to start the ‘Paid Subscriber’ feature.

I’m not sure why.

Do I feel guilty for expecting payments for an educational newsletter that should be accessible to all?

Or is my relationship with money unhealthy to the point that I don’t think my work deserves a certain payment?

Who knows.

All I know is that I’m leaping.

Why now?

I asked my trusted advisor what he thought was the right thing to do.

I said, “I’m thinking of adding payments to my newsletter”. Then, before he could reply I let out a stream of reasons as to why I thought it was the right thing to do. I was nervous that he would criticise the decision.

Instead, he patiently let me finish, then just asked one question:

Why did you start your substack in the first place?

I started writing on substack because I desire to simplify medical concepts. I want to read complicated research articles and convey them to the public in a manner that is easy to understand.

My greatest skill as a doctor, and one that I love to exercise, is communication skills. I often spend a lot of time explaining to the patient what has happened to them. This gives me a feeling of fulfilment. Especially when the patient tells me that the time I spent with them was reassuring, and they thank me for it.

YouTube and Instagram simply weren’t the thing. I got lost in the Algorithm and tried to compete with it. I forgot what my passion was and started to chase numbers.

Then, my good friend Dhruv Maniar recommended Substack to me. His Substack is called Value Tortoise by the way.. a really good one!

Two years ago, I wrote my first article titled “Can exercise help with tiredness?” Admittedly, I struggled with consistency. However, I think I’ve established a good rhythm and relationship with the platform!

So what next?

Since my objective of this newsletter is to educate regarding medical conditions, I didn’t want to add paywalls to the core of my writing- The once-a-week article. So, as a free subscriber, your access to my content will not diminish.

However, those who pay will get access to more exclusive content. I will be more open with my writing and share ideas based on experience, personal or professional. I will share personal stories and develop a deeper relationship with my readers. I might write an extra story aside from the weekly newsletter and make that available only to the paid section.

How do I pay?

Keep an eye out for the next article due this weekend. There is a section available only to paid subscribers, and a prompt will direct you to the payment platform.

What if I don’t want to pay?

Then don’t :D I understand why you wouldn’t. Maybe you read my articles once a month, if at all. The investment doesn’t make sense. Or perhaps you feel like you’d rather spend that money elsewhere? Whatever the reason, don’t worry. I get it. Like I said, MedWithSam won’t change for you. Once a week, there will be an article waiting for you in your inbox :)

Happy Reading!

Oh, and wish me luck :D