Introduction

It’s ya boy Eli again.

Last week, I shared why I left my 9-5. ​

This week, let’s dive into the ideas that gave me the confidence to make that leap—ideas that surfaced during a rather challenging chapter of my life: living in a van.

Van Life Reality Check

At 27, I moved into a van to save on rent, pursued a master’s degree while working at my university, and planned to travel afterward.

I planned to share my journey, educate an audience on health and art, and continue photography.

But the networks I built over the years were suddenly gone.

My goals to save money, get a master’s degree, and travel did not happen.

Living in the van turned out to be a constant struggle.

I didn’t anticipate that my power needs for the van would increase as my photography services grew.

I also didn’t account for how miserably hot it gets on summer nights in Alabama.

Most nights, I stayed in the van, but when it was too hot, I crashed at my friends’ or family members’ houses around Birmingham.

I’d re-up my water supply and do laundry. Sometimes I’d shower there or at Planet Fitness.

My appliances that kept food cold in the summer would break down, ruining my groceries.

I couldn’t reliably cook, therefore I could not reliably eat.

You never knew what you’d hear at 3 AM at Wal-Mart—I woke up to crackheads arguing right outside the van once.

Past midnight, my first thought for every car that passes by outside is I’m getting arrested or I’m getting murdered.

That never happened, but I did not have fun living in a van.

In fact, I was deeply depressed, angry, and alone.

Turning Point

During this time, I consumed a lot of information.

Without reliable power, I turned to books, videos, and podcasts.

I practiced meditation and studied Tibetan Buddhism for hours daily.

I was lost—I had to rethink my career and regain my voice.

Eventually, I came across a book called “The Sovereign Individual” by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg.

The ideas in this book blew my mind.

Key Takeaways from “The Sovereign Individual”

It’s about a couple of guys predicting in the early ’90s that IT and micro processing would shift power from nations to individuals in the next decades.

Not all their predictions were accurate, but they understood how Information Technology would affect the world and human condition.

Here are my main takeaways from the book with relatable examples:

Information Technology Revolution

IT will transform communication and business.

Relatable Examples: Social media for personal branding; Canva for creating content; YouTube for monetizing creativity.

Sovereign Individual

Tech-savvy individuals will gain freedom and control.

Relatable Examples: Upwork for freelancing; personal websites for showcasing expertise; Teachable for selling knowledge.

Economic Inequality

Digital tech will widen the gap between rich and poor and encourage collectivism.

Relatable Examples: Influencer culture; identity politics.

Decline of Nation-States

Financial freedom of individuals will weaken national power.

Relatable Examples: Digital nomad visas; cryptocurrency for borderless transactions; global reach for personal brands.

State Resistance

Governments will attempt to control the digital economy and the sovereignty of individuals.

Relatable Examples: Internet censorship; increased surveillance.

New Organizations

New social groups will emerge based on shared values.

Relatable Examples: Online mastermind groups; Discord servers.

Applying the Concepts to the Creator Economy

The concepts from “The Sovereign Individual” made a lot of sense to me—especially in regards to the creator economy and modern times.

The Internet has democratized content creation, allowing anyone to build a personal brand and solo business.

This decentralization means power is no longer concentrated in a few hands but is available to everyone.

Building a Personal Brand for Freedom

Building a personal brand is about more than making money—it’s about sharing your story, connecting with like-minded people, and making an impact.

It’s about taking control of your life and career, and crafting a future that aligns with your passions and values.

It’s about tapping into those possibilities of freedom as described in “The Sovereign Individual,” ladies and gentlemen.

Living in a van was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but it was also one of the most transformative.

Looking Forward

Now, I’m using my experience and lessons learned to build a personal brand and help others do the same.

If this content creation and photography journey doesn’t work out, building vans is my backup plan.

But for now, I’m committed to this path and excited to share it with you.

Thanks for sticking around—I’ll talk to you next week.

Eli Pruett

Weston Pixel