I started at the @ActionNetworkHQ in Spring of 2020 to write during the NBA bubble. My late and great friend @HutchNGo suggested I apply and then @MattFtheOracle hired me. He told me we don't really pay new writers but we could pay me $100 a week. I told him KEEP THE MONEY......I'll work for FREE! I was retired DJ, former music industry marketing specialist at Roc Nation turned professional bettor who wanted to turn what I did in the streets into a real career. I saw the bigger picture and didn't need money. I made 40K betting during the first two weeks of the NBA bubble plus I had some other things going on to feed myself. A month into writing for Action, I said, this is A LOT OF fucking work lol. I said um, yeah I think I might need to get paid. I planted the seed in their minds that I was looking to eventually get a full time job and would do ANYTHING to work towards that path. I advocated for myself and my desire to be in this industry. Chad Millman was impressed with my work and gave me a 3 month contract for 2K a month. One month into the contract, he called me and said "Let's do it". After your 3 month contract I'm hiring you FULL TIME at Action. I was ECSTATIC! My starting salary was 45K a year + equity in the company since they were a start up + 10% bonus & health and benefits. Money didn't matter to me because I was betting and it wasn't out of the question to bet make my entire salary in a week or even a day. I was just happy to turn something I loved into a real career that me, my mom and my family could be proud of. That eventually led to other companies offering to hire me and eventually me joining the @ringer when Bill Simmons jumped into my DMs. I probably moved up quicker and faster than most people because I came into sports media at a time when sports betting became popular but I had literally been betting and making models for YEARS. I was at the right place at the right time and my decision to bet on myself and leave DJing and music industry......my life's work paid off.