In truth: it sounds like you are attracting too many bottom-feeders. Additionally, the attitude of, “just taking a couple of courses” is a little bit shortsighted if you plan to tackle any of these like a professional.

Professionals understand that their work is never truly done; also, they’re always looking at ways to improve - not only themselves - but also the industry. “A couple of courses” is simply regurgitating something that someone else has already discovered and distilled into a simple, easy to understand lesson. You are willingly positioning yourself as a replaceable widget.

I’m sorry to hear that you may be living out of your car. I cannot even imagine how that must feel. However, without even knowing you, I believe that you have innate skills and abilities that you can put into practice. What are you already good at? What do people already come to you and ask? What expertise do you have currently? For what are you recognized in your current circle of influence?

You have a limited runway – meaning the time before you face “the end“ - so I would advise that you focus more on what you’re already good at to earn the money to keep you out of the Car Motel.

I have invested in both the Instagram publishing business and the video editing/production business. Standing out in the Instagram community will be very difficult, and is often considered a commodity. That means you are in a race to the bottom in terms of competition and price. Given what you’ve told us about your financial situation, I don’t think it is in your best interest to go this route unless you can establish yourself as a true expert and professional.

The same is true for the video editing and production. Our team was already highly regarded and recognized in the industry. This it allows us to charge top-dollar and choose the clients we want to work with. When you don’t have this built up already, you are hustling against other companies that will foolishly charge far less than you can to do more or less the same thing. Again, a race to the bottom leaves no winners.

Identify what you are already recognized for and suck it up until you have the means to pivot and do something that you truly enjoy that earns you a fair compensation.