💎 How productivity leads to purpose
More often than not, purpose is something forged, not found.
You don't stumble upon your thing by thinking through every possibility. Instead, you try, fail, experiment, and pull yourself into the lightbulb moments origin stories are made of.
Your thing is out there. It just needs you to take the first few steps.
💬 In this week's issue:
- Prolific. What separates you from mega-successful creators is less than you think.
- Momentum. How to say yes to the right opportunities.
- Results. Why your goals as a creator shouldn't look like anyone else's.
🏗️ 5 core frameworks for becoming a great creator
One of the most encouraging parts of seeing behind the scenes of successful creators is realizing how similar their process is to everyone else's.
Yes, they may have a few more sets of hands helping bring their ideas to life and a few more opportunities to juggle. But when you get down to it, the frameworks supporting their business are the same ones you can implement from day one — as a solo creator just getting your idea out into their world.
- Document over create. Make inviting people into your process a core part of your production. It'll build trust while reducing the pressure of always trying to hit perfection.
- Establish a content mix. Not every article, newsletter, or video needs to be your magnum opus. Learning how to balance high-effort projects with low-effort ones is an essential part of sustainable creativity.
- Repurpose frequently. Everything you make has the potential to take on new life in multiple forms. Articles can become social posts, scripts for videos, part of your subscription product, and so much more. It's fair to say that repurposing is the only way a creator becomes sustainably prolific in today's landscape.
- Build a second brain. The more you keep inside your head, the harder it will be to publish high-quality content quickly. Get your ideas, plans, words, assets, and timelines into external tools (like Notion and Google Calendar) that can keep you on track and focused.
- Refill your battery. Rest is 100% of the creative process. If you're not building in time to unplug and recharge, you're putting your entire business at risk. Content is a product of energy; so keeping burnout at bay is required.
🗞 Latest tips & stories
- A publishers guide to content organization
- Podcasts continue to grow in popularity with the younger generation
- 10 questions that will change your trajectory
- How to find niche keywords to write about
- Grow your email list with these 8 tips
🎟️ What's your one thing?
Alex Hormozi had a problem.
When they were first getting started as an entrepreneur, Hormozi kept starting new businesses in the hopes that one of them would be a success. They opened a gym, took on personal training clients, tried consulting other gyms, created an online course, started writing a book, and quickly realized their efforts were all for naught.
It wasn't until they started doing less that the momentum began to build.
I had step back and peel weight off the bar until I only had one. Then, I used that one to level up my skillset and focus on the opportunity I was best at.
You have to say no to attractive opportunities.
— Alex Hormozi
The chances are you'll face this problem too.
As a creative individual, you're built to see opportunities, issues that need fixing, gaps that need filling. But your success will not be determined by how many of these you tend to.
Instead, your success depends on how well you master one.
And how do you choose that one? First, start by choosing a niche that makes sense for you. Then, execute brilliantly. Even the most average idea can turn into a massive success when done well.
🚊 Full-time creation is optional
In the short video below, Matt Koval recounts the time they met a photographer on a train ride. When asked if they ever considered turning their photography skills into a career, they replied, "Absolutely not, that would ruin it."
The prevailing message in the creator economy is that if you're good at something, then it's your duty to turn that skill into a creative business.
Most of the 45,000+ individuals who read this weekly newsletter subscribed for exactly that reason.
And although we vehemently believe you can have all the creator success you're after, what's most important is the last part: what you're after.
What do you enjoy about the publishing process? What do you want your work to accomplish - not just financially but in other ways too? Who do you want to become as a result of your creation?
Your creator journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's. It can be contrarian, quiet, and even selfish. So long as it's completely and honestly yours.
👀 Curators pick
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