The most successful creators do only a few things right.
It took me 10 years of experimenting, failing, and self-negotiating to realize I was doing everything but the basics right.
“It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary; only wise men are able to understand them.”
Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
I learned some hard truths about what it really takes to break free from mediocrity and achieve success as a creator.
You probably heard these rules before…
But prepare to hear it for the last time and make it stick.
These are 5 laws you must never forget:
Law #1: Focus on Value, Not Your Passion
Nobody cares what you’re interested in.
Yes, even established creators with rock-solid personal brands.
It seems that way because they are getting social validation from the sheer scale of their following.
But what people truly care about isn’t your passion.
It’s always the value you bring.
Whatever you say has to benefit your audience in some way.
Dwayne the Rock Johnson clearly loves food.
If he shares pictures of his cheat day peanut butter pancakes or sushi binges, he’s selling you the rewards of delayed gratification from his fitness lifestyle.
How does it benefit people?
He’s showing others that being fit doesn’t mean always eating bland chicken breast and broccoli while they hate life.
It works because his sharing solves problems, meets needs, and enhances lives.
It doesn’t matter how popular you get.
It’s always about the audience.
Law #2: Start Small, Think Big
Stop focusing on big goals.
Have them, but don’t obsess over it.
Otherwise, it’s a one-way ticket to being overwhelmed and quitting being a creator altogether.
Results are slow. The grind is hard. The days are long.
Break them down into small more achievable milestones.
If you can’t, you don’t have a road map.
And that’s just a dream.
Small beginnings allow for crucial learning, adapting, and growing.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
Lao Tzu
I made the mistake of thinking big too early, so learn from that.
I have goals for all periods.
- Daily
- Weekly
- Monthly
- 1 Year
- 5 Years
- 10 Years
And each of them follows the S.M.A.R.T framework.
- Smart
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
Start small, but always think big.
Law #3: Effort Will Not Guarantee Success
It took me a long time to fully understand this.
Be consistent. You’ve heard it.
Work hard. You’ve heard it.
But why haven’t you achieved your goals?
Here’s the reality.
Hard work and consistency DON’T guarantee success.
Thinking that it does is extremely naive.
It’s about being consistently hardworking WITHOUT expecting any returns.
And don’t forget the element of luck.
I can’t stress this enough.
I’ve always dove headfirst into various business ventures thinking that as long as I put in the work, I’ll be successful.
But when things seem mildly “bad” I lose motivation and give up.
You do the work over a long period.
Make the right decisions.
Know when to pivot.
And don’t stop till you get your desired result.
Law #4: Network and Collaborate
If you forget everything else I said, just remember this one.
No matter if you’re just starting, struggling to find your footing, or have been in the game for a while, networking and collaboration will solve EVERYTHING.
It can get you:
- Funds to start a business
- Social media growth
- Unique and original content
- Access to Illuminati-like inner circles
- Never-ending referrals
My father-in-law and I are running a crystal chandelier business and pretty much all our sales come from our network.
Even my own social media growth, though nothing to brag about, has mostly come from networking with other creators.
And I’m an introvert.
INTJ to be exact.
So trust me when I say I find it extremely uncomfortable to constantly socialize with other people.
But your network is your net worth.
You have to reach out, connect, and work with others to truly succeed in any business.
There’s no other way around it.
Law #5: Focus on Learning and Adapting
School has made people complacent.
Most stop learning once they graduate.
We have been accustomed to waiting for knowledge rather than constantly seeking out the answers ourselves.
And this is the plague of the 21st century.
I don’t know ANY successful entrepreneur who isn’t on a lifelong quest of learning.
Most if not all of them are Autodidact Polymaths – A self-taught individual with expertise in multiple areas.
This approach is no longer a lofty ideal but a fundamental necessity.
You can’t run a one-person creator business with just one skill.
- Marketing
- Sales
- Copywriting
- Graphic design
- Speaking
- Working knowledge of code
- Product development
- Customer service
The list is endless.
This is not to overwhelm you.
But I’m highlighting the stark reality of running a business yourself.
You don’t need to be an expert in everything…
But you must have the ability to learn autonomously across various disciplines and apply the skills necessary to progress as a creator.
This is what separates the exceptional from the mediocre.
It enables one to connect disparate ideas, innovate, and adapt to new challenges with agility.
This mindset shift was crucial for my journey.
You can’t lose if you’re a life-long learner.
That’s all for this week’s issue.
See you next week!
Quote of the Week
“If someone isn’t what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
From The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
My Favorite Discoveries This Week
- Blog Post: I’ve always struggled with niching down. I mean, it feels so unnatural. But I also knew that for the sake of business, it makes sense to build a following faster and attract the right clients. Especially, when the public consensus is to have one niche. Creators like Dan Koe present a compelling argument for the niche of one which I’m definitely in favor of. But I recently found an article diving DEEP into this topic by Sana A Ahmed. Check it out. You’ll probably get more clarity.
- YouTube: Did you know Nikola Tesla believed the pyramids could harness the energy from inside the earth and give the world unlimited power? Check out this video documentary by The Why Files.
