3 Objectives Every Content Creator Should Set Their Sights On

Giving myself a five-year window to see any financial results from my “side hustle” has brought me so much relief

Photo by Ethan Chan on Unsplash

“In the next 10 years, I want to stand before a class of 200 college students and tell them there’s a better way.”

I used to dream of being a college professor — my students would call me Professor Porter.

It has a good ring to it, but the vision for my future is changing.

The more I learn about online writing, the more that dream disappears. Because more “education” goes against everything I, and thousands of other creators on the internet, stand for.

We’re educating ourselves while fueling the creator economy.

Writers, Youtubers, and Twitter thread warriors, this one is for you.

Prioritize these objectives instead of traditional education.

Taking it slow and learning thoroughly

Creators are students of the game.

Graduating from university years ago doesn’t mean you know everything. The most intelligent person in the room listens the most. They speak only when they have something to add to the table.

We know learning from those who have come before us is essential, but some people are better at studying than others.

I’ve been building more content than consuming it for the past couple of years, but in 2020, I realized I was pressuring myself to keep creating even when I didn’t feel like it.

I wasn’t creating from a place of love; I was doing it because I thought it was the only way to find satisfaction in my life.

This year, I want to read and study more. My productivity tolerance is different now, and I don’t want to feel bad anymore about slowing down to read a book instead of forcing a blog post unto my readers.

My advice from three years of writing experience: Don’t feel guilty because someone wrote a book and you didn’t. Reading is just as productive as writing. Spend time in the library before you head to the lab.

Improving by 1% every day

I started writing 3 years ago.

The first year was brutal.

• No followers

• No email list

• No passion

I fell off once or twice but kept coming back when I had a new story to tell. 2 years later, my story is one of consistency. As a writer, time is your friend.

Minor improvements in your daily actions can have a significant impact over time. The trick is recognizing what aspects of your life seep into each other.

A school project with your kid can impact your work in the office. When I played sports, the footwork drills I did at football practice made me a quicker outfielder during baseball games.

1% improvements exist in the day-to-day:

• Adding one more rep in the gym

• Writing for 10 minutes instead of 0

• Complimenting someone instead of criticizing them

• Reading for 5 minutes instead of scrolling on social media

• Cooking a meal when you’d usually go out

None of these actions alone seem significant, but what happens when you do something once, then again, and suddenly, it’s a habit?

When that 10-minute writing habit becomes a 20-minute one, your baseline increases. You can’t get to where you want to be without starting.

Here’s an action item: Recognize the value in your day-to-day activities. Minor improvements can have a big impact over time.

Giving yourself five years to “make it”

Think about where you were last year.

• How many followers did you have?

• What did your content look like?

• Were you proud of what you were creating?

Think of the current version of you. How many more email subscribers do you have? Do you still enjoy the process of creating?

If you don’t, you’re not doing it on your terms.

You create because you want to make a career out of it. While quitting the ‘ol 9–5 is a great motivator, motivation is a temporary drug that feeds on dopamine.

You end up wanting what you don’t have, but when you get it, it’s not what you expect.

Most content creators need a job, and that’s okay. I’m proud of my job, and I’m also proud of the blog posts I put out.

I’m happy I put my physical fitness at the forefront of my life, and I’m happy to continuously improve my mental health by seeking what matters most and deleting what doesn’t.

Giving myself time, aka a five-year window to see any financial results from my “side hustle,” has brought me so much relief.

I’ll reaccess my situation in two years.