The Future Belongs to Creators

A “retro”, or a retrospective, is an intentional review and analysis of past events or projects. A retro consists of breaking down the event or project in question to see what you could have done better, what went wrong, and what went right. 

As creators, we don’t always take time to learn from the thing we accomplished before moving on to the next one. It’s important to be forward-focused, but being intentional about your review of the past can help you know what to improve and what to avoid moving forward. 

In today’s episode, we talk about how we use this process at Convertkit, and how you can too. 

Main Takeaways

• Pick a defined period of time. Make sure it has a start date and end date so you can focus on what fell into that specific chunk of time.  
• Good documentation leads to clear decision making. If you have the ability to go back and look at exactly why you did what you did, you’ll be on track to make better decisions about the future.  
• Keep taking decisive action. Use your processes to move things along and build consensus. 
• The more specific you can be in a retro, the more helpful it will be. But don’t forget to take a high-level view every once in a while to see how everything fits together. 

Creator of the Day 

• Shannon Wild

Resource of the Day

• ConvertKit’s New Homepage

Thought of the Day

Links

• Creator Session with Shannon Wild
• Shane Parrish
• Kieran Snyder

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There’s a particular style of content production that allows you to leverage existing resources: content curation. It’s like tastemaking, but for media. This is a really powerful way to use existing resources on the web to build and establish your brand. 

We have both curated email newsletters over our careers and have some insights to share on best practices when launching a content curation business. 

In today’s episode, we talk about content creation, helpful tips on being a tastemaker, and transitioning from acquiring new readers to keeping the ones you already have. 

Main Takeaways

• We are naturally drawn to the opinions and ideas of people we respect. The best people write their own content and find tangential content to present alongside it. 
• There are four steps to making a content curation business a reality:
  • Choose a narrow topic. 
  • Pick a cadence and stick with it. Do not miss it. Ever. 
  • Have a system to collect ideas.
  • Automate reminders - set a reminder to send the email or schedule it. 
• To curate and collect good content, you need to consume good content. It’s just as important to set aside time for consuming content as it is for creating the feed.
• Be sure to analyze and think about the content that you’ll be sharing (E.g. Why does this stand out to me and why am I sharing it?) Be confident in turning things down.

Creator of the Day 

• Austin Mann

Resource of the Day

• Maverick: The Success Story Behind the World's Most Unusual Workplace by Ricardo Semler

Thought of the Day

Links

• iOS Dev Weekly 
• Maria Popova
• Daring Fireball
• James Clear's Newsletter
• Artisan Born
• Dwell Magazine
• Art of Visuals

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Growing your dream network isn’t fast or easy, but it is incredibly valuable. Over time, amassing creative acquaintances can be the path forward to a new job or getting your business off the ground. 

Over the years, we’ve done a lot of networking and have met tons of people, some older and more experienced, some with little or nothing to offer at the time. Figuring out how to navigate the networking landscape is something we’ve gotten better at over time and hopefully you can learn from our experiences. 

In today’s episode, we talk about tips and tricks for building your network, specific tactics on which you can execute right now, and how to handle the asymmetrical nature of networking. 

Main Takeaways

• Be clear about why you want to connect. Don’t try to dupe anyone into thinking you have something to offer them if you genuinely don’t. People are kind and generally want to help, so don’t sour the relationship before it begins. 
• Meeting people is not fair. It’s an asymmetrical game, but you have to adjust to the resources that you have. If you can swing it, going to the people you want to meet, even if it means traveling, will generally net good results. 
• If you’re going to ask for an intro, make sure it's beneficial to everyone. If you’re the connector, make sure you give the other person the ability to opt-out of the meeting. 
• The single greatest thing you can do to build your network is to do great work and build a public reputation online. 

Creators of the Day 

• Evan and Katelyn

Resource of the Day

• Conscious Company

Thought of the Day

Links

• Gretchen Rubin
• Austin Mann
• The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business by Josh Kaufman 
• Adam Grant
• Calm

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Pricing is tough, there’s no denying it. Deciding what people should pay for your product is hard to gauge properly, especially if you’re new to the game. 

Both of us have sold several digital products over the years and have a fair amount of experience in the pricing world so we’re excited to share our knowledge with you and help you get your product out there. 

In today’s episode, we talk about how to price your products and the best strategies for deciding what that price should be. We also discuss how to best package your products with similar items and services. 

Main Takeaways

• Charge more. As creators, we generally underprice our work. We also tend to underestimate the number of people that will buy the work. 
• Think about the value you are delivering to your niche and price based on that, rather than looking at parallel products. A book for a niche is worth more to that group than a book distributed for mass consumption. Don’t compare prices on dissimilar items. 
• There is no universal pricing structure for an online product. Value-based pricing is about much more than just what customers get—it's about an entire experience. 
• Price anchoring (putting something more expensive next to your product) is a great way to position and sell your product.

Creators of the Day 

• XayLi Barclay | Creator Story
• Paper & Oats

Thought of the Day

Links

• Mountain Film Documentary
• Designing Web Applications by Nathan Barry
• Authority: Become an Expert, Build a Following, and Gain Financial Independence by Nathan Barry
• Emily Mills

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In today’s Q&A Friday, we talk about what to expect as a creator when trying to make a living out of it, media consumption, using coaches and therapy to become better leaders, and more!

• What is the biggest misconception that creators have about what it takes to make a living?
• How many hours a week do you consume media?
• Could you both elaborate on how going to therapy has made you a better leader?
• Who in your lives have been your biggest supporters both professionally and personally?

Creators of the Day

• Little Might - Cathryn Lavery
• Robert Greene

Resource of the Day

• Mastery by Robert Greene
• Ryan Holiday's Notecard System

Links

• Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Taleb
• Tim Ferriss Note Taking
• James Clear
• Minimalist Baker
• Matthew Marshall
• Effortless Gent
• Mixergy

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We all have things that put us in a “green” mood. No matter what’s going on, at the moment you’re experiencing that thing, you’re green. For guest host Isa Adney, that mood modifier is Hamilton. 

Just like the creators involved with Hamilton, you have the same power as a creator to make things that help people see the world differently, experience something beautiful, or just put a smile on someone’s face. 

In today’s episode, we talk about creative lessons and inspirations that you can take away from Hamilton (even if you didn’t like it as much as we did).  

Main Takeaways

• It’s ok to have urgency in whatever you’re creating. In a way, we are all running out of time. However, this doesn’t mean that taking your time means your project is going to be worse than it would be if you did it urgently. It took six years to write Hamilton.
• Don’t get caught up in the details. Write the things you love and focus on the big picture, especially if you know in your heart it’s something you truly want to be making. 
• Giving your all in the things you're doing every day, even if you’ve done it a thousand times, is the best way to push your craft toward having a big impact on those who interact with it. 
• Going to meet or see the people you look up to is a great way to humanize them and make you realize they are just like you (in a good way). You have it in you to get to the same place and feel that belonging.

Creators of the Day

• Anthony Ramos
• Austin Kleon

Resources of the Day

• Hamilton: The Revolution

Thought of the Day

Links

• ‘I Am A Creator’ Documentary Series
• Hamilton Coming to Disney+

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Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part episode about resiliency. Be sure to check out episode 042 for Part 1.

What is resiliency? How do we obtain it? And why is it so necessary in times of stress?

Resiliency means different things to different people, so we wanted to spend some time talking about what it means to us and how we try to cultivate it in our daily lives.

Andy Crissinger and Dan Putt are executive coaches at Reboot. They have been with us for a long time and have coached us through many difficulties and challenges and they joined us for this discussion. 

In this episode, we have a roundtable discussion about resiliency, how to lead with love, introspection, and getting uncomfortable. 

Main Takeaways

• Definition of resiliency: The ability to survive and thrive in the presence of challenges. 
• It’s important to slow down, stand still, and recognize who you are and what you stand for in times of uncertainty. 
• For us to step into the new normal (in this case socioeconomically), we must first grieve the past that we will not be returning to. 
• Grief and resiliency are not opposites. Naming, feeling, and recognizing grief is critical in building a better sense of resilience and purpose moving forward.
• Taking time to grieve and slow down, gives you the clarity of mind to speed up and push on.
• Create a break between what you’re doing and what you want to do by getting out and noticing the world and your environment. 

Thought of the Day

Resources of the Day

• The Wild Edge Of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief by Francis Weller
• Linda Graham
• Comfortable With Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodron 

Links

• “Lost” by David Wagoner
• Positive Intelligence
• Reboot

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Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part episode about resiliency. Be sure to check out episode 043 for Part 2.

What is resiliency? How do we obtain it? And why is it so necessary in times of stress?

Resiliency means different things to different people, so we wanted to spend some time talking about what it means to us and how we try to cultivate it in our daily lives.

Andy Crissinger and Dan Putt are executive coaches at Reboot. They have been with us for a long time and have coached us through many difficulties and challenges and they joined us for this discussion. 

In this episode, we have a roundtable discussion about resiliency, how to lead with love, introspection, and getting uncomfortable. 

Main Takeaways

• Definition of resiliency: The ability to survive and thrive in the presence of challenges. 
• It’s important to slow down, stand still, and recognize who you are and what you stand for in times of uncertainty. 
• For us to step into the new normal (in this case socioeconomically), we must first grieve the past that we will not be returning to. 
• Grief and resiliency are not opposites. Naming, feeling, and recognizing grief is critical in building a better sense of resilience and purpose moving forward.
• Taking time to grieve and slow down, gives you the clarity of mind to speed up and push on.
• Create a break between what you’re doing and what you want to do by getting out and noticing the world and your environment. 

Thought of the Day

Resources of the Day

• The Wild Edge Of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief by Francis Weller
• Linda Graham
• Comfortable With Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chodron 

Links

• “Lost” by David Wagoner
• Positive Intelligence
• Reboot

Start building your audience for free

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Where does the idea of ambition come from and how do we tackle it, especially when we’re not reaching our full potential?

Creative ambition can be even murkier. We have so many opportunities to chase it, but with that come opportunities to sell ourselves short along the way. 

In this episode, we talk about all of the scary and uncertain parts about being ambitious and the personal reconciliation that needs to happen. It can be an uncomfortable topic to cover but thinking about your own relationship with ambition is an important first step. 

Main Takeaways

• At the foundation of your decision making needs to be love, the fact that you will be loved even if you screw up or miss a shot. This can give you the confidence to pursue your ambition even if you’re scared of failing. 
• Applied introspection is critical because it gives you the “why” of your ambition and gives you the motivation to go out and accomplish what you want. 
• If you name your goal out loud and visualize it, then two things are going to happen:
  • You will have to put in the work to make it happen.
  • You have to own the fact that people will think differently of you if you achieve or fail to achieve that ambition.
• Know what your gifts are, recognize them, and figure out how you can best use them to serve yourself and others. 
• Naming a goal may make other people uncomfortable because it forces them to reconcile themselves with their own ambition.  

Thought of the Day

Links

• What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture by Ben Horowitz
• Miss Americana: Taylor Swift Documentary

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Today we talk about how to structure your time when you’ve gone full-time as a creator. You would think this wouldn’t be much of a problem, but the reality is it’s kind of like hitting a brick wall.

Our time and attention are finite. So respecting your own boundaries (and making sure others respect them as well) is key to staying productive. 

In this episode, we talk about how to organize your life and schedule, and make sure you’re as productive as possible while working to support your newfound lifestyle. 

Main Takeaways

• Believing that you are available to do whatever you want at any time is a dangerous mindset. The pressure to make progress can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. 
• Block out your life into phases (highschool, college, work, etc…) and notice which one you thrive in. Which one did you enjoy the most? This can help you recreate a productive environment for yourself now that you’re a full-time creator. 
• Define the types of work that need to happen throughout your day. Here are four categories to start with: 
  • Maker
  • Manager
  • Seller or Promotion Time
  • Consumer (information) 
• Sleep, diet, and exercise are critical in maintaining a healthy balance for your work and life and will certainly help make you more productive. 

Creator of the Day 

• Shawn Blanc - The Focus Course

Resource of the Day

• The Imagineering Story on Disney+

Thought of the Day

Links

• Alan Jackson - Chattahoochee  - YouTube
• Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey
• The Power of When Quiz
• Tara McMullin
• The Future Belongs to Creators 013: Your Work Deserves To Be Promoted
• Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

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