3 pieces of common creator advice I'm on the fence about
The Stack #8
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The internet is awash with advice these days.
“Do this for the next 30 days to become a millionaire in the next 6 months.”
“Successful solopreneurs stop doing these 5 things (in this order)”
And so on, and so forth.
Usually, I mostly agree with the advice I hear from other writers and creators. Usually because it’s correct.
But some common advice gives me pause for thought. I read it and think, “Hang on, I’m not completely convinced by that. And I’m not sure others should be, either.”
Here are 3 common pieces of advice that I’m on the fence about.
1. You have to be obsessed with what you’re doing if you want it to be successful.
I totally get where creators are coming from with this one. And to be honest, I’m pretty obsessed with what I do for a living, and that obsession has probably driven me to get better at it every day.
But at the same time, the idea of ditching everything else in your life (hobbies, friends, downtime) to make room for that obsession - which I’ve seen other creators suggest you should do - doesn’t sit well with me.
Instead of obsession, how about we pursue balance? A balanced life is a joy-filled life, and joy-filled creators are likely to produce better work than those overburdened by obsession.
2. You need to be the absolute best at what you do.
I pretty much flat out disagree with this one.
Chasing the number one spot and pushing yourself to get just a little bit better every day is admirable, and probably helpful, for the most part.
But if that becomes your sole focus, you’ll quickly burn out. And you’ll never be satisfied with anything you write or create, because of course, the “best” position doesn’t really exist.
Instead, identify what “good enough” looks like and aim for that. You’ll likely get there much faster and won’t break your back in the process.
3. You can’t succeed without a huge audience.
Look, I’m all for audience growth. It’s something I actively work at every week. I don’t hide the fact I want a massive online audience, because I believe that leads to working freedom. And working freedom leaves more space for creative expression, which is where my everyday joy flows from.
But I also know it’s possible to make a steady, sustainable living with a smaller audience. I’ve seen plenty of creators make good money with just a few thousand (or even a few hundred) email subscribers. It’s possible.
Instead of relentless growth, maybe we should pursue deepened connections with our audience. A loyal, engaged community centred on your brand message will want to buy from you. Better to have 1000 true fans than 100,000 people who don’t give a toss about what you’re saying, right?
Those are my two cents on those 3 pieces of common advice.
What are your thoughts? Pop them in the comments below.
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