My Thought for the Week 💭
As 2021 comes to a close, I can’t help but think about how far I’ve come as a creator.
I never actually thought I’d be in the position I am today because of the trajectory I was on before the pandemic started. I was on track to graduate “on time”, be a software engineer at a tech company in the Bay Area, and…yeah that’s about it.
Now since mid-2020 I’ve created a podcast, make YouTube videos, write this newsletter, and write on Twitter.
All the while investing in online courses that would help me learn and grow as someone that had no idea how to start or what to do.
All of this was started on a whim, without a plan.
Most of the creators I’ve met have told me that they started their projects sometime last year (2020) and have since built sizable audiences, or even have gotten some income off of what they do. (Very inspiring to see by the way!)
Before content creation I had set plans for life and wanted them to go exactly as planned or the sky would feel like it was falling.
Now? I just take everything in stride and try to deal with things the best that I can, the possibilities for learning and growth are endless.
I still have intentions on being a full-time creator…just right now I need to get myself together before I try burning out or pushing myself too far.
With all that being said, I am grateful for the experiences I’ve gained as a creator.
Here are my 3 main takeaways/lessons for the year:
Overnight success actually takes a few years
It’s always nice to daydream about the thousands of fans that will come to consume and enjoy everything we put out. Sadly this won’t be the case for a while which is why it’s important to enjoy the ride along the way. Going viral after a few pieces of content is rare. So keep creating until something sticks, build off of momentum.
Comparison truly is the thief of joy
There are a ton of YouTube channels with <50 videos that have had a ton of success with views and subscribers and at times I can get a bit envious given I’ve barely scraped the surface of 100 subscribers. However I understand that everyone’s path is different than my own, and I should be focused on my own → cheering for others along the way.
Celebrate your wins → All of them
10 likes on a post. 100 email subscribers. 1000 YouTube subscribers. No matter how small something might seem to you, celebrate anyways. Give yourself some grace for this journey because it’s going to be a long one filled with wins and losses. Always celebrate your wins.
Wishing you a happy holiday,
Miko