Why You Shouldn't Want To Be A Creator
Because you want money
Yesterday, I was perusing through YouTube, and I noticed that Dan Koe has 1,000,000 followers on YouTube.
WTF?! He just started. How do I only have 7,000?
Then I remembered that followers aren’t the metric. Dollars are the metric.
Today, we’re talking about entrepreneurship and what’s really important.
LFG. 🔥
First Off, Let It Be Known That I’m Not A Hater
I’ve never met Dan Koe, but I’m sure he and I would have a great conversation. Additionally, I have no problem with anyone doing whatever they want in life, especially if it makes them feel good.
If you want to be a creator, then don’t let me stop you. You do you. Please ignore any of my ideas you don’t agree with, and definitely don’t let what I say sway your value system.
Do what makes you happy, because you will die.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, there’s a key definition we need to understand first.
The Difference Between A Creator And An Entrepreneur
Creators see their success based on how well their art is received. Entrepreneurs see success based on how successful their businesses are.
For me, a creator is someone who likes to make stuff. Being a creator is the online version of being an artist. We call it a creator because it’s better marketing, but essentially creators make art. They share their ideas and publish them on the internet. Their success is based on the reaction to their art.
Creators want shares, views, likes, and notoriety.
The goal for almost every creator is to figure out a way to monetize their art directly. This is very difficult, which is why most creators (and most artists) are broke.
Entrepreneurs are different. Creating content is simply one way that entrepreneurs grow their businesses, but it’s definitely not the only way.
The most successful entrepreneurs in the world do not care about creating content, building a personal brand, or getting shares on YouTube. Successful entrepreneurs, however, understand that in today’s world, media and content are essential parts of most marketing strategies for business.
Warren Buffett Is My Favorite Example
If it weren’t for all his charitable donations, Warren Buffett would easily be the richest man in the world. He would have 400 billion dollars.
The most hysterical part of this to me is that this is Berkshire Hathaway’s website.
Warren Buffett clearly does not give one single solitary shit about his content strategy.
However, that doesn’t mean Buffett completely ignores the power of content. Buffett’s letters to his shareholders are legendary. Every one of them gets read by millions of people. Just about every investor or person even remotely interested in finances reads his letters.
Buffett gets it.
Great writing and clear communication skills are highly valuable. But the success of Buffett’s empire has absolutely nothing to do with him being a creator.
Don’t Make A Business Out Of Content, Use Content To Grow Your Business
This is the fundamental difference between the mindsets of creators and entrepreneurs.
When I am making or publishing content, I do so for the sole purpose of growing a business. Yes, even what you’re reading now can be directly correlated to the sales and revenue growth of my company. Granted, I take my daily blog a little less seriously than my other media channels, but this blog has huge direct and indirect attribution to the growth of my personal holdings company.
I wouldn’t spend time creating something that won’t create some kind of return.
Granted, you might look at this frame of reference and find it distasteful.
“What happened to creating art for the sake of creation’s sake?”
It’s a valid question and a relevant one at that, but for me, I create art in other ways that I don’t need to monetize. For example, Muay Thai is art, in the same way that dancing is art.
My morning journal entries in my notebook are art. My body is completely covered in tattoos, and for me, that’s a way to express myself.
I create a clear distinction between business and self-expression. I don’t need to share my life on social media. I remind myself to enjoy art for the original purpose, which is to elevate the human condition.
If you enjoy creating art and get a thrill out of the likes and shares you receive from doing so, then great. You might even be able to make a bit of ad revenue.
But if you want to make money, then I encourage you to think of it differently. I encourage you to build a business first and then use content as a way to grow the business.
Fortunately, my way doesn’t require you to be an influencer. It only requires you to create value.
Love you guys. Talk to you tomorrow.
Tim
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You just had to go and put Warren Buffet.
Great. Now I'll have to wait till I'm 80 to see the results.