“I’m hoping that I can find a way to weave things together in a way that makes sense, resonates with buyers, feels enjoyable, and generates income.” — a client said.

“That’s a lot of pressure on yourself,” I thought.

Who says you need to weave all your interests together in a way that makes sense to anyone else, except for yourself? (You can have the most complicated vision of your work, as long as it makes sense to you.)

What if being financially successful — and happy in your work — doesn’t require the integration of your various interests?

Trying to attract with visuals tends towards a shallower engagement with one's audience…

When you create something and people don't get it, you shouldn't quit.

You simply need to test more ideas.

This is why I believe in the importance of the 3 stages of content creation:

1. casual, prolific, exploratory.

2. improve on what's liked.

3. integrate and productize.

I don't believe your email list is your most important business asset... It's really about having a genuine connection with your audience and treating them with respect. That's why I don't use deceptive tactics like "lead magnets"...

There's too much mercenary marketing advice out there. Even if it might get us a few more clients in the short-term, we don’t want to put more negativity into the world. Instead of selling to a client's "pain points", there is a better way.

You don't need to prove yourself as #1 in your field, or best selling author or any kind of puffery. All those tactics will feed your "fixed mindset". Instead, demonstrate your real expertise by showing up consistently to talk about about what's working for you now, and what you're learning. When people see that you are consistently in the practice of improving in your field, you naturally gain trust.

Years ago, I championed the idea that all knowledge should be freely available online, aiming to accelerate humanity's progress. When I actually tried it, I learned two valuable lessons -- (1) free courses resulted in lower engagement and commitment from participants, and (2) my motivation waned without the reciprocal energy of paid exchanges. This experience, coupled with the disappointing experiment in using Patreon, gradually shifted my perspective. I now seek a middle way. I hope to integrate generosity and sustainability. I now advocate for (fair) pricing of courses. It's important for boundaries, self-worth, and the support of small creators.

My gentle launches are simple: Early bird for 1 week, then regular price for 1 week before the course begins :)