Three Pieces of Advice from the Most Prolific Online Creators
I asked 60 of the most prolific online creators a simple question:
If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to start creating online, what would it be?
There were three pieces of advice that popped up over and over. And given how successful these creators are, they must be onto something.
Those three pieces of advice:
- Get started before you're ready
- Share something every day
- Be selfish
1. Get started before you're ready
"I wish I started earlier." - the biggest regret of any prolific creator.
In the beginning, it's easy to wait for conditions to be just right. Or to spend weeks putting together a plan of everything you want to share.
But here's the thing: the conditions will never be just right to start sharing online. And your journey will unfold nothing like your plan.
The creators that look like they have it all figured out? Newsflash: they don't. Everyone is flying blind, iterating as they go.
So instead of waiting around and trying to plan every step, just get started.
Then, figure it out as you go.
2. Share something every day
"Consistency is the great differentiator."
This was the most common piece of advice from these creators.
Everyone prolific creator once shared their ideas into the void.
They simply did it longer than anyone else was willing to.
And the easiest way to create that consistency is to share something every day.
One tweet, one blog post, one screenshot essay, something. One idea, into the world, every single day.
No online creators have 300 shitty versions of anything. They either have 10 shitty versions (and then they gave up), or they keep it up long enough that they eventually figure it out.
Get started, then keep going.
3. Be selfish
So you've started sharing and you're doing it consistently. How do you sustain it?
Two words: be selfish.
The best content is self-indulgent. To sustainably create, what you create has to provide value to you. If you're creating with someone else in mind, you'll burn out.
Look at the most successful authors. They're fascinated by the ideas they explore. The byproduct is great writing.
Look at the most successful podcasters. They crave the information they're getting from their guests. The byproduct is fascinating conversations.
This selfishness creates an authenticity. And this authenticity attracts an audience.
The most successful creators would do what they do even if no one else interacted with it. It's providing value to them - the rest is a bonus.
Start sharing ideas in 2021
If you're like me, "start a writing habit" has sat on your to-do list for far too long.
In 2019, I was in the same spot. Luckily, I paid to join a group of writers committing to write every day for 30 days.
This financial and social accountability forced me to start writing. And it's the best decision I've ever made.
If you're looking to finally start that writing habit in 2021, check out Ship 30 for 30. Join a community of creators committing to shipping one piece of work every day for 30 days.
The only thing standing between you and these benefits: sharing an idea every day.