Summary

The article provides 30 succinct pieces of advice for creators on producing, promoting, and profiting from their work, emphasizing the importance of creating high-quality content, strategic self-promotion, and embracing failure as a stepping stone to success.

Abstract

The author, who has extensive experience working with creators, distills their wisdom into 30 key insights aimed at helping artists and creators navigate the challenges of building a successful career. These insights stress the necessity of producing exceptional work, the value of genuine connections with an audience, and the mindset required to overcome the fear of failure. The advice encourages creators to be patient, persistent, and to continuously seek improvement, while also highlighting the importance of preparation, differentiation, and the strategic use of self-promotion. The article underscores that success in creative endeavors is not just about talent, but also about the willingness to put in the work, learn from both successes and failures, and to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Opinions

Creating high-quality work is paramount and becoming easier, but creating something truly good remains challenging.
Building an audience is a gradual process that involves providing value consistently and engaging with individuals.
Creators should challenge themselves to explore their full potential by stepping outside their comfort zones.
Self-promotion becomes less necessary when the work itself is of exceptional quality.
It's crucial for creators to make their audience care about them rather than just seeking likes or superficial engagement.
Creators must believe in the value their work provides to others to effectively promote it.
Standing out requires doing things differently from the mainstream and avoiding the same paths as everyone else.
Success in a creative career is directly proportional to the effort and dedication invested in it.
Creators should be prepared to fail and view it as a learning experience and a necessary step towards success.
Patience and timing are important; creators must recognize when they are truly ready to advance to the next level.
The desire to succeed must outweigh the fear of failure for a creator to truly excel.
Creators should focus on building and maintaining relationships with their existing audience, as they are the foundation for future growth.
Preparation is key to capitalizing on opportunities that may arise, and consistent work is essential regardless of immediate success.
Creators should strive to be noticed rather than merely seen, which involves crafting unique and valuable content.
There are no strict rules in creativity; creators should challenge conventional limitations and focus on personal growth over follower count.
The advice given should be taken as guidance, with creators adopting only what is beneficial for their individual paths.

My Advice For Creators In 30 Sentences (Give or Take)

How to produce, promote, and profit from your creations.

I spend a lot of time working with, studying, and advising creators of all types about what it takes to produce, promote, and profit from their creations.

Following are 30 ideas I find myself repeating often:

1. Just because it’s easier than ever to create doesn’t mean it’s easier to create something good.

2. Get someone to notice you today. Give them value. Repeat tomorrow. That’s how you build an audience.

3. If you only do what you usually do, you’ll never know what you’re capable of doing.

4. Hate self-promotion? Make better stuff. The better your work, the less you need to promote it.

5. Don’t try to get people to LIKE you. Get them to CARE about you.

6. If you hate promoting your creations, it’s not because you’re an artist. It’s because you don’t truly believe your work provides value to others.

7. If you want to get noticed, why are you doing the same things everyone else does?

8. If you’re “too busy” to spend time on your career, that means it’s not a priority — be honest with yourself.

9. Ask for less and offer more. That’s how you promote yourself.

10. If you’re not willing to put in the work it takes to succeed, that’s OK. But you also have to be OK with not succeeding.

11. Waiting doesn’t get you closer to success. Starting does.

12. Your desire to succeed must become greater than your fear of failure.

13. You’re not creatively blocked — you’re impatient. Be willing to create junk until you get to something good. It’ll come.

14. The things you say no to are as important as the things you say yes to.

15. The people who already pay attention to you mater more than those who don’t — act accordingly.

16. You become a pro by operating like one when you’re an amateur.

17. Start. Finish. Fail. Start. Finish. Fail. Start. Finish. That’s how you succeed.

18. Just being good isn’t enough.

19. You can learn just as much from a failure as a success.

20. Just because you think you’re ready for the next step doesn’t mean you are — be patient.

21. It’s not easy to create something different. That’s why it’s valuable.

22. Excuses are easier to find than solutions.

23. You don’t have to do what it takes to be a successful creator. There’s plenty of others who will.

24. Study what other creators do. Then, do something else.

25. The best way to capitalize on a big break is to be prepared for it. Don’t wait for your break to start working.

26. People who discover your work today are meaningless if you don’t have a way to reach them tomorrow.

27. It’s easier than ever to get seen and harder than ever to get noticed.

28. There are no “rules” — there are just things you convince yourself you can’t do.

29. Be more interested in getting better than you are in getting followers.

30. Ignore everything I just said…except the bits that help you.

Want more tips to produce, promote, and profit from your creations?

Join the 25,000+ creators who get my For The Interested newsletter.

My Advice For Creators In 30 Sentences (Give or Take)

How to produce, promote, and profit from your creations.

Want more tips to produce, promote, and profit from your creations?

Related Reads:

You Have Everything You Need To Create Anything You Want

The mindset every successful creator shares.

Five Keys To A Successful Creative Career

How I help creators build careers.

The Biggest Misconception Creators Have About Building An Audience

That word doesn’t mean what you think it means.

The 7 Videos I Most Often Tell Creators To Watch

And the most valuable minute of each.

Get More Attention For Your Creations By Telling Your Three Stories

The secret to successful promotion.