Hey Kat, yeah there are so many strategies you can use, but that doesn't mean we should do all of them. LOL I remember a successful creator say that he doesn't have the energy to send 100 DMs a day. So he only sends 25 DMs a day. Lmao. I couldn't even handle sending 3 DMs a day. And later I just gave up and stopped doing DM outreach completely.
What I understand is that we figure out what we comfortable with and enjoy. I don't enjoy creating images or videos, so I ignore Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, for instance. I'm a bit of a hedonist, and believe that I'm wasting my time if I'm not having fun. So even in the Write 4/28, you may see that I'm quite willful and write whatever the hell I want to write, even if it's unrelated to my business. Even if it's not at all professional (as long as it's not mean!)
I liberally write about Pokemon, share pokemon gifs, share cat pics, or write random trivial posts. I simply cannot restrict myself to the most profitable topics, because I'm so wild. (I even write tons of serial fiction, which might be the least profitable thing you can possibly write. And I write a bit of erotica on a different account as well, though with my minimal engagement, my views and earnings are even worse. Especially since the Medium boost dominating the scene. And erotica is not eligible for boost, boo.)
Anyway yeah, thanks for sharing this with us. I love your insight that it's less about what we're doing, but more about how we approach it. E.g. Posting on social media for fun, rather than for business obligations.
I love how you do you so well, Sieran, and it comes off so warm and genuine. It's inspiring to see how you show up, and it gets me to think how I can do better as well. So thank you for being wonderfully you.
Lol, YUP! Exactly... there are so many strategies out there and I bet you can find many others out there who can do it in a way that resonates with you AND succeed as well. So avoid getting caught up with "this is the best and only way" pitches, because it's not.
The best way to doing something that you'll consistently show up for and enjoy as well... whatever that may look like to you. That seems like such simple advice but that was a hard earned lesson for me with tons of time, energy, and money spent.
Pausing the chase for more and more info has been such a relief, and it's allowed me to actually hear that inner wisdom with me, which has been great advice!
Kat, you are so kind, thank you! 🥰 Yeah we can't always get an A+ in everything. It's not school where getting straight As is a flex. Irl, getting straight As is probably a bad thing. You've got to let go of some tasks. I hated letting go of Threads and Instagram, but I couldn't deal with so many platforms anymore.
Tim advised not copying and pasting from Medium onto Substack, or repurposing content in general. But some of us are so stretched to our capacity, that copying and pasting to other platforms is still a valid option to make things more sustainable for us.
Ultimately, it all about what's doable and scalable for us. We can adopt other people's advice, but we have to tailor it to fit what works for us. We all have to start from where we're at (even that means copying and pasting for now)... and build towards a better practice through compounding efforts.
You're doing amazing, Sieran! Don't discount what you're doing... others (including me) are inspired by you.
Thank you! 😍 It's also unwise in general to compare our productivity to Tim's. 🤣 Though I realized from reading Tim's post on finding a Ghostwriting client, that having a timeline of meaningful content still matters. (Even if engagement and follower count aren't impressive.) People who want to hire you, may look you up. If we have a portfolio online, even if it's cool social media posts, that already gives people a great impression of us for both our personality and skills.
That means that the portfolio helps, but we don't have to be relentless everywhere in our engagement. If we have a portfolio, we're already miles ahead of most people, since most people don't post much (or only post things that aren't engaging to most of their audience.) This sounds like a good balance to strike between being kind to ourselves, and still keeping up something to help with our goals!
Aw that's so flattering to hear, Donna! :) Yeah Tim is always so kind and encouraging! 🥰 Haha I can relate to being quiet in some settings, and being more outspoken in others.
Yup this resonates as your entire journey does. Too much info sucks the joy out of it. I know I'm not really doing the things 'I should' but I had to stick to what I can do with my current lifestyle. I still get envious of other people's success (?! Can I really see it though?!) but have to run my own race at the mo. We're still showing up and helping I reckon!
LOL I feel constantly envious of others for doing more than I am.... Even if I rationally know that I may be doing more than them on something else. XD Not that it's a contest, but that our energy is limited. If we do more of something, it means we do less of something else.
It was a delight to read this Kat. Refreshing. I was actually relieved to find out that I am not the only one out there going through these exhaustion feelings at times:)
Your post also reminded me of Aug 1st post on Todd Brison newsletter where Will is making a point that in music as in writing we need to learn framework but then need to improvise to bring our magic. In other words we have to search for what works for us.
Awww, thank you, Tariq, and YESS!! You are not alone in this. That's what I discovered once I created this Substack. I was on this search for so long and tried so many different things to figure out what works for me and tons of what doesn't.
And what you shared was the key that I didn't full grasp until later. It also takes wisdom, time, and tons of compassion to learn that framework, figure out my own magic, and how to put it all together in a way that makes sense and feels sustainable as well.
You'll KNOW when it's right... it'll be undeniable~
Yah, "exhausting" and "draining" are the perfect words for both sentiments... Massive hugs to you, Wendy!
When things keep feeling like a struggle, it's important to understand what are the root causes that are creating this perpetual problem. Oftentimes, it's not the strategies but HOW you're seeing the whole situation and what you choose to believe in.
Thank you for sharing your current journey and frustrations with us, Kat! I definitely resonate with your message. Being pulled and tugged into so many different platforms and strategies on how to use them can spin us up to the point we no longer know why we do what we do. Getting back to our "why" is key. Thank you for your vulnerable share!
Of course, glad this post resonated and that spinning you described was how I felt, too. I was caught up in the tornado of all that for so long⎯exhausted, drained, and felt a bit lost, too.
I was rough taking a pause because I was finally gaining some traction there, but I got so burned out that I couldn't continue on.
That's why I'm refocusing (again) on sustainability and reminding myself that I'm doing this for the long run.
Yeah, either so many differing pieces of advice as to how we should move forward, it’s easy to lose sight of our individual path. Looking forward to seeing it anew!
It’s a great book, and one of the best manifestation books I’ve read. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve been gifting the physical book to friends, too, even before I finished reading it myself. Gotta up the vibes of the people I hang out with! 😉
You articulated beautifully what I felt, which is why I arrived here. I am glad I met you and so grateful you reassured my feelings, Kat. I was searching for myself in the wrong rabbit hall, and I could not find it because I was finding myself who was searching.
Awwww, glad that resonated with you, Shoko, and more importantly, glad you're here!
Wow, yes. So well said. I was doing the same before, searching for myself in the wrong rabbit hole, and then blaming myself for not being or doing enough when I wasn't getting all those fabulous results others were flaunting.
It's when you step back and refocus on your own vision... that's when we find the right answers and the right rabbit hole to enjoy ourselves in. Snuggle in~ It's just gonna get even better from here.
I have a love-hate relationship with SM for a variety of reasons.
The numbers mess with my head, a lot. As if there is a secret code that others have but I have somehow missed. But the truth is - it's better to have quality than anything else. And, it's even more important to contribute on any/all platforms with the thought "how can I help someone today?" - it matters. Thank you Kat for being transparent. I am sure it will help many people.
Awww, thank you so much, Maria. I so resonate with everything you shared, too, even that "secret code" part. It's like I logically understood all these strategies, but getting it to work for myself felt like pulling teeth sometimes. I would get so frustrated and defeated, wondering how I was doing it wrong.
For sure, I absolutely prefer quality, too. Personally, I rather create deeper connections with a smaller group than trying to connect with masses at a superficial level. That's why I had to change my approach and how I was thinking about all this. I've gotta make this work for me in a way that feels right to me.
Great question, Angela. Instead of chasing the strategies and forcing myself to show up in a certain way others prescribe, I've gotta honor where I'm at now and rebuild my foundation from there.
So at this very moment, I'm not focused on daily posting. For me, it's about refinding the fun and enjoyment and creating quality interactions. I am tortoise slow in some areas of engagement right now, so I'm giving myself tons of compassion there (and hoping for patience and forgiveness from my subscribers/followers). But I will eventually show up in a way when more consistent, quality engagement become my norm.
It's like I'm implementing a couch potato to running a full marathon training for social media. Prior, it was like being a couch potato who hates running to pushing and rushing myself to run a 4 minute mile within a month. That hurt A LOT and I've been recovering from the "injuries" from that.
Hey Kat, yeah there are so many strategies you can use, but that doesn't mean we should do all of them. LOL I remember a successful creator say that he doesn't have the energy to send 100 DMs a day. So he only sends 25 DMs a day. Lmao. I couldn't even handle sending 3 DMs a day. And later I just gave up and stopped doing DM outreach completely.
What I understand is that we figure out what we comfortable with and enjoy. I don't enjoy creating images or videos, so I ignore Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, for instance. I'm a bit of a hedonist, and believe that I'm wasting my time if I'm not having fun. So even in the Write 4/28, you may see that I'm quite willful and write whatever the hell I want to write, even if it's unrelated to my business. Even if it's not at all professional (as long as it's not mean!)
I liberally write about Pokemon, share pokemon gifs, share cat pics, or write random trivial posts. I simply cannot restrict myself to the most profitable topics, because I'm so wild. (I even write tons of serial fiction, which might be the least profitable thing you can possibly write. And I write a bit of erotica on a different account as well, though with my minimal engagement, my views and earnings are even worse. Especially since the Medium boost dominating the scene. And erotica is not eligible for boost, boo.)
Anyway yeah, thanks for sharing this with us. I love your insight that it's less about what we're doing, but more about how we approach it. E.g. Posting on social media for fun, rather than for business obligations.
I love how you do you so well, Sieran, and it comes off so warm and genuine. It's inspiring to see how you show up, and it gets me to think how I can do better as well. So thank you for being wonderfully you.
Lol, YUP! Exactly... there are so many strategies out there and I bet you can find many others out there who can do it in a way that resonates with you AND succeed as well. So avoid getting caught up with "this is the best and only way" pitches, because it's not.
The best way to doing something that you'll consistently show up for and enjoy as well... whatever that may look like to you. That seems like such simple advice but that was a hard earned lesson for me with tons of time, energy, and money spent.
Pausing the chase for more and more info has been such a relief, and it's allowed me to actually hear that inner wisdom with me, which has been great advice!
Kat, you are so kind, thank you! 🥰 Yeah we can't always get an A+ in everything. It's not school where getting straight As is a flex. Irl, getting straight As is probably a bad thing. You've got to let go of some tasks. I hated letting go of Threads and Instagram, but I couldn't deal with so many platforms anymore.
Tim advised not copying and pasting from Medium onto Substack, or repurposing content in general. But some of us are so stretched to our capacity, that copying and pasting to other platforms is still a valid option to make things more sustainable for us.
Ultimately, it all about what's doable and scalable for us. We can adopt other people's advice, but we have to tailor it to fit what works for us. We all have to start from where we're at (even that means copying and pasting for now)... and build towards a better practice through compounding efforts.
You're doing amazing, Sieran! Don't discount what you're doing... others (including me) are inspired by you.
Thank you! 😍 It's also unwise in general to compare our productivity to Tim's. 🤣 Though I realized from reading Tim's post on finding a Ghostwriting client, that having a timeline of meaningful content still matters. (Even if engagement and follower count aren't impressive.) People who want to hire you, may look you up. If we have a portfolio online, even if it's cool social media posts, that already gives people a great impression of us for both our personality and skills.
That means that the portfolio helps, but we don't have to be relentless everywhere in our engagement. If we have a portfolio, we're already miles ahead of most people, since most people don't post much (or only post things that aren't engaging to most of their audience.) This sounds like a good balance to strike between being kind to ourselves, and still keeping up something to help with our goals!
Hell yah!! Cheering you on, Sieran. That's a great idea to find good balance.
...and yah, comparing ourselves to Tim is like comparing grapes on a vine to fine wine. We're in totally different levels of experience. 🤣
Sieran, you inspire me as well, and that's a feat in itself. When I'm annoyed or bored by what someone posts, I never speak up.
Correction. I have responded in DM when asked for feedback there. I respond WITHOUT Muffler as long as one who asks is good with that.
Tim respects you and shares that he does and his suggestions, too
I'm a fly-on-the-wall learner. No. Wait. I think I just lied. In some groups, I keep my own audio muted so I think twice before I speak up 😂
Aw that's so flattering to hear, Donna! :) Yeah Tim is always so kind and encouraging! 🥰 Haha I can relate to being quiet in some settings, and being more outspoken in others.
That reminds me Sieran someone who said, just do YOU. That is the approach. Our unique selling proposition.
Yes, just do you! :D
Yup this resonates as your entire journey does. Too much info sucks the joy out of it. I know I'm not really doing the things 'I should' but I had to stick to what I can do with my current lifestyle. I still get envious of other people's success (?! Can I really see it though?!) but have to run my own race at the mo. We're still showing up and helping I reckon!
That’s the most important part… you’re still in it. You have been showing up the best you can, and doing quite a bit, too!
No matter what, there will always be more you could do. And “should” is relative.
Keeping doing you, Sabrina!
Thanks Kat!
Should is relative. Will steal that one! 🫶
LOL I feel constantly envious of others for doing more than I am.... Even if I rationally know that I may be doing more than them on something else. XD Not that it's a contest, but that our energy is limited. If we do more of something, it means we do less of something else.
It was a delight to read this Kat. Refreshing. I was actually relieved to find out that I am not the only one out there going through these exhaustion feelings at times:)
Your post also reminded me of Aug 1st post on Todd Brison newsletter where Will is making a point that in music as in writing we need to learn framework but then need to improvise to bring our magic. In other words we have to search for what works for us.
Awww, thank you, Tariq, and YESS!! You are not alone in this. That's what I discovered once I created this Substack. I was on this search for so long and tried so many different things to figure out what works for me and tons of what doesn't.
And what you shared was the key that I didn't full grasp until later. It also takes wisdom, time, and tons of compassion to learn that framework, figure out my own magic, and how to put it all together in a way that makes sense and feels sustainable as well.
You'll KNOW when it's right... it'll be undeniable~
Yep, I’m feeling everything you’ve said and it’s exhausting. The lens that we put on social media posts is the key I think.
- Have a plan
- Have topics
- Have templates
Schedule in a time and batch produce.
Social media is designed to get us all hooked so no wonder it’s emotionally draining.
Yah, "exhausting" and "draining" are the perfect words for both sentiments... Massive hugs to you, Wendy!
When things keep feeling like a struggle, it's important to understand what are the root causes that are creating this perpetual problem. Oftentimes, it's not the strategies but HOW you're seeing the whole situation and what you choose to believe in.
Thank you for sharing your current journey and frustrations with us, Kat! I definitely resonate with your message. Being pulled and tugged into so many different platforms and strategies on how to use them can spin us up to the point we no longer know why we do what we do. Getting back to our "why" is key. Thank you for your vulnerable share!
Of course, glad this post resonated and that spinning you described was how I felt, too. I was caught up in the tornado of all that for so long⎯exhausted, drained, and felt a bit lost, too.
I was rough taking a pause because I was finally gaining some traction there, but I got so burned out that I couldn't continue on.
That's why I'm refocusing (again) on sustainability and reminding myself that I'm doing this for the long run.
Yes, the re-focus is so helpful. Thank you, Kat! Have a great week!
Yeah, either so many differing pieces of advice as to how we should move forward, it’s easy to lose sight of our individual path. Looking forward to seeing it anew!
And I’ll need to check out that book…
It’s a great book, and one of the best manifestation books I’ve read. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve been gifting the physical book to friends, too, even before I finished reading it myself. Gotta up the vibes of the people I hang out with! 😉
You articulated beautifully what I felt, which is why I arrived here. I am glad I met you and so grateful you reassured my feelings, Kat. I was searching for myself in the wrong rabbit hall, and I could not find it because I was finding myself who was searching.
Awwww, glad that resonated with you, Shoko, and more importantly, glad you're here!
Wow, yes. So well said. I was doing the same before, searching for myself in the wrong rabbit hole, and then blaming myself for not being or doing enough when I wasn't getting all those fabulous results others were flaunting.
It's when you step back and refocus on your own vision... that's when we find the right answers and the right rabbit hole to enjoy ourselves in. Snuggle in~ It's just gonna get even better from here.
I have a love-hate relationship with SM for a variety of reasons.
The numbers mess with my head, a lot. As if there is a secret code that others have but I have somehow missed. But the truth is - it's better to have quality than anything else. And, it's even more important to contribute on any/all platforms with the thought "how can I help someone today?" - it matters. Thank you Kat for being transparent. I am sure it will help many people.
Awww, thank you so much, Maria. I so resonate with everything you shared, too, even that "secret code" part. It's like I logically understood all these strategies, but getting it to work for myself felt like pulling teeth sometimes. I would get so frustrated and defeated, wondering how I was doing it wrong.
For sure, I absolutely prefer quality, too. Personally, I rather create deeper connections with a smaller group than trying to connect with masses at a superficial level. That's why I had to change my approach and how I was thinking about all this. I've gotta make this work for me in a way that feels right to me.
Wisdom Epiphanies all around! 😀
That's the best part of being in this space with wonderful, insight people like you, Maria~
In your new vision, how do you see your social media posting changing?
Great question, Angela. Instead of chasing the strategies and forcing myself to show up in a certain way others prescribe, I've gotta honor where I'm at now and rebuild my foundation from there.
So at this very moment, I'm not focused on daily posting. For me, it's about refinding the fun and enjoyment and creating quality interactions. I am tortoise slow in some areas of engagement right now, so I'm giving myself tons of compassion there (and hoping for patience and forgiveness from my subscribers/followers). But I will eventually show up in a way when more consistent, quality engagement become my norm.
It's like I'm implementing a couch potato to running a full marathon training for social media. Prior, it was like being a couch potato who hates running to pushing and rushing myself to run a 4 minute mile within a month. That hurt A LOT and I've been recovering from the "injuries" from that.