How to go full time as a creator


Hey Reader,

So...this is a little late. I drafted it all and then forgot to come back and hit send. It's been a busy week with the kids starting school (they do a bridge program that is half homeschool, half private school) and summer starting to wrap up.

Speaking of kids, for my private newsletter about money this week I'll be writing all about kids and money. You can buy access here if you're interested. Just a note, it's an automated email course so you'll start at the beginning and get each issue in order (one per Friday).

I've also been writing more recently. My commitment is to write every day from 8am to 9am. It's scheduled on my calendar to make sure it happens. I'm only on day 7, but the momentum already feels good.

Alright, here are the three things I've got for you today:


WHAT I'M READING

Cynicism kills progress

I loved this short article by Justin Jackson. We all tell ourselves stories, hold on to identities we've created, and stay in bad habits out of inertia or laziness. Those things are all within our control though, and each decision you make is another chance to build the life and habits that you want. What will it take for you to make the change you've been thinking about? Are there mental models you need to let go of?

Read the article here »


FROM ART OF NEWSLETTERS

Matt Ragland- How to go full time as a creator

Matt is a good friend, and was one of the earliest ConvertKit team members. He has been working on his side hustle for years and just recently went full time. We had a great time catching up, and covered things like: how to know when to go full time as a creator, how to optimize your YouTube content, and Matt's biggest revenue drivers. He was really open with me and shared some great tips for creators about to shift to full time.

Watch the episode »

FROM CREATOR STORIES

Dan Runcie - Building a home for the business of hip hop

If you've been reading this newsletter for any length of time, you know I'm a fan of Dan Runcie. I have so much respect for his work, and he's also just a great guy. We recently did a Creator Story on him and it's a fascinating tale about how a Beyonce case study changed his life, and how he turned his ConvertKit newsletter into a full-time business. It will also give you great insight and context into how and why owning your audience is so important for artists, from the new to the famous.

Read the story here »

Happy Wednesday!

Nathan Barry

I'm a designer who turned into a writer who turned into a startup CEO. My mission is to help creators earn a living. Subscribe for essays on building an audience and earning a living as a creator.

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