Love this. Thank you for writing. I’m new on this Substack journey and have felt the pull towards the people selling their templates, funnels and easy promises. Like a moth to a flame! But I’ve resisted and will continue to paint my best mural 💜
Wonderfully put, indeed this age offers up many dragons but as I mentioned in article as a point many no longer non wish to slay the dragons they feed them.
Well done for slaying and creating at thd same times, its a powerful ability for this age.
If only people knew how easy it was to stand out. When ever someone reads my writing they ask, "how do I write like this", l always say "ditch the templates, you are the template. Write how you want to and people will adjust over time. They will learn to love you for being yourself in a world that tries to squeeze every drop of humanity and authenticity away from us.
I really appreciate your candid and anti-bullshit posts. In a delightful example of irony, my developed skepticism of anyone 'taking a stance' in the realm of content, led me to be suspicious of your motivations also. I read your posts looking for the sales hook, the "buy my anti-bullshit package to avoid being scammed by bullshit packages". You surprised me. There is nothing wrong with monetizing actual value - helping people move from fear to joy (or any similar synonyms), but selling based on fear seems deeply unethical. You seem to write first, and monetize second, and most importantly - neither come from a place of playing on people's insecurities. My respect
Thanks for you kind word David. It really means a lot to me. I’m trying to live by example and comments like yours give me the energy when faced with tough choices.
Best newbie advice I have read yet. And as a painter and writer I appreciated the mural metaphor. I have been struggling to find that balance of honesty and vulnerability, raw but still good writing. It’s tough! But, I am also doing voice over and I feel that adds as I am doing one take, no edits on longform. I want to prove the personhood of the writing. All this AI adds a whole different circus of confusion. In any case, thanks for being helpful to someone with 160 subs and a month of trials and efforts.
I like this attitude. Who you are really comes across in your notes, which is what probably drove your fast growth more than anything. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say.
for a long time I despised all social media for exactly that reason - I did not want to be like one of those Dubai Gurus but I was absolutely convinced that publishing things "my way" would not lead to success either, so I simply remained silent. It was one day when I simply started hitting publish (my main platform was LinkedIn) on my most personal and unique thoughts. And who would have thought - people resonated with it. Of course I did not get the engagement other big influencers got but I gradually did built an audience of people, even just a few hundreds, who cared about my writing and valued it for its honesty. And in the end a deeply invested audience of a few hundreds or maybe some day thousand people is more than enough and far more valuable than millions consuming your content mindlessly.
Again, as ever, Philpp, you are being the much-muffled voice of reason.
Looking at this article objectively, it is almost completely alien to what is being pushed almost everywhere, in all walks of life.
Reason with a moral core, seeking to tear down illusions, which I mentioned before,
is what you offer.
It always warms my heart — not through sentiment or comfort, but through someone always saying:
“This is the work you must do for this age — this age of decadence and materialism — because without your carrying out and committing to this work, man continues to decline into the abyss.”
Thank you, as ever, Philpp. It is always greatly received.
The enjoyable reading, perfect for my first substack of the day. I’ve been training my Substack to stop seeing these “I made 100k with a post” kind of publications. I’m not here for a sprint to success, but for a marathon of reading knowledge and pleasure. By all means, if I get 100k I won’t say I’m sorry, but I cannot be the main purpose for being here. And this hustle takes away the whole being on a platform like this one.
I am over statistical analysis. I could be smarter or dumber, but I’m not on Substack to manipulate numbers. I’m tired of this culture that places value of success based on number of likes, and restock, subscription numbers … live your life and enjoy the moment free of calculating success as defined by others. Be you and do you.
Love this. Thank you for writing. I’m new on this Substack journey and have felt the pull towards the people selling their templates, funnels and easy promises. Like a moth to a flame! But I’ve resisted and will continue to paint my best mural 💜
Looking forward to see that mural.
Me too! It’s a daily battle! And a test in believing in yourself and your ability and accepting the slow road as the best path!
not for the faint hearted!
Hi pippa
Wonderfully put, indeed this age offers up many dragons but as I mentioned in article as a point many no longer non wish to slay the dragons they feed them.
Well done for slaying and creating at thd same times, its a powerful ability for this age.
X
If only people knew how easy it was to stand out. When ever someone reads my writing they ask, "how do I write like this", l always say "ditch the templates, you are the template. Write how you want to and people will adjust over time. They will learn to love you for being yourself in a world that tries to squeeze every drop of humanity and authenticity away from us.
They will learn to love you for being yourself
Love this part. It doesn’t happen overnight. You build with devotion. Day by day.
I really appreciate your candid and anti-bullshit posts. In a delightful example of irony, my developed skepticism of anyone 'taking a stance' in the realm of content, led me to be suspicious of your motivations also. I read your posts looking for the sales hook, the "buy my anti-bullshit package to avoid being scammed by bullshit packages". You surprised me. There is nothing wrong with monetizing actual value - helping people move from fear to joy (or any similar synonyms), but selling based on fear seems deeply unethical. You seem to write first, and monetize second, and most importantly - neither come from a place of playing on people's insecurities. My respect
Thanks for you kind word David. It really means a lot to me. I’m trying to live by example and comments like yours give me the energy when faced with tough choices.
Couldn't agree more on this!
Indeed David Phillipp rends to always strike the balamce, and always offers some dropping of the illuionary veil.
the man. the myth. the fuckin legend
Best newbie advice I have read yet. And as a painter and writer I appreciated the mural metaphor. I have been struggling to find that balance of honesty and vulnerability, raw but still good writing. It’s tough! But, I am also doing voice over and I feel that adds as I am doing one take, no edits on longform. I want to prove the personhood of the writing. All this AI adds a whole different circus of confusion. In any case, thanks for being helpful to someone with 160 subs and a month of trials and efforts.
It might take longer. But it’s the only thing that really matters.
Always with that twist :)
I've been writing here for 106 days and have 6 subscribers. They are all people I know. I get occasional readers that are new to me.
Someone once said make it an experiment for two years. Draw conclusions after that.
I'm still in experiment stage, learning how long I can be true to myself and my core beliefs through my writing.
Having realistic expectations are essential for maintaining a healthy nervous system.
I'm with you. See my note below.
I like this attitude. Who you are really comes across in your notes, which is what probably drove your fast growth more than anything. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say.
the man. the myth. the fuckin legend
This is great work
for a long time I despised all social media for exactly that reason - I did not want to be like one of those Dubai Gurus but I was absolutely convinced that publishing things "my way" would not lead to success either, so I simply remained silent. It was one day when I simply started hitting publish (my main platform was LinkedIn) on my most personal and unique thoughts. And who would have thought - people resonated with it. Of course I did not get the engagement other big influencers got but I gradually did built an audience of people, even just a few hundreds, who cared about my writing and valued it for its honesty. And in the end a deeply invested audience of a few hundreds or maybe some day thousand people is more than enough and far more valuable than millions consuming your content mindlessly.
There is no right path to success. Only your path.
Amen to that ✌️
Again, as ever, Philpp, you are being the much-muffled voice of reason.
Looking at this article objectively, it is almost completely alien to what is being pushed almost everywhere, in all walks of life.
Reason with a moral core, seeking to tear down illusions, which I mentioned before,
is what you offer.
It always warms my heart — not through sentiment or comfort, but through someone always saying:
“This is the work you must do for this age — this age of decadence and materialism — because without your carrying out and committing to this work, man continues to decline into the abyss.”
Thank you, as ever, Philpp. It is always greatly received.
Thanks Mark, I deeply appreciate this. And I’m happy to see that you see the core of my message.
The enjoyable reading, perfect for my first substack of the day. I’ve been training my Substack to stop seeing these “I made 100k with a post” kind of publications. I’m not here for a sprint to success, but for a marathon of reading knowledge and pleasure. By all means, if I get 100k I won’t say I’m sorry, but I cannot be the main purpose for being here. And this hustle takes away the whole being on a platform like this one.
I am here to 10X my Roman Aqueduct knowledge, Philipp! Link to purchase, please!
Application only, sorry.
😭
I am over statistical analysis. I could be smarter or dumber, but I’m not on Substack to manipulate numbers. I’m tired of this culture that places value of success based on number of likes, and restock, subscription numbers … live your life and enjoy the moment free of calculating success as defined by others. Be you and do you.
Well put. That’s the essence of why I am here.