This is it. You’ve really hit the nail on the head here. I thought I was becoming “anti-sales” but I think I’m just done with the Guru Game. However apparently I am a Creator archetype so I best get to work…
Choosing the sovereign path really is the only way. Do it to dig deep into what really matters to you. Not for the metrics.
I almost have up 6 months ago because I thought I had to sell a course on how to make money. And that's not why im here. I could of stayed a carpenter.
This is why I love your stuff man. You cut through the bullshit and lay it out exactly as it is. It has become so painfully obvious how the creator economy (can't even write those words without cringing) is just a huge ponzi scheme. Thank you for your enlightenment Philipp.
Realistic, without drowning in nihilism. Now that’s a worthwhile perspective. Very necessary. Thank you, Philipp! You’ve definitely written some proper food for thought here! 👍🏻
Very insightful and validated these from the article.
Real influence isn’t built on vanity metrics, it’s built on intellectual integrity. When you focus on developing a unique point of view and a meaningful body of work, you’re not just building an audience; you’re building authority. And authority, unlike attention, compounds quietly and lasts longer.
The most valuable outcome of writing isn’t revenue; it’s clarity. The market doesn’t pay for content, it pays for conviction.
I couldn’t have said it better myself @Leon Leo. I think about the topic of this article ALOT. It’s kind of like the people who got rich during the gold rush weren’t the people searching for gold, it was the people who supplied the shovels. When I apply that frame to the creator economy, It’s like everyone’s searching for gold now. Nobody wants to sacrifice their comfort. We all know this and still refuse to admit to ourselves the real problem. The problem is standing in front of you when you look in the mirror. A true understanding of yourself and others after you peel all the layers off. Thanks Philipp this was a good one!
This is so good. I love how you just laid it out. Create to discover your authenticity. We can’t create for the algorithm. When you create from alignment, you connect more with others. Substack may not be the answer but it can certainly be a space to grow authentically.
Bruvvie! Your website is slick! What's it made in?
Also, signed up w my email, got The Sage, and now I'm off to read your take on Mental Obesity bc I've procrastilearned myself on top of a mountain of knowledge, indeed... I'm desperate to share, but can't get myself to *start*. Thanks for this excellent article. Cheers
Goodness, you really nailed this! The "game" we're told to play just feels so hollow. I don't like being sucked into the game others put out and it just felt so inauthentic putting out my own version. I deleted Instagram this week and it felt GOOD. Here's to creating a whole new way! (I'm The Sage and it feels kinda right...)
The Sovereign Path… I’ve been working that for a good while. It can be lonely at times, but maintaining alignment to my deeper nature hasn’t ever steered me wrong. Thanks for the truth bombs!
I think I was lucky. I started thinking about creating and Dan Koe spoke to me. I took a course, enjoyed it, learned some cool tricks and met some cool people. But I knew that this was not going to get me anywhere, course after course.
You nailed it. Explore your creativity. Publish things you are proud of. (Even if no one reads them). Iterate. Think. Create. Try new things. Enjoy the process. That is what I try to do.
Dan's gospel is begin on X. And our creator group was a bunch of parrots. Growing on X to arrive at this hypothetical life. It seemed to me that most of them were not doing anything original, just parroting Dan. Trying to force his succes upon themselves.
Philip. That's a great way to loot at it. It even reminded me of BMW's sports bike. The rhino.
They don't compete with anyone else. They are in the league of their own. As I learned a few days ago, from a off road motorcycle legend a few days ago. Adam Reimann.
I have discussions about this frequently it seems - we need to understand the game that’s being played. We assume we’re an active player but in this case, the algorithm does what it needs to do to feed the beast. It’s important people know why they’re here and reclaim their sovereignty in it.
At the end of the day we're still playing in an attention economy, where platforms don't reward those who create value but those who generate revenue for the platform (through ads or subscriptions) based on attention.
If we really don't want to play this game (rather than just be better than others at it) we need to change the economic incentives of the platforms so they better align with value creation.
Until then we're still playing someone else's game, whether we like it or not
Main point is that the platform shouldn't act as a middleman that's trying to maximize “transactions” (number of views, subscriptions, etc.) but rather as a service provider that profits by improving signal-to-noise (and competing with other service providers on the quality of content they serve).
Then you'd have alignment between creators, readers and the platform.
This is it. You’ve really hit the nail on the head here. I thought I was becoming “anti-sales” but I think I’m just done with the Guru Game. However apparently I am a Creator archetype so I best get to work…
Reading this make me really happy. Create what only you can create.
So many gems in this piece Phillip.
Choosing the sovereign path really is the only way. Do it to dig deep into what really matters to you. Not for the metrics.
I almost have up 6 months ago because I thought I had to sell a course on how to make money. And that's not why im here. I could of stayed a carpenter.
🙌
I'm glad you're still here.
Thank you brother 🙏
This is why I love your stuff man. You cut through the bullshit and lay it out exactly as it is. It has become so painfully obvious how the creator economy (can't even write those words without cringing) is just a huge ponzi scheme. Thank you for your enlightenment Philipp.
Really glad to hear that. Thanks Leon.
Great piece. The creator economy is basically 90% of people telling other people how to make money by being a creator.
Fortunately, there's still someone that has actually something meaningful to share.
Thanks Enzo, I appreciate that lot.
Realistic, without drowning in nihilism. Now that’s a worthwhile perspective. Very necessary. Thank you, Philipp! You’ve definitely written some proper food for thought here! 👍🏻
That's a challenge I'm constantly working on.
Very insightful and validated these from the article.
Real influence isn’t built on vanity metrics, it’s built on intellectual integrity. When you focus on developing a unique point of view and a meaningful body of work, you’re not just building an audience; you’re building authority. And authority, unlike attention, compounds quietly and lasts longer.
The most valuable outcome of writing isn’t revenue; it’s clarity. The market doesn’t pay for content, it pays for conviction.
That's an excellent summary Lile
i have come back thrice to read this Article as it explains what i have been debating with my self. Your authority unless seen clearly is of no use
I couldn’t have said it better myself @Leon Leo. I think about the topic of this article ALOT. It’s kind of like the people who got rich during the gold rush weren’t the people searching for gold, it was the people who supplied the shovels. When I apply that frame to the creator economy, It’s like everyone’s searching for gold now. Nobody wants to sacrifice their comfort. We all know this and still refuse to admit to ourselves the real problem. The problem is standing in front of you when you look in the mirror. A true understanding of yourself and others after you peel all the layers off. Thanks Philipp this was a good one!
That's exactly it: selling shovels in a gold rush. You conclusion of self-understanding is a my main point.
Well said
This is so good. I love how you just laid it out. Create to discover your authenticity. We can’t create for the algorithm. When you create from alignment, you connect more with others. Substack may not be the answer but it can certainly be a space to grow authentically.
Bruvvie! Your website is slick! What's it made in?
Also, signed up w my email, got The Sage, and now I'm off to read your take on Mental Obesity bc I've procrastilearned myself on top of a mountain of knowledge, indeed... I'm desperate to share, but can't get myself to *start*. Thanks for this excellent article. Cheers
Thanks, it feels my heart when people appreciate my website. It's made with Wordpress.
The Sage is very prone to procrasti-learning. I know because I'm a Sage myself. Let me know if it was helpful.
Goodness, you really nailed this! The "game" we're told to play just feels so hollow. I don't like being sucked into the game others put out and it just felt so inauthentic putting out my own version. I deleted Instagram this week and it felt GOOD. Here's to creating a whole new way! (I'm The Sage and it feels kinda right...)
Glad to have you here. I'm a Sage as well and I think Substack is great place for us.
You're on a great way.
The Sovereign Path… I’ve been working that for a good while. It can be lonely at times, but maintaining alignment to my deeper nature hasn’t ever steered me wrong. Thanks for the truth bombs!
You're not alone with this :)
I think I was lucky. I started thinking about creating and Dan Koe spoke to me. I took a course, enjoyed it, learned some cool tricks and met some cool people. But I knew that this was not going to get me anywhere, course after course.
You nailed it. Explore your creativity. Publish things you are proud of. (Even if no one reads them). Iterate. Think. Create. Try new things. Enjoy the process. That is what I try to do.
Dan's gospel is begin on X. And our creator group was a bunch of parrots. Growing on X to arrive at this hypothetical life. It seemed to me that most of them were not doing anything original, just parroting Dan. Trying to force his succes upon themselves.
Ritual Incantation but the wrong kind.
I'm glad to see that you can see the situation through such a clear lens. We're int his together.
Philip. That's a great way to loot at it. It even reminded me of BMW's sports bike. The rhino.
They don't compete with anyone else. They are in the league of their own. As I learned a few days ago, from a off road motorcycle legend a few days ago. Adam Reimann.
And also this song https://youtu.be/hKMbXOwXSdM?si=hmfKo7xD1E2d_P_e
Thank you for laying out a sustainable blueprint
I have discussions about this frequently it seems - we need to understand the game that’s being played. We assume we’re an active player but in this case, the algorithm does what it needs to do to feed the beast. It’s important people know why they’re here and reclaim their sovereignty in it.
Yes Ann! We mindlessly a play game we actually don't want to play.
I like this no-BS approach.
At the end of the day we're still playing in an attention economy, where platforms don't reward those who create value but those who generate revenue for the platform (through ads or subscriptions) based on attention.
If we really don't want to play this game (rather than just be better than others at it) we need to change the economic incentives of the platforms so they better align with value creation.
Until then we're still playing someone else's game, whether we like it or not
Glad you liked it Mike.
Changing the economic incentives is really the challenge. Do you have any ideas on how to do that?
I have some ideas ;)
Main point is that the platform shouldn't act as a middleman that's trying to maximize “transactions” (number of views, subscriptions, etc.) but rather as a service provider that profits by improving signal-to-noise (and competing with other service providers on the quality of content they serve).
Then you'd have alignment between creators, readers and the platform.
I was thinking about this too. A platform that is owned by the creators could be an approach.