This is the realization that many of us come to later rather than sooner.
The algorithm seems ‘easier’ because it gives direct rules to abide by and match content accordingly. The challenge comes when competition is between all the people playing the same game.
Authenticity is much harder for most, out of fear of looking different or saying something outside of pre-approved keywords without realizing that this difference is what sets your voice apart from others.
I learned far too late that a voice optimized for tactical presence will rob you of your authentic voice.
Yes. We need to find other ways as things continue to develop..if you think about 3-5 years is not a long time and when you start with that time frame in mind things get a lot easier
Can really tell you've thought and felt through this one deeply. Been on this journey the last couple years — tinkering, exploring, learning, and poking down various forks in the road — and its a breath of fresh air to see a lot of the aha moments articulated and strung together so clearly. Thanks for getting it on paper and sharing.
“sustainability isn’t about speed. It’s about rhythm.”
I’ve been creating on Substack for almost two years now. I gave myself permission to “take the summer off” from pumping out my weekly essay. What it’s opened up for me is a new rhythm. I’m still creating, I’m just not sharing it. Yet. And things are popping for me. And now I get to be more intentional with what I pluck out to share with my readers. And when.
I didn’t realize how much of my own possibility I was hindering by rushing to hit post.
This essay came to me in perfect timing. Thank you Ben🙏🏼
This is the first post of yours that I have read and it nailed what I have been feeling about the creator economy but couldn’t put words to. Really appreciate finding you/your work as I initiate my own Substack experiment. Thank you Ben and good to meet you.
You so beautifully reflected my own journey over the last year, why I ditched LinkedIn, and started fresh on Substack. Not with a "marketing" plan, but with one simple intention: to show up as myself, to share insights, lessons, and lived experiences that might genuinely help others.
Not to "sell," but to create value that feels true to who I am.
I love how you've captured all this with the phrase "Sovereign Creator" .. says so much!
I am really happy you showed on on my Substack feed today and I'm really looking forward to reading more from you.
Sine really excellent truth bombs in there, very well written. The hamster wheel is a sure road to burn out, that's why it's essential to take a step back every now and then an smell the coffee.
This blog was something I needed to read, even though it's something I subconsciously knew! Thanks for sharing. It's refreshing to see others on the same path!
Very nice article. It’s a good reminder of why we do this and how important it is to make the work we do our own. It’s easy to get lost in chasing some arbitrary goal in this is a reminder to stay present and true to your work, and let the rest follow
This! This is what I needed to read today. Performance, especially high-output levels of content production, is a machine that doesn't end...unless we use it as leverage for what we're doing as creators. Thank you for expressing this so vividly.
Excellent advice. I've heard similar but i like that you added 'structure' to the concept. Helpful. And the 'One' thing is what I have personally been thinking about in recent days. Thanks for writing.
Yes Kudos for naming these ideas and feelings...bring them all into the light for further examination...but not too many as to interrupt my writing... :)
It’s interesting. Think I have settled happily in my little space. Feel a little constricted by “sport” but it’s probably the way the world perceives the category rather than me. Starting to get a groove now. Keep charging mate.
So much that I have felt myself. I never really wanted to 'produce content' to feed the algorithms, but I tried and it was exhausting to the point that I stopped creating anything at all. It is such a relief to read this...It's okay to just be my own authentic, honest creator without the boundaries or coercion of the system.
I'm excited to have found your Substack, Ben. Thank you for sharing all of these very relatable thoughts! They mirror so much of what I've experienced, and I love sitting with the title of "Sovereign Creator." It captures so much of what I want to embody more in my work and shifting from the "performative" approach to content creation, rather than real authenticity and alignment. Cheers!🙌🏼
Linda, the way I see it, creative integrity and building products are not opposites, they’re extensions of the same path.
A sovereign creator doesn’t build a product because the market demands it, or because some growth manual told them to “monetize.” They build it because they’ve wrestled with a question, lived through the problem, and found a way forward worth sharing. The product then becomes the crystallisation of that lived truth, it's a structure that helps others take the same step with less confusion and less wasted time.
Hi Benjamin - thanks for this new framing. My definition of "product" defaults back to a viewpoint formed over decades of sales and marketing of tech products and services. I'm now developing a new mindset, and your definition is helping me see things through a new lens. I appreciate your insight! Have a wonderful day.
This is the realization that many of us come to later rather than sooner.
The algorithm seems ‘easier’ because it gives direct rules to abide by and match content accordingly. The challenge comes when competition is between all the people playing the same game.
Authenticity is much harder for most, out of fear of looking different or saying something outside of pre-approved keywords without realizing that this difference is what sets your voice apart from others.
I learned far too late that a voice optimized for tactical presence will rob you of your authentic voice.
Yes. We need to find other ways as things continue to develop..if you think about 3-5 years is not a long time and when you start with that time frame in mind things get a lot easier
*beatnik snap* :)
Can really tell you've thought and felt through this one deeply. Been on this journey the last couple years — tinkering, exploring, learning, and poking down various forks in the road — and its a breath of fresh air to see a lot of the aha moments articulated and strung together so clearly. Thanks for getting it on paper and sharing.
Hey Peter..yes I wrestled with this one for quite a bit. Must have rewritten it at least 5 times…glad to hear your on a similar path
“sustainability isn’t about speed. It’s about rhythm.”
I’ve been creating on Substack for almost two years now. I gave myself permission to “take the summer off” from pumping out my weekly essay. What it’s opened up for me is a new rhythm. I’m still creating, I’m just not sharing it. Yet. And things are popping for me. And now I get to be more intentional with what I pluck out to share with my readers. And when.
I didn’t realize how much of my own possibility I was hindering by rushing to hit post.
This essay came to me in perfect timing. Thank you Ben🙏🏼
This is the first post of yours that I have read and it nailed what I have been feeling about the creator economy but couldn’t put words to. Really appreciate finding you/your work as I initiate my own Substack experiment. Thank you Ben and good to meet you.
Perfect. Welcome I think oyu will like it here
You so beautifully reflected my own journey over the last year, why I ditched LinkedIn, and started fresh on Substack. Not with a "marketing" plan, but with one simple intention: to show up as myself, to share insights, lessons, and lived experiences that might genuinely help others.
Not to "sell," but to create value that feels true to who I am.
I love how you've captured all this with the phrase "Sovereign Creator" .. says so much!
I am really happy you showed on on my Substack feed today and I'm really looking forward to reading more from you.
Sine really excellent truth bombs in there, very well written. The hamster wheel is a sure road to burn out, that's why it's essential to take a step back every now and then an smell the coffee.
Thanks Les…I took a long time to get this one out…it was very therapeutic.
This blog was something I needed to read, even though it's something I subconsciously knew! Thanks for sharing. It's refreshing to see others on the same path!
Very nice article. It’s a good reminder of why we do this and how important it is to make the work we do our own. It’s easy to get lost in chasing some arbitrary goal in this is a reminder to stay present and true to your work, and let the rest follow
This! This is what I needed to read today. Performance, especially high-output levels of content production, is a machine that doesn't end...unless we use it as leverage for what we're doing as creators. Thank you for expressing this so vividly.
I couldn’t agree more on almost all of this, and to hear it all laid out as you’ve done is giving me hope.
That was my intention. Glad to hear it landed
Excellent advice. I've heard similar but i like that you added 'structure' to the concept. Helpful. And the 'One' thing is what I have personally been thinking about in recent days. Thanks for writing.
Outstanding. Naming these ideas and feelings is very helpful. Great job and thanks.
Yes Kudos for naming these ideas and feelings...bring them all into the light for further examination...but not too many as to interrupt my writing... :)
Haha. No I would not want to do that
Thanks Will…yeah i wrestled with this one for quite some time. Hows oyur substack journey going?
It’s interesting. Think I have settled happily in my little space. Feel a little constricted by “sport” but it’s probably the way the world perceives the category rather than me. Starting to get a groove now. Keep charging mate.
perfect :)
So much that I have felt myself. I never really wanted to 'produce content' to feed the algorithms, but I tried and it was exhausting to the point that I stopped creating anything at all. It is such a relief to read this...It's okay to just be my own authentic, honest creator without the boundaries or coercion of the system.
Building on someone else's platform is renting.
You're only sovereign when you control the relationship with your audience.
I'm excited to have found your Substack, Ben. Thank you for sharing all of these very relatable thoughts! They mirror so much of what I've experienced, and I love sitting with the title of "Sovereign Creator." It captures so much of what I want to embody more in my work and shifting from the "performative" approach to content creation, rather than real authenticity and alignment. Cheers!🙌🏼
Thanks Joseph, glad to hear it :)
How do we reconcile "building a product to help people take the next step" with creative integrity and soveriegn creation. I don't really get it.
Linda, the way I see it, creative integrity and building products are not opposites, they’re extensions of the same path.
A sovereign creator doesn’t build a product because the market demands it, or because some growth manual told them to “monetize.” They build it because they’ve wrestled with a question, lived through the problem, and found a way forward worth sharing. The product then becomes the crystallisation of that lived truth, it's a structure that helps others take the same step with less confusion and less wasted time.
Hi Benjamin - thanks for this new framing. My definition of "product" defaults back to a viewpoint formed over decades of sales and marketing of tech products and services. I'm now developing a new mindset, and your definition is helping me see things through a new lens. I appreciate your insight! Have a wonderful day.