What Is Your Content Tilt?

Episode 2 of The 10k Creator is out now! You can watch or listen to it at 10kCreatorShow.com

In this week's episode of The 10k Creator, Joe and I discussed the steps from 0-500 subs and revenue.

In today's email, I'll walk you through the intentional approach to take so that this becomes a stepping stone on the way to 10k, rather than where you happened to end up!

When starting any journey you need to know a few important things:

• Where you're going
• Where you're starting from
• What kind of journey you're about to take

This info is important because without it, you could take off in the wrong direction, run out of gas, take the wrong vehicle for the trip, not have enough food, end up in a bad part of town, or be too worried to ever start!

The same applies to the journey to 10k in our businesses. We start with the end in mind, then take an intentional approach to get there.

“If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”~Jim Rohn

Let's dive in:

Know Where You're Going

The first step as we've mentioned is to know your destination before you start any other planning or start your journey.

Have you thought about where you want your business to be?

Maybe you want to have your creative business be your full-time income, make $10k/month, have time to travel and have experiences with your friends and family, save and invest, and create your own stability.

Maybe it's enough to have a few hundred or a thousand dollars a month for some extra spending or saving money.

Maybe you're driven by contribution and connection, and you want to grow a large community of people you can serve through your art.

It's different for each of us, and if you don't take time to decide where you want to be, how can you ever expect to arrive there?

Take time to free write or meditate or plan out your dream scenario. What would perfect look like? is a good prompt.

Where Are You Starting From?

As mentioned in the episode, Joe talks about the importance of finding your sweet spot and identifying your content tilt when you're starting out.

This is where you're starting from - the work you do before you start your engine and put your foot on the gas.

From Joe's book, Content, Inc.:

Simply put, the entrepreneur needs to uncover a content area that the business model will be based on. To make this happen, we need to identify a sweet spot that will attract an audience over time. This sweet spot is the intersection of a knowledge or skill set (something the entrepreneur or business has a competency in) and a specific audience desire. (Emphasis added)

So, to start out, you need to identify your knowledge or skill set that you're going to share or teach, and the desire of the audience you seek to serve.

As an example, my sweet spot for Craftsman Creative is the intersection of my skills and knowledge as a film producer and creative business owner, and my audience's desire to build a successful, profitable creative business for themselves.

I can teach them principles, strategies, frameworks, and systems that they can implement in their own lives to become successful creators and business owners.

Cool, right?

Then, you marry that with your "Content Tilt", the thing that will differentiate you from everyone else out there.

For me, that's the "Craftsman" approach. The crafsman mindset. My craftsman branding. It's a different approach than anyone else is taking who is serving this audience.

I also serve creative entrepreneur, not just entrepreneurs or creators. That adds specificity to my business and the way I approach it.

What Journey Are You About To Take?

By doing the work of defining your sweet spot and content tilt, you now have a better idea of the journey ahead of you.

Is it long, or short? Rocky or flat? Will you take it alone or with a car full of people?

This outcome-first (or "destination-first" in this analogy) approach will inform your strategy, your content, your products and services, and the people you choose to serve.

Do the work now if you haven't yet to define these things for your business, and let me know what you come up with!

Shoot me an email and share your sweet spot and content tilt with me, and I'll share a resource I think will help you on your journey.

Daren

PS - Craftsman Creative is a "choose your own adventure" type deal, so there are a few paths you can take from here:

1. Check out the different topics on the blog and head down a rabbit hole of what you need most in your business right now.
2. Learn how to build a six-figure creative business with my book, Craftsman Creative​
3. Join the Society of Independent Creators, a new online community for supporting, teaching, and even investing in each other's creative projects.​

LINKS FOR THIS WEEK

Justin Moore is the guy I turn to when I have questions about brand deals or sponsors. He's light years ahead of me when it comes to knowing what works when finding sponsors for content and opportunities to work with brands.

In his live, cohort-based course, Brand Deal Wizard he walks you through everything you need to master these same skills.

Learn more about the course and sign up here. (Enrollment ends on 10/16!)

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Nick Gray is a new friend. How? Because he's mastered how to make new friends. (Crazy how that works...)

I've read his awesome book The 2-Hour Cocktail Party and am planning the first event next month, and his newsletter - aptly called the Friends Newsletter - shares exclusive business research, top tech gadgets, and new productivity tips. Get it for free here.

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Currently reading: Get Together: How to build a community with your people by Bailey Richardson, Kevin Huynh, and Kai Elmer Sotto. As I'm building and focusing more time on the Society of Independent Creators (with a VERY exciting project I'll be talking about soon), I wanted to get other perspectives on creating community. This book has a great one, and I'm enjoying the lessons and teachings inside.

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​#IFBProject is live! Today is day 1 of my next Build In Public project - a 30-day build of a new product called Indie Film Budgets. While the product likely isn't for 99% of my audience, the process of building a new project in 30 days is super applicable. By sharing the process publicly you'll be able to learn from me as well as connect with others looking to do the same.