3. Lean into platforms with accumulating advantages
I launched a podcast in 2019 and self-produced 52 episodes.
It averaged a respectable 3,000 downloads, but with a catch.
Conversation
It took about 5,000 total hours. And it didn't grow our audience.
The podcast was great for deepening engagement, but lacked built-in discovery.
If I did it again, I'd invest more into TikTok, YouTube, Twitter and/or SEO.
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4. Conduct more surveys
We've got a ridiculous amount of engagement and loyalty.
Our readers would gladly fill out surveys and do user interviews that could shape future offers.
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But I have the insecurity around "asking for a favor" Even for a 3 minute survey.
(I know, it makes NO sense.)
Plus, reviewing the data takes a ton of time and isn't totally $10K Work.
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But this data could've been used to inform new essays, products and events.
We would've learned more about our readers deepest desires and their lingering pain points.
We could've created an *even better* experience for them.
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5. Iterate on the "Big Idea"
Think Deep Work, Radical Candor, Second Brain or Black Swans.
They are the ultimate "containers" for your pool of ideas.
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Stop doing low-value work.
Your $10K journey starts here 
radreads.co/10k-work/
radreads.co/10k-work/1
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When executed properly, they can become memes.
They'll spread in the form of blog posts, tweets and other UGC.
Identifying the Big Idea is an odd mix of experimentation, user research, Zeitgeist mapping, visualization and identifying first principles.
And a whole lotta luck.
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Thankfully, over these 7 years I did a lot of things right and compounded many small wins:
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To summarize, here's how to play the "long game" as a creator:
1. Follow the fun
2. Master one distribution channel
3. Find a "big idea"
4. Leverage your tribe
5. It's OK to take a break
Show this thread
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Here are things I wish I had done differently as a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed creator:
1. Start hiring earlier
2. Attempt to monetize earlier
3. Lean into platforms w/built-in discovery
4. Conduct more surveys
5. Lean into the "Big Idea"
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🥰 This list is great, Khe! I've bookmarked these and will take some of these lessons to heart.
I can totally see myself making some of these mistakes, though! <3
Godspeed, Khe. Thanks for everything you've written and done 😊
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