As many of the people who have responded to it have said, it twangs a personal nerve regarding the tension between intelligence and how this rarely ever simply equates to financial success.
I’m someone who’s spent the last twenty years in and around academia, mostly in film and media studies, with a parallel life in podcasting and creative media. I’ve certainly wrestled with the question of how to “make ideas travel,” particularly when stepping beyond the institutional structures that used to define scholarly work.
Where I’d diverge slightly from your framing is the notion that intellectual complexity is the problem to be solved. There’s a risk, I think, in drawing too sharp a line between clarity and complexity - as if the former is always marketable and the latter always a liability. For me, the challenge isn’t that deep thinkers can’t be clear - it’s that platforms often reward a kind of superficial clarity that flattens thought into bullet points and soundbites. And for those of us trained to dwell in ambiguity, that can feel like a betrayal of the intellectual impulse.
That said, I absolutely agree that ideas have to be shaped, voiced, and shared differently in public-facing spaces. But I suppose I’d want to hope that there is an alternative to just shaping one's work to the criteria defined by either a platform's structure or just ease of digestion by the most people. Maybe it's naive but I'd like to keep trying to find ways to do it without compromising the core of what we value in our work. Not everyone wants to build a funnel or package their worldview into a five-step framework. Some of us are more interested in building intellectual ecosystems that invite reflection and exchange, even if they take longer to grow.
I agree that we need to challenge ourselves to communicate in ways that connect - without capitulating to the lowest common denominator. Maybe my economic potential will be compromised but the building of a body of work I can reflect back on honestly is the primary motivation, and thankfully that is the thing that is making me reasonably consistent.
Can resonate with this. The need to feel expert in everything. The need for it to be just right. The frustration of seeing basic stuff just fly when you know it could be better and missing the point altogether.
This was literally me a few months ago. I used to hesitate to take the next step because I watched so many videos from ‘experts’ that made me overthink whether I should move forward or not. That led me to procrastinate and make zero dollars. Then I decided to stop watching those videos and start taking action. Guess what? I’m making more money than before. I can easily pay my bills, go on vacations, and I feel even more motivated to keep going.
Great post. I think you nailed many important points. However not all that sweet.
First problem -sometimes you have nothing to sell. Me for instance, I am quite good at certain things, but my potential audience is very small, and many of them barely peresent online
Second problem - time. Somewhere around 50 you understand that time matters, and you have no 10 years to invest in a project.
Third problem. No matter how you trie hard, success is always matter of luck. For each successful story you you'll find thousand people, same talented and dedicated who die in obscurity. So 50 y.o. often build strategy where luck is not a factor. That is why performing online is not for them
I am reminded of the Julia Cameron quote that, "it is audacity, not talent, that makes the artist." And this "you learn more from iterating than you do from taking classes" applies to almost everything. Classes are valuable. Some form of education is necessary--it does speed up the whole process and allows you to learn from other people's mistakes. But none of it matters unless you're actually putting what you learned into place. And this applies to other practices (like screenwriting!) not just online content and marketing.
This is all true and something I needed to hear.
Glad it resonated
Thanks. I needed to hear this - again.
Glad it was helpful, Larry
Excellent insight! I liked this post because I could see myself in several moments of my life.
Glad it was helpful
As many of the people who have responded to it have said, it twangs a personal nerve regarding the tension between intelligence and how this rarely ever simply equates to financial success.
I’m someone who’s spent the last twenty years in and around academia, mostly in film and media studies, with a parallel life in podcasting and creative media. I’ve certainly wrestled with the question of how to “make ideas travel,” particularly when stepping beyond the institutional structures that used to define scholarly work.
Where I’d diverge slightly from your framing is the notion that intellectual complexity is the problem to be solved. There’s a risk, I think, in drawing too sharp a line between clarity and complexity - as if the former is always marketable and the latter always a liability. For me, the challenge isn’t that deep thinkers can’t be clear - it’s that platforms often reward a kind of superficial clarity that flattens thought into bullet points and soundbites. And for those of us trained to dwell in ambiguity, that can feel like a betrayal of the intellectual impulse.
That said, I absolutely agree that ideas have to be shaped, voiced, and shared differently in public-facing spaces. But I suppose I’d want to hope that there is an alternative to just shaping one's work to the criteria defined by either a platform's structure or just ease of digestion by the most people. Maybe it's naive but I'd like to keep trying to find ways to do it without compromising the core of what we value in our work. Not everyone wants to build a funnel or package their worldview into a five-step framework. Some of us are more interested in building intellectual ecosystems that invite reflection and exchange, even if they take longer to grow.
I agree that we need to challenge ourselves to communicate in ways that connect - without capitulating to the lowest common denominator. Maybe my economic potential will be compromised but the building of a body of work I can reflect back on honestly is the primary motivation, and thankfully that is the thing that is making me reasonably consistent.
Thank you, Dario.
Can resonate with this. The need to feel expert in everything. The need for it to be just right. The frustration of seeing basic stuff just fly when you know it could be better and missing the point altogether.
Thanks, Ian.
Dude… you just nailed everything I struggle with. I’m so glad I found you here!
🫡
Great insights, thanks for sharing!
You're welcome
It is like that. Like the swoosh says
JUST DO IT
🫡
This was literally me a few months ago. I used to hesitate to take the next step because I watched so many videos from ‘experts’ that made me overthink whether I should move forward or not. That led me to procrastinate and make zero dollars. Then I decided to stop watching those videos and start taking action. Guess what? I’m making more money than before. I can easily pay my bills, go on vacations, and I feel even more motivated to keep going.
Love it
Putting in the reps is hard to accept but so necessary
true words, Drew.
Thanks, Matt.
well said! i need to hear that now, thanks!
🫡
Great post. I think you nailed many important points. However not all that sweet.
First problem -sometimes you have nothing to sell. Me for instance, I am quite good at certain things, but my potential audience is very small, and many of them barely peresent online
Second problem - time. Somewhere around 50 you understand that time matters, and you have no 10 years to invest in a project.
Third problem. No matter how you trie hard, success is always matter of luck. For each successful story you you'll find thousand people, same talented and dedicated who die in obscurity. So 50 y.o. often build strategy where luck is not a factor. That is why performing online is not for them
Hi Jonathan
1/ create a coaching offer. talked about that numerous time. doesn't require much.
2/ if you can't invest one hour a day, then probably best to pass on this
3/ luck will find you if you stick to it long enough
Time I mean not how many hours a day to invest. Actually mid life people usually have a lot of free time. Time I mean how many years should I wait.
To work hard for years may be it's ok when you are in you twenties. Not in 50es
that makes total sense, Jonathan.
I am reminded of the Julia Cameron quote that, "it is audacity, not talent, that makes the artist." And this "you learn more from iterating than you do from taking classes" applies to almost everything. Classes are valuable. Some form of education is necessary--it does speed up the whole process and allows you to learn from other people's mistakes. But none of it matters unless you're actually putting what you learned into place. And this applies to other practices (like screenwriting!) not just online content and marketing.
Totally agree.
Theory IS important. but theory with no action = useless
Thanks for dropping Julia's quote – that's new to me!
That's what I call motivation. Thx for the insights
BOOM!
Thanks for this. Been thinking I was the only one who had the same issue :)
Haha :)
Hmmm..🤔