Avoid the average creator timeline.

When creating starts to feel like a chore, do this.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Issue #49 | August 1st, 2023 Hi, there, it's Pat! As you might know, I started a YouTube channel in the Pokémon niche a couple of years ago. That channel now has over 650,000 subscribers and nearly 200M views. Lots of other creators have since asked me for advice, and I try to help when I can. One particular YouTuber — a fellow “PokéTuber” (as we call ourselves) — recently reached out to me in desperation. He told me his backstory, and it reminded me of so many other business owners, entrepreneurs, podcasters, writers, and other creators from the SPI world that I’ve seen end up in the same place. What place is that? The Land of Bland. You know… - Where the excitement and energy to create is gone. - Where you feel like you have to create content just to “stay on schedule.” - Where you feel pigeoned-holed into doing the same thing over and over again, like you can’t escape. - Where you sometimes just want to give up. If that’s you, I got you. Let’s get unstuck. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” – Rita Mae Brown. THE STORY Here is the exact DM my fellow Pokémon-enthusiast sent me on Instagram: “Hey Pat, I hope this isn’t asking too much of you, but I need some advice. I love Pokémon, that hasn’t changed, but I don’t love being a content creator anymore. I’m drained, and I don’t know where this is all really going. Sorry if this is cryptic, I just need some advice from someone who seems to have it all figured out.” First of all, I don’t have it all figured out. I’m still learning and I can’t lie and say I don’t have days where I feel like creating anything is a chore that I don’t want to do. But I do remember what it’s like to feel that all of the time — almost to the point of burning out and quitting — and I remember specifically what I did to get out of that funk and get going again. I found the fun again. That’s really it. It’s that simple: I found the fun again. I found some way to bring back a spark to what I was doing. Sometimes that was changing it up a bit. Sometimes it was adding a little challenge. Sometimes it was doing it with someone else. Sometimes it was gamifying the numbers. It doesn’t matter. Fun is different to different people, but here’s the truth: If you’re having fun creating the content, your audience is more likely to have fun consuming it. And of course, the opposite is true, too. CALL TO ACTION FIND 👏 THE 👏 SPARK 👏 If you’re not stoked to create anymore, something has to change. It doesn’t mean it’s gonna be easy, but find something that gets you stoked on what you’re doing and who you’re helping! Maybe you’ve been grinding, doing what worked before, but it feels repetitive and boring. Well, your audience probably feels the same way too. Don’t do yourself, and your audience, a disservice by creating just to create. It’s already noisy out here, so have fun creating, and we’ll have fun consuming. Light it up y’all! ​ SPONSORED BY VISTAPRINT Make Your Mark with Unique Branding Your business is one-of-a-kind and your logo should be too. Whether you know exactly what you want or could use help refining your vision, there’s a VistaPrint logo design service for you. - Logomaker by VistaprintⓇ: This is a do-it-yourself, free tool that you can use to create a logo in minutes by providing a few simple details like your business name and industry. - Hire a designer: Alternatively, for just US$149, you can connect 1-to-1 with a professional designer to create a custom logo. - Start a design contest: Unsure what style of logo you're looking for? Start a design contest and a global community of professional freelance designers will submit unique, custom concepts to your brief. You just pick your favorite. Your logo is just the beginning! From designing a new website to printing head-turning merch, VistaPrint will be there to help you and your business stand out. [Get your new logo today!]() SPI NEWS AND EVENTS We work hard at SPI to remain unstuck and consistently provide you with the best ways to support your business. Check it out: Today is your very last chance to get a Serve First teeshirt. This limited edition teeshirt is only available until August 2nd, [so get yours now](=)! Our merch store also has notebooks, posters and more. 😎 Are you passionate about creating captivating content, but not sure where to start? Look no further! Our upcoming YouTube From Scratch Accelerator, exclusively available in the All-Access Pass, is just what you need to skyrocket your YouTube game to new heights. [Become a member today](=), the accelerator program kicks off this Thursday. Let's make your YouTube dreams a reality together! Discover the power of community networking! Join us on August 9th from 2:00-3:00 PM ET for a can’t-miss virtual networking event! Connect with like-minded professionals from the SPI Pro Community and the SPI team, learn about the diverse businesses of fellow entrepreneurs, and make valuable connections. Space is limited — [sign up now for this fun-filled hour]( of inspiration and growth! DAD JOKE OF THE WEEK What’s the leading cause of dry skin? Towels. Did a cool person forward you this email? [Sign up here for free](. Want to reach over 125,000 entrepreneurs? [Become a sponsor](. [Link to SPI's Website](=) [Link to SPI's Twitter Account]( [Link to SPI's LinkedIn Account]( [Link to Pat Flynn's YouTube Account]() You are receiving this because you signed up for Pat Flynn’s newsletter at [smartpassiveincome.com](=). If you'd like to adjust which emails you receive or update your name and email address, click here: . If you'd like to stop receiving all emails from SPI, click here: . No hard feelings. 10531 4S Commons Drive, Suite 524, San Diego, CA 92127