For those with a small following

Some things I’ve learned from having a small following:

1) You’re going to find every excuse to quit. So quit…the stuff that isn’t working. Don’t quit all together.

2) It was never going to be easy, but it shouldn’t be miserable. Find a balance between challenging and fun.

3) Rely on your mentors for encouragement. They’ll remind you why you started in the first place.

4) Try out that new idea. You might as well since not that many people are going to see it. Besides, you’re a pretty poor judge of what will actually work.

5) Remember the compliments you’ve received. It might not be many, but someone is watching. Someone cares. The work is for them.

6) Show up every day. Practice. No excuses.

7) Be aware. Yeah, your old stuff sucks, but remember it’s a sign you’re improving.

8) Be real. If you forget how to be authentic, fall back on sharing what you learn in a creative way.

9) Keep learning, keep observing, keep listening.

10) Keep talking to others about what you love. Draw people towards you who have the same interests.

11) Do you really need a massive following? Maybe all it takes is 1,000 true fans.

12) Ignore the statistics. They will drain you. You need the energy.

13) Be on every platform that welcomes you. Every follower matters.

14) Promote the work of others. Not because you need more followers, but because their work inspires you. Be honest.

15) Use empathy. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes. But don’t forget why you started in the first place:

For yourself.

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Source: nickjcarlson.com