This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
Something I’ve been noticing a lot lately is that over time, so many content creators become caricatures of themselves.
You start off kind of eclectic, writing or talking about stuff you enjoy. One little slice of what you talk about really resonates, so you start doing more of it.
Over time, you start making money from it, and it becomes a bit of a business.
And now, you’re kind of locked in. You’ve got “an audience,” and everything you discuss needs to be filtered through this narrowly focused, specialized lens you’ve created for yourself.
Deviate from it, and “your audience” gets mad because “that’s not what I signed up for” or “that’s not why I follow you.”
I’ve noticed that a lot of my favorite internet people got my attention early on with unique insights about something. But over time, their web stuff becomes this formulaic, predictable, boring stream of “content” about that one topic rather than original thoughts.
I know what that’s like, because I was there, too.
For years, I grew an education business that started as me sharing what I was learning, which narrowed to JavaScript, which narrowed to vanilla JavaScript.
And it got fucking miserable, churning out narrowly-focused content day-after-day. It felt like bronze handcuffs (not gold, I was never that successful).
I can see it in a lot of people whose early work I really admired. I hope they don’t feel like I did!
I’m so sick of hyper-specialized, narrowly focused web presence.
Give me weird. Give me personal. Talk about more than just “your focus.” I want to hear about music and art and what you’re reading and your hobbies and travels.
Show me the real you. Make the web weird again!
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This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things