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I hope everyone is surviving the seemingly nationwide cold front. Ya boi has been living off of beef stew and chicken pot pie for the last four days, but reserves have run out, and temps are starting to climb.

I’m keeping today’s intro short and sweet as I’ve added an extra section today, and it’s also 5 AM at the time of writing, so my loquaciousness hasn’t quite kicked in just yet.

Let’s get into today’s yap sesh.

-Luke

Creating for the Sake of Creation

Let’s talk about creating for the sake of creating.

No algorithms, no audience expectations, no monetization strategies. Just you, your ideas, and that itch that doesn’t go away until you finally work on something creative.

As creators, it’s more than natural to want to shift gears and try on some new hats. Believe it or not, This is actually the most common thread I find throughout my creator friends. Wanting to try different things but feeling confined to the algorithm is a feeling that’s all too familiar, and if you’ve encountered this, you know that this feeling often creates resentment and stagnation within us creatives.

Today, I want to challenge that feeling of algorithmic reliance and remind you of why you started this journey in the first place.

First off, this shift in mindset or creative passions shouldn’t be a negative thing, it should be explored further to avoid dimming your light as a creator. Trying on these new hats allows for new angles that may unlock completely new ideas or approaches to your “normal” content. Exploring these new paths doesn’t mean you’re abandoning your core work. It’s actually what can keep you from feeling stuck in a box, and losing that love you once had for creating.

Instead of feeling like you’re not creating for the algorithm, try to reframe this as creating for yourself, because that in itself can feel like a reset.

Creating purely for yourself should be a reminder of why you started in the first place. Without the pressure of performance or the expectations of an algorithm, you get to rediscover the joy of simply making something.

It’s also worth remembering that creativity has always thrived on exploration. The idea that you need to stick to one thing forever definitely isn’t how the greatest creatives have worked. They’ve explored. They’ve dabbled. They’ve let themselves be pulled in different directions. That curiosity didn’t weaken their primary work. It added depth to it.

When you allow yourself to experiment, you come back to your main passion with fresh ideas and new energy.

So if you’re feeling the pull to try something new, follow it. Write for fun. Make a video that makes you laugh. Take on something you know you won’t master, just because it excites you. These moments of unpolished, unfiltered creativity might seem small, but they can allow a completely new perspective on your work.

Being a creator isn’t just about producing for others. It’s also about staying true to what keeps you inspired. Letting yourself explore isn’t a distraction—it’s part of the process.

Shoutouts!

I’m super excited to announce and shout out the release of Sponsor Magnet, a book by the Creator Wizard himself, Justin Moore!

Justin is an absolute pro in the creator space, especially when it comes to navigating brand deals. As my main goal in this newsletter is to speak creator and help fellow budding creatives think about surviving & thriving in this dynamic industry, I always want to bring solid suggestions to the table, and Sponsor Magnet is no exception.

If you want to make sure you don’t leave money on the table, or you just want to become more well versed in the brand deal space, this book is a must read. I’ve had the chance to dive into the first few chapters and it’s legit a goldmine of insight, you seriously don’t want to miss this one.

Massive congrats to Justin on the launch, I know this book will change the trajectories of many creator careers, mine included!

If you want to order the book - check it out here, or at sponsormagnet.com.

Shoutouts Continued

I have to shout out some readers as well!

In a recent issue, I asked you readers what you have going on, and what can you share with the rest of the Cmd+Shift+Create community. While a lot of you are feeling shy, my creator economy pal, and killer creator, Valentin Farkasch, dropped some of his most recent work.

Whether it’s interviewing creators like Becca Farsace from The Verge (3.4M subs) to learn more about creator trajectories and journeys or exploring things like finding creator friends, showcasing fellow creators’ studios, or beyond, Valentin’s channel is a peek behind the curtain when it comes to creator careers. His content is approachable, digestible, and, most importantly, insightful.

At the same time, Valentin also has some big personal goals for 2025:

The first is to launch the best online co-working community for solo content creators, and the second is to host the coolest international creator event in Vienna around September.

Are any of you readers interested in connecting with Valentin to learn more? If so, reply to this email and I’ll make a warm intro. 😎 

I know Valentin is going to crush his goals this year, and I can’t wait to hear what the rest of you readers have on the radar. Be sure to let me know and I’ll help out however I can!!

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Hope you enjoyed this week’s post. See you next week ✌️