One.
Hype: OMG SUCCESS IN THE 2020s = NEWSLETTERS!
Technology: Substack, Ghost, Mailchimp, etc.
Craft: Writing
Hype: OMG SUCCESS IN THE 2020s = SELL A COURSE!
Technology: Kajabi, Udemy, etc.
Craft: Teaching and being a subject specialist
Hype: OMG BECOME A POP STAR IN YOUR BEDROOM!
Technology: TikTok
Craft: Making music
You can almost certainly find the same pattern in the medium or industry where you work.
Craft + nothing = a hobby.
Craft + Technology that connects you to your audience = reasonable professional success.
Craft + Technology that connects you to your audience and is just about to get hyped = jackpot!
Craft + Technology that connects you to your audience and is the current object of hype = if you work really hard, you will probably be able to carve niche for yourself.
Technology + Hype = there’s a sucker born every minute.
Being good at your craft is always a win. Hobbies are great. Getting paid to do what you love is great.
Understanding how to connect your craft to a paying audience is essential if you want to get paid. (Some people do this for themselves. Most people do it by getting a job.)
The largest amount of money goes to the people who make and control the technology.
There’s a huge pile of money that goes to the people who sell hype to the suckers. (I hope your ethics won’t allow you to do that.)
For me, it’s about the craft of communication. If I get really good at that, and I’m good enough at choosing the right technology, and I’m wise enough to see through the hype – I think it will work out okay.
Two.
Buford has a fine, strong chin. Like all sophisticated horses, he drinks his tea with a straw.
Three.
When Sky Ferreira was the bright young talent everyone was raving about in the early 2010s, I didn’t get it, except for “Everything is Embarrassing” obvs. I revisited her album last week. I love it now. It seems my tastes have changed over the last nine years.
Focus on improving your craft.
Try to choose the technology1 that best connects you with your people.
Be wise about the hype.
Grow slowly
Jeff
I’m using “technology” loosely. The technology you use to you connect with your people might be a circle of chairs in a room.
When you write from the helm like that, I am so grateful to be on board! (But that song at 6 a.m., no bueno.🙃). And Buford is delightful and taking tea time seriously is sweet. So I’m spring boarding off using chairs for my technology. Zero gravity are in my very near future. Lazy summer days are in my forecast. How ‘bout your summertime plans?