The Value Creator's Manifesto

Attention and time are people's most precious resource.

👉🏻 If you aren't willing to pay for your content with your attention and time—why are you creating it?

👉🏻 If your work isn't legendary, if it won't improve someone's life—why are you creating it?

No one owes you their attention. Earn it by creating value.

• Obvious content: "3 Steps to get from A to B", "How to do X" ...
• Non-Obvious content: Non-obvious connections between topics, "Here are 3 timeless ways to think about the situation"...

Obvious content gets outdated quickly.

👉🏻 Non-obvious content remains relevant for years—or even generations.

But if you speak to everyone, you speak to no one.

So:

• Strive for non-obvious insights
• Have ONE person in mind when creating content

People who like running often talk about "Runner's High"—The rush of good feelings while on a run.

Non-obvious content requires deep thinking.

👉🏻 If you can make thinking pleasurable, creating non-obvious content will be really fun.

If you merely "find your niche", you'll never stand out.

👉🏻 If you want zero competition, create your own category.

• What is Ryan Holiday known for? (Applied) Stoicism.
• What is Tiago Forte known for? Building a Second Brain.
• What is Ali Abdaal known for? Acing medical school at Cambridge, and now Productivity.

So think about:

👉🏻 What's your unique intersection of skills and interests?

👉🏻 Give this intersection a name and claim it.

Remember: The best competition is no competition.

If no one knows what you're doing...

They won't get value from your work.

👉🏻  Show your work. Get feedback. Improve on it. Keep providing value.

But that will only happen if you publish.

• I created a $1 Desktop Wallpaper to remind you of these principles every day.
• I highly recommend reading Category Pirates*, the book on which this Manifesto was based.
• Scared of publishing? Just learn—and do it in public. Here's my previous Stash on Why You Should Learn in Public.

You can also follow me for more non-obvious insights on intentional living :)

*: Amazon Affiliate link, at no extra cost to you