How to Work Smarter as a Creator
The creator economy is on the rise. When you are on a social media platform like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok, you're guaranteed to come across a creator and consume something directly from a creator. Gone were the days when creators or artists were kept behind the scene, behind a big-company-name. People used to support businesses or brands and not individuals or creators directly. Today, creators have direct contact with their audience and there are many ways to get your creation directly to the hands of your audience.
However, one big challenge that creators face in this new environment is that they don't actually end up producing as many artefacts as they used to. There is no longer the pressure from an account manager, a marketing coordinator or someone on the other end of the computer screen to demand your work to be delivered on time. Without the boundary or the clear finish line, creators end up working hard and spending way too much time polishing and perfecting. Unfortunately, after a while, they lose momentum and interest on the project and move onto something else. Creators, often idealists by nature, therefore need discipline and structure even if they might not like it.
It's no stranger to me
I can totally relate as a recovering perfectionist with all-or-nothing mentality. Here is my story. 15 years ago, as a developer, I freelanced for a digital agency. The agency would assign me work and I would produce them, according to their requirements and timeline. I enjoyed the creation and execution part but I knew I had to deliver within the agreed specification and timeline. So I didn't have the chance to fuss over small details or add to the scope because I felt like something would be nice to have.
Today, I no longer freelance. I had the freedom and creativity. Initially, I was energised and motivated. I worked long and hard. However, I struggled to produce results. I had so many unfinished work-I'd create drafts after drafts, tinkered with new platforms, and just buffering and being excited about the thought of unlimited creativity and freedom. Without actually realising the potential. To put it bluntly, I was working hard and being busy but there was nothing to show for it.
I was forever waiting for motivation and inspiration to finish an amazing piece of work.
My light-bulb moment
Then, one day, it clicked for me. The creator economy is of no benefit to me if I am not actually creating anything that will arrive to my audience. Even as a logical person, it took me a while to realise that motivation and inspiration are limited. What I need is a system that drives me towards an outcome. I have heard these cliches many times, but they are indeed true. Done is better than perfect. Don't work harder, work smarter.
Here comes the creator system
So I created a system for myself. A system that has enabled me to let things go before I'm ready. It's been liberating. So let me share with you an outline of what my system looks like. They are broken down into three parts. It's based on an OKR (Objectives and Key Results) system that is widely used amongst tech companies in Silicon Valley like Google.
- Top-level Goals
- Key Results
- Tasks List
I then go by the following cadence.
- Top-level Goals are created yearly.
- Key Results are reviewed quarterly.
- Tasks List is updated monthly.
Tasks List, therefore, serves as my To-Do list while making sure that I am not putting an effort into activities that are aligned with my top-level goals.
You may check out the system I've personally used here. I've populated the system with relatable goals, key results and tasks, as well as great resources for creators. You can see the outcome of the system by checking out my social media and website.
Whether you're a maker, content creator, freelancer, indie hacker, influencer, or thought leader, having a system like I described above will help you stay organised and on track. You no longer need to rely solely on your motivation or inspiration to get things done. The system has personally enabled me to effortlessly move forward in the right direction and achieve my goals.
Final words: Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations
These days, a lot of people ask me about how I manage to consistently produce content and maintain my personal brand. They want to know how I find motivation and inspiration. Here is the truth; as a working mother with a demanding full-time job, I don't always have the energy, motivation, or inspiration. But my key to consistently producing content is through this system that I've created. I am not waiting for an inspiration to strike or creative energy to appear, I just sit at my desk and get to work.
The system also allows me to set a clear boundary and work-life balance because I am not busy doing busy work, I am being productive and purposeful with what I am doing.
As Stephen R. Covey put it in his best selling book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
Begin With the End in Mind
The habit of "Begin With the End in Mind" is a fundamental habit for creators to have if we were to succeed in the creator economy. We need a system with clear goals, objectives and most importantly, deliverables, helping us to move forward in the right direction and guiding us when we have to make decisions.
So don't wait for the perfect time or the perfect moment, creators. Apply the same system in your creator journey to stop procrastinating and start shipping!
