Can you be authentic without selling out?
Avi from Quora asks:
Do you think creators only make content for views? Why does it feel like when they make what they truly love, nobody watches?
I think it’s fair to say that any creator who has reached a certain level of success "does it for the views."
But that’s not as cynical as it sounds.
Views are what sustain the hobby and turn it into a career.
In a way, we all do it for the views because nobody wants to work in a vacuum.
We all want to grow and improve in some way.
The real question is the motivation behind those views.
Usually, "making it for the views" is used as a localized insult.
It implies you’re chasing attention rather than saying something worth hearing.
But the reality is that motivations vary.
Some people chase the high of a viral hit.
Some just enjoy the process of creating.
So, why does it feel like nobody watches the stuff you truly love?
When I started, I thought content was purely about my own creativity.
That works for a hobby.
But if you want to reach people, you have to pivot from "what do I care about?" to "how does this serve them?"
People watch what relates to them.
When we make what we truly love without considering the audience, we’re often making it for ourselves.
That’s fine, but we can’t be surprised when an audience of one (ourselves) is the only one who shows up.
The sweet spot is the intersection between what you love and what your audience needs.
Sometimes you have to lead with what they care about just to get the privilege of sharing what you care about.
It’s not selling out.
It’s being of service.
ready to work together?