Five Years of Creating Content

What You've Taught Me

Five years ago, I spent three weeks creating a five-minute video. Two weeks to get the lighting and audio right, another week to edit. When I watch it now, I laugh at how terrible it was. But that video started something I couldn't have imagined. I have linked my first-ever video at the end of this newsletter for us to laugh together.

As I approach this milestone, I want to share what I've learned—not just about content creation, but about myself, my voice, and the incredible community that's grown around this work. Most importantly, I want to express my gratitude for your investment in this journey. You've taught me more than I could have ever taught you.

Lesson 1: Perfection Is the Enemy of Progress

That first video taught me everything I needed to know about getting started. I created a weekly video challenge that forced me to choose progress over perfection. For a year, I had to upload content every week, which meant I had to become efficient and let go of the idea that everything would be perfect.

Eventually, I learned that my best content came from inspiration, not obligation. I broke away from the weekly schedule and followed my natural rhythm. The constraint taught me the skills; the freedom taught me my voice.

Lesson 2: Your Niche Finds You

I have a new saying: you don't create your niche, your niche finds you. I set out to write about economics, but I discovered that the content generating the most engagement was about life lessons and personal development.

For a while, I was torn about which direction to pursue. Then I realized there's no separation; economics is personal. People engage with economic concepts when they see how they apply to their own growth. My unique positioning became clear: I help people see that economic thinking is, in fact, a form of professional development.

Lesson 3: Writing Is Therapy, and Community Development

Writing became my primary medium because it allows me to process my thoughts and develop my positioning on topics. The newsletter began as a supplement to videos but has since become my primary method of communication this year.

I write for engagement, for community. I'd rather have a smaller, devoted audience than a large, disconnected one. People who read are more engaged than those who skim viral videos. You've proven this to me through your thoughtful responses and the way you engage with the ideas.

Lesson 4: Development Is the Mission

As a professor, I initially thought leadership and personal development were separate from economics. However, I've come to realize that the role of higher education, and by extension, my role, is fundamentally about developing people. We can achieve this through specialized content, as well as through life experiences and personal knowledge.

This insight has freed me to integrate all aspects of who I am professionally. Economics, leadership, and personal growth; they're all connected because they're all about helping people navigate their world more effectively.

Lesson 5: You Have Value to Add

Perhaps the most important lesson: I learned that I have value to add. That my voice is unique and helps others see the world from a slightly different perspective. Creating content has reduced my impostor syndrome because I've carefully articulated my thoughts and received confirmation that they resonate.

Plus, if you can handle mean social media comments, you can handle them in real life. Content creation builds resilience in unexpected ways.

What You've Given Me

Recently, the feedback has increased dramatically. I hear from students, faculty members, and people I don't personally know saying the content is "exactly what I needed." This phrase, “exactly what I needed”, represents everything I hoped this work could become.

You've taught me that authentic expression finds its audience. You've shown me that vulnerability builds connection. You've demonstrated that when you share your genuine thoughts and experiences, you give others permission to do the same.

Your engagement has been my greatest education. Every comment, every shared experience, every time you've told me how a piece of content helped you—that's been my real curriculum in understanding what thought leadership actually means.

The Next Phase

As I look ahead, I'm excited to create more content and find new ways to hear from you. I want to create more “flow” between us, more dialogue, more mutual learning.

So here's my call to action for this milestone: help me understand what you want to see more of in the next phase of this journey. What topics resonate most? What format serves you best? How can I better serve the community we've built together? Leave a comment or email me.

The Takeaway

Five years ago, I thought content creation was about sharing what I knew. I've learned it's actually about creating space for what we can discover together.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for your patience during those early videos. Thank you for your engagement with the newsletter. Thank you for showing me that when you lead with authenticity and genuine care for your audience, you build something much more valuable than a following, you build a community.

Your investment in this work has taught me that the best thought leadership isn't about being the smartest person in the room. It's about creating space for everyone to learn and grow together.

Stay curious,

Dr. A

What would you like to see more of in the next phase of Economics with Dr. A? Reply and let me know—your input will directly shape what comes next.

My First Video

My Latest Video