If I look back a few years, I can name several friends, colleagues, and people I know who were in a very similar position to me. They were early in their new businesses, struggling to find clients and customers. Some of them are still in that same situation today 5 years later—some good months, some bad months, and a constant cycle of stress that keeps them from fully escaping the trap. Now, I’m not going to whitewash anything. I was lucky in some ways, especially in that I sold a company, which gave me a little bit of security when starting over. (Though mentally i didnt feel secure but thats another story). But regardless years later, the difference between where I am today and where some of them are now doesn’t come down to luck. It comes down to a choice. I chose to create content. They chose to do something else. Some of them dabbled in content here and there, but they never fully committed. I took it seriously. I treated content like it was life or death. And because of that, I broke out of the cycle. I’ve done cold outreach. I’ve sent cold emails. I know that you can get customers that way. But having done both, I can tell you that content and cold outreach are not even in the same arena. They are not comparable in any way, shape, or form. Everyone needs to do what works for them. There’s no single piece of advice that applies to everyone. But if I were in the position of needing to make something work, I would do everything in my power to make content work. Even if it meant putting in more time. Even if it meant sacrificing some of my personal life for a while. I know that might go against the anti-grind, anti-hustle culture that says you can have it all, balance everything, and still grow a business. But that wasn’t my reality. I couldn’t do it that way. It was hard hearing from my daughter that she was sad I missed her soccer game. It hits you as deep as it can be. But looking back, I am so grateful that I put in the time. I have much more control now.

when I first started building my online community, I thought it would be simple. Put out great content, show up consistently, and the right people would magically appear, right? Yeah… not exactly.... I quickly realized that growing a thriving community isn’t just about content it’s about connection. It’s about creating a space where people feel seen, valued, and excited to stick around. So, after plenty of trial and error, here’s what actually worked for me (and what can work for you too). 1. define your people this is where most people go wrong they try to attract everyone . But a strong community isn’t for everyone , it’s for the right ones . Who are your people? What do they dream about? What challenges keep them up at night? Get super clear on this, and everything else your content, offers, messaging gets easier. Pro tip: create a saved folder on Instagram or Pinterest with posts your ideal members would love. This keeps their needs top of mind when you're creating content. 2. step into leadership people don’t join a community just because it exists . They join because they trust the person leading it. Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be the world’s top expert. You just need to be a few steps ahead, willing to share what you know, and committed to showing up. Make your expertise visible update your about page, share your experiences, and don’t be afraid to tell people why your community is the one worth joining. 3. create a path for engagement I used to think people would automatically engage if they found value. Nope. Most people lurk until you give them a reason to take action. Here’s the simple four-step process that worked for me: - awareness – get discovered (free content, collaborations, guest posts) - interest – make it clear who your community is for (spell it out: this space is for... ) - decision – show up consistently so they feel safe engaging - action – create an easy way for them to go deeper (email list, membership, challenges)

What do you think about Manus? Is it revolutionizing how we interact with AI, or is it just another tech novelty that will fade away?