Proof of life! · Creative Illuminati

Proof of life!

Hey everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to check in and let you know where things have been over the last couple of months.

As I mentioned before, I've been spending a lot of time building something new, while also taking on more consulting work than I expected. The consulting has been incredibly rewarding, but it has also demanded much more of my time and attention. Between that and some larger planning behind the scenes, Skool hasn't received the attention I'd originally hoped to give it.

During that time, I've done a lot of thinking about where I want to take all of this.

One of the biggest realizations I've had is that I don't want my work—or myself—to be defined by AI alone. AI is still an important part of my workflow and something I'll continue teaching, but it's only one piece of what I do. I've spent years creating comics, building creative workflows, experimenting with technology, consulting with creators, and learning how to produce content efficiently. There's far more to my experience than just the latest AI tools, and I want my future content to reflect that.

I also want to say thank you.

One of the most unexpected and meaningful parts of building this community has been the number of people who have reached out simply to ask how I'm doing. I've had members check in on me, send encouraging messages, and genuinely care about what I've been working on. That's something I haven't experienced to this extent before, and I truly appreciate it. You've built a community that feels personal, and that means a great deal to me.

Over the last few months, I've also been looking at my own business the same way I'd advise one of my consulting clients to look at theirs.

One piece of advice I give creators all the time is not to put all of their eggs in one basket. If you don't own the platform, you don't control its future. That's true whether we're talking about YouTube, Substack, Skool, Patreon, or any other service.

As I stepped back and looked at my own work, I realized I wasn't following my own advice.

I had tried to make Skool do everything.

It became a home for educational material, updates, downloads, community discussions, exclusive content, and more. Looking back, I think I threw everything but the kitchen sink into it. That wasn't sustainable, and honestly, it wasn't necessary either.

That's why you've probably noticed some changes to the classroom recently. I've been removing content that felt redundant or didn't really belong here, and I'm continuing to reorganize things with a much clearer purpose in mind.

I've also realized something else.

Skool shouldn't have to carry my entire creative identity.

I create educational content, but I also create entertainment. I enjoy making comics, sharing ideas, documenting projects, experimenting with new technology, and simply talking about creativity. Trying to force all of that into one platform doesn't really serve anyone—not me, and not all of you.

So rather than asking one platform to do everything, I think it's time to let each platform do what it does best.

Going forward, my vision is becoming much clearer.

Skool is going to become the home for my educational content, workflow discussions, creator resources, and the community that grows around those things. If you're here because you want to learn how I create content, improve your workflows, and develop as a creator, that's exactly what I want this space to be.

YouTube will continue to be where I can share more public content, behind-the-scenes looks, creative projects, comics, and ideas with a broader audience.

Substack gives me room for longer-form thoughts, creator journals like this one, and writing that doesn't really fit anywhere else.

Rather than competing with each other, I want these platforms to support one another. Each one serves a different purpose, and together they tell a much more complete story than any single platform ever could.

The reality is that I also have to be practical.

Right now, consulting work is what pays the bills. It's an important part of what I do, and I have to continue dedicating time to it. At the same time, I still want to create educational material, entertaining projects, and the kind of independent work that brought many of you here in the first place.

That's exactly why I need a system that's sustainable.

I can't realistically produce exclusive content for only a hundred people forever, no matter how much I value this community. And I do value this community. Every conversation, every message, every suggestion, and every bit of encouragement reminds me why I wanted to build this in the first place.

My goal isn't to give Skool less attention.

It's to give Skool a clearer purpose and more focused efforts. Quality, not quantity.

If anything, I think that makes it more valuable.

Instead of trying to be everything, it can become the best place for the people who genuinely want to learn from my workflows and experience, while my other creative work helps new people discover this community.

I'm actually excited about where this is heading.

For the first time in a while, I feel like the pieces are starting to fit together. Rather than constantly asking myself which platform deserves my attention, I can focus on creating the right content for the right audience in the right place.

I would also love it if you'd follow along on YouTube ( www.youtube.com/@MikeGagnon1981 ) and Substack ( https://creativeilluminati.substack.com/ )—even if it's just through the free options. I don't think any one platform can fully represent everything I create, and I'd love for you to experience the bigger picture.

Most importantly, thank you for sticking with me.

This is still a small operation. It's still largely just me, although I am exploring ways to bring in some help over time. Building something worthwhile takes time, and I appreciate your patience while I continue refining not just the content itself, but the entire system behind it.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you have ideas about what you'd like to see here, ways we can collaborate, or opportunities to help each other's communities grow, please don't hesitate to reach out.

I genuinely appreciate every one of you, and I'm excited about what comes next.

Thanks,

Mike

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Proof of life!