People are getting fed up with their 9-5s and traditional ways of working, they want to find alternative lifestyles and for that, they need an income and they are desperate for solutions.

They go online to look for them and what do they find?

An endless list of solutions promising you will become rich, have completely freedom of your life, and work less than it takes for some people to commute to work.

But you know what?

It's totally possible to become rich, have autonomy over your life, and work less than 99% of people. It's not a scam.

The problem is it takes effort, especially at the beginning, even more so when you don't have clarity and you go the wrong path—following advice from people who haven't done anything themselves, from people that don't have any real-world experience.

The biggest opportunity right now is to become a great content creator.

People fall into many traps when they start out and they get discouraged when they have barely started because they were promised the world but only got a picture of it—because they listened to the wrong advice.

The solution is to become the source of your creations.

This newsletter will show you what you need to be aware of to become an original creator, one that will lead the way for other creators who seek purpose in the work they do.

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The Rise of Content Creators

Content is everywhere.

Why?

Because people create content to share something valuable and need others' attention to convey their message. Sometimes, the content itself is the main offer; but it's mostly to draw attention to a product or service.

With a product or service you need to show it to them, probably explain what it is, what it does, and why they should care.

For example, a movie in itself is content but in this case, it's the product—the movie trailer is a piece of content that draws attention to the product: the movie.

You need people to know about the product or service.

It all starts with capturing attention.

This was first done through word of mouth, then came the newspapers, radio, and television and now we have the Internet and social media. The channel has evolved but the purpose remains the same: to get a message across.

Content is your spotlight.

The platforms look completely different than in the early 2000s, but the core hasn't changed as much as you think.

Persuasion isn't new—it's just been adapted to fit our screens and attention spans. The shift is more about focus than complete innovation: we've gone from billboards and TV ads to personalized feeds and targeted content.

• Early 2000s: Birth of blogging platforms
• Mid-2000s: Rise of YouTube and video content
• Late 2000s: Growth of social media and influencer marketing
• 2010s: Emergence of new platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok
• 2020s: Mainstreaming of the creator economy, accelerated by the pandemic

Strategies and tactics have changed.

But here's the truth.

The core aim remains the same—to connect, influence, and engage.

One thing is certain, though, this evolution is transforming how products and services are being marketed and advertised and it has led us to the rise of the creator economy.

The ecosystem of independent content creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs who monetize their skills and creativity on digital platforms which Goldman Sachs is projecting could reach $480 billion by 2027.

It's rapidly growing.

This is an incredible opportunity for you if you learn to create great content—to design a life that feels exciting and purposeful and build a community with like-minded people who share your values and interests.

It's an opportunity to have freedom to create, to earn, and to live how you want.

Butt…

For that to become reality, there are a few things we need to be aware of.

I'll show you what you need to know to become irreplaceable and avoid becoming bait to the gurus selling you cheap tactics that offer no real solution.

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Copycats are cloning exponentially

Do you know those fake Gucci bags you can find online and on certain markets? You know, the imitations of the real thing, the copy of the original.

Here's the thing about imitating physical products.

If the imitation is good, it will look like the original, smell like the original, and feel like the original. Only an expert can distinguish them, but one is original, and the other is not.

While it's illegal and morally wrong, you can only say that they are very good at making it seem original. You wouldn't buy the bag that looks completely fake at first sight.

In this sense, they've mastered imitation.

But what makes the bag "original"?

The brand.

The brand crafted a story, a purpose woven into each seam, creating something you desire—not just to own, but to feel part of. You feel part of a story that goes beyond the bag itself.

You feel you belong to something bigger.

Before you start to think I put big brands and companies on a pedestal, let me be clear that big companies steal ideas from small creators too. It's not just small creators mimicking corporations; imitation flows both ways.

Now, with content creation, the imitation game looks different.

The more similar it is to the original, the more popular it gets, yet the imitation is worse. The art of imitating content is to make it appear as original as possible without it seeming copied.

The problem with bad imitation in content creation is that it's often rewarded in terms of attention.

You pick up a trending piece of content, either when it's gone viral or when you see it's gaining momentum, and you unscrupulously copy it and post it to ride the wave of virality.

But imitation comes with a price.

The price is innovation.

The more we replicate, the more diluted it becomes. Every imitation sacrifices a bit of originality, trading uniqueness for a fleeting moment of recognition.

The content lacks substance, leaving the audience with surface-level engagement rather than genuine connection. In the chase for attention, content that merely mimics ends up fueling a cycle of quick dopamine hits, while the essence—authenticity and originality—fades.

It becomes like an upside-down iceberg, where all the energy is put into the hook and the content is empty, lacking depth.

If you are serious about your business, you don't abuse that game.

Master the art of grabbing attention with purpose.

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AI kills your creativity

Before we explore how to become an original let's talk about AI.

Imagine you are a chef at a restaurant and you serve people micro-waved food.

Can you call yourself a chef?

If you are a writer but AI is writing all your content.

Are you really a writer?

No, right?

It's good to get some help to get unstuck and to improve your content, and AI is phenomenal at generating ideas to get you unstuck, but don't rely on it to write or create the content for you, learn to be creative.

Why do you think it's harder to read than it is to watch a movie?

Because the attention and brain-power required for reading is a lot higher than sitting on your couch and watching a screen where you are being fed the experience.

The same goes for using AI to create your content, it's easier to write a few lines of prompt and get an entire text, but you're not practicing writing.

You are not becoming better at writing.

You're practicing using AI.

When you write your own stuff, you're putting thoughts into text. The effort you put in gets rewarded the more you keep practicing, your thinking becomes sharper. But if you solely rely on AI to create the text for you, you are begging to be replaced.

You're making yourself dumber, and not smarter.

Asking ChatGPT to "Write an article about the meaning of life in the style of Viktor Frankl" is not the same as reading his book, interpreting what he's expressing, and applying that to your content.

AI is doing the job for you and it's limited to its capabilities.

Imagine you could say "Hey AI, make 1M dollars for me and cook dinner for me. But first, go to the gym and work out for 2 hours."

What's the purpose of living if everything can be done for you?

So let's not use AI?

No, not what I'm saying.

Learn to use it and don't abuse it.

Be aware of the tools available to you and use them to help you create what you want.

Here's the thing.

If you don't know what you want to create, AI will only be a distraction. You will become like an intern for the company developing it. And if you pay for it, well, then you're paying to be an intern.

Start getting clarity on what you want to achieve and what direction you want to take.

Do you want to rebuild cars, talk about plants, or explore the human psyche? Or all of them?

AI can't figure that out for you, but it can help you.

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Becoming an original

What sets originals apart from copycats is their creativity.

What makes you an original is having the capability and capacity to innovate.

Capability is having what’s necessary to be able to do it: if you can’t swim you can’t cross a river by swimming it.

Capacity is having the energy necessary to do it: if you need to cross the river with 40kg on your back you probably won’t make it.

See capability as knowledge and skills, and capacity as energy.

In my eyes, there are a few different levels or modes you evolve through.

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Tutorial mode:

If you played Runescape, you know what tutorial mode is—basic skills, exploration, and learning without consequence. To become an original you must be a copycat first at some level.

You see what others do, try some of it, and make observations.

For example, if you are starting with persuasive writing, you follow templates and mimic styles from well-known authors or content creators.

Even if you are a quick learner, respect that you are a beginner.

To become an original, you need to understand enough about the "rules of the game".

When you get the basic rules of the game, you can start to play it.

If you can't read, you can't write.

Before you can change the rules, or create your own, you have to learn them—you need practical experience.

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Noob mode:

This is the phase when you enter the playing field.

Here you think everyone is watching every move you make, just to discover nobody pays attention to you—except the ones who want to help you or sell you something—it's a thin line between those who are genuinely interested in helping you and those who only want to make a quick buck.

In this phase you think of growing: your business, your followers, your tomatoes, whatever it is.

You crave results.

So you try methods that you see others using or that you have learned somewhere (a mini-course, a course, a challenge, etc).

The thing is you don't really know what you are doing so you start to study what others do and look for guides to help you navigate the vast ocean you find yourself in.

For example, you sign up for a five-day content creation challenge, only to find you're overwhelmed. You try different posting schedules, experiment with trending formats, and navigate a sea of conflicting advice.

You keep exploring and find someone that resonates, you start studying what they're doing. By doing that you get across a possible solution to what youthink you are trying to achieve.

You test different methods with more or less success.

But you still don't know what problem you are the solution to (you can be the solution to many problems).

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Amateur mode:

This is when you start to understand the game you are in and you realize you are following others' goals.

The problem now is that you haven’t yet defined your own destination.

You haven’t fully thought about your "why" or vision. This is when you begin to ask better questions and make more informed decisions. You now have enough experience to experiment with confidence. You start taking generic ideas and adding your unique twist.

For example, you’ve been following popular business gurus and trying to replicate their strategies, but now you realize those methods don’t fully align with your vision. You decide to focus on creating content that reflects your own experiences and unique style. You turn general advice into something that resonates with your niche—you innovate by adding your story, making your content stand out.

You get a sense of the rules and how to use them to your advantage.

This is the time you start to innovate.

You can think for yourself, so you create by yourself.

Now you are starting to become an original.

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Pro Mode:

You have enough experience from playing the game for a while.

You have seen what works and why, you haven't only heard from someone else, or read a book, you know how it feels—you have internalized the teachings.

You know the rules of the game in and out so you can bend them, or even create your own rules.

For example, as a content creator, you no longer follow every "best practice" blindly. You might post at unconventional times or use long-form content on platforms that prioritize short-form—because you understand your audience deeply and know what will resonate.

At this level, you can be a true original.

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Legend Mode:

This is where Zezima is (iykyk).

At this level, you can basically do what you want (kind of).

You can say things like "Everything happens for a reason" and people listen. If you say something, they think it is valuable, so they pay attention.

You can bring awareness to a boring interest and make it interesting.

You become an icon and will probably be remembered in history.

Your words carry a huge weight.

For example, you launch a new business venture, or write a piece about an obscure topic, and people take notice just because it’s you. Your influence transforms niche ideas into mainstream trends.

You are a trendsetter.

What you need to keep in mind here is that even if you are at the top and you have a lot of influence, new people come, and you will eventually become less important.

You made it to the Hall of Fame, but you too will be consumed by entropy, and that's okay.

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Summary

This week we looked into:

• What the solution to standing out in the increasingly saturated market of content creation is.
• How copycats start cloning themselves because it's easier to copy than to create original stuff, and because they want easy money.
• How AI kills your creativity and how you should approach using it.
• What sets originals apart from copycats and what you need to know to become an original.

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If you are looking to make some changes to your lifestyle but you don't know where to start, here's a read that can help you get more clarity.​

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