#264: The paradox of book writing AND other things I'm working on [Weekend Update]

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a comment on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts! → Watch the tour of my basement studio → Subscribe to the newsletter → Join The Lab

I interviewed YouTube legends, Colin and Samir. They are the most influential duo in the creator economy. Today, they talk about how to build a channel that stands the test of time. In this episode, you’ll learn the importance of formats in building a strong brand, how to set your channel up for financial success, and we vent about miscellaneous gripes we all have. ⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠ Colin and Samir's ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ / ⁠Instagram⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) The Most Influential Duo on YouTube (01:08) What Are Successful YouTubers Doing Right Now (03:47) Relationship Between Consistency and a Strong Brand (12:38) What Consistency Looks Like in the C&S Brand (16:27) Don’t Commercialize Your Passion (18:51) Turning Your Channel Into a Business (25:52) The Future of Monetization (29:41) YouTubers Are Underselling Themselves to Brands (39:02) Merch as a Revenue Driver Vs Brand Loyalty (41:12) Future of Shorts (44:07) What Happens When Thumbnails Become Less Important (46:41) What’s the Deal with Livestreaming (50:23) Venting to Each Other About the World Around Us (55:46) Learn How to Secure High Paying Brand Deals *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#209: Paddy Galloway – How he makes any niche go viral → #164: Jon Youshaei – Ex-YouTube employee shares the best growth advice (that you’ve probably never heard) *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ 🟢 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a comment on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts! → Subscribe to the newsletter → Join The Lab

If you enjoy this episode, please leave a comment on Spotify or a review on Apple Podcasts! → Subscribe to the newsletter → Join The Lab

Mike Michalowicz is the author of ⁠Profit First⁠, which is used by hundreds of thousands of companies across the globe to drive profit – Creator Science is one of those companies. Profit First has helped me develop sound financials for my business. He’s also the author of Clockwork, a powerful method to make any business run on automatic, and seven other books as well. With more than 500,000 book sales, all of Mike’s books have the same goal – to help small business owners and eliminate what he calls “entrepreneurial poverty.” Simon Sinek has called Mike “…the top contender for the patron saint of entrepreneurs.” This conversation is divided into halves: The first half explores Mike’s unique model as an author. For each book Mike writes, he partners with a third party to license the frameworks from his books and serve as the done-for-you service provider. This is super uncommon and part of why he’s been so prolific while running a very lean team. So we dig into how that works (and what he’d do differently if he were starting over today). The second half of the conversation is all about writing books. Mike has published nine books since 2008 – including 7 in the last 8 years. So we dig into how he determines what ideas to turn into books and how to write them so quickly. ⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠ Mike's ⁠Website⁠ / ⁠Twitter⁠ / ⁠Instagram⁠ / ⁠YouTube⁠ / ⁠LinkedIn⁠ *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠#176: April Dunford – How self-publishing a book exploded her client service business.⁠ *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠Submit your question here⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠ 🚀 ⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠Join The Lab⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠Connect on Twitter⁠ 📸 ⁠Connect on Instagram⁠ 💼 ⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠ 📹 ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠ 🟢 ⁠Leave a rating on Spotify

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special “Offline Recap” episode, host Jay Clouse takes us behind the scenes of The Lab’s very first in-person event—now officially dubbed “Lab Offline.” After years of thriving as an online community, this was a bold experiment to bring members together face-to-face in Boise, Idaho. Jay walks us through every step—how he chose the event style based on direct member feedback, the unexpected venue logistics (including a nerve-wracking run-in with a $43,000 hotel contract), the financial ups and downs, and the nuts and bolts of thoughtful event design. He shares candid lessons on budgeting, planning, creating meaningful connections, and gathering feedback, with plenty of wins and a few honest hiccups along the way. You’ll hear what made the event unforgettable for attendees, the feedback that will shape future editions, and Jay’s vision for making these gatherings a cornerstone of the Creator Science community. Whether you’re curious about community building, event planning, or just want inspiration for creating deeper connections in your own work, you’ll find a treasure trove of insights in this episode. So sit back and enjoy this honest, insightful look inside the evolution of Creator Science’s Lab Offline experience! ⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Event Planning Success Breakdown 05:28 Event Duration and Attendance Insights 07:11 Understanding Event Cost Drivers 10:13 Negotiating Group Hotel Rates 16:21 Last-Minute Event Adjustments Summary 18:32 Learning from Event Expenses 21:31 Event Planning for Meaningful Gatherings 26:46 Business Event: Sharing & Mastermind Activities 28:06 Facilitating Collaborative Interactions 33:16 Event Preparation and Dietary Feedback 37:25 "Event Planning Improvements" 40:08 Event Planning: Duration and Logistics 42:38 Event Prep: Lessons Learned 45:53 International Community Event Plans *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#221: Ryan Hawk – Anatomy of a $12,500 membership earning $400,000+ per year → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#232: Dan Andrews – Secrets of building a 1300-member, international community (with in-person events) → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#248: Justin Moore - Lessons from hosting his first 3-day event *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🟢 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse pulls back the curtain on his business with a transparent look at his May Retro—an in-depth monthly review where he walks through key metrics, goals, wins, challenges, and behind-the-scenes decisions. You’ll get a firsthand listen to the kind of content usually reserved for The Lab community, as Jay shares real revenue numbers, growth strategies, creative experiments, and honest reflections about everything from team building to business structure to personal growth. Whether you’re curious about what drives Creator Science or looking for inspiration and practical insights to apply to your own creative journey, this episode delivers a candid, actionable tour through the ever-evolving world of modern content entrepreneurship. If you enjoy going behind the scenes, you’ll love this one—let’s dive in! ⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Event Planning Amid Illness 05:41 Course Sales Surge with Email Automation 09:26 "X Content Repurposing Success" 10:15 Shifting Focus: YouTube Over Social Media 15:50 Family Vacation & Home Updates 18:43 Over-Budget Event: Trust Seminar Dilemma 20:31 Crafting Trust: A Vital Skill 24:39 "Expanding Offline Community Effectively" 26:17 Tool Upgrades and Membership Strategy *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#258: Q&A: Goals for our YouTube videos, determining when a new offer is a distraction, validating a product idea, and more *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🟢 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special episode, host Jay Clouse takes listeners behind the scenes of the The Lab’s vibrant community. Fresh off organizing The Lab’s first-ever major in-person event in Boise, Jay shares a candid update about creating real-world connections among full-time creators and what these gatherings mean for the future of The Lab membership. But that’s just the beginning. This episode is a front-row seat to the magic that happens during The Lab’s monthly office hours. Jay and a panel of talented creators—including Tom Burden, Pat Gostek, Anna Reich, Travis Ference, Anais Cisneros, and David Fortin—engage in open, practical discussions about growing a creator business. They tackle real-world questions: how to think about the purpose behind each video, launching masterminds without losing focus, building community vs. courses vs. memberships, and the ever-elusive challenge of monetizing as a creator in today’s landscape. Plus, you’ll hear smart strategies for product validation, content creation during market research, and best practices for leveraging email marketing and CRM tools. Whether you’re a growing creator or an established entrepreneur, this episode is packed with honest insights, actionable ideas, and a glimpse into the supportive space that makes the The Lab unique. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to be part of this community—or how to take your creator business to the next level—you won’t want to miss this one. ⁠Join The Lab ⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Lab Membership Events and Opportunities 05:13 Tailoring Content for Specific Goals 06:47 YouTube Audience Engagement Strategy 11:08 Mastermind Group Pricing Dilemma 14:41 Done-for-You Video Expertise 17:55 Mastermind Group Launch Strategy 21:31 Pricing Strategy Gap Analysis 25:47 LinkedIn Posting Frequency Insights 29:17 Courses vs. Community: Balance Concerns 33:05 "Assessing Membership Value Elements" 36:28 Monetizing Creator Business Strategies 40:37 Marketing Community Value to Busy Clients 42:19 "Sell the Map Via Social Proof" 47:36 Email Marketing Tools Compared 49:40 Organizing Ideas with Purpose *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#246: Planning for a recession, my approach to email, increasing customers, and finding your partner [Ask Creator Science] *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🟢 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify

Welcome back to Creator Science! In this special Strategy Hour episode, host Jay Clouse flips the script as a guest on Abagail Pumphrey’s acclaimed podcast, Strategy Hour. Abagail, the founder and CEO of The Boss Project, dives into Jay’s fascinating journey from startup founder to creative entrepreneur—exploring how he built a thriving newsletter business, fostered an engaged community, and navigated the ever-evolving creator landscape. Together, they break down what it really means to grow an audience with intention, why consistency trumps fleeting viral moments, and how creators can build businesses that last. Jay pulls back the curtain on his process, from his early days writing daily emails to building a sustainable business rooted in genuine connection and trust. You’ll also hear their takes on the future of courses, the role of AI and community in online business, and the importance of slow, steady growth. If you’re craving real talk about surviving (and thriving) as a creator—plus actionable tips on how to treat your newsletter as your most valuable product—this episode is for you. Stick around for an insightful conversation that’s both inspiring and refreshingly honest, and be sure to check the show notes to subscribe to Strategy Hour for more entrepreneurial wisdom! Subscribe to The Strategy Hour ⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS 00:00 "Exploring Uncharted Podcast Territory" 04:44 "Insights on Becoming a Creator" 07:10 Promoting Newsletter via Events & Email 11:58 Audience vs. Crowd: Content Focus 15:38 Newsletter: Business Stability Anchor 16:36 Social Media Engagement Challenges 22:32 Slow Path to Sustainable Business 26:10 "Coping with Online Fame's Pressure" 30:04 Twelve-Week Group Pricing Plan 30:34 Pioneering Cohort-Based Learning 33:53 AI's Impact on Online Courses 38:48 Innovate or Strategize for Success 40:31 "Invaluable Insights and Connections" *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#247: How you can plan for growth in 2025 *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠⁠⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠⁠⁠ 🚀 ⁠⁠⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠⁠⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠⁠⁠Join The Lab⁠⁠⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠⁠⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠⁠⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Twitter⁠⁠⁠ 📸 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on Instagram⁠⁠⁠ 💼 ⁠⁠⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 📹 ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠⁠⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠⁠⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ 🟢 ⁠⁠⁠Leave a rating on Spotify

Mark Manson is an entrepreneur and author of the best-selling book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. Mark's entrepreneur-first approach has enabled him to speed-run his YouTube success, gaining 2,600,000 subscribers in just two years. In this episode, we break down Mark's approach to YouTube, from content strategy to setting up his channel for long-term success. ⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠ Mark's ⁠Website⁠ / ⁠Twitter⁠ / ⁠Instagram⁠ / ⁠YouTube⁠ / ⁠LinkedIn⁠ / ⁠TikTok⁠ *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) YouTubers and Business (01:13) Why Do YouTubers Suck at Business? (10:14) Make Brainstorming Ideas Easy with 1of10 (11:50) How to Turn Your Channel into a Business (15:55) When to Make the Transition (24:43) When Maximizing Views is Bad (27:31) The Case For Not Taking Brand Deals (35:33) 1st Step to Take (37:48) Futureproofing Your Channel *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠#179: Justin Moore – A step-by-step strategy to get anyone sponsored, regardless of audience size⁠ *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠Submit your question here⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY 📬 ⁠Creator Science Newsletter⁠ 🚀 ⁠Get CreatorHQ⁠ (creator operating system) 🧪 ⁠Join The Lab⁠ (private membership community) 🧞‍♂️ ⁠Get a Personalized Offer⁠ *** CONNECT 🐦 ⁠Connect on Twitter⁠ 📸 ⁠Connect on Instagram⁠ 💼 ⁠Connect on LinkedIn⁠ 📹 ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠ *** SPONSORS 💼 ⁠View all sponsors and offers⁠ *** SAY THANKS 💜 ⁠Leave a review on Apple Podcasts⁠ 🟢 ⁠Leave a rating on Spotify