From 0 to 10 subscribers

Celebrate the tiny wins

April 11, 2022

Hey there —

How do you know when you’ve “made it” as a creator or entrepreneur?

Maybe it’s when you first get monetized on YouTube. Or when you reach 10K followers. Perhaps it’s when you can pay rent with your business (the dream).

But what about when you get your first follower who isn’t a distant cousin or old college roommate – but a total stranger? How cool is that?!

We look forward to the big milestones (like 1K subs or a $10K/month revenue), but it’s easy to forget the value of the tiny wins at the beginning of your journey. Celebrating these early moments can help you build the momentum you need to keep creating until you hit those larger goals.

📈 Little wins add up. Two new followers a day may seem like painfully slow growth 🐌 (is there even such a thing?!), but that’s over 700 people who are picking up what you’re throwing down by the end of the year.

🙅‍♂️ There are no “easy” wins. They say the first 1,000 followers or subscribers are the hardest to get, but so are the first 10. Every win is equally awesome.

💯 They boost your self-confidence. Research from Harvard Professor Teresa Amabile shows how tracking your small wins enhances your optimism, creativity, and performance.

More than anything, getting psyched about those small wins is how you enjoy the journey. Savor the present moment and appreciate your hard work when the needle is moving in the right direction. And as Marie Forleo says:

“Real change is practically invisible as it’s happening.”

Those little wins matter more than you think – so take the time to celebrate ‘em. You’re only at the beginning once. Enjoy it.

What I Learned From 100 Days of Rejection

TED Talk | by Jia Jiang

Entrepreneur Jia Jiang was terrified of rejection until he realized it was holding him back. So, he embarked on a “100 Day Rejection Challenge.” His mission? Ask preposterous requests – from requesting a “burger refill” to trying to plant flowers in a stranger's backyard – all to conquer his fear of a “no.”

And while Jia got a lot of “no’s,” he learned valuable advice on how to negotiate, the power of asking “why,” and turning dead ends into opportunities. If you’re looking for a boost of bravery, this TED Talk is for you.

Beware of Chasing Prestige

Miniature Essay | by David Perell

You have more opportunities in life than you think.

But chances are, you’re just not spotting them — because they’re not prestigious enough.

We tend to get distracted by high-status opportunities since they’re reputable and intriguing. But low-status opportunities can be just as powerful. Consider Bitcoin, YouTube, or blogging a few years back. They first went unnoticed before exploding.

Look closely. What opportunities are you not seeing because they’re not flashy?

“One of the most conspicuous patterns I’ve noticed in my life is how well it has worked, for me at least, to work on things that weren’t prestigious.” — Paul Graham

Written by Alice Lemée