I definitely try not to compare myself to others even though I see some who started after me have a few hundred more and keep growing. But I also know I prefer a meaningful community of people who want to read, explore and engage. And I know my time will come soon enough.
I’m proud of this mindset! I believe it’s well worth taking a little more time than others who grow overnight, but knowing that every new subscriber comes to you because they genuinely want to read the words you have to share—not just because of an impulsive click on the subscribe button.
I believe your time will come, too! Thank you for being here.
I love this!!! It is so easy to go down that rabbit hole. I taught e-courses for 10 years. I used to tell myself at the start of every new class, where I marketed the crap out of it for months before, that if I got 10 people, I would be happy. I'd love to check my emails in the morning to see which students signed up. Some classes were way more successful than others, and I can tell you how terrible it felt when I put just as much time into a class and less students signed up. But, that...I'd be happy with 10 left quickly. I'd want it to be more and more and more.
When I started Substack three weeks ago, I had no idea what it all meant. I am still figuring it out. But I feel obsessed. I don't look at my dashboard every night, but now that I have 80, I keep thinking I could get more readers. But then I have to stop and pull back. I am not asking for money until someone wants to support my work. I just want to use my writing muscle and to let it go into the universe, where those who need to find me and read what this 71-year-old has to say about life. It is real behavior modification, though. BUT, I left teaching e-courses because I felt like I was on a hamster wheel, and I do not want to go down that route again. I loved it until it became too much after 10 years.
I wrote a post last week, then had another one ready to go again on Friday, but changed it until Sunday, then Monday, and now it will go out a week after my last one. That's me pulling back. As much as I think I have a lot to contribute, does someone really need to hear from me daily? Perhaps less is more is wonderful for Substack.
Hey Tsetsy thanks for sharing your perspective on numbers.
That's true when the people recognize your voice, that's the moment you get properly meaningful reader's base
Thanks for sharing and keep writing 💫
Just highlighting this part
But you keep checking because someone, somewhere, has convinced you that this number is the measure of everything.
If it was higher, I’d feel good for maybe two hours, until I went to bed and woke up with the same question the next day.
Success is when people start to recognize your voice even without seeing your name at the top, because you’ve written something so uniquely yours that it can’t be mistaken for anyone else’s.
thank you for this piece! i don’t like follow-for-follow because if this; i want a community that actually likes and read my content rather than just being numbers
I appreciate your definition of success! I agree that changing one person's life is the type of writing I want to have, and creating the balance you so nicely articulate. Thanks!
Subscriber count is a graveyard of people who clicked and forgot.
Absolutely true! <3
I definitely try not to compare myself to others even though I see some who started after me have a few hundred more and keep growing. But I also know I prefer a meaningful community of people who want to read, explore and engage. And I know my time will come soon enough.
I’m proud of this mindset! I believe it’s well worth taking a little more time than others who grow overnight, but knowing that every new subscriber comes to you because they genuinely want to read the words you have to share—not just because of an impulsive click on the subscribe button.
I believe your time will come, too! Thank you for being here.
Thank you Tsetsy! Appreciate the kind words.
I love this!!! It is so easy to go down that rabbit hole. I taught e-courses for 10 years. I used to tell myself at the start of every new class, where I marketed the crap out of it for months before, that if I got 10 people, I would be happy. I'd love to check my emails in the morning to see which students signed up. Some classes were way more successful than others, and I can tell you how terrible it felt when I put just as much time into a class and less students signed up. But, that...I'd be happy with 10 left quickly. I'd want it to be more and more and more.
When I started Substack three weeks ago, I had no idea what it all meant. I am still figuring it out. But I feel obsessed. I don't look at my dashboard every night, but now that I have 80, I keep thinking I could get more readers. But then I have to stop and pull back. I am not asking for money until someone wants to support my work. I just want to use my writing muscle and to let it go into the universe, where those who need to find me and read what this 71-year-old has to say about life. It is real behavior modification, though. BUT, I left teaching e-courses because I felt like I was on a hamster wheel, and I do not want to go down that route again. I loved it until it became too much after 10 years.
I wrote a post last week, then had another one ready to go again on Friday, but changed it until Sunday, then Monday, and now it will go out a week after my last one. That's me pulling back. As much as I think I have a lot to contribute, does someone really need to hear from me daily? Perhaps less is more is wonderful for Substack.
Hey Tsetsy thanks for sharing your perspective on numbers.
That's true when the people recognize your voice, that's the moment you get properly meaningful reader's base
Thanks for sharing and keep writing 💫
Just highlighting this part
But you keep checking because someone, somewhere, has convinced you that this number is the measure of everything.
If it was higher, I’d feel good for maybe two hours, until I went to bed and woke up with the same question the next day.
Success is when people start to recognize your voice even without seeing your name at the top, because you’ve written something so uniquely yours that it can’t be mistaken for anyone else’s.
Thank you for always being here <3
thank you for this piece! i don’t like follow-for-follow because if this; i want a community that actually likes and read my content rather than just being numbers
Thank you for reading Romy <3 I believe every one of your readers is a true reader, not just a number. And you deserve it
lovely :-)
thank you <3
Beautiful ❤️
Thank you darling <3
I appreciate your definition of success! I agree that changing one person's life is the type of writing I want to have, and creating the balance you so nicely articulate. Thanks!
Thank you Charlie! Means a lot <3
God, i wish i can get out of this mindset
Imma help you do it, i promise <3
A good attitude to have.
Haha thanks
Impact over numbers.