Stop Lurking
Start Creating
Berlin, April 2023
TL;DR: I spent years as a translator – taking other people’s words and rewriting them in a different language. I was tired of being a linguistic copy machine. This Substack is me learning to be the source instead of the echo.
You have ideas. You have the urge to make something. But then the voice kicks in:
“I’m not creative enough.”
“People will judge me.”
“Who cares what I have to say?”
So you keep scrolling. You keep lurking. Stop it.
There is no better time to break the cycle of consuming without contributing.
Just Ship It
One of the biggest hurdles is the belief that your first attempt needs to be good. It won’t be.
My first articles were clunky. Some still are. But they exist, which is more than I can say for the “perfect” ideas I never published.
Most successful creators started with zero followers and zero clue. They didn’t build an audience by being perfect; they built it by being consistent.
Progress is better than perfection. Actually, progress is the only thing that matters. Perfection is just procrastination in a tuxedo.
Creating for the Soul (Not the Algo)
It’s easy to get caught up in creating for clicks.
“What’s trending?”
“How do I go viral?”
Ignore that. The algorithm is a fickle god. The most successful creators create for themselves first.
Ask yourself: “Would I read this?” If the answer is yes, you are on the right track.
By following your own curiosity, you start the flywheel. You attract people who like what you like. You build a tribe, not just a traffic source. No one can beat you at being you.
Personal Reflections
I spent years as a translator. My job was to take other people’s words and rewrite them in a different language. I was tired of being a linguistic copy machine.
I longed for a voice of my own. I didn’t want to be the echo anymore; I wanted to be the source.
So, I started this Substack. Is it perfect? No. Am I a “Guru”? Definitely not. But I am no longer just a lurker. I am carving out my own little corner of the internet before the event horizon swallows us all.
Creating content isn’t about becoming famous. It is about reclaiming your agency.
When you create, you stop being a passive node in the network. You might discover hidden talents. You might connect with brilliant people. Or you might just have fun.
The cost of lurking is zero. But the cost of never trying is everything.
I think I just read the origin story of "Julian Content Creator"...