10 Lessons From 10 Years of Being Visible Online

When I first started, I didn’t think much about what it meant to build a personal brand or grow an audience. I just felt the pull to create, and trusted that it would lead me where I was supposed to go.

Ten years later, I’ve created thousands of posts across platforms. I’ve experienced the thrill of things going “viral” and the disappointment of posting something meaningful only to be met with crickets. I’ve learned what it feels like to lose myself in the noise, and what it feels like to find my way back.

Here are 10 of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way.

1. The pendulum always swings.

Some months, everyone seems to care about what you’re saying. Months later, you can post something just as thoughtful and hear nothing. Public interest is cyclical; and that has nothing to do with your worth or your message. Don’t let engagement dictate what you talk about. Stay anchored in what matters to you.

2. You need a clear purpose, or you’ll get swept away.

Don’t let your mind be so easily swayed from one thing to the next. The constant feedback, the opinions, the comparisons — it’s easy to forget who you are and what you care about. Make time for stillness. Check in with yourself. Ask what really matters to you, and let that be your guide.

3. Make it fun.

If you don’t enjoy creating content (at least some of the time) it’s really hard to keep going. At first, learning a new skill is uncomfortable. But over time, as you get better, find ways to make it feel like play. Let yourself talk about what excites you, even if it’s not the most “strategic.”

4. Stay neutral.

When something does really well, don’t let it go to your head. When something flops, don’t let it crush your spirit. Celebrate your wins and feel your feelings, but don’t let either extreme throw you off. The more you can stay neutral, the steadier you’ll feel.

5. Use your real life as content.

The best material is already in front of you. Don’t try to manufacture scenes or force ideas — just pay attention. Your everyday life is full of moments, insights, and stories. Document what you notice.

6. You don’t need a content calendar.

Some people thrive on having everything planned out. I don’t. For me, creating on the go keeps things fresh and authentic. I’ll sometimes create something one day and post it the next. Do what works for you, and don’t feel pressured to fit someone else’s system.

7. Breaks are healthy.

Consistency doesn’t mean you have to show up every single day forever. After I finished my book, I took six weeks off. I needed to step back and recalibrate. Giving yourself space is what allows you to keep going for the long haul.

8. Watch your thoughts.

I can get obsessive about my content — thinking about it all the time, overanalyzing every post. When that happens, I try to put it on the shelf and focus on my real life. That’s usually when the best ideas come to me anyway, when I’m not trying so hard.

9. There’s no “right” way to create.

There are infinite ways to bring an idea to life. Don’t get stuck thinking there’s only one right way, or that you have to crack the code. A lot of it is luck, timing, and trying things out. Every post is an experiment — you can’t fail if you keep learning.

10. Enjoy it.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to enjoy the process. If you’re not having fun, if you’re not finding meaning or joy in what you create, it’s time to pause and ask yourself why. There’s no one way to do this. So find a way that feels good to you.

If I’ve learned anything in these ten years, it’s this: You can’t control how people respond to your work. All you can do is keep showing up, keep telling the truth as you see it, and keep finding ways to love what you’re making.

Here’s to another decade of trying, learning, failing, and succeeding.

— Anna