How Solopreneur Programmers Turn Content Into Cash

[@HealthyDev]

Are you considering working for yourself as a programmer, and wondering if you need to create content? You do. I hope this episode helps encourage you that your voice needs to be heard. And if it is, people will buy your products, services - and advice.

[@benjaminthorp2208]

The kick in the ass I think I needed. Especially regarding not needing to create unique content. Going to rewatch and take notes, many thanks

[@HealthyDev]

Glad it helped! Yeah that part really helped me get over the hump myself.

[@nathannyawaya]

Man, every time I watch your videos its like I realize another world

[@Refactor-ig9sc]

This has helped me to feel less discouraged about the slow traffic on my channel! I need to look into content marketing as I think it would be helpful. Your video gave me some ideas to think about how to get started there. Granted, I need to be a lot more consistent too.

[@HealthyDev]

Hang in there! A couple quick suggestions. One is to make sure you're looking straight into the camera. You can kind of tell you're looking off screen. It may be just that where the camera is on your phone is in a different spot than you think. Otherwise maybe use a larger font with your overlay text. When that thumbnail is viewed on mobile, you won't be able to read it. Best of luck!

[@Refactor-ig9sc]

@@HealthyDev Thanks for the tips! There really is a lot to learn!

[@imlivelaffluvvson]

@@HealthyDevhow nice of you man giving out advice like that for free

[@jamessullenriot]

There is another issue. I have fully KZbin, podcasts, apps, song ideas, etc, in my head as I'm out walking, running, cleaning, in the shower, or wherever. It's amazing the ideas I have. The issue is when I go to sit down and do the work, I either get a mental block, or convince myself the idea is not as good, or I don't remember the good parts. There are a few reasons for this. One of the biggest ones is focus, The second one, is getting out of my own way. A few months ago I started meditating to see if that would help. I've tried meditation before, but was no consistent. I have been lately, and noticed that my focus is getting better. First thing, I'm able to focus at work for more than 5 minutes at a time before pulling up twitter or some other distraction. Same thing with other hobbies. I also voice record my ideas if I get something good and I'm not in position to work them out, and then, another key, anything really good, I actually write out in a notebook. Yes, pen and paper.

[@HealthyDev]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Getting distractions like twitter out of the way is huge. I do not have twitter, instagram, facebook, or linkedin apps on my phone anymore. I have to go to the website. Even then I try to stay off them but getting them off my phone helped a ton.

[@PaulSolt]

Thanks Jayme @healthyDev I am playing around with KZbin again. I've sold a ton of iOS app courses, but I burnt out in the past from the content being too big (200+ video courses). Now I want to reapproach the direction so that I can just be helpful again, since that's how I started. You're right that people just want to hear it from you once they trust you. Thanks! -Paul

[@christianbaer2897]

Great Episode. To further elaborate on myth 1... When I was in school I was helping a couple of my peers understanding Math. For the life of them, they could not understand the topic, when the teacher was explaining it. Somehow I had different words, order of explanation or something I don't know to it, that they understood it better. Nobody went from failing to a straight A because of that, but after graduation, I got a "Thank you, I wouldn't have made it without your math tutoring." That was a really nice feeling. We are talking about school math here. There is no way I did understand it better than the teachers or added something to it. That's not how Math works ;-) I was simply different than the teacher and that made it work for some people. So yes, please explain stuff in your words, with your structure, with your speed. It might help somebody.

[@HealthyDev]

Great story and example! Thanks so much for sharing this.

[@docopoper]

This video has actually given me a good topic to talk to my therapist about actually. I get such a "bleh" feeling thinking about trying to market myself, so that would be a good thing to dig into. So in a way I'm not the target audience for this video, and in a way you gave me a tangential prompt to action there, so thanks.

[@HealthyDev]

Most of my career coaching clients have therapists. Glad you're getting the self care you need.

[@mooromets]

I'm actually in the process of starting a channel about software development. I've already created one, bought some stuff to make videos and watched lessons on how to do it... But I haven't recorded a single video so basically - not started yet. Your video was exactly the kickstart I needed with lots of shared experience of what to do and what to avoid. Thanks a lot!

[@HealthyDev]

Awesome! You can do it. 👍

[@pedramardakani]

The honesty of your videos is really touching. Thanks for making this encouraging and insightful content.

[@samgould8567]

The introduction is definitely true. It reminds me of a song by Nick Drake (Things Behind the Sun) which encourages the listener to not worry about whether something has been done before when deciding to put their creativity out into the world. The lyrics imply that everyone has a unique vision, driven by some mysterious yet innocent force, that some onlookers may not understand and may even try to deride. However, despite all that, it is still worth putting yourself out there, even if you don’t initially feel compelled to do so. Perhaps you may feel jaded about the entire idea of personal expression or are maybe completely comfortable just keeping it to yourself. But when you do share, don’t make a big deal about it - just be humble and embrace the humanity of the situation, both inner and outer.

[@aanchalrana5312]

@SidTheITGuy thanks mate for sharing healthy software dev's channel.

[@aminfadaee8650]

That intro... Wow!

[@notaspectator]

Listened to the whole video. Lots to think about. Thank you.

[@ChrisAthanas]

This is great for anyone, not just software devs

[@HealthyDev]

Thanks man, that'd be cool!

[@michaelrall8142]

just a note on "it has been talked about already" - often the time and situation as a consumer makes a huge difference if you can take something from a video etc. How often did one experience things like "ah, yeah, heared that 2 years ago, BUT today it makes total sense, which it did not in those days"

[@HealthyDev]

Agree completely. Many teachers say their students don't "hear" them for 2 years. It takes time for knowledge to get into our thick skulls.

[@BijanCamp]

Thank you so much for this! I struggle with letting go of the first myth that “your ideas must be original”. I wish I knew that original source you came across 6 years ago that helped you get over it. 😆

[@ali-13392]

I swear you are literally posting content about things I am thinking about these days!! How can I talk to you 1-1?

[@HealthyDev]

Hey there, check out the link in the description that says to learn more about career coaching.

[@ali-13392]

@@HealthyDev I checked and seems like your next free consultation is available in 11 weeks 😟Any chance we can talk more and maybe schedule it a bit earlier? I would really like to discuss things with you

[@HealthyDev]

@@ali-13392 book a consultation then reply to it to contact me. I'll see if I can reschedule you earlier. Unfortunately yeah I'm booked out pretty far nowadays but occasionally I can get you in sooner.

[@matten_zero]

We are all creating micro communities

[@cat_copilot]

Starting off with some straight talk. No fluff

[@leonelmateus]

been watching your channel for a bit, similar situation to yours except I refuse to be a content monkey.. there is so much junk out there already contentwise, your channel stands out as quality and I find it to be the exception. Your points reverberate through and through... this content craze thats going on is just going to lead to rehashed-rehashed beans over time and the quality is just going to go to shit across the board for all platoforms... with junk AI adding to the mix.. nothing good can come of this. Everyone is going to have to pay the price for IP and IP confirmation as authorship is no longer presumed. Keep putting out quality... kudos.

[@HealthyDev]

I hear you. Trying my best to explain enough in this video that you don't have to be a monkey in how you do it. Even though I do believe you don't always need original ideas, I do sometimes see a lot of people saying stuff that's already been said with absolutely NO insight. That's not what I'm advocating. Hopefully that makes sense.

[@forlooplogic]

So this video is super helpful. I just started my KZbin channel, ForLoopLogic, and I have created a few videos and have not gotten a lot of traction as of yet, but I think what you said about creating content that is helpful with a mind to serve your audience is the mindset to take. I have allowed myself to get so wrapped up in the number of views and subscribers. This can be super discouraging. This video has helped me to see where my focus needs to be. Another great video as always Robert | forlooplogic

[@HealthyDev]

It's a tough climb, to be sure. Hang in there!

[@carlosirias4474]

Great advices. Thanks!

[@muammar88]

Well said mate!

[@shadower3707]

Still have not watched the video , It been two days , i am binging your content I am looking for a job and you made me stop and think through it so i can be authentic from job 0 , I was rushing and now i’m preparing and waiting :) I have a channel too , Hopefully i wanna be as authentic as you I hope to benefit you someday :)

[@smrt-e]

Man.. really. I've been considering this for ages and I've put it off for a long time. Part of it is motivated by a desire to correct a lot of the nonsense I see people spouting about. Part of it is to leave a record for my son to look back on. But the rest of the reasons seem desperate and a waste of time. It seems like a lot of work for not so much gain. You reckon I should perhaps go for it?

[@HealthyDev]

It sounds like you need to get clear on why you're doing it. You've got correcting people, leaving a legacy, and out of desperation. I suppose leaving a legacy isn't a bad motivator, but I'm not sure that would keep me going when things get tough. Are you considering doing it just to make content, or to make a living?

[@ErnaSolbergXXX]

Everything becomes just more and more fake. When programmers have to become content creators to be an independent consultant, we will not reward the best programmers, but the best story tellers. The whole industry is so filled up with bullshit, where everything is «so important» except the very basic that should be the most important of all and that is how god are you at making something new where there is no instruction manual on how to do it.

[@HealthyDev]

I've been overridden by someone on a project who sold themselves better than I did too, and it's incredibly frustrating. I agree with you that getting the work done is the most important thing. Unfortunately it's not enough to keep the confidence of the people who pay the bills. So as irritating as that may seem, I just have to be honest with people. If you want to succeed today with a pipeline of interested clients coming to you, and not having to chase after them, creating content is necessary. The good news is YOU get to choose whether you're full of shit or not.

[@codingwithzak09]

Great advice to give away valuable content like courses for free!

[@bitshopstever]

Just to screw with your metrics some I subscribed because of the variety and curiosity of burnout. Haven't faced it but have taken a few breaks from the norm like take less consulting work and try farming or farm robots (failing on both). If you only talked of one topic I never would have subscribed personally.

[@HealthyDev]

I'm not sure how that screws with my metrics, but thanks lol! 😉

[@insidiousmaximus]

The Brett Weinstein of programming.

[@muhammadcodes]

Do you think a channel about web development tutorials & some advice regarding being a programmer is too broad a niche? You can see an example on my channel of what I mean.

[@HealthyDev]

No I don't think so. It might be easier if you just did one or the other, but doing both is still doable.

[@jazzymichael]

This is like telling an entrepreneur to start a vending machine business

[@HealthyDev]

Someone who starts a vending machine business is an entrepreneur. You know entrepreneurship is starting businesses, it isn't specific to tech, right?