Some of the online spaces are jam-packed with people repurposing knowledge but without the expertise. I am definitely after falling into the lake of social media overload this week and have been trying to get some of these cosplayers out of my feed. I must have hovered for too long on the cool pictures of cool cafes!
To clarify, you are referring to people that teach without necessarily going through the thought process, pains and learning of entrepreneurship, correct?
I believe they are called “reporters”, however they label themselves as entrepreneurs, and that is the misleading part. Is that the idea?
What if they create guides, courses and master classes - doesn’t that make them digital products creators? Isn’t that a form of entrepreneurship these days? Curious to expand on this as I find it intriguing a little.
No, not exactly. I’m talking about people who perform online. They video themselves going through elaborate morning routines, or sitting in a co-working space drinking coffee, but aren’t really building a business. They don’t have a product or service, don’t have customers, etc. They’re just pretending.
I'm not one of these cosplayers - but I receive this message loud and clear to just get out there and do what the ideas in my path call me to do: enroll people to my crazy thoughts, connect different dots, make mistakes, look a fool - and welcome it all as initiation of getting off the merry go round - all in the name of creating signal through the noise - appreciate you calling this out...
Courses, masterminds, books, videos, like you said, all performance. It’s no different than performative politics for likes and subscribes.
The folks I know actually running profitable businesses ain’t interested in mugging for the camera, no cap. Nothing wrong with showing your work and truly helping others, but you nailed it for those of us, **raises hand**, who think sharing content about entrepreneurship equals doing.
I don’t believe that courses, books, masterminds, videos are necessarily all performance all of the time though. I’d actually argue that if you can put your real, true, helpful knowledge into any of those packages, you’re more of an entrepreneur than someone who just plays the part on TV :)
The hustle-cosplay is strong out there. Too bad it doesn't come with actual results. Here's to fewer selfies, more spreadsheets, and the deeply unsexy joy of just doing the work.
Another great post, Justin! I won't lie -- I found myself far too often over-consuming these guys'/gals' content. This was especially true during the early stages when I was immersing myself with learning as much as I could about business. But I'll never forget the night that I "woke up" and realized that "I'd learned enough!" It was now simply time to "get to work!" And I'm glad I did. Because fast-forward to today, and I'm <thankfully!> making significant strides down the business runway.
The world needs more doers. Everyone is so quick to try to teach the world or “become something” before putting in the years of work.
Told myself that I’m going to put my head down and work for at least half a decade before I start giving any advice to people.
Fast forward to today and I’ve built a 7 figure business that runs on auto-pilot, so giving myself some permission to speak to the universe because I’ve done the work 💪🏼
Almost all the profiles on social media accounts are like they all are some sort of enterpreneurs. And others are teaching you how to increase your followers. Seeing all this I sometimes feel way behind everyone. Your post is helpful in letting me know that the truth is otherwise.
Oh man, your words are wise and true. I lived in Bali for three years and saw this coaching/crypto/entrepreneur/investor cosplay all the time! Made me laugh out loud for them and sad for the people that fall prey to their grifting.
Loved this essay! I’m not a fan of these entrepreneur cosplayers. Starting to see them on Substack too. It really is about the fundamentals of business building!
Some of the online spaces are jam-packed with people repurposing knowledge but without the expertise. I am definitely after falling into the lake of social media overload this week and have been trying to get some of these cosplayers out of my feed. I must have hovered for too long on the cool pictures of cool cafes!
Haha. We all do, sometimes :)
Great read. 🙏
To clarify, you are referring to people that teach without necessarily going through the thought process, pains and learning of entrepreneurship, correct?
I believe they are called “reporters”, however they label themselves as entrepreneurs, and that is the misleading part. Is that the idea?
What if they create guides, courses and master classes - doesn’t that make them digital products creators? Isn’t that a form of entrepreneurship these days? Curious to expand on this as I find it intriguing a little.
No, not exactly. I’m talking about people who perform online. They video themselves going through elaborate morning routines, or sitting in a co-working space drinking coffee, but aren’t really building a business. They don’t have a product or service, don’t have customers, etc. They’re just pretending.
Thank you for clarifying.
Thank you for this. Saving a passage from it my JW file that I review periodically. Stuff that gets me back on track.
Appreciate you, Amanda!
I'm not one of these cosplayers - but I receive this message loud and clear to just get out there and do what the ideas in my path call me to do: enroll people to my crazy thoughts, connect different dots, make mistakes, look a fool - and welcome it all as initiation of getting off the merry go round - all in the name of creating signal through the noise - appreciate you calling this out...
The more action you take, the more you learn. The more you learn, the better you get.
I love this @Justin Welsh. Keeping it real and working on what adds value (to others)
There’s another word for this: grift.
Courses, masterminds, books, videos, like you said, all performance. It’s no different than performative politics for likes and subscribes.
The folks I know actually running profitable businesses ain’t interested in mugging for the camera, no cap. Nothing wrong with showing your work and truly helping others, but you nailed it for those of us, **raises hand**, who think sharing content about entrepreneurship equals doing.
I don’t believe that courses, books, masterminds, videos are necessarily all performance all of the time though. I’d actually argue that if you can put your real, true, helpful knowledge into any of those packages, you’re more of an entrepreneur than someone who just plays the part on TV :)
Here’s to building 💥
Focused Action = providing a unique value proposition to solve customer problems and who are willing to pay you for. No business without sales 😀
Note to self was so human. Loved this one.
Thanks so much, Daniel. Really appreciate it man.
The hustle-cosplay is strong out there. Too bad it doesn't come with actual results. Here's to fewer selfies, more spreadsheets, and the deeply unsexy joy of just doing the work.
Another great post, Justin! I won't lie -- I found myself far too often over-consuming these guys'/gals' content. This was especially true during the early stages when I was immersing myself with learning as much as I could about business. But I'll never forget the night that I "woke up" and realized that "I'd learned enough!" It was now simply time to "get to work!" And I'm glad I did. Because fast-forward to today, and I'm <thankfully!> making significant strides down the business runway.
The world needs more doers. Everyone is so quick to try to teach the world or “become something” before putting in the years of work.
Told myself that I’m going to put my head down and work for at least half a decade before I start giving any advice to people.
Fast forward to today and I’ve built a 7 figure business that runs on auto-pilot, so giving myself some permission to speak to the universe because I’ve done the work 💪🏼
Almost all the profiles on social media accounts are like they all are some sort of enterpreneurs. And others are teaching you how to increase your followers. Seeing all this I sometimes feel way behind everyone. Your post is helpful in letting me know that the truth is otherwise.
Oh man, your words are wise and true. I lived in Bali for three years and saw this coaching/crypto/entrepreneur/investor cosplay all the time! Made me laugh out loud for them and sad for the people that fall prey to their grifting.
Loved this essay! I’m not a fan of these entrepreneur cosplayers. Starting to see them on Substack too. It really is about the fundamentals of business building!
I did create a personna for my newsletter who is a fun, 50s housewife who drinks martinis and smokes and reports on tech and AI news!!