Preview.

How to fail as a content creator (and what you can learn from it)

Why do so many content creators quit? The answer is deceptively simple.

Real determination lies in consistent vigilance, for better beginnings.

Random motivational quote (is it cringe?)

When it comes to content creation, failure rarely stems from a lack of talent. Skills can be improved. The real culprit? Human nature—impatience, frustration, and the thirst for instant gratification.

So, instead of focusing on how to succeed, let’s reverse-engineer the problem: Here’s how to guarantee failure as a content creator, with a few lessons on how to avoid it. It’s quite universal, really, and one piece of advice I have is to study restaurants. Restaurants can be a masterclass in failure—emblematic of people not even trying, falling short by ignoring a few basic rules.

Bonus point: we’ve avoided bull**** buzzwords like resilience. It’s a banned word at Sherpo, after all.


The surest path to failure

The Oxford Learners Dictionary defines failure as “to not do or achieve something.”

If failure is what you’re after, here’s rule #1: Don’t even try. Stay comfortable. Never take risks launching new things. Convince yourself that your content isn’t interesting, and avoid any new opportunities. Always compare your content, views, and follower count to others, and set unrealistic targets. This will undoubtedly lead you straight to failure.

Rule #2: Quit at the first sign of trouble. Encounter a roadblock, such as a slowdown in growth? Perfect time to give up. If you truly want to fail, quitting early is key.


The comparison trap: a shortcut to failure

Social media is both a blessing and a curse. It offers massive exposure for creators, but it’s also a hotbed for comparison.

If you want to fail, focus on how much better others are doing. Scroll through their polished content, viral posts, and impressive followings, and let yourself feel discouraged. After all, you’re not supposed to suck at first, right? Wrong.

To succeed, you have to embrace the fact that everyone starts off bad. Seeing other creators achieve success faster, or seemingly with less effort, can be disheartening. But quitting because you’re not seeing instant results? That’s an easy way to fail.

Expecting perfection from the start is madness. But doing things badly without ever seeking to improve is even worse. So, don’t make the mistake of using "done is better than perfect” as an excuse to half-ass things.


The real reason creators fail

It’s not because your niche is oversaturated or your equipment isn’t top-tier. These are all excuses. And as Benjamin Franklin said:

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

Benjamin Franklin

There’s always room for someone who shares their unique perspective. Your phone camera or a free Canva account is more than enough to create engaging content. And as for the algorithm? It doesn’t hate you—it just doesn’t know you exist yet because you haven’t played the long game. Or maybe it doesn’t exist at all?

So, what is the real reason most creators fail? Unrealistic expectations. They expect overnight success and quit when it doesn’t happen.


Lack of patience: the ultimate failure strategy

The quickest way to fail is to expect too much, too soon. Invest hours into one post or video, hit publish, and sit back waiting for the likes and views to flood in. When that doesn’t happen, let the disappointment sink in.

Over time, as the results don’t roll in, start questioning your ability. Wonder if maybe you’re just not cut out for this. And then quit, right when you’re just getting started.

Success doesn’t come overnight, and if you don’t stick with it, you’ll never get to experience the growth that comes with time and practice.


Chasing fame instead of offering value

In the age of social media, followers are the new currency of fame. If you want to fail, make fame your end goal. Focus entirely on gaining followers, racking up likes, and meaningless vanity metrics.

But here’s the problem: If you’re not providing value, the numbers won’t matter for long. Posting for validation won’t create a lasting connection with your audience. To succeed, focus on what you can offer, not what you can gain.


The secret to success: embrace the grind

Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.

Dwayne Johnson

Creators who ultimately succeed are the ones who stick it out long enough. That’s the most uncomfortable part—posting content into the void, unsure if anyone will care. But that’s how it works.

If you’re feeling discouraged, look at any successful creator’s early work. You’ll probably cringe at the rough quality, but they improved because they kept going. I’ve looked back at my own early content and designs, and trust me—it wasn’t pretty. But those cringeworthy moments were part of the journey.


Why playing the long game matters

The path to failure is paved with impatience. Building an audience, and more importantly, becoming a great creator, takes time. Your audience won’t find you immediately, and you’ll need time to discover what resonates with them and refine your own style.

Creators who’ve made it often share how they spent years creating content before gaining any real traction. They weren’t in it for quick wins—they were in it for the long haul. And they loved what they were doing—because hating it drastically improves the odds of failing.


Takeaway

Failure as a content creator comes from expecting fast results, losing patience, and focusing on fame instead of value. Success, on the other hand, is built on patience, persistence (and not resilience), and offering something of worth. There’s no shortcut. It’s about showing up consistently, learning from your mistakes, and evolving over time.

So, if you’re serious about this journey, remember: You’re in it for the long haul. Don’t let frustration or slow growth derail you. Keep showing up, keep improving, try to avoid failure, and success might follow.


Ready to stick it out?

Remember that, eventually, you must start monetizing and capturing some of the value you have created.

And it’s here that real content creators providing value distinguish themselves from those merely racking up views with stale content or questionable marketing tactics, lacking any semblance of integrity.

At Sherpo, we’re here to support you in creating and capturing value, whether you’re just starting or have been creating for a while. With tools to help you create, monetize, and grow your brand, you can focus on what matters—creating content that delivers real value.


Join us today with Sherpo Flex and start building your creator journey with the right tools at your side.

Written by

Giacomo Di Pinto

Oct 25, 2024

5m reading time

Read more articles

Space background

With Sherpo,
the sky is the limit!

Get started
Floating cloud