Create and iterate
Happy New Year friends!
I took the past couple weeks off to spend time with family during the holidays, and now I’m entering 2025 feeling refreshed.
Like most years, 2024 came with a lot of highs and lows. I’m learning that this is a reality of being a creative entrepreneur.
As I took some time to reflect on the previous year, there’s a lot that comes to mind.
But one main topic stands out among the rest:
Create & iterate
Practice Makes (Kinda) Perfect
2024 was my first full year of creating and sharing videos (consistently) on YouTube.
Now, I first began sharing YouTube videos all the way back in 2013. I had recently gotten my first DSLR camera and was eager to start creating.
I brought my camera with me everywhere I went, and created videos about anything I could.
It’s safe to say I was stoked about it.
But this year, sharing my videos felt different because I actually had intention behind it. I was creating these videos for a purpose, and began treating it like an actual business.
Publishing my first few videos was nothing short of terrifying.
Nothing about it felt easy. It felt awkward. I felt like I had nothing to say. It felt cringey.
But I decided to do it anyway. What was the worst that could happen?
43 videos and 7,500+ subscribers later, the insecurities I had in the beginning now have less of a hold on me.
Practice makes perfect. And although I still have so much to learn – putting in the reps eventually leads to growth.
This year, my process looked something like this:
- Create a few videos about a topic that interested me
- Gather feedback from views, engagement, and comments
- Make more videos about the things that resonated with others
And this worked well… for a while.
But eventually, I lost my spark.
Learning to Pivot
It all began with a simple plan.
But after awhile, I needed to change it up. Recently I’ve been enjoying the term “pivot.”
The point of a pivot is to:
- Double down on what’s working
- Reconsider what’s not
And over the past few months, I’ve been learning that I need to pivot.
Taking a break from creating videos (and even writing) has given me a fresh perspective on where I’m at – and where I want to go.
It’s important to reflect often, and the beginning of the year is the perfect time to do so.
As we head into 2025, my vision remains the same – but my approach will be shifting slightly.
A Creation-Focused Approach
My first love was photography and video.
And after 10+ years of professional video experience, I’m feeling as excited as ever to share the things I’ve learned as a self-taught creative.
(Well, I guess I have a degree from the school of hard knocks)
I’m stoked to begin sharing more of a “content-focused” approach over on my YouTube channel.
This includes more of an emphasis on the process of creating videos, photos, and design that help you share your message more effectively.
If you have specific requests in this area – feel free to reply to this email and lemme know!
Meanwhile, the things I’ll be sharing here on The Stoke Seminar will remain the same:
My lessons, takeaways, and encouragement to help you seek your stoke.
More than anything – I want to thank YOU for being here and supporting this wild and crazy journey. It means the world to me.
Here’s to 2025 and the incredible things we’ll create together!
Q: In what ways could you benefit from a “pivot” in your own life, business, or creativity?
Action item: Write a 500-word reflection about what worked & what didn’t in 2024. Double down on what worked, and reconsider what didn’t.
And don’t forget to seek your stoke.
Blessings!
–Eric Pfohl