How to start building a creative business from zero

Dec 12, 2023

Being an online creator is an incredible thing. 

I mean, we live in a time where you can pursue and monetize just about anything you can think of. 

Music, art, writing, coffee, fuzzy socks, Venus fly traps—whatever it is you love, if you want it bad enough, you can build a business doing it. 

But, as with all things in life, the beginning of creating a business online is the hardest part. 

So if you’re struggling to get off the starting line, or even if you’re still just early in your journey, here are three tips I believe will help you get going so you can move one step closer to spending your time doing what you love instead of wasting your time doing what you don’t. 


Start with what you have 

The easiest way to delay creating work and putting it out into the world is to believe you need something else—some other piece of gear, the right software, more knowledge—before you can get to it. 

This is a lie. 

If you’re reading this, you have all the technology you need to start making stuff. 

Sure, you may not be able to make every single thing you want to make with what you currently have, but you can at least start making something. 

And something is better than nothing. 

If all you have is a smartphone, you can create videos, photos, the written word, and yes, even music. 

All for free. 

So don’t let a lack of equipment get in the way. 

Start with what you have. 


Make what you like 

It’s tough to figure out what to make online, and paralysis by analysis is a real thing. 

I’ve been doing this for years, and I still run into seasons where I just can’t seem to think of anything to create that excites me. 

If you’re like me, you may find yourself asking…

What kind of content do I want to create? 

What kind of music do I want to release? 

How do I craft my voice as a writer? 

My advice? Take stock of the things you enjoy and just do that. 

What gets you fired up? What could you do for hours, whether you get paid for it or not? 

If you can find two to three of those types of interests and stack them, you’re onto something special. 

Stacking interests is a great jumping-off point to start creating no matter what those interests are. 

Because odds are, if you think it’s cool, someone else out there will too. 

Make what you like. 


Keep showing up 

In every single category, without fail, the winners are those who simply refuse to give up. 

Consistency is the single biggest driver of success, not talent. 

Using what you have and making what you like mean nothing if you’re not prepared to do it for an extended period of time. 

Consistency creates momentum, and once you have momentum, you’ll find the whole system will begin to take on a life of its own. 

So if you can show up and create something new online every single day, even if it’s not the highest quality, you will be in the top 1% simply because you refused to give up. 

And if you can do this for years, one day you’ll look up and realize you’ve achieved more than you ever thought possible. 

Keep showing up. 

Being an online creator is an incredible thing. 

I mean, we live in a time where you can pursue and monetize just about anything you can think of. 

Music, art, writing, coffee, fuzzy socks, Venus fly traps—whatever it is you love, if you want it bad enough, you can build a business doing it. 

But, as with all things in life, the beginning of creating a business online is the hardest part. 

So if you’re struggling to get off the starting line, or even if you’re still just early in your journey, here are three tips I believe will help you get going so you can move one step closer to spending your time doing what you love instead of wasting your time doing what you don’t. 


Start with what you have 

The easiest way to delay creating work and putting it out into the world is to believe you need something else—some other piece of gear, the right software, more knowledge—before you can get to it. 

This is a lie. 

If you’re reading this, you have all the technology you need to start making stuff. 

Sure, you may not be able to make every single thing you want to make with what you currently have, but you can at least start making something. 

And something is better than nothing. 

If all you have is a smartphone, you can create videos, photos, the written word, and yes, even music. 

All for free. 

So don’t let a lack of equipment get in the way. 

Start with what you have. 


Make what you like 

It’s tough to figure out what to make online, and paralysis by analysis is a real thing. 

I’ve been doing this for years, and I still run into seasons where I just can’t seem to think of anything to create that excites me. 

If you’re like me, you may find yourself asking…

What kind of content do I want to create? 

What kind of music do I want to release? 

How do I craft my voice as a writer? 

My advice? Take stock of the things you enjoy and just do that. 

What gets you fired up? What could you do for hours, whether you get paid for it or not? 

If you can find two to three of those types of interests and stack them, you’re onto something special. 

Stacking interests is a great jumping-off point to start creating no matter what those interests are. 

Because odds are, if you think it’s cool, someone else out there will too. 

Make what you like. 


Keep showing up 

In every single category, without fail, the winners are those who simply refuse to give up. 

Consistency is the single biggest driver of success, not talent. 

Using what you have and making what you like mean nothing if you’re not prepared to do it for an extended period of time. 

Consistency creates momentum, and once you have momentum, you’ll find the whole system will begin to take on a life of its own. 

So if you can show up and create something new online every single day, even if it’s not the highest quality, you will be in the top 1% simply because you refused to give up. 

And if you can do this for years, one day you’ll look up and realize you’ve achieved more than you ever thought possible. 

Keep showing up. 

Being an online creator is an incredible thing. 

I mean, we live in a time where you can pursue and monetize just about anything you can think of. 

Music, art, writing, coffee, fuzzy socks, Venus fly traps—whatever it is you love, if you want it bad enough, you can build a business doing it. 

But, as with all things in life, the beginning of creating a business online is the hardest part. 

So if you’re struggling to get off the starting line, or even if you’re still just early in your journey, here are three tips I believe will help you get going so you can move one step closer to spending your time doing what you love instead of wasting your time doing what you don’t. 


Start with what you have 

The easiest way to delay creating work and putting it out into the world is to believe you need something else—some other piece of gear, the right software, more knowledge—before you can get to it. 

This is a lie. 

If you’re reading this, you have all the technology you need to start making stuff. 

Sure, you may not be able to make every single thing you want to make with what you currently have, but you can at least start making something. 

And something is better than nothing. 

If all you have is a smartphone, you can create videos, photos, the written word, and yes, even music. 

All for free. 

So don’t let a lack of equipment get in the way. 

Start with what you have. 


Make what you like 

It’s tough to figure out what to make online, and paralysis by analysis is a real thing. 

I’ve been doing this for years, and I still run into seasons where I just can’t seem to think of anything to create that excites me. 

If you’re like me, you may find yourself asking…

What kind of content do I want to create? 

What kind of music do I want to release? 

How do I craft my voice as a writer? 

My advice? Take stock of the things you enjoy and just do that. 

What gets you fired up? What could you do for hours, whether you get paid for it or not? 

If you can find two to three of those types of interests and stack them, you’re onto something special. 

Stacking interests is a great jumping-off point to start creating no matter what those interests are. 

Because odds are, if you think it’s cool, someone else out there will too. 

Make what you like. 


Keep showing up 

In every single category, without fail, the winners are those who simply refuse to give up. 

Consistency is the single biggest driver of success, not talent. 

Using what you have and making what you like mean nothing if you’re not prepared to do it for an extended period of time. 

Consistency creates momentum, and once you have momentum, you’ll find the whole system will begin to take on a life of its own. 

So if you can show up and create something new online every single day, even if it’s not the highest quality, you will be in the top 1% simply because you refused to give up. 

And if you can do this for years, one day you’ll look up and realize you’ve achieved more than you ever thought possible. 

Keep showing up. 

Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:

  1. Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.

  1. Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.

  1. The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.

  1. Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.

Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:

  1. Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.

  1. Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.

  1. The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.

  1. Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.

Whenever you're ready, there are four ways I can help you:

  1. Subscribe to the Newsletter: Join our growing network of artists, creators, and entrepreneurs by receiving The One Thing directly to your inbox every week.

  1. Book a Consultation: Schedule a one-on-one call with me to improve your marketing across paid advertising, social media, and more.

  1. The Spotify Traffic Accelerator: Join the hundreds of artists who have successfully learned to automate their growth on Spotify using paid ads on Instagram.

  1. Become a DuPree X Artist: Hire our team to manage your marketing across streaming platforms and social media so you can focus on what matters most—making music.

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Subscribe to The One Thing and receive one thing to help you improve your marketing and expand your audience—delivered every Tuesday.

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Subscribe to The One Thing and receive one thing to help you improve your marketing and expand your audience—delivered every Tuesday.

© 2024 Tom DuPree III

© 2024 Tom DuPree III

© 2024 Tom DuPree III