The only thing you can control 

Creative spaces are littered with cynicism these days. 

“It’s impossible to gain traction as a creator.” 

“Instagram’s algorithm changed AGAIN!” 

“Spotify is just all AI music now.” 

“How are people doing it?” 

Honestly, it’s exhausting. 

And look, I’m not saying some of the concerns aren’t valid, but the negativity is completely unproductive. 

Because building a business is one of the most difficult things you can do. 

And building a business on top of creative work? 

Even harder. 

But the biggest issue I have with this mindset is that it removes any sense of agency or responsibility from the person doing the complaining. 

And that’s the problem. 

We all have a choice 

As a general rule, I tend to believe that what you’re looking for in life is what you’ll find. 

For example, if you believe most people are intrinsically good and honest, odds are you’ll find yourself surrounded by good, honest people. 

Conversely, if you believe most people are selfish and bad, you’re more likely to encounter selfish and bad people. 

We manifest the world around us through the measure of our own expectations. 

Because, at its core, life is a game of the mind. 

So if your default lens is cynicism, you will find increasing reasons to be cynical. 

Think Spotify is all AI slop? 

AI slop is what you’ll find. 

Think Instagram’s algorithm is cheating you? 

I’m betting you’ll find evidence of it. 

Think the system is rigged against you? 

Go ahead and start writing down all the reasons why. 

But the opposite is true too. 

If you view the world through a lens of positivity and opportunity, then positivity and opportunity are what you’ll find. 

And this is good news. 

Change your mind 

At the end of the day, none of us can control what Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, or any other platform chooses to do. 

Everything can change at the drop of a hat, and all we can do is take it on the chin and adapt.

Realistically, there’s only one thing any of us can actually control. 

Ourselves. 

Our effort. 

What we put in and how hard we’re willing to work day in, day out. 

We all have the freedom to do the absolute best we can with what we have. 

Beyond that, it’s out of our hands. 

Fortunately, this shift in focus opens the door for tremendous upside. 

Because the primary reason most people fail isn’t lack of talent or drive.

It’s giving up due to misplaced expectations. 

And because so many of us are looking to Instagram or Spotify or YouTube to solve our problems, these same platforms end up serving as convenient scapegoats when things don’t go as planned. 

“If what I’m doing isn’t working, it must be the algorithm.”  

The reality is that the average person is so busy blaming “the algorithm” they don’t even stop to consider the fact that they might be wasting their time making something no one else wants or needs. 

And that’s the core issue. 

Success in any corner of the market comes from making something other people want. 

Period. 

And the only way to do this is to relentlessly focus on your inputs and leave the outputs to take care of themselves. 

We only have the power to change what we do, not how other people receive it, and certainly not how “the algorithm” chooses to serve it up. 

But better inputs create better outputs. 

And complaining and arguing online accomplish nothing. 

So you get to choose. 

Want to win? 

Create the best work you can, share it with the world, and expect good things to happen. 

Sounds simple? 

It is. 

But do it for long enough and you’ll find yourself in an entirely different league than those who spend their time attempting to complain and blame their way to the top. 

And, more importantly, you’ll have a lot more fun too.