After 9 months writing online: • I had under 100 followers • I...
Dickie Bush@dickiebush
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Aug 07, 2025
~4 min read
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After 9 months writing online:
• I had under 100 followers
• I wrote blogs no one read
• I felt like a failure & was ready to give up
But in the last 5 years, I've added 410k followers & grew a newsletter to 140k readers.
These 6 perspective hacks changed everything:🧵
• I had under 100 followers
• I wrote blogs no one read
• I felt like a failure & was ready to give up
But in the last 5 years, I've added 410k followers & grew a newsletter to 140k readers.
These 6 perspective hacks changed everything:🧵
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1. In the beginning, no one is watching—and that's a good thing.
At first, I thought to myself:
"No one is reading this. What's the point?"
And this bummed me out & held me back for a while.
But then, I reframed it into an advantage:
At first, I thought to myself:
"No one is reading this. What's the point?"
And this bummed me out & held me back for a while.
But then, I reframed it into an advantage:
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The fact no one was reading in the beginning was my beginner advantage.
It was like taking shots in an empty gym.
I could put in reps & improve my craft without pressure from a constant stream of eyeballs.
Ironically, this made growth easier—which leads to the 2nd realization:
It was like taking shots in an empty gym.
I could put in reps & improve my craft without pressure from a constant stream of eyeballs.
Ironically, this made growth easier—which leads to the 2nd realization:
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2. Think in percentages, not absolutes.
In the beginning, the numbers are small: 1 like, 2 replies, 6 followers.
It's hard to feel like you're making any progress.
Luckily, a little bit of mathematical "trickery" can get you through this early growth "slog":
In the beginning, the numbers are small: 1 like, 2 replies, 6 followers.
It's hard to feel like you're making any progress.
Luckily, a little bit of mathematical "trickery" can get you through this early growth "slog":
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There are two ways to look at growth:
• Absolute changes
• Percentage changes
So going from 3 to 6 followers is either:
+3 followers or +100% follower growth.
Which of these is more motivating?
• Absolute changes
• Percentage changes
So going from 3 to 6 followers is either:
+3 followers or +100% follower growth.
Which of these is more motivating?
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Clearly the second one!
So in the beginning, apply "percentages" to your metrics.
It'll keep you focused and motivated.
Now, to the 3rd perspective hack:
So in the beginning, apply "percentages" to your metrics.
It'll keep you focused and motivated.
Now, to the 3rd perspective hack:
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3. Realize: no one on Earth is thinking about you as much as you think.
I still remember the first time I hit publish.
I expected a wave of criticism from every single person I ever met to pour into my inbox.
But much to my surprise, that didn't happen.
Here's what did:
I still remember the first time I hit publish.
I expected a wave of criticism from every single person I ever met to pour into my inbox.
But much to my surprise, that didn't happen.
Here's what did:
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I hit publish on that first blog post—and heard nothing but the internet's crickets of indifference.
Turns out, these people I thought would read every word (mostly my high school friends) were way too busy thinking about themselves.
And now I think about this graphic daily:
Turns out, these people I thought would read every word (mostly my high school friends) were way too busy thinking about themselves.
And now I think about this graphic daily:
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4. I do not need to be an expert—I just need to be one step ahead of someone else.
In the beginning, I had a massive case of impostor syndrome.
I'm not an "expert" in anything—why would anyone listen to me?
But then I reflected on my own learning style and realized:
In the beginning, I had a massive case of impostor syndrome.
I'm not an "expert" in anything—why would anyone listen to me?
But then I reflected on my own learning style and realized:
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People don't want to learn from "experts."
Most "experts" are out of touch with beginners.
Instead, it's much easier to learn from someone a few steps ahead of you.
It's why 3rd graders always love to learn from 4th graders (not 8th graders).
Now for the last 2:
Most "experts" are out of touch with beginners.
Instead, it's much easier to learn from someone a few steps ahead of you.
It's why 3rd graders always love to learn from 4th graders (not 8th graders).
Now for the last 2:
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5. Optimize for progress, not perfection.
I thought before I started writing, I needed to have:
• The perfectly designed blog
• The perfectly optimized note-taking system
• The perfectly planned content calendar
Turns out, I didn't—here's why:
I thought before I started writing, I needed to have:
• The perfectly designed blog
• The perfectly optimized note-taking system
• The perfectly planned content calendar
Turns out, I didn't—here's why:
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Chasing the "perfect" system is nothing but procrastination disguised as productivity.
Truth is, you have no clue what the ideal system looks like—so you're going to waste hours building it.
Truth is, you have no clue what the ideal system looks like—so you're going to waste hours building it.
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6. Don't compare my step 1 to someone else's step 9—especially on something that compounds exponentially.
Lastly, I remember looking at the people with huge followings and thinking:
"There's no way I'll ever get there. Why even bother?"
But here's why this was a mistake:
Lastly, I remember looking at the people with huge followings and thinking:
"There's no way I'll ever get there. Why even bother?"
But here's why this was a mistake:
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The only difference between me and them back then?
How long they had been playing the game.
And that's why I write threads like this—because 4 years and 24,000 tweets later, I'm on the other side.
And I would have done anything to receive advice like this back then.
How long they had been playing the game.
And that's why I write threads like this—because 4 years and 24,000 tweets later, I'm on the other side.
And I would have done anything to receive advice like this back then.
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And don't forget:
Most people give up too early.
• 94% of blogs have fewer than 5 posts
• 99% of podcasts have fewer than 21 episodes
• 85% of YouTube channels have less than 10 videos
It has literally never been easier to win:
Most people give up too early.
• 94% of blogs have fewer than 5 posts
• 99% of podcasts have fewer than 21 episodes
• 85% of YouTube channels have less than 10 videos
It has literally never been easier to win:
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To recap, try these 6 "perspective hacks":
1. Embrace the empty gym
2. Realize: no one is looking at you
3. You do not need to be an expert
4. Think in percentages, not absolutes
5. Optimize for progress, not perfection
6. Don't compare Step 1 to someone else's Step 9
1. Embrace the empty gym
2. Realize: no one is looking at you
3. You do not need to be an expert
4. Think in percentages, not absolutes
5. Optimize for progress, not perfection
6. Don't compare Step 1 to someone else's Step 9
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Writing online helped me land my first $5,000 ghostwriting client.
Ghostwriting is how I'd monetize my writing *fast* if I was just starting out.
Here's a free, 5-day email course on how to get started: x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=dickie_aut…
Ghostwriting is how I'd monetize my writing *fast* if I was just starting out.
Here's a free, 5-day email course on how to get started: x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=dickie_aut…
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Boom, that's it!
I hope you found these helpful.
If you enjoyed them:
1. Follow me @dickiebush for more posts on digital writing and personal progress.
2. Hop back to the top tweet to like & reply with your biggest takeaway:
x.com/dickiebush/sta…
I hope you found these helpful.
If you enjoyed them:
1. Follow me @dickiebush for more posts on digital writing and personal progress.
2. Hop back to the top tweet to like & reply with your biggest takeaway:
x.com/dickiebush/sta…