Never Be Afraid To Ask
Hello Pals đ,
If youâre wondering why this is coming out later than usual:
MOVING SUCKS!
Well Pol, why didnât you just plan your time wisely to prevent the accumluation of multiple tasks due on the same day? đ
Preview:
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Pal Quote
Polâs Takeaways
Thinking Is Cool
Coming SoonâŠ
Watch/Listen Now
On episode 27, I have a #CreativeConversation with my pal, Kinsey Grant, Co-Founder/Host of Thinking Is Cool: a media startup dedicated to answering the question, "What if we all stopped to THINK a little harder?"
In this episode, Kinsey talks about:
- getting her start with Morning Brew (12:00)
- the inspiration behind Thinking Is Cool (23:18)
- building a community of Thinkers (37:43)
- the 3rd thought (44:19)
- hot takes on potential Season 2 Topics (50:43)
Pal Quote
Polâs Takeaways
Because my interviews are focused on my guests telling their story, I try to give them as much Talking Time as possible.
âPolâs Takeawaysâ is a space for me to share my thoughts on the interview.
âA Reluctant Content Creatorâ
A moment that stood out to me during this interview was when I asked Kinsey if sheâs always had this amazing drive to be known for her brand, interviewing people, and creating content, and I was surprised to hear her say she sees herself as a âreluctant content creatorâ.
Considering that sheâs somebody who used to release two podcast episodes a week, an accompanying IGTV video, and write multiple newsletters articles in that same week, only to quit that job to start a whole new company that is literally based on creating multiple forms of content weekly⊠I felt like it was CAP! (thinking cap that isđ)
But after reflecting on what Kinsey meant, I realized that I, too, view myself as a âreluctant creatorâ.
Although content creation is not my current full-time gig (yet), I get overwhelmed at times doing it on the side, so I canât even imagine it as a full-time thing. The creator economy is driven by the ability to constantly produce, and that can be difficult if youâre reluctant to put your stuff out there.
As vague and general as the word âcontent creatorâ is, the unifying thing that connects anyone that dares to refer to themselves as such is that we all think the stuff we create is dope, but deep down, weâre always unsure if others will also think itâs dope. This unsureness can lock you up in a state of creative paralysis to the point where you decide to not share your work because youâre afraid it wonât be appreciated.
Itâs one of the reasons why Iâm so impressed by somebody like Kinsey, and why I interview people like her because Iâm genuinely curious to know how they do it.
Itâs Not Just Content Creators
When you zoom out from the above section, this reluctancy to be our true self because of the fear of otherâs opinion is something that affects us all, and one example that comes to mind is the change in how people use Instagram.
Remember the days when you used to take a random ass pic with your phone, choose your favorite IG filter (Sierra anyone?), and post it to your chronological feed with no worries in the world?
~ahhh, the good old days~
Nowadays, you gotta find the perfect lighting, D̶r̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶l̶y̶r̶i̶c̶ caption, day of the week, time of the day, confirm it matches your feedâs ~vibes~, and post on your burner first as a test run⊠all for nobody to see it because we donât scroll through our TL anymore.
SIDENOTE: I think this is one of the reasons why IG is dying and Tik Tok is thriving. The algorithm rewards authenticity, you donât have to follow or be followed by your friends, and the less polished your video is, the better.
But regardless if youâre an avid TikToker or not, remember that Thinking Is Cool, but donât get stuck thinking too much about the opinions of others as long as you truly believe in what youâre doing.
Thinking Is Cool
Speaking of Thinking Is Cool, if youâre curious to know what the hype is about, I definitely recommend you listen to an episode to get a sense of the ~vibes~.
My favorite one so far is the Barstool Case Study episode where Kinsey uses Barstool Sports to have a nuanced conversation about casting moral judgement on a potential employer. âTwas a great convo for someone who is currently employed in the Oil and Gas industry đŸđđŸ.
Proceed to THINK below!
I love hearing from all the Pals whether itâs critique or compliments, so let me know what you think of the podcast and/or newsletter by replying to this email or leaving a review.
Coming SoonâŠ
On the next episode of Pol and Pals, my pal(s) and I will have a #CreativeConversation about growing up on a farm, why you should care about Robinhood, and starting a company with a co-founder that is distinctly different.