Why “Niche Down” Never Worked For Me
For years, I’ve tried (and failed) to build an online community, to meet like-minded, multi-passionate people, to enjoy the curious place that is the internet, and I’m not going to beat around the bush, to hopefully start something that could earn me some extra cash. (People can deny this all they want, but most creators starting a personal brand on social media have at least some financial motivation.)
But everywhere I looked, the advice was always to “niche down,” and I just can’t. I have too many interests and hobbies that I want to incorporate into my content, and I bet many of you feel the same way.
No one has just one interest or one passion. Maybe you spend most of your time on one thing, but I bet you can name another 1 or 2 things that could be added to your list. Everyone’s a little multi-passionate whether you like it or not.
So why niche down when you can enjoy every single bit?
My Multi-Passionate Approach
Therefore, I’ve decided to create content and pursue some of my (lifelong) dreams that aren’t necessarily related to each other. I hope to encourage others to do whatever they want, trusting they’ll attract the right people automatically (or at least, that’s what I hope).
I’ll be experimenting and learning everything in public, which is actually what attracts me most to this decision. Many online creators act as if they’re experts on their topics, we’re told to “fake it till you make it.” It’s not bad advice, but I want to share the good, the bad, and the messy, and take you along for the ride.
My Interests and Passions
Reading & Writing: Where It All Began
Two of my passions are interconnected, reading and writing. From a very young age, I’ve always loved reading. I would go to the library every Wednesday (when school let out early) and check out the maximum number of books allowed (about 6 or 7). I’d head home, start reading immediately, and as soon as I finished them all, I’d be ready to go back.
I was always annoyed that the library wasn’t open on Mondays because after the weekend, I’d be done with all my books.
When I was old enough, I had an epiphany and realized somebody was writing all these books, they didn’t just appear out of thin air! But I didn’t quite grasp the idea of writing my own yet, so I started copying books into my little notebooks (I know, copyright issues, but I was only 6 or 7).
Fast forward to being about 12 years old when I discovered a website similar to Wattpad but Dutch-based. It was love at first sight! That same night, I started writing my own story and quickly became addicted. I lived and breathed that website until I was about 17 or 18 and it kind of (really) messed up my grades. I continued writing, but the quality of the website declined rapidly. Nevertheless, my lifelong dream of becoming an author was born there.
Productivity & Personal Development
When I was about 18 or 19, I discovered the studious side of Tumblr, known as “studyblrs.” Again, that same night, I started my own little blog and became addicted. But instead of hurting my grades, they actually improved. It taught me effective study methods, motivated me to keep going, and allowed me to create content to share with the world.
That “little” blog quickly grew to over 20,000 followers and maintains that number today, even though I rarely post and that corner of Tumblr has quieted down.
I don’t study anymore, but my interest in productivity and personal development remains strong. I have countless books on these topics, and whenever I see related content, I always pause my scrolling to check if there’s something new to learn. It’s amazing how one night on Tumblr sparked such a strong interest.
Other Passions: Pokémon Cards & Gaming
I have two other interests that I probably won’t focus on as much in my content but still want to share:
Collecting Pokémon cards: This is a recent “rediscovery” even though I was that kid trading cards on the schoolyard. I started collecting again last July/August and have been buying the newest sets ever since (new one coming at the end of this month, woohoo!). I did consider starting a business around Pokémon, as you’d want to do something you love, right? But I feel the timing isn’t right with the current explosion in the card market.
Gaming: This has also always been a big part of my life. The obsession comes and goes. I get fixated on one game for a period, play only that, get tired of it, take a break, and then start a new fixation. And yes, I’ve thought about streaming, but I’m not particularly skilled, so why make a fool of myself? (Though that might actually be entertaining!)
Learning & Building in Public
I’ve spent most of my teenage life and all of my 20s contemplating starting an online community, both as a creative outlet and to be more social. I know I’m not the only one in this position, and I want to share my journey so others might feel empowered to start their own.
It definitely feels scary to put myself out there and add new responsibilities to my plate, but since I expect them to be enjoyable, they won’t feel like obligations but rather fun tasks.
Starting my business in the public eye and being subject to everyone’s opinions is terrifying, exhilarating, and awesome all at once!
I hope it brings opportunities that I’ll embrace with both hands and share with all of you, so that someone might learn from my experiences and start their own journey.
What You Can Expect
Content & Platforms
I’ll be covering all these interests and passions while sharing a behind-the-scenes look at starting an online business:
- How-to guides for productivity, writing, and creative pursuits
- Personal reflections on the journey of building in public
- Book recommendations and what I’m learning from them
- Behind-the-scenes looks at starting a multi-passionate business
For now, I’m starting with:
- ✏️ This blog
- 📱 My Threads account
I also have plans for a YouTube channel and an email newsletter, but let’s not fill my plate to the brim right away.
Join Me on This Journey!
I hope you’ll join me on this journey and learn alongside me.
What’s something you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t started, for whatever reason? Let me know in the comments below!
Follow along on Instagram and Threads for more updates and behind-the-scenes content!
