Boring phase of content creation
“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten.” — Bill Gates
When I first launched my podcast, I was pumped.
I imagined listeners buzzing in, downloads climbing fast, and conversations flowing. Instead, I faced months of flat downloads. Week after week, after work, I showed up to record episodes that barely anyone noticed. No feedback. No growth. Just silence.
This was my boring phase of content creation, a stretch so ordinary and uneventful I almost gave up. But that silence wasn’t a sign of failure; it was a foundation being built quietly.
This phase doesn’t get enough attention, but it’s where creator consistency and income quietly take root.
Let me walk you through what the boring phase is really about, why it happens, and how to push through it to slow growth that’s actually sustainable.
Why the “Boring Phase” Exists
Understanding why the boring phase of content creation exists helps take the sting out of it. When you’re grinding away with little to show for it, it’s tempting to feel broken or lost. But this phase is natural and necessary.
Algorithms Don’t Reward New Creators Immediately
Every platform’s algorithm wants to keep users engaged. New accounts without a track record don’t get immediate exposure. No matter how good your content is, it takes time for the system to notice and start pushing your work to a wider audience.
This is why the early days can feel so quiet. You’re putting in all the work, but the algorithm barely puts you on the radar. This delay forces you to be patient and persist without relying on instant feedback.
Skills Compound Quietly Before Results Show
Behind the scenes, your skills are compounding. Podcasting, writing, video, each format has a learning curve. Editing gets faster. Writing becomes clearer. Speaking feels more natural. This growth isn’t always visible to the outside world, but it’s happening every single day you put in the work.
When you stick to content marketing reality, you accept that mastering your craft and audience building happen slowly. You’re investing in invisible progress before visible results appear.
Identity Shift Takes Time (Employee → Creator)
Switching from an employee mindset to a creator mindset is a real transition. You’re moving from doing tasks assigned by someone else to building something from scratch. That shift takes time and patience.
Many quit too early because they haven’t fully embraced their new identity as creators, as entrepreneurs with all the uncertainty and responsibility it brings. That mental change is part of surviving the boring phase.
Most People Quit Here — That’s Why It Works
The truth is, most people don’t endure the boredom. They jump from one idea to the next, chasing shortcuts. That drop-off is why the boring phase works in your favor if you stay consistent.
By sticking it out, you’re passing a test many never get past. This sets up a foundation for slow growth and eventual income that feels steady rather than shaky.
- Understand that algorithms delay rewards for new creators.
- Focus on skill-building behind the scenes, not immediate applause.
- Allow yourself time to adopt a creator identity fully.
- Remember that quitting early is common and staying consistent is your advantage.
My Own Experience in the Boring Phase
Talking theory is fine, but I want to bring this home with my own raw experience. I wasn’t spared from the boring phase, far from it.
Recording Episodes Late Nights After Corporate Work
For months, I recorded podcast episodes after long days in a 9-to-5 job. It was exhausting. I was drained, but I kept going because I believed in the bigger picture. No one was downloading. No one was engaging.
This phase felt like pushing a boulder uphill alone, but consistency was my silent partner. Showing up every week after work became my new normal, even if it felt pointless sometimes.
First Affiliate Links That Didn’t Convert
I put affiliate links in my episodes and posts thinking they’d instantly bring income. Instead, crickets. No clicks. No sales. It was frustrating but also educational. I realized affiliate marketing isn’t magic. It requires trust, timing, and an audience who knows you.
This slow side hustle patience was crucial. The groundwork with content and relationships had to come first.
Writing Content Nobody Commented On
My blog posts and emails often had zero comments or feedback. That silence can sting, but over time, repeating the process built a library of value. Some readers were absorbing but quiet. They’d come back later, share, or support in small ways.
This grounded me in the content marketing reality: the loudest feedback isn’t the only feedback worth measuring.
What Kept Me Going Anyway
In those dark days, a few things kept me on track: focusing on what I could control, celebrating tiny wins like finishing an episode, and reminding myself about the long game. I stopped chasing instant gratification and thought: What habits can I build that I’d be proud of in a year?
- Schedule work on your content even if you’re tired.
- Accept that income might be slow at first.
- Look for small signs of progress, not just loud feedback.
- Focus on building habits you can maintain, not bursts of inspiration.
What Most People Do Wrong Here
Since many quit or get stuck in the boring phase, it’s useful to learn from common mistakes creators make during this time.
Platform Hopping
One of the biggest traps is jumping from one platform to another every few weeks. There’s this urge to find the “perfect” app where success is easier or faster. But switching constantly kills momentum and stops growth on any platform.
Stick to one or two platforms long enough to learn how they work. This patience pays off.
Strategy Switching Every 2 Weeks
Similar to platform hopping, frequent strategy changes waste your energy. You never get to see if a tactic works because you bail too early.
Content marketing reality means results come from consistent, layered efforts. Give your strategy time to play out.
Consuming More Than Creating
Spending hours watching others or digesting advice without creating is a common stall tactic. It feels productive but delays your output.
Balance learning with doing. Growth happens in creation, not just consumption.
Confusing Silence with Failure
Silence on your posts or podcast doesn’t mean you’re failing. It often means you’re building quietly under the radar. Don’t let the absence of immediate feedback erode your confidence.
- Pick a platform and stick to it for at least 3 months.
- Commit to one strategy before tweaking it.
- Spend more time creating than consuming content.
- Reframe silence as part of the growth process, not a sign of failure.
How to Survive (and Win) the Boring Phase
Surviving the boring phase is about mindset and systems. Winning it means setting yourself up so that your effort stacks over time.
Measure Effort, Not Applause
Instead of waiting for likes, shares, or downloads, focus on how often you show up and create. Your consistency is the true metric.
This shift changes the game. It makes you less dependent on external validation and more committed to your habits.
Set “Output Goals” Instead of Outcome Goals
Outcomes like “reach 1000 downloads” are important but unreliable early on. Instead, set output goals like “publish one episode per week” or “write two blog posts per month.”
Output goals are fully in your control and build confidence.
Build Systems So Motivation Isn’t Required
Relying on motivation to create is a mistake. It’s inconsistent and often dips when you need it most.
Instead, build systems – fixed schedules, templates, checklists that simplify your work. This removes friction and keeps you consistent even on tough days.
Track Tiny Proof Points (First DM, First Click)
Celebrate small wins that prove your work matters. Maybe someone finally sent you a message or clicked your link. Those moments are signs your boring phase is progressing.
Tracking proof points keeps you motivated and aware that slow growth is real growth.
- Focus on how often you create, not immediate results.
- Set goals based on output over outcomes initially.
- Design simple systems to remove reliance on motivation.
- Recognize and celebrate tiny signs of progress.
Book Recommendations for Anyone in the Boring Phase
Some books helped me understand and live through the boring phase well. Here are three must-reads that reinforce patience, identity, and focus.
The War of Art – Steven Pressfield
This book helps you understand resistance, the mental blocks that stop creation. It teaches long-term commitment in the face of boredom and self-doubt. For creators struggling to push through slow periods, it’s a solid mindset guide.
Atomic Habits – James Clear
Atomic Habits emphasizes building identity-based habits. It explains how tiny, consistent habits compound into big results. It’s a reminder that being a creator is an identity to grow into, not a burst of action.
Deep Work – Cal Newport
Deep Work breaks down why focused, distraction-free creativity beats noisy hustle. The boring phase rewards deep, consistent effort rather than surface-level busyness. This book teaches how to cultivate that focus.
Over to You
The boring phase of content creation is uncomfortable. It’s slow. It requires patience and persistence you might not expect. But it’s also where most creators quit, so it’s where your advantage lies.
Remember to accept slow growth as normal, stay consistent, and measure your effort over applause. The income you want won’t come overnight, but it will come. Keep showing up.
What part of your boring phase feels hardest right now? What small step can you take today to move through it?
Recommended Newsletters
Here are few newsletters that I would recommend that you sign up to if you are interested in learning the art of running a side-hustle:
- Write, Build, Scale
- Why we buy
- The Book Bub
- The Stacked Marketer
- The Growth Bulletin
- Unconventional Productivity for Online Business Owners
- Side Hustle Weekly
- The Affiliate Guy
- I will teach you to be rich
- How Brands win
- For the Interested
- Send and Grow
Sign up to these and follow them. You will get a lot of information and content for your blog posts, podcasts and even social media posts.
I will share more such ideas in my future newsletters.
