Picture this: A membership platform that thrives outside the gamble of Adsense revenue.

That's the domain Chris Sharpe and his business partner Adriene Mishler have built at Yoga with Adriene. They’ve shifted from ephemeral profits to constructing a community of over 50,000 members away from YouTube. 

In today’s episode, Chris reveals the secrets that can transform viewers into a committed community. He discusses his evolution from independent filmmaker to entrepreneurial success. From early experiments with a cooking channel to prioritizing creation over marketing, we'll uncover what has made ‘Find What Feels Good’ thrive.

Chris shares his insights on the challenges of high-value transactional sales, the importance of recurring revenue, and the art of maintaining creative and business control. So, whether you're an established creator, a burgeoning entrepreneur, or someone who simply loves a good journey of growth and success against the odds, this episode is your ticket behind the scenes of a thriving creator's universe.

Show Notes:

Here are the key takeaways from our conversation with Chris:

Outsource to Scale: One vital lesson is to delegate non-core activities. As a creator or Creator COO, identifying functions like bookkeeping, accounting, and HR can free up essential time and energy to focus on growth. By outsourcing these tasks, you also tap into expertise that can handle them more efficiently, reducing errors and long-term costs.

Focus on Community and Recurring Revenue: Chris encourages creators to look beyond one-off sales and to invest in building a thriving community. This gives creators a more consistent revenue stream and a deeper connection with their audience, leading to long-term brand loyalty.

Prioritize Creative Integrity and Control: Maintaining creative and business control is key for Chris. To stay content, creators need to create content that aligns with their vision, rather than chasing quick profits. The episode sheds light on the strategies for balancing the creative process with marketing, emphasizing profit margins, and managing a team—all while staying true to your core values. 

Jump into the Conversation:

[01:24] Building a YouTube Following and Monetizing Through Find What Feels Good

[06:36] Establishing a Working Partnership and Category Dominance 

[15:55] The Un-Sexy Day-to-Day Responsibilities of a Creator COO

[26:45] Transitioning from Ad Revenue to Direct-to-Consumer Sales

[34:38] Revenue Streams: Transactional vs. Relational 

[42:37] Building a Media Brand & Delivering Value

[46:02] Splitting Brands: Yoga with Adriene and Find What Feels Good

[57:00] Chris’s Advice for Aspiring Creator COOs

[01:01:00] Where the Next Generation of Creator COOs Might Come From

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