The creator life
Building the Perfect Membership Publication Tech StackSubstack, Ghost, WordPress, Webflow, Oh My!
On Commitment, Fear, and Publishing ConsistentlyMake the commitment to show up and publish consistently. Your fans—and your bank account—will thank you.
The Gatekeeper MythTo be gated or ungated? That is the question.
Welcome to Ungated 2.0I couldn’t find a proper instruction manual for 1000 True Fans. So I’m spending the year 2021 writing one.
The Quest for CommunityHow I killed five birds with one stone and built the community of my dreams.
Dispatches from the Long GameAn uncomfortably transparent look inside the Ungated business from February 21st to April 11th, 2021.
Why I Moved from Webflow to GhostIn which my wild ride with membership websites comes to its dramatic conclusion.
My unconventional business principlesWhy I’m ignoring the norms of online marketing, and maybe you should too.
Default to generosityOn creating a renaissance of trust on the internet, and leaning into the Gift Economy.
Don’t be a commodityWhy it’s so important, and so difficult, to differentiate yourself in a noisy world.
Transitioning to the Gift EconomyHow I plan to build a thriving business by making my products available for free.
Gift Economy - A Strategy UpdateThis new business model is seriously messing with my head. Here’s how I’m quieting down the fear response.
On GenerosityIs it a virtue, or a vice?
The Ungated Worldview (Part 1)My entire belief system fell apart last year. And now I’m piecing together what comes next.
I’m over-complicating my business… againIn which an old pattern of self-sabotage returns in a new form.
I gave up on trying to find my nicheI followed my own niche advice, and ended up somewhere I never expected.
Goodbye, Gift EconomyIt’s the end of a (very brief) era. Here’s what I learned, earned, and what’s coming next.
Three anecdotes about influencer marketingAn inquiry into the nature of trust, shared values, and harnessing influence.
Exploration & CommitmentA meditation on falling apart, discovering what matters, then putting yourself back together.
A letter from future RobAn experiment in quieting the voice of self-doubt, and making myself feel better on a shitty day.
lowercase magichow ignoring the rules of capitalization catapulted me into the land of cathartic creativity
Imperfectionist, Learner, ExplorerOn discovering a healthier, more adaptive source of self worth.
An SEO Redemption StoryHow I let the golden goose get away, and the plan to bring it back.
My marketing strategy for 2022It’s very sophisticated.
I am not an expert…despite any contradictory signals I might send
Contortionists & ExpansionistsOn containing multitudes, and not being shy about it.
Marketing emergence in real timeA very cool thing that’s happening with my business and marketing (like, right now)
Past-Self AntagonismPresent Rob should probably stop being a dick to Past Rob.
My new approach to communityAn experiment in community management from the bottom up instead of the top down.
Courage & CommunityOn discovering an abundant new source of courage in a world that desperately needs it.
You don’t have to scale your businessYou really don’t. It’s ok. I promise.
Pivoting to CourageUnveiling the next iteration of Ungated
Cultivating a community of courageUnveiling the next iteration of the Ungated Collective
The Arena - A PrimerA process for coming alive in your creative work, and becoming who you are
Substack?? (lol wtf)Why I’m publishing on Substack after two years of open hostility towards it.
why i’m leaving thrivecartit’s been a nice run, but it’s time to put my money where my values are
Three cool thingsWhat I’ve been working on, and what’s coming next
rob’s writing roundup! (week one)an executive summary of my shockingly prolific week
Slowing down, finding balanceThe hidden cost of my very prolific week
One customer at a timeInside of me there are two wolves
I nuked today’s post (lol)Instead, here’s a juicy question I’m starting to explore
rob’s writing roundup! (week two)14 days into this challenge, and I am still alive and kickin’
Sticking the landingTaking another crack at an essay with big potential
Revisiting Perennial SellerUntangling one of the roots of my perfectionism
Should I start writing with AI?Why I’m so resistant to merging myself with the machine
On serendipity & magicSome cool shit is happening over here, y’all
Rob’s writing roundup!Single-sentence summaries of everything I wrote this week
New domain, who dis??On finding the perfect domain for an increasingly weird website
All that remainsDevoting myself to the work I can no longer hide from
A more joyful businessMy plan for un-sabotaging my business, and becoming more human
coming undoneon learning to be human in public
Soul work and securityHow can I balance the work I feel called towards, and my need for financial security?
This thread went quiet here. It might pick back up someday.