Writing

Essays and manifestos and such. More thoughtful and long-form.

CONVERSATIONS

Ember 2026×42 · may 27 A new story of marketing×23 · nov 11, 2024 Befriending Commitment×18 · mar 9 From Rock Bottom×4 · oct 20 Befriending Technology×3 · oct 15 Building Dialogic×1 · aug 19 Befriending Shame×1 · jun 3 manifestos24 of 100 · feb 28

Oct 14The false division of human and machinemembersSorry Wendell, but I cannot pick a side
Oct 7Beginning againmembersOn writing, kettlebells, and AI
Oct 5The money is in the bookmembersWhat if I take my dreams seriously?
Oct 4Early morning ramblesmembersOn service, dreams, young love, and re-imagining the past
Oct 3A bittersweet eveningmembersThe feels, they are a swirlin’
Oct 2It beginsIn which Rob attempts to write himself out of a real financial pickle
Sep 17I am VERY confused about AIWhat the hell is even going on??
Sep 16Write like no one’s readingI want to feel free
Jun 3Befriending shameHello darkness, my new friend
May 27Beard pickingmembers
Apr 24Connectionmembers
Apr 23Lifemembers
Apr 22Scaredmembers
Apr 21Lettermembers
Apr 20Againmembers
Mar 9Belonging
Mar 6Trust
Mar 4Shoes
Mar 3Fidelity
Mar 2Butterfly
Feb 28The Product Builder Manifesto№ 24A manifesto & community for the next frontier of software development
Feb 26Lightning
Feb 25Growth
Feb 24Clack
Feb 20Scars
Feb 19Anger
Feb 18Perfect
Feb 16Heart
Feb 13Enough
Feb 12War
Feb 11Vehicle
Feb 10Rock
Feb 9Dad
Feb 8Fortymembers
Feb 7Openingmembers
Feb 6Commitment
Feb 5Miraclemembers
Feb 4Conversationsmembers
Feb 4Half measuresmembers
Feb 3Ideamembers
Feb 2Mondaymembers
Feb 1Visionsmembers
Jan 30Realitymembers
Jan 29Trustmembers
Jan 28Tomorrowmembers
Jan 27Ughmembers
Jan 26Booksmembers
Jan 25Enoughmembers
Jan 24Tattlemembers
Jan 23Friendmembers
Jan 22Answersmembers
Jan 21Recoverymembers
Jan 20Gatheringmembers
Jan 19Declinedmembers
Jan 18Pizzamembers
Jan 16Coffeemembers
Jan 15Unmanageablemembers
Jan 14More Fragmentsmembers
Jan 12Monologuesmembers
Jan 11Restmembers
Jan 10Fragmentsmembers
Jan 9Stuckmembers
Jan 8Perfectmembers
Jan 7Practicemembers
Jan 6Shame Storymembers
Jan 5Listeningmembers
Jan 4Wemembers
Jan 3Ten yearsmembers
Jan 2Artificemembers
Jan 1Beginningmembers
2025
Dec 10The Resonant Computing Manifesto№ 22a vision for the future of computing
Aug 30The LookAway Manifesto№ 21reclaiming our humanity from the seductive glow of screens
Jul 18Conversational Creativity (v1)№ 23A six sentence manifesto for a new relationship with creative work
Jun 26Money & Worthiness№ 20A six-sentence manifesto about divorcing work from worth
Jun 24YOU NEED A MANIFESTO№ 1950 reasons to declare your independence
Jun 3Soul work and securityHow can I balance the work I feel called towards, and my need for financial security?
Jun 2The Living QuestionAn epilogue to a manifesto, and a new beginning for my personal writing
May 25Every meal is a miracle№ 18Baby’s first “six-sentence manifesto”
May 19Exhaustion is an invitation№ 17A micro manifesto for the endlessly-exhausted
May 18The Lightpage Manifesto№ 16In an age of avoidance, a tool for those who choose life
Apr 29Of mice and manifestoschoosing connection when the world is conspiring to isolate you
Apr 22the human dojoon strengthening the best aspects of our humanity
Apr 12Sketches of the enemyThe first dispatch in the Lightpage Chronicles
Apr 7The Lightpage ChroniclesAI & humans (a love story??)
Apr 1ONE HUNDRED MANIFESTOS№ 15That’s how many I’ll write
Mar 4Experty McExpertmana very silly name for a very serious survival strategy
Mar 3write the manifesto you need to readno one else can alchemize your frustrations as well as you can
Mar 1watch me write my next manifestothis is going to be ridiculously meta
Feb 22manifesto energythree elements of creative power
Feb 19On self-renewalManifesto-writing as a tool for transforming stagnant lives and institutions
Feb 18Tidal wave, incoming!Don’t say I didn’t warn you
Feb 13Manifestos are magic spellsA thesis about how the written word can bring us to life
Feb 13Mini manifestosOn staging revolutions in tiny slices of your life and work
2024
Dec 6The Source 🌊№ 10A manifesto of hope for the chronic self-saboteur
Nov 11Trust-based marketingIs the antidote to control-based marketing
Nov 10writing dojofinding freedom, one imperfect sentence at a time
Nov 8coming undoneon learning to be human in public
Aug 16Manifesto Quest ⚔️Let’s make writing spicy again
Jun 10MEMES WE LIVE BY№ 9a vibecamp manifesto
May 27Business PoetryA hunch, a murmur, a leap of faith
May 17A more joyful businessMy plan for un-sabotaging my business, and becoming more human
May 14All that remainsDevoting myself to the work I can no longer hide from
May 12Curiosity MappingHow to make a map of the corners of the internet that spark you to life.
May 12Digital SpelunkingHow to explore the dark, vast cave system of the internet, and discover your people
May 11Finding the othersAn introductory essay to a Very Important Concept
May 11The identity auditAn inquiry practice for unearthing the stories and labels you use to define yourself
May 10The deathbed auditIn which we dance with death, so that we may live more fully
May 10The deathbed testDiscerning what’s easy from what matters most
May 4The mimetic desire auditAn inquiry exercise for determining whether your goals and desires are leading towards or away from flourishing
May 4The desire auditAn inquiry practice for unearthing your subterranean desires
May 3New domain, who dis??On finding the perfect domain for an increasingly weird website
May 1FreespeakingOn using your voice to explore the depths of your inner world.
May 1Manic Mind DumpsA practice for riding the wave of intuition and inspiration
May 1Notes on FreewritingMy favorite tool/practice for coming into deeper relationship with yourself
May 1Resonance ReviewsA technique for discerning the wisdom of the body amidst the noise of the intellect
May 1Targeted InquiryA repeatable process for peeling back the layers of your inner world, and discovering what matters most.
Feb 24Creative IndividuationOn becoming more fully yourself in your creative work
Feb 24The PatternOr, why the internet feels so utterly fucked
Feb 24The Real WorkOut beyond notions of economic utility and optimization, there is a forest. I will meet you there
2023
Oct 5Welcome to The ForestWhat the hell is this place?
Aug 8The Artisan’s Way№ 7The age of average writing is over. The future belongs to artisans
Mar 3Steal our media strategy№ 6How Foster Media is navigating an uncertain future by leaning into work we can be proud of
Feb 28Entering the forest 🌲It’s time to weave together my entire philosophy of 1,000 true fans
Feb 27The mechanics of “choose your own price”Inquiring minds wanted to know how I run my coaching calls, so here’s a deeper dive!
Feb 26Rob’s writing roundup!Single-sentence summaries of everything I wrote this week
Feb 25On serendipity & magicSome cool shit is happening over here, y’all
Feb 24Should I start writing with AI?Why I’m so resistant to merging myself with the machine
Feb 23Revisiting Perennial SellerUntangling one of the roots of my perfectionism
Feb 23The pointThis marketing stuff is just a trojan horse for something deeper
Feb 21Earning the clickA philosophy for people who hate clickbait
Feb 20Sticking the landingTaking another crack at an essay with big potential
Feb 19rob’s writing roundup! (week two)14 days into this challenge, and I am still alive and kickin’
Feb 18The Ungated Manifesto, RevisitedTwo paragraphs that bother the shit outta me
Feb 17I nuked today’s post (lol)Instead, here’s a juicy question I’m starting to explore
Feb 16Pricing alchemyThe unexpected magic of “choose your own price” coaching calls
Feb 15One customer at a timeInside of me there are two wolves
Feb 14From niches to networksI am hereby retiring the word “niche” from my marketing lexicon
Feb 13Slowing down, finding balanceThe hidden cost of my very prolific week
Feb 12rob’s writing roundup! (week one)an executive summary of my shockingly prolific week
Feb 11The questions that bring me aliveTwo creative containers with roots that go deep
Feb 10Containers of AlivenessInstead of niching yourself into a prison, find the questions that bring you alive, and live them.
Feb 9The perils of niching downThe way we’re taught to pursue 1,000 true fans is broken
Feb 8Measuring what mattersAn experiment in rethinking “data-driven marketing” from first principles
Feb 7The daily invitationMy first big experiment in non-coercive marketing
Feb 6Building a more beautiful internet (part 1)Growth ideology, 1,000 true fans, and a vision for the future of artisanal digital business
Feb 5Three cool thingsWhat I’ve been working on, and what’s coming next
2022
Dec 24why i’m leaving thrivecartit’s been a nice run, but it’s time to put my money where my values are
Nov 30The oasis builders manifesto№ 4A manifesto for the proliferation of internet oases 🏝️
Nov 16Substack?? (lol wtf)Why I’m publishing on Substack after two years of open hostility towards it.
Sep 18The non-coercive marketing manifesto№ 5What would marketing look like if it nourished our humanity?
Sep 12Digital local businessBringing the ethos of small, local business back into the infinite digital world
Aug 3The Arena - A PrimerA process for coming alive in your creative work, and becoming who you are
Jul 22The Ungated Manifesto№ 3The Pattern, and the Battle for the Soul of the Internet
Apr 15Non-Coercive Marketing: An Origin StoryHow learning to trust myself turned my marketing worldview upside down.
Apr 13Subversive CreativityOn the downstream effects of being brave and calling bullshit.
Apr 12Bottom-up businessOn the desire for certainty, the need to feel in control, and the power of letting go.
Apr 11Cultivating a community of courageUnveiling the next iteration of the Ungated Collective
Apr 7Pivoting to CourageUnveiling the next iteration of Ungated
Apr 5You don’t have to scale your businessYou really don’t. It’s ok. I promise.
Mar 29Courage & CommunityOn discovering an abundant new source of courage in a world that desperately needs it.
Mar 21The two questionsAnd the wildly different paths you can take for answering them.
Feb 23My new approach to communityAn experiment in community management from the bottom up instead of the top down.
Feb 22Bridging the trust gapOn building a friendlier internet by defaulting to generosity
Feb 19Past-Self AntagonismPresent Rob should probably stop being a dick to Past Rob.
Feb 18Marketing emergence in real timeA very cool thing that’s happening with my business and marketing (like, right now)
Feb 17Contortionists & ExpansionistsOn containing multitudes, and not being shy about it.
Feb 16I am not an expert…despite any contradictory signals I might send
Feb 15Inside-out businessThe answers you seek won’t be found in the external world.
Feb 14My marketing strategy for 2022It’s very sophisticated.
Jan 17An SEO Redemption StoryHow I let the golden goose get away, and the plan to bring it back.
Jan 3Imperfectionist, Learner, ExplorerOn discovering a healthier, more adaptive source of self worth.
2021
Dec 28lowercase magichow ignoring the rules of capitalization catapulted me into the land of cathartic creativity
Dec 9A letter from future RobAn experiment in quieting the voice of self-doubt, and making myself feel better on a shitty day.
Nov 26My definition of marketingThe old definition doesn’t vibe with me anymore.
Nov 6Exploration & CommitmentA meditation on falling apart, discovering what matters, then putting yourself back together.
Oct 11Three anecdotes about influencer marketingAn inquiry into the nature of trust, shared values, and harnessing influence.
Oct 5Goodbye, Gift EconomyIt’s the end of a (very brief) era. Here’s what I learned, earned, and what’s coming next.
Sep 10I gave up on trying to find my nicheI followed my own niche advice, and ended up somewhere I never expected.
Sep 4I’m over-complicating my business… againIn which an old pattern of self-sabotage returns in a new form.
Aug 31The Ungated Worldview (Part 1)My entire belief system fell apart last year. And now I’m piecing together what comes next.
Jul 1On GenerosityIs it a virtue, or a vice?
Jun 20Gift Economy - A Strategy UpdateThis new business model is seriously messing with my head. Here’s how I’m quieting down the fear response.
May 31Transitioning to the Gift EconomyHow I plan to build a thriving business by making my products available for free.
May 18Don’t be a commodityWhy it’s so important, and so difficult, to differentiate yourself in a noisy world.
May 12Default to generosityOn creating a renaissance of trust on the internet, and leaning into the Gift Economy.
May 8Rabbit holesOn creating contextual pathways of delight, and making it easy to dig deeper into your creative universe.
May 7My unconventional business principlesWhy I’m ignoring the norms of online marketing, and maybe you should too.
Apr 30Why I Moved from Webflow to GhostIn which my wild ride with membership websites comes to its dramatic conclusion.
Apr 27What the hell is a niche?Let’s settle this, once and for all.
Apr 19Dispatches from the Long GameAn uncomfortably transparent look inside the Ungated business from February 21st to April 11th, 2021.
Apr 2A process for finding your nicheThe art of discovering Creator-Market Fit, and laying the foundation for a business you’ll love.
Mar 31The Quest for CommunityHow I killed five birds with one stone and built the community of my dreams.
Mar 153 levels of “finding your niche”It’s an overused phrase. And you’re probably tired of hearing it. But holy smokes is it powerful.
Mar 9Build an oasisThe internet is a hostile, sketchy place. But your creative business doesn’t have to be.
Mar 5NicheCraft: An OverviewHow to build a creative business that stands the test of time.
Mar 2Adventures in NicheCraftAn assortment of tools to help creators niche down, and build a business fueled by true fans.
Feb 5Create proprietary ideasHow to become well known in a crowded market.
Feb 4Show them where the money goesHow to ensure your customers and fans feel really, really good about doing business with you.
Feb 3To niche, or not to niche?A simple answer to the creator economy’s most heated debate.
Feb 2Tiny mirrorsWhen you rig up your business with tiny mirrors, your ideal fans won’t be able to look away.
Feb 1Create inside jokesA shortcut for fostering a sense of belonging amongst your fans.
Jan 31Subvert shitty normsLet’s talk about obnoxious, insulting, predatory pricing practices.
Jan 30Bring them togetherCreate a space where your fans can connect, and where they feel like they belong.
Jan 29Measure what mattersOn the uncomfortable tension between marketing metrics and true fan creation.
Jan 28Play the long gameWhen it comes to building a true fan business, short-term thinking is a cancer.
Jan 27Give a damn about your peopleThe art of being a good citizen of the internet.
Jan 26Make them the heroAn uncomfortable truth about how your creative work fits into the lives of your fans.
Jan 25Audit your flame-outsFind the ways that other creators have let you down, so you don’t repeat their mistakes with your own fans.
Jan 24Define your ideal fanDo you know who you’re creating for? Or are you just winging it?
Jan 23True Fans & True FriendsSomething magical happens when you start treating your audience like friends instead of as internet abstractions.
Jan 22Magic mirrorWhen people gaze into your creative universe, what do they see reflected back at them?
Jan 21Build an audience mapA process for generating emotional resonance with your audience.
Jan 20The one-sentence persuasion courseThis is the most powerful sentence in the world. Please use it responsibly.
Jan 19Build a branded personaHow to create the ultimate spokesperson for your creative business
Jan 18Give them a nameThe shortcut for creating shared identity with and amongst your fans.
Jan 17Do things that don’t scaleTime spent connecting with your fans is never wasted, and can pay off in ways you’d never imagine.
Jan 17True Fan ToolsA menu of tools for ambitious creators who want to transform 1,000 True Fans from theory to reality.
Jan 16Invite them into a bigger storyAs creators, many of us are telling stories with our lives. Nothing will delight your fans more than the opportunity to play a role.
Jan 15Stand for somethingWhen you draw a line in the sand, you make it easy for your true fans to stand with you.
Jan 14Stand against somethingIn which Rob goes on a rant about shitty, manipulative internet marketing.
Jan 13Stories worth revisitingMost creative work isn’t worth consuming more than once. And that’s a huge missed opportunity.
Jan 12The golden ruleIf you wouldn’t appreciate a marketing tactic being used on you, don’t use it on your fans.
Jan 11Audit your fandomsThe tools for creating true fans are hiding in plain sight.
Jan 10True Fan FundamentalsEarning true fans is simple, but not easy.
Jan 9Ecosystems of delightEvery true fan takes their own unique path through your world.
Jan 8Consistent generosity, reliable delightBeing consistent with your creative work serves two purposes. Earning true fans, and keeping them.
Jan 7Make a worthwhile promise, then keep itWe all strive to do “quality” work. But if your goal is to earn true fans, you’ll need to completely rethink what “quality” means.
Jan 6How to make your creations magneticPositioning is a bit like magic. When done right, potential fans will stumble across your work, and shout “hell yes!”
Jan 5Creating true fans through radical specificityTrying to make work for “everyone” is a one-way ticket to irrelevance.
Jan 4It’s all about emotionThe game we’re playing as creators isn’t about “making good content.” It’s about making people feel something.
Jan 3The ingredients to create true fansFive simple questions that’ll help you earn true fans in a noisy world.
2020
Dec 19Welcome to Ungated 2.0I couldn’t find a proper instruction manual for 1000 True Fans. So I’m spending the year 2021 writing one.
Dec 16The Gatekeeper MythTo be gated or ungated? That is the question.
Dec 2On Commitment, Fear, and Publishing ConsistentlyMake the commitment to show up and publish consistently. Your fans—and your bank account—will thank you.
Nov 13Adventures In Marketing EmergenceA story about how creative work spreads, and how a little bit of systems thinking can help us stand out in a noisy world.
Oct 30Building the Perfect Membership Publication Tech StackSubstack, Ghost, WordPress, Webflow, Oh My!
2019
Sep 9The Filmpreneur Manifesto№ 2A playbook for indie filmmaking liberation
2015
Jun 15Filmmaker’s Process Manifesto№ 1Baby’s first “manifesto” (June 2015)