PP 220: Why it’s OKAY for People to Unfollow You
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Why it’s OKAY (and Healthy) for People to Unfollow You
One of the hardest pills for me to swallow while playing this creative game is this:
Not everyone will love you OR your work…
(Maybe you’re one of the lucky souls whom this shit doesn’t bother.)
But if you’re a recovering people-pleaser like me, it’s a hard truth that takes time to embrace.
Hence why my forever motto is “You can’t make everyone happy, you’re not pizza!”
Today’s episode is going to break down why it’s GOOD for people to unfollow you (or unsubscribe).
But, if you’re a recovering people-pleaser like I am, it’s a hard truth that takes time to embrace.
Hence why my forever motto is, “You can’t make everyone happy, you’re not pizza!”
In today’s episode, I'm going to break down why it’s GOOD for people to unfollow you (or unsubscribe).
That way, you’re in a better mindset to embrace it and use it as a springboard to take your creative pursuits to the next level—where your foundation is solely built on producing and sharing work that’s true to your core.
Taking a Dose of My Own Medicine
First, let me lead off with some personal experiences to frame why I’m choosing this topic today.
I’ve gone through plenty of difficult seasons through my 11-ish years of creatively grinding post-college.
Every time I try something new, pivot, or dive deeper into a specific lane...it generally leads down a road filled with questioning and overthinking.
It’s based on fear and scarcity—that I’ll somehow lose momentum, fail epically, and/or people won’t vibe to what I’m doing.
Somehow, I always push through the discomfort and find a way to tap into the next level of growth.
Each time I do this on a bigger scale, it gets harder and scarier (which is why they say bigger risks = bigger rewards).
Currently, I’m going through a new shift in my business where I’m diving even deeper into being known as Coach Scotty Russell AKA The Side Hustle Coach.
I’ve slowly been shifting away from operating as Perspective-Collective, as it’s been holding me back.
It’s still my LLC name, but it’s the past identity of the artist and designer I wanted to be known as.
It’s not who I want to be known as today, and it’s been a hard thing to let go.
These days, art and design is simply a tool (what I call “the honey”) to onboard people to experience my message as a coach.
As I’ve made this hard—but hella necessary shift—in both my Instagram handle (@coachscottyrussell) and my content approach...it’s hard not to notice my following decrease.
I admit the imposter syndrome and self-doubt have been heavy during this season...which means I’m on the right path, and I gotta continue to trust my gut (as mentioned back in episode 206).
It also means I have to dig deep and take a heavy dose of the medicine I’ve been prescribing to my students and podcast listeners for years:
It’s OKAY if someone unfollows you—your work ISN’T for them.
Since I’ve had to take my own medicine, here are some things I’ve learned over the years.
Do This, Not This When Someone Unfollows You
Alright, so you’ve noticed a dip in your following (or unsubscribes) lately...
First things first, don't trip, fam! This is normal, necessary, and healthy!
Don’t take it personally and make it about you.
Secondly, please don’t be the person who tracks down who unfollows you…
And then, out of spite, unfollow them back—it’s pretty petty and pathetic.
(P.S. I used to use an app to do this, and it got super unhealthy and distracting.)
You have to shift your perspective on how you view the situation.
Think of the person who distanced themselves from your work as doing you a HUGE favor.
(Especially if they’re an email unsubscribe, which SAVES YOU MONEY.)
Don’t worry about:
Why they’re not vibin’ to what you do.
How you can change to win them back.
I’ve played that game, and you’ll waste your time bending over backward for people who don’t matter.
Here are 3 things you could be doing instead:
Refocus your energy in a more productive and healthy direction of scaling and growing.
Channel your attention into creating work that lights you up, while connecting with those who resonate with it the most.
Go deeper and appreciate your current following, as you don’t need a massive following to be successful.
The more we block out the negative and focus on what’s in our control, the more we put ourselves on the path of opportunities to come our way.
Be Someone’s Go-To Slice of Pizza
It’s impossible to be everyone’s cup of tea…
But it’s possible to become ONE person’s go-to slice of pizza!
The sooner you accept that your work isn’t for everyone, the quicker you can start gaining some real traction.
It’s hard to build a long-term successful business when you pander to strangers on the internet.
Luckily, you don’t have to when you double down your focus and ignore the childish BS along the way.
Big breakthroughs stem from being productive versus being self-destructive. If you don’t grow the RIGHT way, you’re building a weak foundation based on people-pleasing.
Remember, the right people who vibe to what you do will find you over time.
You gotta stay consistent and put yourself in a position to get in front of them.
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Music - Blookah
Executive Assistant - Paige Garland
Photo & Video Specialist - Colton Bachar
Social Media Coordinator - Hannah Schick
Animation Specialist - Greg D'Amico