Digital Creator in 2023

My why and why now?

In the world we live in, creativity has no bounds. There seem to be endless creators coming up with their unique content. That is only going to grow with more digital platforms and wider internet access around the world.

As a digital creator, the luxury today is the opportunity to get paid for what you absolutely love to do. While also documenting your passions as you get better at them, in front of the whole world. All while building your personal brand and a community around you, that you may or may not want to monetize upon.

Moreover, on this path of infinite possibilities, this new generation of creators is rewriting the rules of art, fame, and success in real-time. Digital creators have become cultural architects reshaping how the world perceives art, entertainment, and the essence of human experience.

While the allure of recognition and financial rewards is undeniable, my journey into this captivating world has a deeper purpose. Here are my Whys:

1. Creator(ive): At heart, I am an eternal dreamer, someone who loves to create, build and express. So instead of being a consumer, I want to put out content that I love to create.
2. Bigger Audience: In addition to being a creative, there is also an innate love for the stage and audience. Every time I get up there in front of people and am able to express myself, that is the best feeling ever. Being able to transfer that to hundreds if not thousands would be something truly remarkable.
3. Bigger Projects, Boundless Visions: Artists are someone that shape the culture, and they do it by separating themselves from the norm. I want to challenge the norm as well, and I already have some ambitious projects I want to do, and there is no better place than a digital platform. One of them is ‘100 Poems Around the World’, a poetic expedition, where I would travel all around and do a unique poem at a unique place, trying to embody its essence both via poetry and the visual scenery.
4. Documentation, the Chronicle of Growth: Posting content where it can forever stay alive, is also a way of compiling a digital database of your progress in the passions one is trying to master. Being able to monitor the change, and also learn and grow. Acting as a means to ensure consistency and self-accountability, this adds another reason, to be a digital creator
5. Personal Brand, Catalyst for Change: One of the things that came out of the internet era, as a result of unimaginable exposure inside the personal lives of people is something called a Personal Brand. Where a person’s marketing power matches that of big retail brands. This not only helps sell products, but more importantly helps carry out actual change in the society, and I want to work towards that as well.

My first-ever comedy open mic performance. (September 3rd, 2022)

The common narrative is the digital creator space is saturated or has become incredibly hard for new creators to gain success. So, Why Now:

1. Experience: Having performed on stage with a mic, in front of an audience about 200+ times, for Comedy and Poetry combined, I have tested my passions to count it towards decent experience. That very stack of performances and robust foundation gives me the confidence to transition to the digital side.
2. Timing: We are at a time, where there is a shake-up in the digital world, with existing social media platforms changing or new ones emerging, both in Web2 and Web3. These platforms are racing to onboard more and more creators, which might not be the case for a few years ahead in the future. Given the AI takeover, where content will be purely machine-generated, this Pre-AGI era is the best time or the last time to onboard as a digital creator, while human-made content still holds its charm.
3. Portfolio: In addition to gaining experience, I have been lucky enough to also be able to grab bigger and better opportunities. However, as an artist, every leap forward demands a strong portfolio. As a Poet/Comic, I would want to build up my digital portfolio, one as a showcase to the world, and two to present for bigger opportunities.
4. Guidance: Graced to have accumulated a circle of talented friends and fellow artists around me, who are incredibly skilled at their art and also consistent. I am blessed to have a support system to provide with expertise and unwavering feedback. While also knowing that I’m not alone in this pursuit of creative excellence.
5. Stability: Emotionally, financially, and mentally grounded, I find myself in a place of stability in life, where I don’t risk losing anything starting on this journey. Rather I’ll gain from the experience of being consistent over the next 100 days of posting content and polishing both my creative and marketing skills.

To do for the next 100 Days

1. Use Medium as my writing outlet and aim to post once a day, sharing my creative expressions and stories with the world.
2. Engage actively on both Instagram and TikTok, offering a visual journey with one post daily that mirrors my poetic and comedic essence.
3. Embrace the stage, performing once daily, cherishing the electrifying connection with my audience that will feed my soul and the content.

Each piece I share will reflect my passion and purpose, a testament to the creative path I tread. Yet, I can’t do this alone. I warmly welcome genuine feedback and guidance from you, my cherished readers, friends, and fellow artists. Let’s create something extraordinary, one creation at a time.

Jashan Kaleka