Hey! Welcome to the Creator Economy NYC newsletter, your weekly dose of insights and strategies to help you build, monetize, and scale as a creator.

We're entering the final days of 2025, and if there's one thing I want you to lock in before the year ends, it's this: your mission. And today, we’re diving into how to set one that’ll take you far as a creator.

But real quick - I want to make this newsletter even more valuable for you in 2026. What topics do you want me to cover? What questions are you wrestling with? Fill out this 2-minute survey and help shape what we build together next year.

Let's dive in.

— Brett

Your mission is your competitive advantage

We're three weeks out from 2025, and I've been thinking about what actually separates creators who make it from those who don't.

It's not better equipment. Not a viral post. Not even talent, honestly.

It's mission.

Here's what I mean: when you hit month six of posting with 100 views, mission is what keeps you going. When brand deals dry up, mission reminds you why you started. When AI can create attention slop, mission is the one thing it can't touch.

Your mission is the filter for every decision, the fuel when motivation runs dry, and the reason your audience feels something when they consume your content.

Why mission matters more than you think

I've watched hundreds of creators come through our events. And the ones still creating a year later all have one thing in common: they know exactly why they do this work.

Not "to make money" or "to go viral." Those are outcomes, not missions.

I'm talking about the deeper purpose. The change you want to create. The problem you're uniquely positioned to solve.

Simon Sinek has a famous TED talk called "Start With Why" that breaks this down beautifully - worth the 18-minute watch. He uses what he calls the Golden Circle to explain how great leaders and brands inspire action.

Think of three concentric circles, moving from the outside in:

WHAT - Every creator knows WHAT they do. You make videos, write newsletters, host podcasts, build products. That's the easy part.

HOW - Some creators know HOW they do it differently. Your editing style, your storytelling approach, your unique format. These are the things that set you apart.

WHY - Very few creators know WHY they do what they do. And WHY is not about making money - that's a result. WHY is your purpose, cause, or belief. It's the very reason you exist, doing what you're doing.

Most creators operate from the outside in. They start with what they create, maybe figure out how to make it different, but never land on why it matters.

Start here

If you can't articulate your mission in one sentence, start here this week. Use the Golden Circle framework, but work from the inside out.

Step 1: Start with WHY

This is the hardest part, but it's everything. Ask yourself:

• What change do I want to create in people's lives?

• What do I believe that drives everything I create?

• What topics could I talk about for hours without getting bored?

Write down your answer in one sentence: "I believe..."

Step 2: Define your HOW

What makes your approach different? Ask yourself:

• What unique skills or experiences do I bring?

• How do I do things differently than others in my space?

• What's my style or method that people recognize?

Write it down: "I do this by..."

Step 3: Clarify your WHAT

Now the specifics. Ask yourself:

• Who exactly am I helping?

• What specific outcome do I want for them?

• What do I actually create day-to-day?

Write it down: "I help [who] achieve [what]."

Step 4: Combine them into your mission

Put it all together: "I believe [why]. I help [who] achieve [what] by [how].

That's it. That's your north star for 2025.

The creator economy is getting more crowded, more competitive, more commoditized. Tools are getting better. AI is getting smarter. Anyone can learn the tactics.

But your mission is yours. And it's the only thing that will carry you through the hard months ahead.

Thank you for an incredible year!

This was our biggest year of events yet, and it wouldn't have been possible without you showing up, engaging, and being part of this community.

From packed panels to spontaneous conversations in the back of the room, you made every event what it was. Thank you.

2026 is going to be even bigger. New partners. New formats. Maybe even new cities.

Our next event is likely the final week of January. Pencil it in. More details coming soon.

Finally, if you attended any of our events over the years, could you share a brief testimonial with me? Just click the link below!

If you’re feeling stuck, start here

One thing to go deeper. Two things to get moving.

F*ck It, Create It

Been waiting to create or thinking about the same idea for months? This is for that.

F*ck It, Create It is a short, actionable course we built to help you:

• get unstuck

• stop overthinking

• and finally move on the thing you already know you want to make

It’s not about growth hacks. It’s about clearing the mental friction that keeps creators frozen.

Normally $97, but we’re running a 20% end-of-year reset right now. Use code ‘2026’.

Not ready yet? Start smaller.

Two free tools I wish I had earlier:

The Creator Goal Setting Guide (FREE): A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2026.

The Creator Accountability System (FREE): Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2026.

That's it for this week. Before the year closes out, get clear on your why. Everything else - your content, your growth, your income - will follow from there. But you need that foundation first.

I'm actually going on vacation next week and attempting to unplug! (Keyword: attempting.) But I'll see you back here next Friday.

See you next week,

Brett