👋🏽 Doors Opening

Hey! Welcome to Creator Economy NYC — the premier place for all things creator economy in the Big Apple.

In today's newsletter, I'm sharing a personal realization about what it really means to build "solo" as a creator (spoiler: you're never really building alone).

But if you've ever felt like you're building alone or wondering how to find your people in this space — this one's for you.

Before we get into it:

Our next event is next week! Details and RSVP below.

And if you're not already following along on Instagram, catch real-time updates from CENYC (@creatoreconomynyc) and me (@brettdash_).

Let's dive in.

 📢 Brought to you by Teachable

What's next for CENYC

Many of you have asked how I'm thinking about scaling what I build and share through Creator Economy NYC.

That's why I'm excited to use Teachable to bring you deeper insights and resources.

I'm working on digital products that capture our most popular event topics - from community building to finding your voice to monetization - in a format you can engage with anytime.

I chose Teachable because they understand what creators need.

They've helped folks like Dara Denney, Jack Appleby, Erin McGoff and other creators in our community turn their knowledge into huge biz growth.

Their platform makes it simple to create everything from courses to coaching programs to membership that actually deliver value to your audience.

It's time you turn your expertise into education and build a business that lasts —check them out below and get your first 3 months for $99:

✍️ City Spotlight

The myth of building "solo"

Creator Economy NYC is just me on paper.

But what I've been thinking about lately is how that's both true and completely false at the same time.

Yes, I'm the only "official" team member. When someone asks "who should I reach out to on your team?" the answer is simple: me. I'm it.

But here's what I've realized: nobody builds anything meaningful truly alone.

And they shouldn't try to.

I shared these thoughts on LinkedIn this week, and something Jessie Collier commented really stuck with me: "When you put yourself out there in what feels authentic to you, you'll attract who is meant to be in your corner."

What nobody tells you about building "solo"

When I first started what would become Creator Economy NYC, it really was just me – hosting small meetups, trying to connect with other creators and industry people who got it. Basic stuff.

But as I kept showing up and putting myself out there, something interesting started happening. I met other creators dealing with the same stuff I was. Some were further along, sharing what they'd learned. Others were right where I was, and we figured things out together.

What really opened my eyes was seeing how many people wanted to be part of building something bigger than themselves. People offering ideas, making introductions, sharing experiences to elevate CENYC.

It showed me that building "solo" doesn't mean you have to actually do or come up with everything yourself. You need that system of support to go far.

Think about your support system like this

Over time, I've noticed there are really three key circles of support every creator needs to thrive:

Your creative circle

These are the people in the trenches with you. Other creators who get the day-to-day stuff. The ones you message about algorithm changes or bounce ideas off of. For me, this includes people like Jack Appleby, Colin Rocker – creators who've become trusted sounding boards.

Your strategy circle

This is your professional brain trust. The people who help you think bigger and build smarter. Maybe it's a mentor who's been there before, or someone like Leon (my Siftsy co-founder) who helps me think through business decisions.

Your personal circle

This might be the most important one. These are the people who know you beyond your creator identity. For me, it's my girlfriend, Ally, my brothers and friends from high school and college. The ones who are there on the hard days, who remind you why you started, who keep you grounded when things get overwhelming. Or who separates you completely from creator stuff!

Finding your people

Building this network doesn't happen by accident.

You find these people through communities (like CENYC!), events, cold DMs – whatever it takes. Most times, your support system will find you by you just doing the thing (as referenced by Jessie’s quote in the beginning).

As Colin Rocker noted on my post, he's "only experienced massive success by letting others in and trusting them to do what they do best."

That hit home for me, because it's exactly what I've seen play out in our community again and again.

To reiterate the truth about building “solo”

Being a "solo" creator doesn't mean you have to do or think about everything alone. Actually, you probably shouldn't.

The best thing you can build isn't your content or your strategy – it's your circle of support. The people who get it. Who'll be there when things get hard. Who'll celebrate the wins and help figure out the losses.

Because while you might be the only name on paper for your thing, your success will be built on all these relationships you never saw coming.

It makes the journey worth it.

 🎪 City Happenings

Creator Economy NYC’s ‘Snowball Soirée’

Our next event is an exclusive Snowball Soirée at Maxwell Social on Feb 25, where top creators, marketers, and brands come together for an evening of meaningful connections and industry insights.

Proudly supported by Select Management Group, Teachable, and Siftsy, who are shaping the future of the creator economy in their own ways.

Limited space available — RSVP now to get on the waitlist!

NEXT: CENYC takes over SXSW! 🎉 

We're bringing the NYC creator energy to Austin! Join us for ‘Creator Palooza’ on Sunday, March 9 — an afternoon packed with panels, networking, and celebrating the creator economy (drinks, maybe tacos, maybe bbq, maybe you’ll see me in a cowboy hat??).

If you'll be at SXSW, don't miss this. If you know someone who will be there, spread the word!

Also, here is a massive SXSW event list curated by my friend Andrew Yeung. Access it here.

 🤝 Save the Date

Our first conference is coming — CONNECT.

One full day where the creator community comes together to build what's next.

No PowerPoint marathons or awkward small talk. Instead, you'll experience:

• Insightful panels with creators who are building right now

• Hands-on workshops where you actually create

• Meaningful connection that spark real ideas and collaborations

Mark your calendar: May 10th, 2025 in NYC

Ready to join us? Get on the waitlist for first access to tickets.

P.S. If you’re interested in speaking (at the conference or any CENYC event), fill out this form. And if you’re a brand that wants to get involved, email me here.

📚 Resources

2 FREE resources to accelerate your creator growth

I recently shared with you two free resources to help supercharge your creator journey in 2025. If ya missed it, you can download both right here:

The Creator Goal Setting Guide: A simple but powerful document to help you declare who you want to BECOME in 2025.

The Creator Accountability System: Your visual companion for consistent creation in 2025 (I’m using this now to send one newsletter a week!)

✌🏽 Stand Clear of the Closing Doors Please

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you thought by replying back here!

P.S. Looking for a new gig? Teachable is hiring a Partnerships Marketing Manager… you’ll get to work alongside my friend Olivia Owens! Jealous.

See you next week,

Brett