309: How to turn content into clients without changing who you are (with Taylin Simmonds)
Description
Season 3, episode 9 is here!
In this episode, Taylin John Simmonds and I talk about what it really takes to build a creative business from scratch without losing your sense of purpose or burning out.
Teaching music, ghostwriting at 3am, building an online brand that supports a life of freedom… we cover it all. This is an honest, practical conversation packed with insights for anyone trying to make writing work long term.
What we covered:
- The unlikely path from musician and teacher to full-time online creator
- Why success isn’t about becoming a better writer, but about stacking the right complementary skills
- How to build confidence when your identity hasn’t yet caught up with your success
- What it really means to find your niche and why lifestyle is a valid form of positioning
- The most useful way to think about AI (as a creative assistant, not a replacement)
- Why long-form content builds trust faster than any viral post ever could
- The one piece of advice that will change how you think about progress and patience
Make sure to subscribe to Taylin’s publication before you go!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thedavidmcilroy.substack.com/subscribe























