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You're too busy doing the work to create content about the work.
I get it. You've got clients to serve, projects to ship, invoices to send. The "blank page" isn't just intimidating—it's a luxury you can't afford.
But here's the trap: You think the problem is a lack of ideas. It's not. The problem is that you're trying to create content from scratch when you should be documenting the work you're already doing.
I'm going to show you the "Meta-Playbook"—a two-part system that shifts the work from high-effort creation to low-effort documentation.
Here's how it works:
The C.O.D.E. System: A simple framework (Capture, Organize, Distill, Express) for grabbing the "content exhaust" from your daily work. Every client question you answer, every small win, every lesson learned—that's content.
The 1-3-5 System: An efficient publishing model (1 Pillar Post → 3 Core Ideas → 5 Micro-Posts) that turns that exhaust into a full content calendar.
This isn't about hustling harder. It's about working smarter. You're already doing the work—now we're just capturing it.
Let's break down exactly how to do this.
Understanding the Three Streams
"Documenting" can feel vague. You've probably heard "Document, Don't Create," "Build in Public," and "Learn in Public." What's the difference, and which one is right for us?
I had Sage break down the strategic goals for each.
Sage: Analysis: The terms "Document, Don't Create" (DDC), "Learning in Public" (LIP), and "Building in Public" (BIP) represent a spectrum of transparency, each with a distinct strategic goal.
Document, Don't Create (DDC):
* Philosophy: A high-volume, brand-building strategy based on chronicling daily reality.
* Primary Goal: Brand Omnipresence & Audience.
* Primary Risk: Boring Content / Performance Risk.
Learning in Public (LIP):
* Philosophy: An acceleration strategy based on open-sourcing your learning process, including confusion.
* Primary Goal: Accelerated Learning & Community.
* Primary Risk: Looking Unprofessional.
Building in Public (BIP):
* Philosophy: A validation strategy based on radical transparency in the entrepreneurial journey.
* Primary Goal: Audience-First Trust & Validation.
* Primary Risk: Idea Theft & IP Leakage.
Here's what this means for you.
For us—the Ambitious Solopreneur—the sweet spot is a mix of all three, protected by strong guardrails. You're chronicling your journey (DDC), sharing your learning process (LIP), and selectively revealing your wins and failures (BIP).
But you're not sharing everything. You're sharing strategically.
The "Content Exhaust" Library (14 Formats You Can Use Today)
The next question I hear is: "Okay, I'm capturing my work... but what do I actually post?"
Here's the menu. I had Sage compile a library of high-impact, low-effort formats.
Sage: Recommendation: The following 14 formats are high-impact, low-effort "splinters" that can be generated directly from your "content exhaust."
1. The Anonymized Q&A: Turn a client email or DM into a Q&A post.
2. The "Before-and-After": Show the evolution of a small task (e.g., newsletter idea to outline).
3. The "Failed Draft": Share a 'scraps file' idea you cut and explain why it was wrong.
4. The "My Workflow Tools" List: List 3-5 tools you use for a specific task.
5. The "Work-in-Progress" Screenshot: A literal, unpolished screenshot of your messy whiteboard, code, or design.
6. The "Today I Learned (TIL)" Insight: A single, sharp insight you learned today.
7. The Process Breakdown: Explain the 3-step framework behind a finished product.
8. The "Content Teaser": A key quote or stat from your upcoming pillar post.
9. The Curated Insight: Share an article you're reading and your single biggest takeaway.
10. The "Small Win" Celebration: A relatable milestone (e.g., "fixed a bug," "hit 100 subs").
11. The "Contrarian Take": Document a moment your opinion differs from the industry standard.
12. The Client Case Study: A 3-slide carousel: Problem, Solution, Result.
13. The "Ask Me Anything" (AMA): Solicit questions about a specific project you're working on.
14. The "Lazy Post": A minimal-effort post for consistency (e.g., a relevant quote, workspace photo).
Look at that list again. How many of these could you create right now from the work you did this week?
That client email you answered yesterday? That's Format #1. That bug you fixed this morning? That's Format #10. That article you bookmarked at lunch? That's Format #9.
You're not creating. You're documenting.
This strategy is powerful, but it's not without risk. Sharing the wrong thing can make you look unprofessional or—even worse—leak sensitive client info.
We need guardrails. I asked Sage to create a simple "Share/Hide" framework.
Sage: Analysis: A "Work in Public" strategy must be balanced against Proprietary, Professionalism, and Privacy risks. The following litmus test provides clear guardrails.
SHARE GENEROUSLY (The "Journey"):
* Share lessons learned from failures and pivots.
* Share your process, frameworks, and "how you think."
* Share your "why," values, and mission.
* Share questions and requests for feedback.
KEEP PRIVATE (The "Secrets"):
* Hide internal conflicts or active crises.
* Hide proprietary technology or "trade secrets."
* Hide sensitive customer data, names, or private agreements.
* Hide anything that violates a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
Use this as your filter. If it's about your journey—your process, your learning, your perspective—share it. If it's about your secrets—your client's private info, your proprietary tech, your active crisis—keep it private.
Simple as that.
Why This System Exists (And Why I Needed It)
This system is personal for me. It's the solution to the single biggest design flaw I made as a creator.
When I started, I looked at the big gurus, and the message was simple: Volume. I bought into the "Document, Don't Create" philosophy—the Gary Vaynerchuk model.
But I missed the fine print: he has a media team of a dozen people. I had... me.
My "R&D Phase" was a monument to that operational failure. Coming from a Product Design background, I treated the Creator Economy like a series of rapid prototypes. I launched channels in gaming, lofi music, and AI storytelling—trying to "ship" 100 pieces of content a week for all of them.
I wasn't building a business—I was running a content mill without a machine. I was trying to brute-force "content moments" instead of engineering a workflow.
It was a disaster. I was drowning in administrative debt.
This "Meta-Playbook" is the operating system I wish I'd had. It's not about high-volume chaos. It's about low-friction, high-impact infrastructure. It's about treating your content like a product line, not a performance.
You don't need a media team. You just need a system.
Your First Step (Just Capture)
You don't need to build this whole system today. Let's start with the smallest possible step.
For the next seven days, just Capture. Don't publish, don't even organize. Just open a notes app, a private Slack channel, or a physical notebook. At the end of each workday, write down one thing you learned, one question a client asked, or one small frustration.
That's it.
You'll be shocked at how much "content" you have by next Monday.
— Scott
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