Your Struggle Is Your Strategy [WRAP 172]

Hey Reader, apologies for the unannounced absence from your inboxes last weekend. We made a big family move from Nashville to Jacksonville! I'll talk more about it in the future and how I make decisions like this based on goals and values.

TL;DR - we want to be closer to family and have more support and structure for our kids. It's a big help to my wife and also a big help to me as I continue to focus on YouTube content and the HeyCreator community.

I talked about many of the reasons behind the move in this video on the HeyCreator YouTube channel.

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💡 One Big Idea: Your Growth Journey Is Your Best Teacher

Some of your best content and products are hiding in plain sight', in the challenges you've already overcome. When you look back at your growth journey, every struggle, every solution, and every "I wish I knew this sooner" moment is an opportunity for teaching others.

Think about it: What were you struggling with a year ago? What tools did you discover? What process did you develop? These are more than memories, they are content prompts and posts waiting to be created.

The key is not just sharing the wins and the outcome, but the process. When I teach productivity systems now, I don't just show the polished final version. I share the messy middle – the experiments, the failed attempts, and the gradual improvements. This resonates because it's real. It's the journey people are actually on, and by doing this you become the guide, not a guru with all the answers.

Here's what makes this approach powerful:

• You're teaching from experience, not theory
• Your struggles give you empathy for beginners
• Your solutions are time-tested, not hypothetical
• Your journey becomes a roadmap for others

Remember: Your best ideas are often the ones you needed a year ago. The tools, systems, or knowledge you wished you had then? That's exactly what someone else needs now.

👀 Video to Watch: Making Analog and Digital Work Together

Speaking of sharing solutions to real struggles – this week I published a video about my analog-to-digital workflow. This came directly from a challenge I faced (and many of you asked about): How do you make the shift between paper planning and digital tools?

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In the video, I break down my system for combining the focus of analog tools with the flexibility of digital ones. While I show my work using Craft Docs, the principles work with any digital tool. Pay attention the the process and make it fit your work and life.

📚 Book I'm Reading: Daily Laws by Robert Greene​

I've been reading Robert Greene's Daily Laws most mornings this year. It's become a centering practice that helps me think more about how I live and work in the world around me. Here's a recent passage that really spoke to me:

Sponsor Spotlight: Craft Docs

​Get 50% off Craft​ Speaking of digital tools that don't overcomplicate things, I'm excited to share that Craft Docs is offering readers of this newsletter a special 50% lifetime discount.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by complex digital tools that seem more focused on databases than actual work, Craft might be your solution. It's text and image-oriented, making it perfect for writers, creators, and anyone who wants a cleaner digital workspace.

Have a great weekend,

Matt Ragland

p.s. if you have a (literal) minute to share feedback, click here.