Podcast Summary
Time management, Self-care: Successful content creator Carrie Burke, despite being young and juggling a career and education, emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time and self-care to maintain a clear schedule and balance personal life and career.
Successful content creator and author Carrie Burke, despite being only 20 years old and a senior in college, has managed to build an impressive following and career through prioritizing her time and self-care. With a focus on storytelling, fashion, and positivity, Carrie has amassed millions of followers on social media and written 21 books, including her first solo debut. She emphasizes the importance of balancing personal life and career, and maintaining a clear schedule to make time for both. Carrie's success in the industry, which she entered at a young age, has not deterred her from pursuing her education, as she believes there is always room for growth and learning. She encourages a mindset of constant improvement and self-betterment, rather than resting on one's accomplishments.
Financial literacy: Early education on taxes, organization, and negotiation skills are crucial for financial success. Gen Z's access to information and drive can be harnessed to make a positive impact on the world through financial literacy.
Financial literacy is essential, especially at a young age. The speaker shares her personal experience of not fully understanding money matters until much later in life, despite starting to earn money at a young age. She emphasizes the importance of staying organized and learning about taxes and negotiation skills as early as possible. Additionally, she highlights the unique characteristics of Gen Z, including their drive and access to information, which can be leveraged to make a positive impact on the world. The speaker encourages everyone, regardless of age, to educate themselves financially and take advantage of the resources available to them.
Social Media Fascination with Imperfections: People's fascination with failures and imperfections on social media can lead to viral content and lucrative brand deals, but market conditions and platform demographics can impact earnings.
The psychology of virality on social media often lies in people's fascination with failures and imperfections. This was evident in a viral video of a content creator trying on fake freckles that looked more like polka dots, which garnered millions of views. Brands have recognized this trend and have been willing to pay substantial sums for content that can generate high engagement. For instance, the creator was sent to Disney World for a brand deal worth around $5,000 for a single TikTok post. However, the value of brand deals can fluctuate depending on market conditions and the platform's audience demographics. For instance, during the pandemic, brands had more budgets for content creators, but now that things have returned to normal, creators are earning less. The creator also noted that they have made more money on TikTok than Instagram due to brands' focus on follower count. Despite the challenges, the creator continues to create content and monetize their presence on various platforms.
Consistency in content creation: Creating content consistently can lead to significant growth opportunities, but it's important to consider the time investment and potential returns.
Creating content consistently, even if it's not immediately profitable, can lead to significant growth and opportunities down the line. The speaker shared her experience of posting eight YouTube shorts a day for a month, which was a daunting task but ultimately helped her gain views and money. However, she eventually realized that the income wasn't sustainable and wasn't enough to justify the time investment. Despite this, she remained optimistic about the potential of making money in content creation as a side hustle. The speaker also shared her experience on a reality TV show, Next Influencer, which she initially thought would help her monetize her other areas but didn't. Instead, she found the experience to be a violation of privacy and not worth the time investment. Overall, the speaker's story highlights the importance of persistence and consistency in content creation, but also the need to consider the time investment and potential returns.
Reality TV and writing: Reality TV experiences can inspire writers and help them discover their unique voice, despite challenges and pressure. Gen Z's use of digital platforms for dating is not a misconception, but rather a beneficial aspect of modern romance.
Reality TV experience, despite the challenges and pressure, helped Carrie Berg discover her voice as a writer and inspired her to pursue her solo debut, a real-life rom-com. The misconception about Gen Z and dating is that they are overly social media-obsessed, but this digital world actually benefits them as many people meet online through dating apps. Carrie's book, which is dedicated to her experiences in dating during her teenage years in New York, aims to bridge the gap between generations by sharing relatable stories and showing vulnerability. While she faced bullying on the reality TV show, she used it as an opportunity to set an example and stand up for herself. Her mother, Cheryl Burke, a successful author, has been a significant inspiration, but Carrie is determined to forge her own path and establish her unique voice in the literary world.
Gen Z's ability to identify authenticity: Gen Z values authenticity and transparency in digital connections and publishing deals, prioritizing genuine understanding and connection over financial gain.
Gen Z has a strong ability to identify authenticity and transparency in the digital world. With a keen sense of who's legitimate and who's not on social media, they can quickly filter through potential connections. In the realm of publishing, the speaker's determination to find a publisher who believed in her vision led to a successful deal with Post Hill Press, distributed by Simon and Schuster. Money wasn't the primary focus; instead, she sought a publisher who truly understood her concept and could help bring her ideas to life. The speaker's goal for her book extends beyond financial success, as she aims to connect with people and provide a voice for those who feel alone in their experiences. Long-term, she hopes to see her book adapted into a Disney Channel or Netflix show.
Headlines and Social Media in Journalism: Creating engaging headlines is crucial for attracting readers and generating revenue, while having a social media presence can be an asset for journalists in today's digital age
The journalism industry is evolving rapidly, with a strong emphasis on digital media and social media knowledge. A college student, who has gained significant experience as a journalist through various internships and freelance work, shared insights into the importance of headlines in journalism and the role of social media in the industry. She mentioned that creating engaging headlines is crucial for attracting readers and generating revenue. The student also shared her personal experience of starting with the body of the article first and then coming up with a headline later. Furthermore, she emphasized that having a social media presence can be an asset for journalists, especially in today's digital age. However, the salary range for entry-level journalism positions was not discussed in detail.
Creative Pursuits vs Social Media Influencing: While financially rewarding, social media influencing may not bring the same level of personal fulfillment as traditional creative pursuits like journalism and book writing. Integrity, accuracy, and hard work are essential in journalism, leading to a strong portfolio and career growth.
While social media influencing can be financially rewarding, it may not bring the same level of personal fulfillment as other creative pursuits, such as journalism and book writing. The speaker, Carrie Burke, shared her experiences in these areas, emphasizing the importance of integrity in journalism and the value of building a strong portfolio through experience and bylines. She also discussed her passion for writing and the steps she's taken to grow her career, from interning to publishing multiple books. While she continues to monetize her social media presence, her heart lies in journalism and book writing. To maintain integrity in journalism, she emphasizes the importance of accurately quoting sources and going through multiple rounds of editing. Success in journalism, she noted, can be measured through bylines and the experience gained. Overall, Carrie's story highlights the importance of following one's passions and the value of hard work and dedication in creative fields.