Doing everything, but results just aren't there.
Ever launched a product that barely made a ripple?Â
Or watched your engagement steadily decline despite posting every day?
Here's what nobody tells you: The creators who thrive aren't better at solving problems – they're better at finding the right problems to solve. The 5 Whys is your tool for doing exactly that.
Because most creators are treating symptoms instead of solving problems, they try random tactics: - Posting more often
- Following trends
- Running more ads
- Redesigning their website
Today, I'm sharing the exact framework I use to cut through the noise and find the actual issues holding creators back.
It's called the 5 Whys, and it's transformed how I approach every challenge in my business.
| Why Problems Hide (And How to Find Them) |
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Think about your creator business challenges like a foggy landscape. The problems you see—low sales, dropping engagement, poor retention—become clearer as you look at them through a different lens.
Mental models like the 5 Whys is a lens that helps you get to the real issues.
It’s like x-ray glasses for your business, helping you see through surface-level symptoms to identify what's really going on. |
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This is one of the reasons our members love Level Up Creator School: you can finally identify what's going on in your business.
That's why for a limited time, we're offering 30 days of Creator School for $1, (instead of $299.)Â
Access weekly live workshops, a library of resources, and 1:1 recurring revenue coaching in a small group setting.Â
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The 5 Whys in Action: A Creator's Story
Let's look at a scenario I'm seeing more and more often with creators: - Why are my posts getting fewer views? Because my engagement rate has dropped.
- Why has the engagement dropped? Because my audience isn't commenting or sharing as much.
- Why aren't they engaging as much? Because my content feels more like I'm talking at them rather than with them.
- Why am I creating one-way conversation content? Because I've been so focused on "performing" that I forgot to be authentic.
- Why did I shift away from authenticity? Because I got caught up in chasing trends instead of serving my community's real needs.
See what happened there? What started as a traffic problem revealed itself to be an authenticity issue.
That's the power of asking "why" five times – it gets you past the surface symptoms to actionable insights.
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Your Turn—Be Real With Yourself - Start Specific: Pick one challenge you're facing right now. The more specific, the better. "My business isn't growing" is too vague. "My email list grew by only 50 people last month" is perfect.
- Go Deep, Not Wide: For each "why," focus solely on the previous answer. Don't branch off into different directions.
- Be Brutally Honest: Progress happens when you push past the comfortable answers to the uncomfortable truths. No one else needs to see this—but be real with yourself.
- Look for Patterns: Sometimes the fifth "why" reveals something about your mindset or assumptions that affects multiple areas of your business.
- Take Action: Once you find the root cause, you can create solutions that actually stick.Â
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Remember, the most successful creators aren't the ones who never face problems–they're the ones who get better at solving them.
The 5 Whys is your tool for doing exactly that.
Think about your creator business. What didn't work as well as you hoped this year? Pick one challenge and dive deep. Here's a prompt to get you started:
"My [specific result] isn't where I want it to be. Why?" Hit reply! I'd love to hear what you uncover. |
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Next WeekI’ll share an exciting announcement in our business as we look at The Road to $50K MRR with Amanda Goetz!
Keep up the good work,
-Â Amanda |
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