Why I’m Trading Stoicism for Systems
Your brand is the story people tell themselves about you. For a long time, I let my story get blurry.
As a Web Developer and Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst, my value lies in clarity, data, and functional code. But I fell into a trap that many of us face when we start consuming “high-level” creator content. I started trying to sound like the people I followed—creators like Dan Koe—and drifted into a space that was far too abstract.
I was trying to be Marcus Aurelius or Jordan Peterson when I should have been the guy actually building the systems.
Identifying the Wrong Signal
I realized that if my goal is to enhance my business and create products that people actually use, I have to stop chasing “likes” from the wrong crowd. I noticed several things were keeping me from attracting the right type of people:
The Content Mismatch: There is a fundamental disconnect when you speak about Greek mythology while your day-to-day work involves cleaning messy data sets and building web architectures.
The Follower Trap: It’s easy to get followers by posting “deep thoughts,” but those followers rarely turn into clients for high-level data analytics.
Losing the “Why”: A brand should represent what you stand for, what you’re selling, and the goal you had in the first place. I had lost sight of the commercial utility.
Moving the Needle: Reality Over Rhetoric
From now on, I’m changing the way I share. I’m not interested in being a philosopher; I’m interested in being a builder who moves the needle forward.
I am centering my future projects and content on three core pillars:
The Struggle of the Build: Instead of just sharing “what I did right,” I’m going to share the actual hurdles. Whether it’s a logic error in a web app or a data pipeline that keeps breaking, these are the real-world problems that my “right” audience actually cares about.
The Analytical Mindset: How do you go from a raw, chaotic data set to a clear business insight? I want to share the specific mindset required to do the work and stay productive, rather than just talking about “meaning” in the abstract.
Developing Digital Products: I’m focusing on the technical challenges I face while building products that solve daily needs. This isn’t about selling empty advice; it’s about the technical reality of being a developer and analyst.
Interests vs. Identity: Avoiding Audience Confusion
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having multiple interests. Finding value in philosophy or following deep thinkers is part of what makes us human. However, those secondary interests should never cloud your vision or confuse the audience you are trying to attract.
The last thing you want is a potential client landing on your page and wondering if you’re a data analyst or a life coach. If your content is purely philosophical but you’re selling a technical product, you create a barrier to entry. You can have your own interests, but they should not directly conflict with your professional identity or your business goals.
I’m stepping out of the “philosophy trap” and back into the code. I’m not giving up on my interests; I’m just making sure they no longer confuse the people I’m here to serve.