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In today’s episode I want to share some of the key lessons and takeaways that is helping me make the most of my 20s

Many of the insights that I’m going to share today tie back to social media and what the future looks like for those caught in the middle of it.

Everyone seems to be quitting social media right now.

Everyone seems to be getting tired of it…

Tired of the cute dances.

Tired of the immature pranks.

Tired of saying you’ll “just check Instagram” only to find yourself an hour later having opened every app on your phone at least 3 times.

To be perfectly honest, I’m not here to tell you to quit social media altogether.

This year, countless reports and case studies are pointing towards the same theory:

People are not scrolling on social media. They are actively searching, researching, and making purchase decisions directly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube.

TikTok powers discovery, with over 66% of users actively engaging in trends.

Instagram drives conversions and sales, with 37% of users saying it’s the platform where they’re most likely to shop.

Youtube and Reddit serve as validation layers, helping users fact-check, compare options, and dive deeper before making any final decisions.

This is great news for creators and artists who prioritise discovery and conversion. But over the last year or so, I’ve been taking a different approach when it comes to my brand MS Studios and building a platform that puts my life first, supported by work that I enjoy.

Just a few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a hair stylist that would completely change the way I approach MS Studios in the coming years.

We met at her house not too far from the Woolwich Arsenal station in London. It was the first time that I ever stepped out to this side of the city and from the way everyone was keeping their hands in their pockets, it felt as though I landed in one of Central Cee’s jaded blocks.

Anyways, I got to her house just barely in time before she told me that she was considering of charging me a late fee. That’s how the relationship started, but it was only a matter of time before we started talking business.

In the last five years that she became a hairdresser, she’s never created an Instagram or Tiktok account, never attended a networking event, doesn’t socialise, doesn’t have any testimonials, and yet there she is living in her own little apartment while making a full-time income from her hair styling business.

I asked her:

“Yo, so how do you promote?”

“Promote? What do you mean?” She said.

“Like how do you get people to know about your business?”

“See yeah, i’m not your typical hairdresser. All my friends are Gangista and don’t like to be seen. When I asked them weather I should move into a studio, they were like “nah, you’re going to bail us out if you do that”. That’s why I don’t promote. I just keep it to my mains and the rest is worth of mouth”

I paused, contemplating at the fact that she really isn’t your “typical hairdresser”.

The thing that got my attention the most was in how she was prioritising her friends over the fact of scaling her business. She prioritises on serving her people while leaving plenty of space to live her life exactly the way she wants.

I couldn’t help but think about weather I was something wrong with MS Studios. Weather there was something that I could do to attract the right people without having to force growth or pretend that I’m someone that I’m not.

The truth is that I don’t have the answer to that right now. It’s one of the things that I’m still trying to figure out while I continue to work on myself. However, there are a few key lessons and principles that is helping me make the most of my journey.

Building a life supported by work that you enjoy

I just want to wake up, train, cook, read, serve my family, and connect with people who share my heritage. Not just by blood, but in cultural perspective.

I want to meet people who I don’t need to do much talking to introduce myself. And it turns out that the more I learn about myself the more I realise just how far and deep my roots actually are.

It’s the reason I launched MS Studios. It’s the reason I wanted to create a platform where i can examine my ideas, giving it time to breathe and spark those meaningful connections. At the same time, I get to show the world just how competent and obsessed I can be about my work.

So, you want to start by contemplating what your ideal life is and what kind of work is needed in order to sustain it. Contemplate on the vision. The end goal. The final checkpoint. Then work backwards to see the key actions that you need to take each day.

The only way to figure all this out is to struggle. It’s a muscle that has taken me a long time to build, particularly because the kind of critical thinking required for this can only come from a place of suffering. You need experience from past mistakes in order to reflect on them and serve as a compass for that meaningful life.

Simplifying the journey

Apart from the POVs, the rage bait, and the cringe dances, social media has been the easiest place to start building connections and opportunities for my work. It’s the reason why influencers and independent creators are becoming the main drivers of today’s economy as opposed to relying on traditional platforms and publishers (record labels, broadcast channels, etc.) I could spend an entire episode on this, but I’m more interested in using social media as a tool for sparking creative opportunities.

You also don’t need start an agency or an ecommerce brand with all these complex tasks slowing you down.

When you are young, time is your friend. Choose a platform that allows you to take on different projects and gigs. Document them publicly to attract the people who need you most. Make yourself useful to them before you start complicating things.

Beating the competition

The only to get ahead of most people is to become ruthlessly clear of your own innate capabilities. Go deep to study the skills and topics that are specific to your own curiosity and obsession.

Some of that specific knowledge will stem from your upbringing and past experiences, but more often it comes from a skill or topic that you figured out on your own. You know, the things that your parents, teachers, and mentors didn’t train you for. The things that feel like a drag to others but to you it feels like play.

Specific knowledge is something that can’t be trained for and yet can be learned and harnessed to your own potential.

This will only ever make sense the moment you stop competing with people who haven’t figured out how to live the life you want. That’s why you’re in the game after all. You’re here to win the game of your life. You’re here because you want to make sense of the body, the mind, the spirit, your work, and your finances.

Key takeaways

1. Set a goal each year that aligns with your ideal timeline
2. Study topics and skills that are specific to your own curiosity
3. Start a channel or a newsletter to attract your audience
4. Gather feedback and testimonials before you go all in.

P.S. How did you find this episode? Join the email list today and share your thoughts with me. Your feedback will help me improve my content over time. Appreciate you!