The missing key to success

Hi Friend 👋

For the first half of the week I was completely knocked out because of a stomach bug. Forcing me to do absolutely nothing. making me doubt I can open up the Creator Orbit Community next week as planed.

But after a few days rest I’m actually back with more energy than before and everything is set up to launch. Making this the last week

to sign up for the waitlist and lock in the best price ever

Now let’s get into the power of mentorship and how to find it.

💛 Valentin

3 People Every Creator Need

No creator succeeds alone. To unlock your final form, it’s essentials to gather people around you who guide you, challenge you, and show you how far you’ve come.

Think about Dragonball’s Son Goku. Without teaching Gohan, a supportive group of friends and battling challenging adversaries he would’ve never unlocked his full potential. So it’s no surprise that this concept comes from MMA fighter Ken Shamrock yet it also perfectly applies to creative growth.

I first heard about it from Matthew Encina on the MidConvo podcast, and it’s stuck with me ever since:

It’s called Plus, Minus, Equal.

To keep growing, you need:

✅ A Plus (someone ahead of you) to show you what’s possible.

✅ An Equal (a peer on the same journey) to challenge and support you.

✅ A Minus (someone a few steps behind) to remind you what you’ve learned.

Without one of them you’re fighting an uphill battle. But chance are you already have most elements in place. You just need to recognize and nurture them.

The "Plus" – Learning from Those Ahead

Most of my mentors have been parasocial—people I’ve never met but who have shaped my thinking and showed me what’s possible

• Matt D’Avella, Colin & Samir, and Jay Clouse, to name a few, gave me a roadmap, proving that a creator career is built step by step.

• Even without direct access, following their work closely provides a blueprint.

But mentors don’t just inspire. The best ones simplify your next move and help you get out of your own way. A good mentor doesn’t even have to understand the creator space to guide you. They just need to ask you straight questions that challenge your assumptions.

I tend to overcomplicate things, always thinking of the most ambitious (and risky) way first. Having a few coaches over the years helped me believe in myself and take sustainable action.

They give you the experience from someone who has already taken the steps in front of you.

To find your Plus you can hire a coach but you can also ask a parent, manager or friend of a friend who knows more than you. The very first pitch deck I made for Orbit was reviewed by my father-in-law, a marketing professional.

Mentors don’t have to be rich or famous. They just have to spend time with you and ask the tough questions.

The "Equal" – The Power of Peers

Just having one person who truly gets you can be the push you need. For me, that’s Tom.

• He’s pushing me further, helping me refine ideas, and keeping me accountable.

• The best support isn’t always advice. It’s someone who listens to your wildest ideas and keeps you on track.

A strong peer relationship isn’t about competition, it’s about mutual elevation. I’ve written in issue 59 how our relationship took time to get off the ground. Now we spend 1-2 hours each week in a call checking in, comparing notes, keeping each other accountable.

To find your Equal look for people who move in a similar direction. Those who keep saying: “yes and … “ to your ideas instead of “no, but … “

The "Minus" – Teaching to Stay Sharp

The best way to clarify what you know is by teaching.

When I joined my first YouTube course community, I answered every filmmaking and gear-related question I could. That’s when I realized how much I actually knew.

• Every time someone asks a question, it forces you to clarify your knowledge and turn it into an actionable insight.

• What seems obvious to you might be groundbreaking to someone else.

Last week, I had a chat with Danny Desatnik. He’s way ahead of me in the business side of the creator world but new to the film industry. While talking about Camp Film Fest, I casually suggested collaborating with Maine Media Workshops. To me, it was an obvious idea but he had never heard of it and was immediately excited to learn more.

The beauty of the "Minus" relationship is that you help others while reinforcing your own expertise. And finding them can be as simple as answering questions in a subreddit or responding to your comments.

Do You Have All Three?

If you’re missing one of these connections, you’ll feel it.

• Without a Plus, you’ll struggle to see what’s possible.

• Without an Equal, you’ll feel isolated.

• Without a Minus, you’ll miss out on reinforcing your own growth.

Take a minute to reflect. Who could be your Plus, Minus, and Equal? If you don’t have all three, it might be time to join a collaborative community.

Hit reply and let me know, which of these three relationships has had the biggest impact on you?

My favorite video this week

Not only did Caroline light the internet on fire with urging people not to subscribe, this video is also a great example of how reddit and YouTube can be the perfect combo for a viral hit. I bet this genius thumbnail made it across your feed.

“Call the police” invokes instant curiosity if not for the design tips for the crimes committed in the video.

Bonus for creators: Her advice applies just as much to building a cozy home recording set up.

In case you missed it:

⬅️ Last week I shared my first YouTube video with you

➡️ Next week you find out what I learned moderating the Colin and Samir subreddit.

It’s the last week to sign up for the Community waitlist and lock in the best rate ever.