This Is Why Your Content Feels Off

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Hey Beyonder!

I noticed something subtle last week.

I was sitting in on a casual discussion where a few people were talking about content and growth.

Someone asked, “What’s the best strategy to grow right now?”

Immediately, the room lit up.

• Post daily.

• Reels work better.

• Hooks matter more than substance.

• Carousels convert.

Everyone had an answer.

Everyone sounded confident.

But something felt… off.

A few minutes later, someone else said something very different.

“I don’t actually know what I want people to remember me for.”

That question landed heavier than all the advice before it.

And that’s when it clicked.

Here’s What I Realized

Most of us aren’t stuck because we don’t know how to grow.

We’re stuck because we’re asking questions that are too shallow for the problem we’re facing.

We ask:

“How do I grow faster?”

“How do I get more views?”

“How do I crack the algorithm?”

But those questions assume one thing:

That clarity already exists.

It usually doesn’t.

The real question is almost always:

“What am I actually trying to say?”

Until that’s clear, no tactic will feel right for long.

Why This Actually Works

Think about the creators you keep going back to.

It’s not because they use every new feature first.

It’s because their ideas feel familiar.

You know what they stand for.

You can predict their perspective.

Their content feels intentional, not accidental.

When you know your core idea, your brain stops scattering energy.

Your stories get sharper.

Your repetition starts to feel powerful instead of boring.

People don’t follow content.

They follow coherent thinking over time.

How to Use This in Your Content

Step 1: Replace the Surface Question

Before you write, notice the question driving the post.

If it sounds like:

“How do I perform better?”

Pause.

Ask instead:

“What do I want someone to understand after reading this?”

This changes everything.

Step 2: Find the Sentence You Keep Editing Out

There’s usually a thought you delete because it feels too honest, too specific or too opinionated.

That sentence is often the point.

Say it gently.

But say it clearly.

Step 3: Build Around One Belief

Not five insights or a list of hacks.

One belief.

Then tell a story or an example that supports it.

Step 4: Let Tension Lead, Not Teaching

Instead of starting with conclusions like:

“Here’s what I learned…”

Try opening with uncertainty:

“I used to believe this.”

“I thought this would work.”

“I was convinced this was the right move.”

Tension keeps people reading.

Resolution makes it memorable.

Step 5: End Where They Begin

Don’t wrap it up neatly.

End with a question that reflects back at them.

Something they’ll carry into their next decision.

Try This This Week

Write one piece of content without asking:

“Will this do well?”

Ask instead:

“If someone read only this, would they understand how I think?”

If not, rewrite.

Final Thought

Most people don’t need more content ideas.

They need clearer thinking before they write.

Because when you ask better questions,

your stories stop trying to impress

and start trying to connect.

Keep telling stories,

Epaphra

When it all clicks.

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