The creator economy is the marketplace where creators earn money by sharing their creations with the world.

It can be a tough path to navigate...until you learn the 3 C's of how it all works.

I've used these 3 principles to grow my Medium audience to over 10,000 followers, and I'm starting to use the same methods here on Twitter.

Let's dive into how you can start thriving in the creator economy:

First is Consume

Consumption is everybody's first foray into the creator economy.

You watch YouTube videos and Twitch streams. Read articles on Medium or newsletters on Substack. You're enjoying the content but also watching, learning how others execute the creative process.

Initially, you spend 100% of your time consuming, but that should quickly taper down to 20% or less as you transition to becoming a contributor.

Second is Comment

Interacting with other creators in the economy is an overlooked and underutilized means to accelerate growth. The experts and the outsiders both do it, but the novices and "advanced beginners" forget it exists.

Commenting on others' creations is a low-barrier entry point into the creator economy (and it's a great way to build relationships).

But it comes with a few rules/best practices:

• Show gratitude or praise (e.g This is awesome!)

• Seek to add value (e.g. These 3 C's are great. Here's one more I think applies.)

• Avoid criticism, approach from a different angle instead (e.g. I see why you see things this way, but what do you think about this?)

Focus just 5-10% of your time commenting and you'll see your stock in the creator economy rise.

Third is Create 

You can't thrive in the creator economy without having something to call your own.

For years, I stood on the sidelines consuming and commenting but neglecting to create. Eventually, I mustered the courage to dive in and start sharing my writing. Many pieces flopped but some generated thousands of views, scores of comments, and a few hundred shares.

My work, my creations had spun their own loop in the creator economy. There's no better feeling in the world.

As a rule of thumb, most (> 50%) of your time should be spent creating. I prefer more like 80%.

Your place in the creator economy is waiting

Go grab it.