Getting Started
So, you’ve decided to become a content creator.
That decision might sound simple, but it’s bigger than you think. Maybe you’ve been sitting with the idea for a while. Maybe you’ve already hit ‘record’ a few times. Either way, you’re about to step into a world where creativity meets chaos, where confidence collides with self-doubt, and where the only real rule is to keep going.
It’s exciting. It’s overwhelming. You’re entering a space where people turn passion into careers, where total strangers become die-hard fans, and where your voice might be exactly what someone out there needs to hear.
You’re not too late to start. Not even close. This could grow into a side hustle, a personal brand, or even a full-time job. on those days when you feel like quitting, remember, you’re not alone.
I started this journey nine years ago. I’ve had highs, lows, tailwinds, and full-on faceplants. I eventually became a Twitch Partner, which had been my north star for years. The problem? Once I hit it, I had no clue what came next.
That lack of direction stalled me. I had to stop, reassess, and rethink everything. What had I done right? What had I done wrong? What do I wish someone had told me back at the start? Truth is, a lot of that advice was already out there, I was just too proud, too stubborn, too “me” to listen. I’ve rewritten this guide more times than I can count. Each version reflects lessons learned the hard way. Sometimes I think I’m writing this for the old me. Then I remember: the old me wouldn’t have read it. Too proud. Too stubborn. Too convinced he already knew everything.
So, here’s your shortcut: don’t be that guy. Be smarter me.
You probably have a million questions. This guide is going to answer a lot of them. first, you need to get clear on what this journey means to you.
Is this just a creative outlet? Great. Have fun and enjoy the ride. if you’re hoping to turn this into a business, buckle up. Content creation takes time. This isn’t a lottery ticket. It isn’t a shortcut. It’s consistency. It’s effort. It’s being willing to suck at something long enough to get good at it. Most people quit before they ever see results. The ones who make it? They learn. They adapt. They show up. Every single day, new creators break through, not because they’re lucky, but because they didn’t stop.
If you’re ready to grind, let’s get to work.
If this is just a new hobby, awesome. Explore it. See where it takes you.
If you’re thinking about turning this into a side hustle or career, slow down. There are a few things you need to get right early on, starting with your name and your niche.
Before we go any further, let me be straight with you. I hate hypocrisy. you’re going to see some here.
There will be times when I tell you not to do something I did myself. When that happens, I’ll explain why I’m steering you away from the path I walked. You can follow the road I took; slow, frustrating, full of detours. You can take the one I wish I’d known about from the start. One gives you scars. The other gives you momentum.
Finding the Right Mindset and Name
The first step? Mindset. Not gear. Not editing software. Not your logo. If you’re serious about this, you need to understand what you’re walking into. It’s not quick. It’s not casual. It’s a long road filled with silence, doubt, and days when nothing seems to work.
Ask yourself: who are you, and what are you trying to say? If you don’t know, you’re not ready to be heard.
Once you have that answer, the next step is figuring out how people will find you and remember you. That means picking a niche, choosing the right name, and building a recognizable presence.
Let’s start with your name. Is it setting you up for success? Can you live with it for a year? Two? Five? Are you trying to be the next Ninja, Shroud, or Dr. Disrespect? Reaching that level of success takes time. The last thing you want is to realize your name is holding you back. I’ve seen creators forced to start over just to fix a branding mistake. It’s doable, but it’s messy, and it costs you valuable time, data, and momentum. My name is Jahlon. My brand? Paradox Gaming Network. In some places I’m Jahlon. In others, Jahlon_PGN, or jahlon_pgn. Sometimes it’s the full Paradox Gaming Network. Other times it’s Paradox_GameNet. None of it is consistent. That inconsistency hurts. It makes me harder to find, harder to follow, and harder to grow. I’ve fixed a lot of it with hustle, but it was preventable.
If I could go back, I wouldn’t use Paradox Gaming Network as my brand. Too much is built around it now. The long-term plan behind it died years ago, and the name itself hasn’t made anything easier.
Paradox Gaming Network is twenty-one characters long. That might sound professional, but it’s a nightmare for discoverability. If you search “Paradox,” you won’t find me. You’ll find Paradox Interactive, or anything else with that name.
Think hard about your name. Can you see it helping you, or hurting you? Even if this is just for fun, think long-term. Names like Killa97, Prince Slap-a-hoe, or Bitchwhodontmiss might sound funny now, but try getting a sponsorship with one of those. Sure, someone like Dr. Disrespect pulled it off, but the internet was a different place ten years ago.
Once you’ve got a name in mind, research it. Google it. Check YouTube, Twitch, X, Reddit, Steam. Is it taken? Does it belong to someone you don’t want to be associated with? Is it clean enough to grow with you? If not, rethink it now before it turns into a liability later.
Claim your name. Lock it down everywhere. Then grow it into something that matters.
Even if your plan is to join a streamer team, like Paradox Gaming Network once was, make sure you build your own brand. If not first, then at least alongside it.
Picking a Niche
Let’s talk about niche. Yeah, I get it, this might sound a little hypocritical coming from someone with multiple brands but trust me: Start with one, grow and branch out once you’ve grown a little bit.
Say you start with Final Fantasy XIV. You grow slowly, five viewers, then seven, then ten. One day, you stream Fortnite and drop to one viewer. Why? Because your audience came for FFXIV, not Fortnite. They showed up for a specific kind of content, and you switched the script too fast.
That doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever; It does mean you need a plan. If you want to pivot into variety content, read the room first.
While streaming FFXIV, ask your chat what they think of Fortnite. If they hate it, save it for your own time. If they’re curious, drop a little teaser: “I’m garbage at Fortnite, but maybe I’ll try it on stream sometime.”
Then next stream, do your usual FFXIV content. Later in the session, say, “Alright, time to embarrass myself in Fortnite like I promised.”
If you suck, it’s funny. If you’re great, downplay it, stay humble. Either way, you win.
Want to mix gaming with music or art? Go for it. Those work well together and don’t confuse audiences too much.
Politics, though? That’s a whole different beast. If you want to cover politics exclusively, that can work. We’ll cover that in another section. If you plan to mix politics with gaming, don’t. I’ve done it. It crushes momentum. One lukewarm opinion can drop your viewership by a third. The internet doesn’t do nuance. You’re either with them or against them.
My advice? Stay in the middle. Avoid extremes. When things get heated, listen and say, “I hear what you’re saying.” You don’t have to agree. You do have to be respectful. Learning how to do that is a skill, and we’ll explore it together.
For now, stick with one brand, one niche, and build consistency into everything you do. You’ve got time. Use it well.
Growth from Zero
Here’s the question everyone asks: Can you grow from zero without networking or paid ads? Yes. In 2024, I spun up a completely disconnected brand, got it monetized in three months, and kept my main brand running the whole time. Yeah, it’s possible.
Do you need to run promotions? Should you? No. You don’t need to, and honestly, you probably shouldn’t. Organic growth is more sustainable, more rewarding, and more valuable.
We’ll dive deeper into that later, but I want to be clear: “Will I fail?” is going to live in the back of your mind. If you want to make progress, you have to get that voice out of your head.
If you’ve got questions, ask. That’s what this guide, and this community, is for.