opinion

Investing Time, Effort and Patience as a Creator Pays Off

Investing Time, Effort and Patience as a Creator Pays Off

Simply put, “investing” is what you do to make something grow. When you think about investing, your mind’s eye may quickly conjure up images of buying into assets like stocks and real estate and NFTs and crypto in the hopes of selling those assets at a higher price than you paid for them. After all, on the most basic level, investing really is a simple concept: you buy an item for X, watch the market for that item grow, and at the right time, sell the item for X plus more.

Now, let’s take that concept and apply it to your career.

Don’t promise things you don’t have time to deliver, don’t take on more than you can handle and don’t sign up for things you can’t possibly take advantage of.

A person doesn’t start out as an influencer or a celebrity, and they don’t just become a recognizable brand from sheer hope. As a matter of fact, most of us are content to just earn a living doing what we do. But for others, building a career is a goal reached by acting on a calculated series of opportunities and investments.

Investing in things like photography, or advertising, or social media growth or PR is essentially spending your dollars on items and services that will grow your career. The key phrase in that statement is “spending your dollars,” but is that all there is to invest? Well, I’m glad you asked and no, it’s not! Contrary to popular belief, investing is not always about money. Time, effort, action and patience can be invested too and when it comes to your career, these four things are just as important as the almighty dollar — if not more so.

ENSURING TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

Time is the biggest investment you will ever make in your career. It’s also the thing you have the least of. You cannot replace time, so you have to manage it and invest it wisely. Sure, you are going to make time management mistakes, but you can minimize them by not asking yourself to do too much with the time you have. Don’t promise things you don’t have time to deliver, don’t take on more than you can handle and don’t sign up for things you can’t possibly take advantage of.

The worst thing in the world, the thing that will hurt you the most, is being labeled as someone who doesn’t follow through or someone that doesn’t do what she says she is going to do. Most often, not following through is about poor time management — or just not having enough time — but the impact is the same: you end up looking like a flake or worse. Don’t be that person! If you promise something or sign up for something, just follow through, and if you can’t, at least send a message stating why you can’t.

PATIENCE IS A MUST FOR SUCCESS

Given today’s “on demand” mentality, patience is not a rule we easily adhere to anymore. From all the episodes of a TV show to late-night pizza to new furniture to our latest Amazon purchase, we want everything right now. But here’s the thing, and I hate to be the one to break it to you: not everything can be now. It’s not always an option and now isn’t always better. Some things take time to grow, and that takes patience.

If you want to build a solid brand, you’re going to need to invest a great deal of patience. But don’t worry, you’re in luck; unlike money, patience is one of those things you can have an endless supply of. Growing into a brand is going to take a bit of it. It’s not going to happen overnight, and you would be foolish to expect it to. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re going to be all that and a bag of chips because you’ve reached 30-to-40,000 followers — while those are great numbers, they’re still relatively pedestrian in the grand scheme of things. At 100,000 engaged fans you can have a solid income, at 250,000 you’re on your way to a career and at 500,000? Well, at that point you’re starting to build a brand.

ACTIONS CAUSE REACTIONS

Everything you do from this point forward is going to matter, from intent to perception to character to belief. Every word you utter on social media is going to endear or offend. You’re going to become a human starting gun for any number of causes or controversies and you’re going to wield a lot of verbal power; use it wisely, as it can easily be a double-edged sword. Endear yourself with your followers and the sponsors will follow; offend them and the sponsors won’t give you a second look. This might seem obvious, but if it were, there would be a lot fewer controversial influencers out there. Some food for thought? Stay away from politics and religion.

YOU’RE GOING TO PUT IN A LOT OF EFFORT

When I was younger, many moons ago, a very wise man told me that the only thing you could possibly gain without effort is failure. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve personally tested that theory, but I can tell you it is 177% correct. Building a career and brand is not something that just happens. It’s going to take some work.

The truth is, you’re going to gain a certain amount of celebrity status by what you post on your platforms, and I use the term “celebrity” very loosely. To be blunt, it’s not all that difficult to get guys — and girls — to follow you or to click your hot and sexy photos. If all you care about are clicks and likes, congratulations, you’re going to have a great time watching people share your photos while you’re working your day job.

See, what is difficult is to get them to look beyond the photos, beyond the racy and the provocative content. That’s what creates the difference between a mere model and a full-fledged brand. It’s your ability to speak to your followers and get them to engage, while liking, commenting, clicking, buying or inviting others to your content, that’s key. It’s the innate ability to elicit trust and belief. When they believe you and trust you, they will follow your advice and your recommendations.

Patience, effort, time and action are key to achieving the growth you’re seeking. Invest those things wisely, and a big payout will surely follow.

As a 25-year industry veteran, Danny Ferretti says he is old enough to remember link sites and message boards. As the founder of GFE Model Services, he works with some of the web’s top performers and influencers. Contact him at danny@gfemodelservices. com, follow @fangearvip on Twitter and visit GFEModelServices.com or Fangear.vip for more information.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

Mary Jane: Gamer, Streamer & Fav New Creator

Outside, it was a chilly January evening — but inside the Hollywood Palladium, Mary Jane shivered for entirely different reasons. As her name echoed across the historic venue, she blinked in disbelief, realizing that she had just won the 2025 XMA for Fav New Creator.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Rising Streamer Odette Parker on Embracing Fans and Building a Welcoming Community

Picture a nice Midwestern girl from a small town. She’s in her mid-20s, working in middle management and “very single.” One night, she’s just blowing off some steam with Regina — her vibrator’s name — when she pulls up a live camming site.

Aleks Janovski ·
opinion

Balancing Pro Shoots With Indie Content Creation

Even in an era when content creators exercise an unprecedented level of control over their own careers, many still find it rewarding and worthwhile to shoot for professional adult studios, rather than just create for premium social media and clip platforms.

Tanya Tate ·
opinion

A Creator's Guide to Avoiding Burnout

As everyone knows by now, the landscape of adult entertainment has undergone a significant transformation. Today, being a “porn star” often necessitates the equally — if not more — demanding role of a successful online creator. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and OnlyFans have become integral to an adult performer’s career.

Coco Bae ·
profile

Sweetie Fox Climbs From Cosplay Queen to Pornhub Sensation

Sweetie Fox never expected, or even aspired, to become the top-ranked model on Pornhub. It just turned out that way. Born in the city of Yekaterinburg, located east of the Ural Mountains in central Russia, Fox was always drawn to art and design.

Jeff Dana ·
opinion

Mastering the Art of the Perfect Event Selfie

The show floor at a conference or event like XBIZ or X3 is a unique world, full of industry professionals and endless opportunities for connection. It’s a space where networking happens, where outfits make statements — and where knowing just how to capture and broadcast these unforgettable moments can make your social media feed truly come alive.

Rae Threat ·
opinion

Cracking the 'Book of Business' for Creator Success

In the age of digital entrepreneurship, content creators are transforming how personal brands operate, combining creativity, strategy and grit to build thriving portfolios. What was once dismissed as a fleeting fad has evolved into a sophisticated, scalable business model — and all of it is centered on a key asset: the “book of business.”

Megan Stokes ·
profile

Ashley Aoki: From Tumblr to Rising Talent

Ashley Aoki discovered that she had an interest in online exhibitionism while attending university. She found she enjoyed sending nudes to guys she was interested in, as well as posting them online for the thrill and fun of it.

Jeff Dana ·
profile

Sepanta Arya Shares Insights on Building an Indie Enterprise

Sepanta Arya is a family guy who feels grateful to have grown up in a warm and supportive environment with strong values. With a close-knit family that never judged him, he says, he has enjoyed the luxury of always being honest about what he does professionally and personally, and about his choices in life.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

5 Things to Look for When Vetting Industry Fundraisers

As adult content creators, we are passionate about supporting fundraisers that align with our values and make a tangible impact on our community — but not all fundraisers or organizations are created equal.

Miss Mei ·
Show More