Starting a user-generated content platform here in Asia, 300th is a tiring move. I know, it will be worth spending my time and money on, but the game is longer than long. Video is king here so creating a platform that prioritises written content is not a good idea. But again, I like to write and read. I’m sure there are still a lot of people who still do write and read. This is the reason why I said to myself, what the heck, let’s do this. What is 300th you asked? Well, think of 300th as a “YouTube for writers,” where written content becomes the priority. That’s what the platform is all about.
I’m a huge fan of YouTube’s business model. The platform has reimagined how video content is democratised, offering its creators to generate good income out of their published videos. I wanted to replicate exactly that same formula for writers. While the journey has been rewarding, it’s also tested me in ways I never imagined. Here are the main lessons I’ve learned so far.
The unshakable belief. This wasn’t just about optimism—it was about conviction. 300th is one of the few reasons I wake up every morning. If those guys behind YouTube can achieve that level of success, I believe I can experience the same too. But again, belief alone isn’t enough—it needs to be rooted in the stamina to keep on going. I spent countless nights refining the business model, understanding the needs of writers, and researching how we could acquire more and more writers. The journey has surpassed 2 years now. I hope to see something significant in the next 2 years.
Fuelling the long journey with grit and patience. Running a UGC platform as a nobody is not easy. Without grit, I could just stop this whole thing and do something else—something that is more profitable and has quicker results. FYI, I have another platform which I can monetise quicker than 300th. I wouldn’t mind waiting as I always knew from Day One that running 300th is a long-haul journey—like very long. I’ve seen people who quit too early, especially when things get tough, and it is okay. Those people have their set of realities and I have mine. From my experience, success often comes to those who outlast their challenges.
Letting go of what I can’t control. Instead of focusing on things that would drain my energy, I’d rather focus on what I could do. If somebody decides to leave the platform, so be it. I’d think about how we could improve our retention strategies moving forward. When people say the 300th’s user interface is cluttered, I would analyse what is wrong and refine certain things to make it better. Letting go doesn’t mean I don’t care—it means I care enough to focus on solutions instead of dwelling on problems. This mindset shift has saved me from burnout—big time. To win, I need to think with a clearer head.
Money matters. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that trying to grow a platform like 300th with zero money isn’t just tough—it’s nearly impossible. While passion and grit are essential, I also need resources to speed up growth. I have to double my effort in delivering results to my advisory business first, secure regular income out of it and set aside some of the income portions for 300th. It wasn’t either easy or fair but it was necessary. That said, I was careful not to overspend or dip into funds I couldn’t afford to lose. Balancing the priority when the money is tight has been one of my greatest challenges—and achievements.
If there’s one thing I’ve come to realise, it’s this: never giving up doesn’t mean I won’t face doubts or challenges. It means I’ll keep going despite a lot of No’s surrounding me.
