1AM in Los Angeles.
I’m starting this newsletter like the final track on a Drake album … reflective.
This week, I spoke at UCLA to a room of gifted students. Future AI founders, aspiring CMOs, & creators in the making.
I was invited to share how I built my career and help them think bigger about content strategy but instead of giving them a linear path or some overnight growth story, I gave them this:
You can’t future-proof your career. But you can build a safety net.
It won’t be a perfect plan or a guaranteed outcome.
But a mix of skills, practices, and self-awareness that allows you to pivot, adapt, and protect your momentum.
For me, a huge part of that safety net has been something I call the Brand Mix.
Here’s what you’ll get this week:
How to Define Your “Brand Mix”
The Fear of Getting Stuck
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— Brandon Smithwrick
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🧪 Your Brand Needs a Mix, Not a Master Plan
Niches are apart of the content process but most creator-entrepreneurs focus too hard on niche, but niche alone won’t save you.
You need range.
Think of your brand or the brand you’re creating like a pie chart.
Instead of being a one-trick pony, you’re building a mix of offerings that allows you to pivot, adapt, and evolve.
Here’s mine:
35% → Organic Content (Social, Business, Branding, & Entrepreneurship)
20% → Community (like this newsletter)
20% → Brand partnerships
15% → Speaking Engagements
5% → Digital products
5% → Experiments (consulting, advising, etc.)
Every part of that mix supports another.
If one slows down, I’m not stuck … I pivot.
a slide from my presentation
This mix allows me to pivot if brand deals pause, or double down when something’s working.
It’s flexible by design. And it’s what’s kept me consistent and employable even when the algorithm flips or budgets shrink.
Your mix won’t look like mine & It shouldn’t.
But you need one.
Because it’s the foundation for flexibility, sustainability, and scale in your business in 2025.
⚠ The Fear of Getting “Stuck”
One thing I’ve noticed (especially from creators, students, even professionals) is this fear that once you define your personal brand, you’re stuck with it.
“If I start talking about this, I’ll be boxed in.”
“What if I change my mind later?”
You’re allowed to evolve. You’re supposed to evolve.
That brand you launch today? It doesn’t have to be your forever. It just needs to be your first step.
The product you drop, the video you post, the thing you commit to building … those aren’t locks. They’re launchpads.
When people ask me, “How do I talk about different things without confusing my audience?”
I point them to creators like Vivian Tu, better known as Your Rich BFF.
Vivian is known for finance. But within that, she talks about:
Credit cards
Tax laws
News
Investing
Saving hack
& Life
another slide … see I’m really giving you the whole preso
That’s different lanes all under one umbrella.
It gives her depth, brand deals across verticals, a bestselling book, and longevity.
Her power isn’t just in being niche. It’s in creating a rich mix that feels connected, not scattered.
You can do the same.
🧩 Build Your Own Brand Mix
Choose 3–5 topics you’re excited to create around
Define 2-4 pathways you plan to monetize your expertise
Estimate what % of your time or income each represents
Ask: can this mix evolve with me? Can I pivot if needed?
I’ll even leave you with one more bonus tip.
This week, give yourself:
2 hours to learn
2 hours to draft content
1 hour to schedule
You don’t need to post daily, the goal is consistency.
⌛ ICYMI…
I life has changed since posting on LinkedIn 3yrs ago, so here’s some hooks I swear by — read it
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How to Build when you don’t feel ready — check it out
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