Creating Content Pillars as a Multidimensional Leader

Without confusing the heck out of people

Recently, a new friend I met through Substack,

Toku McCree

asked me, “How do you get your ideas for your articles? How did you find your themes?”

And it really made me pause and think. How did I end up with the content pillars that I’m currently writing about?

I’d love to say that I had a strategy from the outset, but I had an instinctual pull to dive right in. I began writing about the topics that mattered to me, exploring what was coming up in my reality as well as what I observed from within my community.

Yes, there were certain subjects related to our offers that I kept in mind, but as I continued writing, the process naturally brought greater focus and clarity to what we truly stand for and are here to help with.

Sidenote: I don’t recommend everyone do it this way, it really depends at what stage you are at. For me, I already came with a number of years of evolving my vocation, exploring the intersection of my passion and expertise, and observing and healing my pain points, so I think these themes became…well… embedded in my DNA.

It’s like they say, “you are your niche.”

But in total honesty, when I first started creating content (on instagram) I look back now and see that while I knew my overarching purpose, I struggled with the “what do I want to be known for” direction… and it showed.

So what can you do if you are just starting out, navigating a transition or redefining your brand essence?

I don’t recommend relying on quick-fix tactics. No, it didn’t come from a single brainstorm, mastermind or human design session. Working with an intuitive or coach will help you with key insights, a framework that you need or healings that then opens up a doorway for you, but remember that you are the one destined to put all the pieces together in divine timing.

If you are building a deeply soul-aligned business (or portfolio of businesses), I suggest keeping close attention to the themes emerging from your transformations and that of your client’s, as well as the changes you want to see in the world… and that comes with at least a few years of… good, bad and the ugly experiences on this entrepreneurial journey.

I believe it makes it all the more magical if we approach this process as one big unfoldment —exploring, iterating and following where spirit asks you to go. (This is coming from someone who had great anxiety of the unknown - so I’m laughing to myself).

Looking at the Substack publication now, I can see the intersection of the themes emerging, like a golden thread - with the overarching purpose of helping people build a lasting legacy based on their gifts and brilliance.

This mission is the core driver that unites the diverse content pillars, ensuring they remain cohesive while embracing their variety.

Everything we write, create, collaborate on, or share revolves around the idea of building a business and body of work that authentically reflects who you are, allowing you to share it in its most impactful form.

That can’t be done without navigating our multiple passions, activating the voice, or designing experiences and content for our audiences in the most intentional and expressive way.

You can check out all our content pillars and the full organized archive of articles here:

Through this process, I’ve learned the importance of discernment.

Not every idea belongs in your content, even if it excites you. It’s tempting as a multi-passionate person to dive into every piece of advice you could give, but doing so can dilute your message. Where there were potential collaborations that fell apart for me was really a blessing in disguise - sometimes it just wasn’t meant to be.

And if you are picking themes based on trends, clickbait, popularity or because someone else had success with the topic…I would suggest to deeply ask yourself if its really aligned with your vision...

But if you still decide to go after it - spend some time zooming in on how you have a unique perspective…given your talents or values. Offering authentic and genuine insights based on experience can always be felt more profoundly by your audience.

If there are some topics you are a little ambivalent about, maybe they are sitting in your drafts for way too long…perhaps it’s because it doesn’t belong, or there’s an angle that you need to tweak to make it more of a HELL YES feeling for you.

For anyone trying to choose content pillars, it’s not about getting it perfect from the start.

Recognize that your content pillars are not static. As your business and audience evolve, so should your pillars.

It’s about excavation—digging deep into your story to find what really matters to you and your audience. It’s a co-creative dance. It evolves as you grow.

…and don’t be afraid to take some risks…

My most viewed post thus far, linked below, was about a topic I really didn’t want to go public with because it brought up a dark period of my life, but I was surprised by the number of people who messaged me to tell me how much they related to the story.

That gave me the courage to continue writing and speaking on that subject and it made me realize - sometimes our content pillars stem from uncomfortable topics, or maybe even subjects no one else dares to explore.

And…thats where the diamond lives.

Healing the Voice, Finding Voice Formats That Work For You

Here are Some Suggested Action Steps

Set aside 20 minutes at the end of your day. Set the stage for a peaceful environment. Create a ritual (light a candle, play some music) to help you connect with your creative energy and let your thoughts flow.

Reflect on:

1. What did I observe today that triggered me?

   Is there a gift in the experience that i can share and ties back to my business and why I'm doing what I'm doing?

2. What did I observe today that transformed me?

   Maybe it was an experience, maybe it was a conversation, a client call, whatever that came into your field.

3. What did I observe today that I consumed?

   Is there a theme to what you are consistently reading, watching or listening to?

4. What do I find myself struggling with that I’m working through, aspire to change or now have found a solution to?

5. What stories do my life experiences tell?

   What hero journey are you on and what’s the wisdom you obtained?

Now do you see a pattern?

Check back after doing this for a month or two. Is there a core theme that holds all your observations together?

Once you have really defined your topics, from there it gets easier to explore synergies and collaborate with aligned individuals to deepen and expand your content.

"Embrace the richness of the diverse themes that might emerge, trusting that when they align with your overarching mission, they weave together a story only you can tell."

We’ll be exploring more on content themes inside our membership community. Come join our tribe and learn more about it here:

Boost Your Visibility with the Multidimensional Leaders