Lessons From a Year I Didn't Expect

A Reflection on 2025 and the Path Forward

I'm not going to sugarcoat it, 2025 didn't go the way I planned.

There were moments this year when I felt like I was running in circles, chasing goals that didn't align, making decisions that looked right on paper but felt wrong in practice. I said yes to things I should have declined. I delayed launches I should have pushed forward. I let perfectionism paralyze me more times than I care to admit.

But here's what I've learned: failure isn't the enemy. Stagnation is.

Every misstep this year taught me something I couldn't have learned any other way. I discovered where my energy was being wasted, which relationships weren't serving me, and most importantly, what truly matters when the noise fades away.

So as we step into 2026, I'm not coming in with a list of resolutions destined to fizzle out by February. Instead, I'm moving forward with clarity, intention, and a renewed commitment to the work that actually moves the needle.

This year, I'm choosing progress over perfection. Action over overthinking. And most of all, I'm choosing to share this journey with you, the real, unfiltered version.

Because if 2025 taught me anything, it's that we grow faster together.

Let's make 2026 the year we stop waiting for permission and start building what we've been putting off.

Are you with me?

The Platform Problem Isn't Going Away, But Neither Are We

As we move into 2026, let's be honest about what we're walking into: the platforms we've built on are doubling down on everything except the creators who made them what they are.

Twitch is tightening its grip on monetization, treating creators like ATMs and viewers like data points. More ad breaks. Stricter revenue splits. A platform that once championed community now sees every stream as an opportunity to extract rather than empower. The message is clear: you're not a partner, you're inventory.

YouTube is spiraling into an AI-driven identity crisis. Algorithms trained on guesswork. Moderation systems that can't tell the difference between context and violation. Creators are waking up to demonetized videos, shadow-banned content, and appeals rejected by bots that don't understand nuance. The platform is trading human judgment for efficiency, and creators are paying the price.

This isn't new. But in 2026, it's reaching a breaking point.

Here's what this means for us:

The old playbook, build your audience on someone else's platform and hope they don't change the rules is dead. If 2025 taught us anything, it's that relying solely on these platforms is like building a house on rented land. They can raise the rent, bulldoze the foundation, or lock you out entirely.

So what do we do?

We adapt. We diversify. We take back control.

That means:

• Owning your audience. Email lists, Discord communities, direct memberships, anywhere your people can follow you that isn't controlled by an algorithm.
• Diversifying revenue streams. Sponsorships, digital products, consulting, Patreon, affiliate partnerships, multiple income sources mean platform changes can't wipe you out.
• Building relationships over reach. 1,000 engaged fans who actually care will always outperform 100,000 passive followers who scroll past.

The platforms aren't going to save us. They're not designed to. But that doesn't mean we're powerless.

2026 is the year we stop waiting for these companies to care about creators and start building systems that work for us, not despite them.

The game is rigged, but we don't have to play by their rules anymore.

What I'm Building This Year (And Why You Should Care)

Enough about what's broken. Let's talk about what I'm building.

Starting next month, I'm launching The Makers Table, a podcast for independent creators and makers who are building on their own terms.

We're having real conversations about breaking free from algorithm dependency, owning your audience, and creating sustainable creative businesses. Whether you're crafting products, building digital businesses, or making art, if you're committed to independence, you belong here.

This isn't another "hustle harder" show or a parade of overnight success stories. This is about the journey, the messy middle, the failures that don't make it to Instagram, the pivots nobody saw coming, and the struggles we all face but rarely talk about openly.

Each episode will sit down with makers and creators who are doing the work, not just talking about it. We'll dig into what actually moves the needle, what keeps us up at night, and how we keep going when the platforms change the rules and the algorithm gods turn their backs.

But I'm not stopping there.

I'm also reclaiming my independence from the platforms that have failed us. I've set up my own space within the Fediverse using Owncast for live streaming, just like I've done before, and this time I'm adding a PeerTube instance to host content on my own terms. No arbitrary strikes. No surprise policy changes. No algorithmic games.

This is about control. Ownership. Building on land I actually own.

And here's the big one: I'm creating a community forum dedicated to makers and creators like us. A space where we can share wins, troubleshoot problems, collaborate on projects, and support each other without fighting for visibility in a feed designed to keep us scrolling.

I want this to become more than just my community, I want it to be our gathering place. A hub where we stop competing for scraps and start building together.

Here's what I'm asking from you:

Come along for the ride. Subscribe to the podcast. Join the forum when it launches. Show up in the streams. Share your story. Bring your questions. Challenge my ideas.

Because the truth is, I can't do this alone, and I don't want to.

2026 is the year we stop building for platforms and start building for people. For community. For ownership. For the long game.

Let's make something that lasts.

The Makers Table premieres next month. I'll send you all the details soon.

Until then, what are you building this year? Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.

One Last Thing Before You Go

If you've made it this far, thank you. Seriously.

I know your inbox is crowded. I know your time is valuable. And I know there are a thousand other things competing for your attention right now.

But you're still here, and that tells me something.

It tells me you're not content with the status quo. You're not willing to let platforms dictate your future. You're ready to build something that matters, on your own terms, with people who actually give a damn.

That's exactly why I'm doing this.

2026 isn't going to be easy. The platforms will keep changing the rules. The algorithms will keep moving the goalposts. The noise will keep getting louder.

But we don't have to face it alone.

Whether you tune into The Makers Table, join the forum, show up for a stream, or simply hit reply to this email and share what's on your mind, you're part of this. You're part of a community that's choosing independence over dependency, collaboration over competition, and the long game over quick wins.

So here's to the year ahead. To the projects we'll launch, the failures we'll learn from, and the community we'll build together.

Let's make 2026 count.

— Josh Bailey

P.S. — Seriously, hit reply and tell me what you're working on this year. I want to hear about it. And who knows? Maybe you'll be a guest on the podcast.