Engy Elghannam 
Greetings everyone, and welcome to this special interview with the esteemed Lamaan, who wears multiple hats as a Life & Health Coach and the host of the thought-provoking podcast "Cut the Crap." Through her podcast, Lamaan brings forth engaging conversations that delve into the depths of life's intricacies.
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Today, we embark on a journey to uncover the wisdom and insights that Lamaan has to offer, particularly for all the beginner content creators out there. In this interview, she passionately shares her inspiration and encouragement for those who are just setting foot into the creative realm. Aspiring content creators will find themselves enriched as she imparts valuable tips to help them navigate their initial steps. Recommending effective strategies and techniques that enable the creation of high-quality content that stands out amidst the sea of competition. So, without further ado, let's dive into the reservoir of knowledge that Laman graciously shares with us today.
1- First of all, we would like you to introduce yourself, your educational background, and your career to our readers?
My name is Lamaan, and I’m twenty-eight years old. I graduated from Northeastern University in Boston. Initially, I was on the legal route, so I studied broadcasting with a concentration in law. Once I graduated from Northeastern, I worked as a paralegal while I applied for my masters in law. However, along the way, I realized that this was not fulfilling my purpose. I got certified as a life and health coach during this time to better help myself navigate these life altering decisions. Ironically, I ended up working as a coach for a while, which pushed me into the podcasting realm.
Going through something as common as figuring out ‘what do I want to do with my life?' is hard, and when we feel like we are alone, it becomes even harder.
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I learned early on that we are all going through things but pretending that we are not. In the race of life, we forget how to have actual conversations with each other or how to share valuable knowledge.
I decided to come back to Egypt and start my podcast from here because I knew we needed it in our culture and community the most, especially since, at the time when I started, podcasting was not yet as popular in the Arab world as it is today.
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2- As a Life & Health Coach and host of "Cut the Crap" podcast, what is your main aim, and how does the podcast contribute to that?
My goal with "Cut the Crap" is to do just that: Cut the crap. I want people to cut the crap out of themselves and their life. This means living a life where you are actively deciding what you allow around you. From people, conversations, content, food, places, etc. Cutting the crap with yourself means getting real; be honest with yourself and know who you are. How can we face this world and ask so much of ourselves when we do not even know who WE are.
I know for a fact that when people start to get introduced to themselves and learn to trust them, they’ll have all they need to live a healthy and joyful life.
3- Now it’s time to know your point of view, what are the first few steps you would recommend to someone who is just starting out in the content creation field?
Have an actual and unique objective. Do not be click-bate…PLEASE. Don’t just create content for the sake of creating content and having some sort of reach. People will not respond to it, and you (general you) will not be able to sustain it. You need to believe in something, have something to share, and have something to put out into the world. Something doesn’t have to be too serious or solve a world issue; it just needs to be YOURS.
I see so many people now creating mental health content, and this is catastrophic. Have accountability for what you are putting out there.
4- How would you suggest a beginner content creator find their niche or area of focus?
It must be something that interests or helps you. Kind of like in business, where you should be a customer of your own business. If you find yourself willing to dive more into it and explore, research, and evolve it, then that’s your niche. It can take time to figure that out; it can be a completely new niche, but trust yourself.
5- What are some essential skills or areas of knowledge that beginner content creators should focus on developing?
-Know your work ethic; I believe this to be the most important.
-Keep learning. Never stop learning.
-Try, try, try, and try again till you find your voice and your flow.
-Be yourself, or the audience will know you’re not, and they will not engage. It's very easy to filter people now, so show up as yourself.
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6- We would like to hear from you about what strategies do you recommend for creating high-quality content that stands out from the competition?
I find that the most effective content is raw content. People tend to disconnect from content that seems overly edited. Obviously, get good equipment if and when you can, but it is not an absolute. A lot of people never execute because they’re waiting for the perfect setup, perfect equipment, perfect team, perfect time, etc. JUST START and evolve as you go.
I wish there was an easy and direct answer to the questions related to content creation, but the truth is you just need to find your way, and the only way to do that is by constantly trying and evolving till it clicks. You also need to find a way to go about things that does not make it too hard or miserable for you to be consistent.
7- Tell us about some common mistakes you see beginner content creators make, and how can they avoid them?
The biggest mistake I made when I was starting out was that I was trying to mimic the style and ways of those that I followed and whose content I enjoyed. At first, I thought this was the way and that I had to overedit, include animation, and all this stuff. With time … I cut the crap and just found my own way.
The second mistake that I see people make is not knowing what they’re talking about. We see and hear things daily that are content-worthy, but we cannot take this information point blank. You need to go the extra step and do your research and due diligence.
8- What platforms or channels do you suggest beginner content creators use to showcase their work and reach their target audience?
That would depend on what type of content they’re creating and who their audience is. There is an audience on every platform, so it's a matter of knowing what you are offering and then being able to determine where to best reach your specific audience.
9- As someone with experience in content creation, what are some helpful techniques you can share for generating exciting content ideas and overcoming those creative blocks?
Live. When you have a creative block, put everything down and just go live your own life. Do your thing (or do nothing), get on with your day, see people, and get out of your creative routine. Once you put yourself back out there, you’ll realize that life is full of ideas and inspirations, but we need to be living right now.
10- In your opinion, what role does consistency play in the success of content creators? What methods can they use to maintain consistency?
I have seen that consistency plays a big role because your audience can rely on you, and you become a habit for them. However, I must confess that I may not be the most consistent person with posting content simply because if I can’t find anything to share, I won’t. I’ve tried to change that about myself, but now I’m just okay with the way that I go about it.
I try not to disappear for too long, but I definitely keep my audience in the loop, even if it's just to let them know I don’t feel like posting.
11- How can beginner content creators effectively handle criticism and negative feedback? What strategies do you recommend for turning negative feedback into a learning opportunity?
This is just the tax of the gig.
Some feedback, although negative, may actually be helpful. I know that in my case, I’ve found some of them to be insightful and have helped evolve and improve my podcast. The other times, it's just weirdos behind a screen, and there’s nothing we can do about it. If your content isn’t for someone, they have every option to not view you, but for some reason they are, and they are insisting on commenting, so I guess you should be flattered.
Focus on the people you’re helping; remember the purpose behind your content and why you’re doing it. This is why, in the previous question, I said it is essential to know who you are and why you are doing this.
12- Can you share any personal experiences or success stories from your own content creation journey that could inspire and motivate beginner content creators?
When I decided to come to Egypt and start my podcast, not only was it not known in Egypt at the time, but even in the States, it was still a new concept. There was no actual understanding of how to monetize it or how far it could go. Only because I believed in the value of good conversation did I know that this was something I had to explore.
Now, podcasting is a major at universities and the fastest-growing form of content of all time (it’s spreading and growing even faster than music did back in the day). This assures me that I am definitely 1 of the millions who also believe in and benefit from good conversation.
Believe in what feels right to you, and with time, trust that the world will evolve accordingly. Don’t wait to find what is trending now and then go copy it, or else you’ll always be behind.
