Why the most skilled contestants often tap out first

I'm watching season 11 of Alone.

One contestant just let a fish go because she felt too depressed to go on.

If you haven't seen it, the show features 10 skilled survivalists who are dropped into the remote wilderness.

They're completely alone, with no camera crew. They film themselves while they hunt, build shelters and survive for several months.

The last person standing wins half a million dollars.

It's my favourite series. The survival stuff is cool, but what grabs me most is the psychological component.

I'm often surprised by how often the seemingly most skilled contestants tap out early because they cannot handle the psychological aspect of being alone.

They build great shelters and even hunt and process large animals.

But they cannot deal with what happens in their minds when they spend weeks alone.

In this sense, the show is not a survival competition. It's a psychology competition.

There are many similarities to building an audience as a writer or creator.

Many years of creating in public have shown me the difference between writers who build six-figure brands and those who struggle. It isn't talent or craft.

It's how they handle what shows up in their heads when they go it alone.

It requires more mental resilience than many think.

It's why I've watched so many talented creators stop producing, only to return to the perceived 'safety' of their jobs weeks after starting.

Those who stay in the game long enough to make a real impact and money have trained themselves to process the inevitable challenging moments differently than most.

They know HOW to think when things get tough.

They don't spiral.

They keep it together.

Here's one framework that helps: when something triggers doubt, like a post that flops, harsh criticism, or dropping engagement, ask yourself:

What useful data is here that will improve my business?

Useful data shows you what needs adjusting. Every post published becomes a lesson.

Filter setbacks through this question.

It's knowing how to manage oneself psychologically that makes all the difference.

I've been running my own business for over 15 years.

There are things I've learned that only come through experience.

My Creator's Mindset Blueprint is the course I made that captures the most significant mindset frameworks that have kept me going all these years.

You do not want to continually battle fear, doubt, and confusion. You need to be consistent and energised to build a powerful audience that will serve you for decades.

The course provides a complete psychological framework across nine key areas: immunity to rejection, managing creative energy, finding your zone of mastery, and six others that set the top 2% apart from everyone else.

Each module includes exercises that cement these shifts so they become automatic.

One student told me: 'I got over my insecurities. I am putting myself out there. It feels like my life is restarting again.'

This closes tomorrow (Saturday) at 4pm ET. Final 24 hours.

Normal price: $197. Today: $79. After tomorrow, it's closed until 2026.

You also get my book for free: Creatively Jacked: 43 badass motivation ideas for ambitious creators.

Get instant access here.

Alex