The Think Media Podcast – Episode 463

"How to Become a Full-Time Content Creator in 2026!"

Release Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Sean Cannell
Guest: Caleb Ralston

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation between Sean Cannell and branding/content strategist Caleb Ralston, renowned for his work with Gary Vaynerchuk, Alex Hormozi, and more. Together, they unpack the real journey from small-town beginnings to building million-dollar brands, pulling practical lessons for aspiring content creators who want to make content creation a full-time business in 2026 and beyond. The discussion focuses less on hype/tactics and more on core principles, behind-the-scenes stories, and actionable strategies rooted in experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Principle over Tactics: Building a Lasting Brand

Timestamp: 00:57 – 05:05

• Many creators chase trends and try to “go viral,” but sustainable success is built on principles, not just momentary tactics.
• Caleb: "A trap a lot of creatives can fall into is they learn tactics. They don't ever step into principle-based learning." (01:14)
• The best strategy? Put the audience first—consistently value and serve them above your own short-term interests.

2. Lessons from Working with Gary Vee and Alex Hormozi

Timestamp: 02:48 – 08:07

From Gary Vaynerchuk:

• Audience-first mindset: Gary exemplifies servant leadership, prioritizing individual fans’ needs and engagement over flashy opportunities.
• Caleb: "I've seen Gary hundreds of times... he always puts the audience first. And by doing that, it's amazing what your audience then does for you." (02:48)
• The importance of “service content” versus “selfish content.”

From Alex Hormozi:

• Relentless pursuit of quality: Alex rewrote his book’s intro 19 times, highlighting the hard work and iterations behind content that “sells itself.”
• Caleb: "I watched him write 19 versions of leads for his second book. That changed my view of what hard work is and what effort it takes to create a product that sells itself." (07:03)

3. Origins: From Small Town Youth Media to Entrepreneur

Timestamp: 08:17 – 14:28

• Caleb’s early experiences growing up in Marysville, WA, getting into video at age 15 in a church youth group.
• The role of hunger, boldness, and willingness to work for free:
  • Caleb: "I am only here because of the mentors that I have had. And I've only been able to have really good mentors because...when my mentors would tell me to do something, I actually did it very quickly and then gave them feedback on how it went." (14:28)
  • Implement quickly and provide feedback to mentors—this is a mentor’s “love language” (15:41).
• Listening, action, and humility open doors to lasting mentorship and opportunities.

4. Entrepreneurship & Taking Initiative Early

Timestamp: 16:25 – 21:05

• Starting Mass Muscle TV as a teen and pitching content boldly at events—an example of “learn by doing.”
• Entrepreneurship was normalized for Caleb due to his environment (family, mentors), but readers are encouraged that initiative can be cultivated.
• “Location as leverage” — Sometimes moving or changing your environment can be a major accelerator for growth.
  • Sean: “Changing locations can be incredibly life-changing and sometimes almost essential to reach certain goals…” (20:45)
  • Caleb: “The two biggest jumps in my career both came on the back of me moving across country.” (20:54)

5. Building Confidence & Mastering Sales by Focusing on the Product

Timestamp: 23:41 – 28:14

• Sales skills for creatives: True confidence comes from mastery in your craft, not slick salesmanship.
• Caleb: "If you make a really good product, you're not going to be salesy... my whole goal is to unsell you. Here's all the reasons why this doesn't make sense for you." (27:34)
• Encouragement for creators to master their product, so recommendations and pitches feel authentic, not forced.

6. Strategic Career Growth: Internships, Free Work, and Moving Up

Timestamp: 29:03 – 39:09

• Willingness to work for free—when starting out—can unlock relationships, access, and unique learning.
  • Both Sean and Caleb cite unpaid gigs as critical career accelerators.
• Caleb’s journey to working at Gary Vee’s company started with a friend spotting an Instagram post and responding immediately (33:05).
• Differentiating yourself internally—building a reputation for reliability and overdelivering within an organization:
  • Caleb: "All of the elements of personal branding that people do publicly, employees should be doing privately within their own company. The content you put out within the company is the slack message or the emails that you're sending." (40:42)

7. Internal vs. External Branding: How to Get Noticed

Timestamp: 39:09 – 44:07

• Building “brand equity” inside a company is as important as building it with the public: Gain a reputation for delivering, initiative, and accountability.
• Doing the right thing for employees and colleagues pays off long-term.
  • Caleb: “Doing the right thing is always the right thing.” (41:58)
• The “ripple effect” – former team members who go on to succeed continue to build your reputation and network.

8. Side Hustles & Creative Passion

Timestamp: 46:42 – 53:47

• After GaryVee and a corporate stint, Caleb rekindled his creativity by launching Wild Media, combining personal passion (Harleys) with content creation.
• Importance of always having something (side hustle/passion project) that ignites your interest—even while working 9-5.
  • “If my 9-5 is no longer that, I need to build something on the side that could eventually become my 9-5.” (51:24)

9. Knowing When to Go Full-Time or Go Out on Your Own

Timestamp: 55:38 – 60:23

• Don’t leave too early. "Am I still learning?" is the most important question before you jump ship.
  • Caleb: "The moment that you feel like you're no longer learning at the rate that you want or being given the opportunities or challenges that you seek, that I believe is the moment when you should move on." (56:20)
• Financial preparation: Don’t go out on your own if you immediately need money—having savings enables you to make decisions that align with your long-term vision.
  • “I could have not signed a client for over a year and been totally fine. Not stressing.” (56:38)
• Build your confidence and client base over time for when you’re ready.

10. The Value of Proven Results in Multiple Contexts

Timestamp: 62:18 – 65:19

• Being the “best” within one brand is different than demonstrating success in multiple industries/contexts.
  • “If you want to know if somebody is actually really, really good at something, they've done it in multiple scenarios.” (62:20)
• Hiring and leadership: One win could be luck, two wins proves skill.

11. Advice for Small Town Creators

Timestamp: 66:23 – End

• Move if you can; if not, use your uniqueness and “small town” background as an advantage. The world is now connected.
• Caleb: “A million-dollar business came from that. More importantly, some of the best relationships in my life, some of the biggest impact… The opportunity is out there for anyone willing to do the work.” (67:28)
• Fast track: Go work for someone more advanced, help them win in a measurable way, then leverage that experience for your next step.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Service: “Most creators are making selfish content. You wanted to go on the yacht, the island, and travel. So you're kind of forcing your audience into what you want…but if you lead with service—not even worried about the money—it comes.” – Sean Cannell (05:17)
• On Hard Work: “I watched [Alex Hormozi] write 19 versions of leads for his second book...I thought I worked hard. What it did is changed my view of what hard work is and the level of effort it takes to create a product that sells itself.” – Caleb Ralston (07:03)
• On Mentorship: "A mentor's love language is somebody that implements." – Sean Cannell (15:41)
• On Side Hustles: “If my 9 to 5 is no longer [my passion], I need to build something on the side that could eventually become my 9 to 5.” – Caleb Ralston (51:24)
• On Leaving Too Early: “Don’t go out on your own and need money in three months. If you do, you’re going to build something wildly different than if you don’t.” – Caleb Ralston (56:38)
• On Proven Track Record: “If you want to know if somebody is actually really good at something, they've done it in multiple different scenarios.” – Caleb Ralston (62:20)
• On Getting Started: “Go work for somebody, make them bigger in some meaningful way, in a way that you can talk about, and that's how you'll get there.” – Caleb Ralston (68:15)

Major Takeaways for Aspiring Full-Time Creators

• Principles > Tactics: Lasting success requires serving your audience, relentless quality, and continual learning—not just chasing trends.
• Mentorship & Action: Seek out and implement advice from mentors rapidly—this builds relationships and opens doors.
• Build Skills & Reputation: Develop mastery and reliability inside organizations before branching out.
• Strategic Pivots: Move or change environments if needed for growth; don’t fear starting small or working for free to build relationships and skills.
• Know When to Jump: Only go full-time when you’ve built enough skills, reputation, savings, and the right opportunities.
• Use Your Unique Story: Whether from a small town or a unique background, leverage your authenticity and passion to stand out.

Where to Find Caleb Ralston

"The platforms that I am most active on are Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. The other ones, you can go there, but I will probably not be posting anything for a little while." (65:37)

For Small-Town & New Creators

• There are more opportunities than ever; don’t limit yourself based on your starting point.
• Work for someone you admire and create measurable impact for them—this bridge is often faster than going solo from scratch.

This episode is filled with rich storytelling, honest reflection, and practical wisdom for anyone serious about turning content creation into a sustainable, growth-driven business over the next decade. If you want principles, mindset, and real-world frameworks (not just viral hacks), this is a must-listen—or a must-read summary.