When I Stopped Chasing Followers and Started Protecting My Intellectual Property, Everything Changed
- April Sheris
- Oct 7
- 3 min read
For the longest time, I measured my worth in numbers — likes, comments, followers, engagement.
Every post was planned to perfection. Every caption was crafted to spark conversation. Every photo was edited to feel “on brand.”
I was doing everything the digital world said I needed to do to win.
And yet… I didn’t feel like I was winning.
I was visible, but not valued.
Busy, but not fulfilled.
Known, but not respected.
The truth hit me one night as I sat scrolling through my own feed — I was showing the world everything I was building, but owning almost none of it.
The Turning Point
It happened quietly.
There wasn’t a viral moment or a dramatic announcement — just an internal shift.
I remember the exact thought:
“If I’m giving the world my ideas, my stories, my strategies — who’s protecting them for me?”
That question stopped me in my tracks.
Because as women, especially in the creative space, we’re often taught to share — to be “authentic,” to give value, to post our process. But no one teaches us about the power of protection.
No one tells us that our stories, ideas, frameworks, and even our digital creations are intellectual property.
And that IP, when protected, becomes leverage.
That’s the moment I began shifting from chasing visibility to claiming ownership.
The Reframe: From Vanity Metrics to Valuable Assets
Instead of refreshing analytics, I started reviewing contracts.
Instead of crafting content calendars, I crafted copyrights.
And instead of giving away all my brilliance online, I began packaging it — into eBooks, courses, and consulting frameworks that could generate wealth on my behalf.
It wasn’t about withholding. It was about respecting my genius enough to price it properly.
Here’s what changed almost immediately:
My audience matured. The moment I started valuing my IP, I began attracting women who did the same.
Opportunities found me. Brands, filmmakers, and global collaborators began reaching out for partnerships, not just shout-outs.
My energy returned. I stopped creating for attention and started creating for legacy. Because I finally understood that visibility without ownership is vanity.
The Power of Protecting Your Story
When you start protecting your ideas, you reclaim your power.
You begin to realize that your creativity is not just content — it’s currency.
Every word you write, every framework you develop, every visual you produce — it all carries value. And when you guard it with intention, you shift from hustling for likes to building lasting wealth.
This is what I now call literary IP wealth.
It’s not just about writing books — it’s about transforming your story into a tangible asset that can live across film, music, retail, and digital experiences.
Your IP is your new designer bag.
Your copyright is your crown.
Your trademark is your protection spell.
The Freedom in Ownership
There’s a certain peace that comes with ownership.
You stop moving with anxiety and start moving with alignment.
When I stopped chasing followers and started protecting my intellectual property, everything changed.
My pace slowed, but my purpose deepened.
My numbers stabilized, but my name started to mean something.
And here’s what I know for sure:
Real influence isn’t about how many people know you — it’s about how many respect what you own.
A Soft Reminder for Every Woman Creating Something Right Now
Protect your work.
Sign your name.
Register your brilliance.
And never apologize for turning your creativity into capital.
Because we’re not just creating stories anymore — we’re creating legacy.
And legacy doesn’t chase followers.
Legacy protects itself.
Your Story Is Currency. Own It. Build It. Protect It.
Welcome to the era of Books Are the New Rich.
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