What It Really Takes to Scale a Creator Business | Josh Mattingly

Josh Mattingly, founder of Upright Media and the self-described "Operating Partner to the Creator Economy," joins The Upload to pull back the curtain on the business behind some of the biggest channels on the internet. After 16 years working with the likes of Maker Studios, Smosh, Donut Media and Preston, Josh has a clear point of view: the next generation of creator businesses won't win because of the most talented founder or the best creative, they'll win because they build the strongest team. We get into why creators are entrepreneurs whether they realize it or not, the training and systems gap that quietly stalls fast-growing channels, and how to build a company that can actually outgrow its founder (with the Smosh "rotating cast" playbook as a case study). Josh also breaks down when to make your first hire and who it should be, why he swears by contract-to-hire and 30/60/90 plans, and how to protect the one thing a creator can never outsource: their time and creative brain. Plus, his advice for anyone trying to break into the creator economy on the operations side, and a very important ranking of the best and worst airport lounges.If you're a creator ready to stop doing everything yourself and build something that lasts, this one's a masterclass.Josh's links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-mattinglyWebsite: https://www.uprightmedia.coInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshmattingly👉 Subscribe to The Upload Newsletter: https://contentcreator.live/linksThank you to our partners:Ecamm: http://ecamm.balasabas.liveOpus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=robStreamyard: https://streamyard.com/?fpr=goliveUscreen: https://www.uscreen.tvConnect with Rob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbalasabasInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rob.balasabasBusiness + Partnership Inquiries:[email protected]