Systems Thinking for Authors w/ Brian David Hall | Ep. 16 | SWL Podcast
Welcome back to Create Systems with Laura, the space where we talk about building businesses, creative work, and lives that feel intentional, sustainable, and aligned with who we are becoming.
Today, I’m joined by Brian David Hall, author of Your Website Sucks: Here’s How to Fix It, conversion strategist, and a systems thinker in the deepest sense. But beyond website experiments and client funnels, Brian has quietly built a body of nonfiction work and a process for creating that work that’s rooted in clarity, consistency, and experimentation.
In this conversation, we explore:
- How Brian uses systems to move from idea to finished book
- What he learned from writing two abandoned manuscripts before publishing one that resonated
- How beta readers, newsletters, and daily rituals helped him finish what he started
- His experience writing in plain text editors (yes, in the terminal) and why simplicity helps him focus
- What it really means to write for someone who can’t afford your services, and why that shaped his voice
- The emotional side of authorship, including what it feels like to face failure and find your topic again
Brian also shares stories from his time teaching in Spain and South Korea, building online courses, and becoming part of the Useful Books community, a group led by Rob Fitzpatrick, focused on helping nonfiction authors write books that actually solve problems.
If you’ve ever struggled to get from a draft to a final product… or wondered how to keep showing up for your creative work even when no one is watching yet, this conversation will speak to you.
📘 Whether you’re a writer, a service-based entrepreneur, or simply someone who wants to create things that last, this episode offers a calm, honest look at how structure, feedback, and curiosity can help you bring meaningful ideas to life.
🔗 Connect with Brian David Hall
- Website & Resources: https://briandavidhall.gumroad.com
- Book: Your Website Sucks: Here’s How to Fix It
- Writing Tools: Useful Books by Rob Fitzpatrick
🤝 Episode Sponsor: Proprium Agency
We help service-based businesses replace chaos with clarity through smart tools, automation, and intentional system design.
Book a 15-minute discovery call:
👉 https://connect.proprium.agency/discovery-call
Join the Proprium Digital Network for founders and operators who want better systems, smarter workflows, and sustainable growth:
👉 https://proprium.agency/proprium-digital-network
🧠 Stay connected with Laura Plantak
- Website: https://www.lauraplantak.com
- Newsletter: https://lauraplantak.com/newsletter
- LinkedIn: Systems With Laura Podcast
💬 If this episode helped you think differently about creativity, failure, or writing as a long-term system, share it with someone you know who’s building something of their own. And subscribe for more slow, grounded conversations that make space for doing meaningful work.
