Don't build your castle in other people's kingdoms
Part of Escaping algorithms Collection
Take back control of your attention, stop being controlled by algorithms.
I recently came across an article and metaphor that’s been on my mind every day: Don’t Build Your Castle in Other People’s Kingdoms.
The core idea is simple: Don’t build your castle (personal brand) in someone else’s kingdom (social media).
Why?
Because other people’s kingdoms don’t care about your castle. They can change the rules anytime, even destroy everything you’ve built overnight. They just want more people to build castles so they can profit from them.
They care about money, not you. You’re just a means for them to make money.
What you should do is protect yourself and build your castle on land you control.
Other people’s kingdoms are everywhere
Think about how often we build castles in other people’s kingdoms:
- Renting someone else’s house, paying their mortgage every month
- Working at a company, where the clients and products aren’t yours, relying on your boss for promotions and raises
- Publishing through publishers, giving away your voice and rights, getting only royalties
- Building self-worth on likes, feeling invisible without followers
- Storing all your network on LinkedIn or Facebook, losing it all if the platform dies
- Relying on courses and coaches for growth, unable to learn without someone teaching you
- Building happiness on a partner, feeling like nothing without them
- Needing others to workout, unable to exercise alone
Algorithms, employers, platforms, emotional suppliers—they can all reclaim your land anytime.
Along with the castle you worked so hard to build.
Real freedom is having sovereignty
When others hold sovereignty, you’re always a tenant.
When you hold sovereignty, you’re the king.
This doesn’t mean completely disconnecting from all systems. We still need work, housing, relationships.
But at least, keep a piece of land that’s yours.
Your own website.
Your own work.
A habit you can maintain without depending on anyone.
There, you make the rules. No one can kick you out.
P.S. I learned about this metaphor through Wiwi’s article, where he explains why posting videos on Youtube is building a castle in someone else’s kingdom. Check it out!