The Tutorial I Wanted to See
Sometimes permissionless projects aren't about creating something yourself but subtly influencing others to create what you want to see in the world. This approach requires understanding psychology and strategic communication rather than technical skills.
The Content I Needed But Couldn't Find
As I was exploring Cursor (an AI-powered coding tool), I found myself frustrated with the available learning resources. Despite watching numerous one-hour tutorials, I still didn't feel confident using the tool effectively. What I really wanted was a comprehensive, long-form tutorial showing someone using Cursor from start to finish on a real project.
Riley Brown, a creator I followed, was making excellent AI content on YouTube, but hadn't covered Cursor in the depth I was looking for.
The Strategic Tweet
Rather than directly asking Riley to make this content (which likely wouldn't work), I took a more subtle approach. I tweeted: "What's the best way to learn Cursor as a non-developer?" while secretly hoping Riley would see it.
This approach is sometimes called "fishing" - putting out a question that a specific person might answer, creating an opening for further conversation.
From Comment to Commitment
As hoped, Riley commented on my tweet. After his response, I sent him a direct message revealing my true intention: "That was a subtweet" - essentially admitting I had posted hoping he would see it and respond.
Rather than being put off, Riley replied: "Video coming Sunday."
The strategy worked. Riley created exactly the type of in-depth Cursor tutorial I was looking for, and it ended up getting around 50,000 views. I got the content I wanted, and Riley got a successful video idea.
The Lesson: Subtle Influence vs. Direct Requests
This approach demonstrates a different type of permissionless project - one focused on influence rather than creation. Instead of directly asking someone to do something (which often creates resistance), this method:
- Plants a seed by identifying a gap or need
- Makes the person feel they're choosing to fill that gap rather than responding to a request
- Creates mutual benefit (I get the content I want, Riley gets video views)
The key insight is that sometimes the most effective way to make something happen isn't to do it yourself or directly ask others to do it, but to create conditions where others want to do it. This approach works especially well with creators who are looking for content ideas that will resonate with their audience.
While different from physically creating something, this type of permissionless thinking shows how understanding psychology and communication can help you bring things into the world without direct authority or permission.
