Lukman Aufbau is a technology entrepreneur, writer of ILLUMINATION Publications, and author of multiple books, including fiction and non-fiction
Curator’s Note: Lukman Aufbau is a resilient technology entrepreneur and author, known for his insightful contributions to the creator economy. His journey, marked by personal losses and professional challenges, emphasizes the value of long-term commitment and experimentation in creativity. He views writing as a public documentation of lessons learned and growth, transforming setbacks into frameworks. Lukman’s innovative projects include an AI tool, Repostly AI, designed to enhance content visibility. He has published over 300 articles and several books while building an engaged community on platforms like Medium and Substack. His story serves as inspiration for aspiring writers and entrepreneurs, promoting originality and patience. This interview was conducted by our founder and chief editor, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, supporting over 41,000 writers and book authors on Medium, Substack, and Patreon. We believe Lukman’s story can inspire you with his ups and downs.
Dear Subscribers,
Happy Weekend!
One of my goals is to introduce writers of my publications on Medium and Substack. Today, in this episode of my heartfelt and insightful conversations series with writers, thought leaders, and professionals, I will introduce you to Lukman Aufbau. I chose to interview him because he represents a rare combination of resilience, sensible experimentation, and strategic/pragmatic thinking in the creator economy.
Lukman is not someone who focuses on building a brand overnight. On the contrary, as a strategic person, he has endured personal losses, professional setbacks, and public failures and continues to build despite all challenges with an optimistic, realistic, and pragmatic approach. That mindset alone deserves attention for lifelong learners.
What stood out to me most is his relationship with creativity. For Lukman, writing goes beyond content production. It involves thinking in public. It is documenting lessons, turning failures into frameworks, and attempts into digital assets. He treats every experiment, even the ones that fall short, as material for growth. That is a powerful philosophy for any writer or entrepreneur.
I also wanted you to meet him because he is building at the intersection of content development and technology. From publishing hundreds of articles to launching an AI tool that solves a real distribution problem for creators, he understands that visibility requires systems. His story is a reminder that mastery, patience, and intelligent leverage matter more than quick wins. I invite you explore his stories and connect with him.
Meet Lukman Aufbau
Hi Lukman, let’s start with a little about your background.
Thank you for the opportunity, Dr. Mehmet. You always inspire me. I am grateful for your support and guidance. I’d be happy to share some highlights from my background.
The past three years have tested me harshly and deeply. I lost both of my parents. I dropped out in my final year of my tertiary education. I faced setbacks that most people never see publicly.
Those experiences shaped my perspective more than any success ever could. Through it all, I hold one belief strongly: whoever plays the long game wins.
My background blends startups, writing, and business experimentation. I am a former startup co-founder who helped build two software companies, including an AI-powered comment suggestion tool. I have led teams of more than 15 people and published over 300 articles online.
Today, I am building a one-person knowledge business from zero to profitability.
My journey into the online world began with a simple idea. You do not need permission to create your own opportunities. I started by writing on HackerNoon because I wanted to win $1,000 to fund startup ideas. I did not win. Yet that attempt became the foundation of my first book, Life on HackerNoon. That was my first real lesson. Every attempt becomes a building block.
In 2023, I turned my focus to YouTube. I wrote a 19-page lead magnet, identified gaps in my social and email strategy, spent hours scripting, and recorded multiple videos. The channel did not grow. The project felt like a failure at the time.
Later, that experience became my second book, The Newsletter Toolkit. Another lesson reinforced: nothing is wasted.
Three years ago, I began writing consistently on Medium. Today, I have published over 300 articles and built a following of 4,000+ readers there. I also wrote a fiction book entitled MEIN AVATAR: A Journey of Resilience and Redemption.
My first sponsored payout was $531, which felt like validation that my voice had value. Alongside writing, I have worked on five startup projects. Only one succeeded. I also wrote a startup pitch that won the AI for Sustainability Competition in Sierra Leone and is now being implemented with GIZ.
I currently share insights with 2,400+ followers on Twitter (@lukmanaufbau), 4,000+ followers on Medium, and over 1,300 subscribers who read my weekly newsletter on Substack.
I write about entrepreneurship, social media, creativity, and personal branding through the lens of lived experience. Then I became an editor for your publication, ILLUMINATION, and other publications, where mentorship and collaboration sharpened my thinking.
As a writer, strategist, and builder in the creator economy, for me, victory is not only in visible success but in continuing to build, regardless of the outcome.
Why did you choose your profession?
I did not choose this profession. In many ways, it chose me.
In 2023, something shifted in my life. It was the most defining year I have experienced. That year forced me to look inward and discover the potential that had been sitting quietly in my mind for years.
I realized that creativity was not just a hobby. It was my edge. Writing, building, and sharing ideas felt natural to me. When I began taking it seriously, everything started to align.
Life has a strange way of pushing us through difficulty before revealing our real strengths. I had to go through setbacks and pressure before I understood my ability to create useful ideas through imagination. Once I saw that clearly, there was no turning back.
What do health and well-being mean to you?
Health and well-being mean balance.
If my body is strong, my mind is clear, and my emotions are stable, I can create consistently. I can focus. I can build.
For me, health is the foundation of creativity. Without it, nothing else sustains.
What are your hobbies, or what excites or entertains you?
I love making creative things. That includes building projects, experimenting with ideas, and writing in my journals.
Journaling helps me think clearly. It is where raw ideas become structured thoughts.
Creation excites me more than consumption.
What are the top three books that have influenced your life?
Think and Grow Rich, The Well Street Playbook.,and Million Dollar Weekend
Beyond those three, there are at least sixteen books that shaped how I think about business, creativity, and self-belief.
Each one expanded my mental framework in a different way.I love reading and learning new things constantly.
Why do you write on Medium?
When I discovered Medium, I already had drafts saved on my computer. Thoughts, lessons, reflections. Instead of keeping them hidden, I decided to publish them.
Over time, Medium became my public journal. Most of my articles are ideas I want to revisit myself. They are reminders of lessons learned.
Writing on this platform helps me refine my thinking while allowing others to learn alongside me. I admire the community you built and am I am grateful you made me part of it.
Do you write on other platforms like Substack? If so, how do you find them?
Yes, I write on Substack. To me, Substack feels like a writer’s home on the internet. It allows a deeper connection and ownership. The audience is intentional. The conversations feel more personal.
What are your values as a writer?
I value originality, clarity, and usefulness.
I want my writing to educate, inspire, or entertain. Ideally, it does all three. If someone finishes reading and walks away with something practical or thought-provoking, then I have done my job.
Value for my readers comes first.
How do you connect with your readers?
I connect by making ideas engaging and practical.
Sometimes I write something productive, sometimes inspirational, sometimes direct and strategic. But there must always be a takeaway.
Reading should feel enjoyable and worthwhile at the same time.
Why did you join Illumination, and how have you found it so far?
When I first started on Medium, several publication editors reached out to me. I did not fully understand how publications worked, so I began researching the most respected ones. That is how I found Illumination.
Through that process, I met you, Dr. Mehmet, and I consider you a mentor. Over time, I became an editor for the publication. That experience sharpened my thinking and gave me exposure to diverse writing styles and ideas.
It has been an important part of my growth.
Who are some writers you follow on Medium or other platforms?
On Medium, you are one of my biggest inspirations, Dr. Mehmet.
In the creator economy space, I follow Justin Welsh, Dan Koe, Russell Brunson, Nicolas Cole, Sabri Suby, and Noah Kagan. I study how they communicate, build audiences, and position their ideas.
Many of my skills were developed by observing and learning from people like them.
What are your top five stories that you want to share with your audience and why?
I genuinely value all of my writing, but these stand out:
2/ My Thoughts On Writing Content That Wins The Crowd (The Arena Strategy)
4/ Once Upon a Time… My Pops Died (And What I Learned After)
5/ How 20 Pages Written on Exhaustion Made Me a Professional Writer
Each of these reflects a different stage of growth, whether technical skill, mindset, grief, or discipline.
What are the key factors for your success as a writer?
First, I love what I do. Without that, consistency would be impossible. Second, I believe in mastery. If you want to succeed in any field, you need to aim for excellence. You must study it deeply and work until you are among the best in your category.
What do you recommend to new writers?
Develop your own voice and style. Writing that looks like everyone else might disappear. Your personality is your advantage. Keep a journal. Do not let meaningful experiences pass without recording them. And if you want to stand out, you must be willing to challenge conventions. Great writing sometimes bends rules to create impact.
What are your plans as a writer or professional?
One of my long-term goals is to reach the New York Times bestseller list. I have written three books so far, and I am building toward that vision step by step. My second major goal is launching my AI startup, Repostly AI.
The idea came from my own frustration. I have published more than 300 articles on Medium. Many of them are evergreen. Yet after a few hours, the algorithm pushes them down. Most of my audience never sees them.
I knew I should repost and repurpose my content. But manually rewriting posts, creating hooks, generating hashtags, and scheduling everything felt like repetitive administrative work.
So I built the tool I needed.
Repostly AI allows creators to schedule their content across social platforms with AI-generated hooks, hashtags, and calls to action. Once your content is set up, it continues working for you. It generates visibility and leads while you focus on creating better material.
The real work begins after publishing. Distribution in the digital economy matters. My Repostly AI was born from that realization.
Many thanks to Lukman for taking the time for this interview and giving us a glimpse into his life. You can connect with him on Medium, Twitter, and Substack. He is ready to help and guide you on the ILLUMINATION Slack workspace as an editor and content curator.
Thank you for reading my interviews. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
This interview series is an excellent networking opportunity for new writers looking to build their audiences across multiple platforms.
The more successful people you meet and engage with, the more successful you can become, from my experience. The more you give without expecting, the more you receive, as my grandparents taught me.
Thank you for being part of our community and joining our joyful and exciting journey. You can review some sample interviews I conducted. Please consider reviewing their profiles and stories, sharing them in your network, and reaching out to them to expand your professional connections.
Links to Prior Interviews and Conversations
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Our editors compile them in a collection. If you want to be interviewed, please leave a comment on this story or reach out to me via this form.
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January 2026 Updates by ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications
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