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What It Takes to Succeed Long-Term in the Adult Industry with Goddess Lilith

SWCEO Interviews Goddess Lilith

Blog Post Written By: MelRose Michaels

Are you an adult content creator looking to build a long-lasting, profitable career in a constantly changing industry? Whether you're just starting out or scaling a six-figure empire, learning from those who’ve mastered longevity, pivoting, and personal branding is the ultimate shortcut to success.


In a recent Twitter Space conversation, MelRose Michaels sits down with dominatrix, entrepreneur, and legacy performer Goddess Lilith, who shares her 25+ years of experience navigating the adult industry, from pioneering live camming in the ‘90s to launching talent agencies and femdom awards, unpacking the mindset, mistakes, and business strategy behind building a sustainable brand as an adult creator.



MelRose Michaels: Welcome back to On the Horizon. I'm MelRose Michaels, and I'm here to share what’s worked for me in building my adult creator business to make building yours a little easier. Today’s guest is not just a veteran of the adult industry, she is the industry.


Welcome, Goddess Lilith!


Goddess Lilith: Thank you! I’m honored to be here. I'm a huge fan of your work and really looking forward to this conversation.


MelRose Michaels: We’ve crossed paths at conferences, but never had a real deep dive like this. I’m so glad we get to do this in a recorded format. Let’s start at the beginning. How did you get into the industry, and what pulled you in?

Goddess Lilith: I’ve always been a performer. I started a band in high school and loved being in the spotlight. When webcams were just emerging, I read about early 24/7 cam girls. They had static image feeds in their homes. I was fascinated. It spoke to both my love for exhibitionism and artistic expression. Soon, I had webcams all over my house with my own little tech server setup. It felt freeing, even to sleep on camera.


From there, the industry unfolded naturally. I was a goth kid frequenting clubs, and it wasn’t long before I was doing kinky content shoots, foot modeling, femdom, and go-go dancing.


MelRose Michaels: I love that! I go-go danced too, so I definitely relate. What stands out is how much you consider this an art form, which people outside the industry often overlook. What do you say to those who don’t see this work as creative?


Goddess Lilith: If you don’t see it as art, you’re probably not very artistic yourself. People more mathematically or logistically inclined might miss the creativity involved. And once content gets "spicy," folks seem to dismiss the effort behind it. But what we do takes planning, vision, energy, and emotional input. That’s art.


MelRose Michaels: Exactly. And yet so many creators struggle with burnout. You’ve had a long, evolving career. How have you stayed in the game?


Goddess Lilith: I’m stubborn, driven, and I genuinely love performing. I went in knowing it’s not an overnight success. Resilience has been key, bouncing back from challenges quickly. I also love exploring new tech, which keeps things interesting. Over time, I’ve leaned into education and mentoring, which added purpose beyond just creating content.


MelRose Michaels: You're clearly someone with a lot going on. How do you filter opportunities and learn to say no?


Goddess Lilith: That was hard at first. I think a lot of creators have trouble saying no, we’re often ADHD, neurospicy, and easily excited. But you can’t chase everything. I practice saying no, even with roleplay. And I delegate tasks that drain me. For instance, I’m not a huge fan of OnlyFans, but I delegate the work because it's important to my revenue.


MelRose Michaels: Yes, delegation is a game-changer. You've also transitioned from performer to entrepreneur, talent agency, kink events, and affiliate marketing. Was there a turning point?


Goddess Lilith: It was gradual. At first, I wasn’t thinking of it as a business; it was fun, and I made money. But I realized I was an entrepreneur. Multiple income streams became my obsession, especially passive ones. Affiliate marketing, for example, has been huge. Even just putting referral links on my site led to recurring income.


From there, I started producing events because I love logistics and hosting. It led to the Femdom Awards and managing creators. It’s demanding, but deeply fulfilling.


MelRose Michaels: You’re on the other side now, running a business and managing talent. What should creators know before stepping into management roles?


Goddess Lilith: Expect to herd cats. Creators often value flexibility, which means not everyone sticks to schedules. Always have backup plans. When vetting potential partners or clients, watch for red flags: online drama, inconsistent content, or people telling you outright that they’re disorganized, believe them. Don’t waste your energy where it’s not valued.


MelRose Michaels: You mentioned emotional labor. How do you manage that, especially balancing performance and your personal life?


Goddess Lilith: In the beginning, I didn’t separate myself from my persona. I wish I had. Now, I use little rituals to remind myself when I’m “on,” like turning on a streaming light. I also unplug regularly, once a month, I go off the grid. And I take real vacations with downtime built in. You need to protect your energy, especially when your work is so public-facing.


MelRose Michaels: I love that. I don’t really believe in traditional work-life balance either, it’s different for everyone. But stepping away, even briefly, always resets your energy. You’ve mentioned how you’re a systems person. Same here. I even pay my team in ways that force me to stay disciplined.


Goddess Lilith: Yes, I’ve done the same! Hiring help was scary at first, but now it motivates me. When I’m paying someone and not delivering, it’s like throwing money away. It’s helped me stay organized and keep things moving forward.


MelRose Michaels: Let’s talk visibility. You’ve got a YouTube channel, a podcast coming, and so much more. What drives your desire to teach and share?


Goddess Lilith: People have always come to me for advice. Especially during and after the pandemic, women asked how to start in the industry. I’ve seen how empowering this work can be, especially for those escaping tough situations. I believe in putting out positive, helpful energy. Plus, I’ve been told I’m good at it! The messages I get from people I’ve helped mean everything.


MelRose Michaels: You really have built this on your terms. If you could go back to the beginning, what advice would you give yourself?


Goddess Lilith: Treat it like a business from day one. Get your bookkeeping in order early. So many creators don’t realize how much they can write off or how different self-employment taxes are. Now we have tools like AI and communities like yours, use them.


MelRose Michaels: That’s always my advice, too! I had no idea what I was doing with taxes when I started. Thank you for being here. Can you plug in where people can find you?


Goddess Lilith: Absolutely!

If you're ready to dive into streaming or fan platforms, I'm here to help.


MelRose Michaels: Goddess Lilith, this was phenomenal. Thank you for your time, your wisdom, and your energy.



Some parts of the above interview have been condensed or edited for clarity. For the full interview, listen to the entire podcast episode here


Find Goddess Lilith on X


P.S. Loved this conversation? 🎙️ There’s plenty more where that came from! Head over to our YouTube channel for more in-depth interviews, inspiring stories, and fresh insights from amazing guests.



Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the interview are those of the guest speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SexWorkCEO or MelRose Michaels. Anything said or written is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone else.



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