The art of perspective on YouTube

Last week I was talking to some friends in the creator space. Very different people, some killers behind the scenes, some big creators we all know. And we talked about perspective. A thing we tend to lose really fast when it comes to YouTube.

Let me ask you a question, and see where you are with your mind:

In what amount of time should you be able to hit 100,000 subscribers?

Really think about it.

Now fill in the closest answer:

Great.

Now I’ll give you the answer most people that have been on YouTube long will tell you.

Because unanimously, everyone that actually achieved something big on YouTube agrees on this:

There is no clear answer.

You see, you can compare becoming a ‘‘creator’’ to becoming a professional MMA fighter. If you would enter the mat for the very first time, and you get schooled by some 45 year old accountant, would you immediately quit?

Or would you realize that it’s your very first time versus someone who’s been doing this for 20+ years?

Exactly. So why do most people that start their YouTube adventure not adapt the same mindset?

On YouTube, just like mixed martial arts, you need to master MANY different components. And even on the highest level, some are better kickers than they are punchers. Some are better wrestlers than they are boxers.

And on YouTube, some creators are naturally better at packaging their videos, and others are naturally better at telling engaging stories. That’s also why NO creator in the world is a master at all aspects that come with being a YouTuber.

Heck, I would admit I am better at telling engaging stories than I am at thumbnail concepts. That’s why you surround yourself with people that help you become an allround creator.

So, how do you at least accelerate your path to whatever goal you set for yourself on YouTube?

You obsess over growth. Not just in numbers, but in skill.

Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: You might be making progress every week without it showing in your analytics.

Your packaging might be getting 10% better.
Your storytelling might be 20% tighter.
Your instinct for pacing might be way ahead of where you were three months ago.

But YouTube doesn’t reward you the moment you improve.

And then, sometimes weeks or even months later, it hits you all at once.

Suddenly, an old video surges. Or a new one breaks through and brings in more subs than the last 10 combined. You finally get that “overnight success” feeling.

But it never was overnight.

All huge creators I work with and speak to have the same patterns: failed channels, failed videos, failed attempts.

But they all knew that someday, it’ll click and all the effort that compounds will pay itself out tenfold.

It was just the lag catching up to the consistency.

So next time you think you’re not growing, ask yourself:

If the answer is yes?

You’re doing just fine.

Don’t quit in the shadows. That’s where the real gains happen.

Keep showing up.

The surge is coming.

See you soon.


💡Ideation: 1of10.com

🖼️Thumbnail A/B testing: thumbnailtest.com

• Leroy