An $863.43 Coin-Toss
Plus - the best advice we've ever received ~6 minute read
We’re back! Missed ya’ll 🤠
From Vidcon to banger longform videos to habit-changing hacks, we’ve got a log packed full of value.
If you’re reading this, thanks for being here. Saddle up, let’s ride!
Despite how inevitable change is, it’s not always an easy thing to initiate on your own. Of course, we change naturally over time - we grow up, our likes and dislikes may modify, we learn new things, meet new people, etc. But something about changing your habits continues to challenge everyone - even you, and even me.
Luckily for us, James Clear penned Atomic Habits to solve these problems. In his book, he details a myriad of methods and tactics to effectively create lasting behavior change, starting with the habits you already have.
In his “Four Laws of Behavior Change,” Clear lists four actionable things you can do to change the unchangeable in your life.
Make it Obvious: Make the cues of good habits obvious in your environment.
Make it Attractive: Use temptation bundling and make the habit something you look forward to.
Make it Easy: Reduce the friction to perform the habit and create an environment where doing the right things is as easy as possible.
Make it Satisfying: The human brain is wired to repeat satisfying actions. Immediate rewards are more effective than delayed rewards.
These are the changes that I made to change the habit of going to bed and waking up late.
Making this change in habit obvious meant having a consistent bedtime routine that signals it's time to sleep. This included actions such as brushing my teeth, reading a book, or dimming the lights.
Making this change in habit attractive came in the form of associating me waking up early with positive experiences, like having ample time to make myself a nourishing breakfast, go on a walk, or create a space of calm before the day unfolds.
Making this change in habit easy is to prepare an easy morning routine the night before. Decide on your breakfast beforehand, lay out your clothes, do anything and everything to remove as much “decision delay” as possible.
And finally, making it satisfying comes in the form of rewarding yourself for your progress. One of the best rewards to waking up early for five or six days out of the week is to allow yourself to sleep in on the seventh.
Remember - habits and behaviors change not through a magical list some guy with a cool name came up with. It comes through consistency, repetition, and showing up with a positive mindset.
In order to change, you have to want to change. So how bad do you want it?
Unfinished Chronicles
LWG: Build presentations for course on digital mindfulness ✅
NWG: Begin filming the course 💪
Beginning to make a lot of headway on this project! It’s becoming something I’m really passionate about, which is a nice thing to feel. I leave for a two-week-long Europe trip in about a week and a half, and I’d like to make a sizable dent in things before I go. Time to work!
No one has the right to tell you what you are.
I’m sure most of you stand by this already - but we’re actually micro-influenced more often than we think. Last week, I had the pleasure of lunch with Creator Now founders Zack Honarvar and Kate Ward. While every word out of their mouths was insightful, Zack gave me one piece of advice that stuck with me.
Do your own critical thinking, or someone will do it for you.
Understand your brand. Really, truly, deeply, know who you are, what you make, and why you make it. That time spent being critical of your decisions is valuable when shiny, powerful people come along and try put words in your mouth.
YouTube-wise, I’ve had a great 2023. Six months, thirteen million views.
But here’s where I went wrong – I thought those numbers were my brand. The small guy, with big views. Unknowingly, I’d put too much thought into whether a video does well as opposed to its satisfaction.
You’re not in control of every little thing that happens to you. In fact, you’re not in control of most things. Frequently, moments will occur that’ll seduce you into straying off course. Maybe a friend will suggest something. A brand will demand something. Or, a project you’re proud of doesn’t make the impact you hoped for.
So when our Drew Barrymore video “flopped”, I quickly had to unlearn that toxic mindset. Suddenly, I risked compromising the charm of the channel over how the project made me feel. “The next one has to be a hit,” I said. “Whatever it takes.”
And while we’ll still always hope for that, it’ll be on my terms. Maybe it’s not a growth mindset. But it is a sustainability mindset.
Zack and Kate unearthed a feeling that’s not been top-of-mind for too long now – that I’d still be making this stuff even if only I could see them. I’m still new, still learning, but my story is growing clearer to me. Don’t let anything steer you off that.
Unfinished Chronicles
Previous week’s goal: receive a few test edits, have initial brainstorm for July video packaging ✅
Next week’s goal: finish edit assembly for the Keanu doc, upload a short
Thanks to everyone who applied for the shorts position. We saw some really cool edits. In other news, the Keanu Reeves documentary is chugging along steadily. It was a mammoth of a research and story task, but we know there’s something beautiful here. Maybe even the definitive piece of Keanu content. See you there in a couple weeks.
$863.43. That was the total cost of my 4 day trip to Vidcon 2023.
The crazy part is, when booking tickets, I didn’t think twice about spending that money. It was a no-brainer.
$863.43 is a ton of money, don’t get me wrong, but I now follow a simple rule: anytime there’s a chance of an asymmetric opportunity, jump on it.
Vidcon is just talking. Talking to creators, industries, fans… so much talking that you legitimately get sick of humans by the last day. Most conversations don’t amount to anything, you’ll forget the person you just talked to, and it’ll feel like a waste of time.
However, just like a needle in a haystack, there will be a conversation or two or three that will present you with so much value, it makes up for everything else. This year, it was learning from the great mind of Michelle Khare, having a productive talk with the Director of Monetization at YouTube and the Global Head of Talent at Meta (even got their numbers which is crazy!)
In my eyes, making videos is only half the job of a creator. The other half is feeling the pulse of this industry. What are the YouTube employees focusing on this year? How about the digital agents and managers? What new funds are creators arbitraging and what new strategies are there today? It’s these nuggets of information that can change the trajectory of your career.
Asymmetric opportunities: when the magnitude of the upside in a decision outweighs the downside. It’s always a gamble but a worthy one.
Vidcon for $863.43? Easy.
Unfinished Chronicles
Next week's goal: Be in the edit of my next video (aiming to come out on July 16th).
Been a minute OW! Went to Vidcon, then Japan, and then came home early at the last second to help Ryan finish his penny series!! I’m sleep deprived, exhausted, but extremely happy. So much love on the new YouTube videos, I’ve never had so much clarity on what my next year looks like. Onto the next!
Just back! It´s been a minute... Love to see you guys! More incredible content on its way, right?