Having 1Million Subscribers & Walking Away - Zac and Jay Podcast
Leaving YouTube
In this section, the speaker explains why he is leaving YouTube and how he feels about it.
Feeling Burnout
- The speaker is leaving YouTube for a bit because there was no joy or energy in life.
- He felt like he was having to force excitement and energy in his videos.
- The view count on his videos kept going down, making him feel like he was chasing something that would never come back.
Moving On
- The speaker will not be seen on the channel again.
- He plans to start a podcast with the interviewer to catch up personally and professionally.
Catching Up
In this section, the interviewer catches up with the speaker and asks him what he has been up to since leaving YouTube.
Life After YouTube
- The speaker summarizes the last 14 months as crazy.
- He went to Mexico for two and a half months but did not enjoy traveling that much.
- He realized that everything he had worked for wasn't doing anything for him.
I apologize, but I cannot summarize the transcript as there are many parts of the conversation that are unclear and have missing words. Additionally, there are no clear sections or topics discussed in the transcript that can be used to create a structured markdown file. If you have any specific questions or requests for information from the transcript, please let me know and I will do my best to assist you.
The Perishable Nature of Knowledge
In this section, the speaker talks about how knowledge in the digital space is highly perishable and how he has doubled down on it. He also talks about how entrepreneurship has been an escape for him.
Pursuing a Perishable Business Idea
- Knowledge in the digital space is highly perishable.
- Demand for knowledge is growing while supply is small.
- The speaker doubled down on his knowledge and started pursuing a business idea partnering creators with someone else in the NFT and web 3 space.
- Entrepreneurship has been an escape for the speaker.
Fail Fast Mentality
In this section, the speaker talks about his fail-fast mentality and how he uses entrepreneurship to run away from himself.
Running Away from Oneself
- The speaker doesn't mess around when he sees an opportunity.
- Entrepreneurship has been used by the speaker as an escape mechanism to run away from himself.
- Society rewards hard work even if one doesn't feel like working or lacks motivation.
- Pursuing a business idea took over the speaker's life, causing anxiety and sleeplessness.
Finding Balance
In this section, the speaker talks about finding balance between chasing success and enjoying life.
Enjoying Life While Chasing Success
- The pursuit of success can be all-consuming, leaving no room for enjoyment of life.
- The speaker realized that he didn't want to spend his whole life just chasing after something.
- The speaker is now focused on finding balance and enjoying what he does.
The Importance of Obsession
In this section, the speaker talks about how he and his friend were obsessed with creating content for their YouTube channel. They would analyze videos from successful creators and chat with them to learn more.
Obsession Leads to Success
- The speaker emphasizes that they were fully obsessed with creating content for their YouTube channel.
- Companies are starting to realize the value of having a large subscriber base on YouTube.
- The speaker is currently working with a 100 million dollar company that spends 100k per month on YouTube.
- He sent a report to the CEO of the company, which led to him being hired as a consultant.
Success Requires Belief
- The speaker believes that success requires belief in oneself and one's ideas.
- He shares an example of how he came up with a YouTube idea while hungover on his auntie's sofa and ended up getting hired by a 100 million dollar company.
- He sent over a three-page report on everything the company was doing wrong, which led to him being hired without any discussion of price.
Consulting Success Stories
- The speaker charges 10k per month for consulting services and has already had success stories with clients.
- One client saw a significant increase in views and AdSense revenue after implementing the speaker's recommendations.
Overall, this section highlights the importance of obsession and belief in achieving success. It also showcases some examples of how consulting can be lucrative if done correctly.
Finding Happiness in Life and Business
In this section, the speaker talks about his journey to finding happiness in life and business. He shares how he had to rewire his brain and attitude towards life to achieve this.
Rewiring Your Brain for Success
- The speaker shares how he had to make peace with his anxiety instead of fighting it.
- He realized that he didn't feel enough in life and was chasing big things that would make him feel more.
- The speaker emphasizes the need to realign one's focus on what they have in life rather than what they lack.
- He advises taking little steps towards achieving one's goals.
Poverty vs. Privilege
- The speaker reflects on his experience learning Spanish in Mexico while paying $10 an hour for lessons.
- He acknowledges the different levels of poverty around the world and highlights how lucky people are in developed countries like the UK.
- The speaker encourages people to take advantage of their privilege by experiencing life rather than just chasing material success.
Emotional Growth
- The speaker shares how he emotionally closed off after his dad left when he was younger.
- He found solace in entrepreneurship where he could put on a facade of energy and excitement at business events.
Overall, the speaker emphasizes the importance of finding happiness within oneself rather than relying on external factors such as money or success.
Introduction
The speaker talks about his experience during a taster day and how he was the only one who volunteered to call people in Finland. He also discusses his struggle with entrepreneurship and whether he is creating things for himself or to hide from himself.
Taster Day Experience
- Speaker describes the awkwardness of the taster day.
- Speaker recalls being the only one who volunteered to call people in Finland without hesitation, highlighting his confidence and energy.
- Speaker talks about having pent-up entrepreneurship energy that he had to let go of during the course.
Struggle with Entrepreneurship
- Speaker questions whether he is creating things for himself or hiding from himself.
- Speaker reflects on setting ambitious goals and feeling trapped by them.
- Speaker identifies his values as freedom, adventure, and purpose.
Realization
- Speaker realizes that he wants to feel free while pursuing his purpose.
- Speaker narrows down his goals to working three days a week and feeling free with extra time.
Pursuing Freedom
The speaker discusses how he wants to pursue freedom while still applying himself towards building things that excite him and add value to the world.
Pursuing Freedom
- Speaker emphasizes wanting to feel free while pursuing purpose.
- Speaker acknowledges having many freedoms but not feeling free due to focusing on what he doesn't have.
- Speaker reflects on living out his goals currently by working three days a week and feeling free with extra time.
Applying Himself
- Speaker expresses his desire to apply himself towards building things that excite him and add value to the world.
- Speaker reflects on the realization that he is already free and can give himself permission to work hard towards his goals.
Focus on Monetary Success
In this section, the speaker talks about his focus on monetary success and how it has affected him.
Monetary Success as a Priority
- The speaker has always had a focus on monetary success.
- He realized that he was not feeling good despite achieving success with the Zack and Jay show.
- He started focusing on achieving more success, such as millions of subscribers and millions of dollars.
- The speaker emphasizes that achieving happiness is not just about making one decision but rather a journey.
Making Big Decisions
In this section, the speaker talks about making big decisions and how having options can make them easier.
Making Big Decisions
- Having options can make big decisions easier to make.
- The speaker looked at his decision to leave the Zack and Jay show quite rigidly at first.
- He realized that there was a middle ground between the best-case scenario of becoming a billionaire with the show and the worst-case scenario of being a failure.
- Leaving the Zack and Jay show meant losing everything they had worked hard for, including their brand, business operations, emotional support from each other, and business strategy.
Moving On After Leaving Zack And Jay Show
In this section, the speaker talks about moving on after leaving Zack and Jay Show.
Moving On After Leaving Zack And Jay Show
- The past 12 months have been tough for both speakers in terms of dealing with issues related to the show.
- The speaker emphasizes that his decision to leave was not due to drama but rather a need to figure out his own happiness and fulfillment.
- He needed to sort out his life before deciding whether or not to continue with the show.
Creating a Vision for the Business
In this section, the speaker talks about creating a vision for the business and how it was difficult to get his partner on board.
Difficulty in Creating a Plan
- The speaker and his partner tried to come up with a one-year plan, three-year plan, and five-year plan.
- The speaker's partner had a blank expression and did not contribute much to the planning process.
- The speaker remained hopeful that his partner would come back after taking some time off.
Coping with Partner's Departure
In this section, the speaker talks about coping with his partner's departure from the business.
Stagnation of Channel
- After January when they stopped paying his salary, the speaker realized he needed to make a decision about what to do next.
- The speaker put himself second and made the call to continue without his partner but felt like he was festering creatively.
- He struggled with figuring out what kind of content to create without his partner.
Lack of Strategic Thinking
- The speaker admits that during this period he wasn't being strategic in terms of content creation.
- He was just going out and filming whatever interested him at the time without any underlying strategy.
Moving Forward After Rebranding
In this section, the speaker talks about feeling free after rebranding and resolving issues with his partner.
Freedom After Rebranding
- The speaker feels a level of freedom after renaming the channel and resolving issues with his partner.
- There was a dark cloud surrounding their relationship that made it hard to chat as friends, but they were able to resolve it.
Conclusion
- The speaker admits that he struggled during this period but feels good about everything now.
The Toughest Conversations
In this section, Zac and Jay discuss the difficulties they faced when trying to move on from the Zac and Jay show.
Difficulty Letting Go
- Zac struggled with letting go of the Zac and Jay show.
- Jay realized that unless Zac was fully committed, he couldn't have him on board.
- Zac wanted to explore other ways they could work together.
Tough Times
- During this time, Zac was going through a breakup and a business launch that wasn't going well.
- When he realized Jay's mom was visiting, he stopped replying because he felt guilty for negotiating terms while she was there.
Uncertainty
- There was mounting frustration about building a brand that might not exist in a few months.
- Zac lost confidence in his ability to create content and experiment publicly.
- One of their biggest assets was their willingness to experiment with new ideas.
The Emotional Side of Running a YouTube Channel
In this section, the speakers discuss the emotional toll of running a YouTube channel and the financial pressure that comes with it.
Emotional Uncertainty
- Both speakers were in places of extreme uncertainty and not in the best head spaces.
- Running a YouTube channel can be horrible when things are not looking good and you're all alone.
Financial Pressure
- The financial pressure is real, especially when there are commitments, costs, and employees to pay.
- The studio was an expensive rebound project that added to the financial stress.
- Seeing money go down every month is a horrible feeling.
- When everything's on you, you feel bad but need to feel good to start doing great work.
Resilience
- Building resilience is important because it's never plain sailing.
- Remembering high points during low points helps build resilience.
- Low points are never too far away from high points.
Misconceptions About YouTubers' Finances
In this section, the speakers talk about misconceptions people have about YouTubers' finances.
Financial Success Assumptions
- People assume that YouTubers are millionaires and financially successful.
- Financial success is not always guaranteed even if a channel has had some great results.
Overcoming Creative Blocks
In this section, the speakers discuss how they overcome creative blocks during times of uncertainty.
Expensive Ideas
- Sometimes big videos take six weeks or more to produce at a cost of 15 grand or more.
- It can be emotionally draining when everything is on you and you can't come up with a good idea.
Overcoming Creative Blocks
- To overcome creative blocks, it's important to keep trying and not give up.
- It's important to remember that high points are never too far away from low points.
- Turning around videos may feel like a long time when losing 10 grand a month, but it's not that long.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
In this section, the speaker discusses how to overcome self-doubt and gain confidence.
Dealing with Fear and Self-Doubt
- The fear response triggers self-doubt.
- Welcome self-doubt and stop playing with it.
- Use a truth ladder to challenge negative thoughts.
Gaining Confidence
- Gain confidence by doing things.
- Force yourself to create content even when you don't feel like it.
Handling Business Disputes as Friends
In this section, the speaker talks about how he and his friend handled a business dispute without falling out.
Resolving Business Disputes
- Purchasing shares from a friend can be difficult.
- Communication is key in resolving disputes.
- Avoid involving lawyers until necessary.
- Empathy for each other's perspectives is important.
Emotional Relief
- Relief after resolving the dispute was emotional.
- Clear communication is important but can take time.
Realizations about Video Making
In this section, the speaker talks about his realization that he needs to focus on what the audience wants to see and not just what he enjoys making. He also discusses how he is experimenting with new concepts and taking more time to create intentional videos.
Focusing on Audience Needs
- The speaker realized that they were not always thinking about what would be best for the audience when creating videos.
- He had an epiphany while making a paparazzi video that he needed to consider who his audience was and what they wanted to see.
- The speaker is still in the discovery phase of figuring out what he wants to do and what he can offer the audience.
Taking More Time for Intentional Videos
- The speaker is taking more time with his videos, replaying intros and context-setting sections repeatedly.
- He is focusing on quality over quantity, going back to basics, and putting more effort into thumbnails.
- Thumbnails are now an art form, with full-day shoots dedicated solely to creating them.
A Crazy Drug in Colombia
In this section, the speaker talks about a drug called Scopolamine or Devil's Dust that Vice did a documentary on in 2012. He shares a story of someone who was drugged by it after inviting a Tinder date over.
Scopolamine or Devil's Dust
- The drug Scopolamine or Devil's Dust is prevalent in Colombia and has been featured in a Vice documentary.
- It causes people to become highly suggestible without realizing they have taken anything.
- The speaker believes it has gotten worse since the documentary was made.
A Story of Being Drugged
- The speaker shares a story of someone who invited a Tinder date over and was drugged with Scopolamine.
- He woke up the next day with his phone and camera lenses missing, but his laptop was still there.
The Dangers of Devil's Dust in Colombia
In this section, the speakers discuss the dangers of Devil's Dust, a dangerous drug that is prevalent in Colombia. They also talk about potential video ideas related to the topic.
The Dangers of Devil's Dust
- The drug is highly addictive and can be deadly.
- There are various ways to consume it, including blowing it in the face or putting it in drinks.
- The speakers discuss potential video ideas related to the topic, including exploring the rise of Devil's Dust and ways to avoid it.
Potential Video Ideas
- One idea involves exploring the rise of Devil's Dust with two sex workers on either side for a thumbnail.
- Another idea involves trying Devil's Dust for 24 hours and documenting its effects.
- However, the speakers acknowledge that these videos could be dangerous and not sustainable as viral content.
Building a Successful YouTube Channel
In this section, the speakers discuss their approach to building a successful YouTube channel and their plans for growth.
Approach to Building a Successful Channel
- The speaker is intentional with every video that goes out and focuses on creative packaging, titles, and thumbnails.
- They aim for consistency but have learned from past mistakes about focusing too much on subscriber goals.
- They prioritize telling interesting stories that engage viewers.
Plans for Growth
- The speaker has hired a producer who will help with organization and big-picture thinking.
- They plan to execute more amazing ideas and tell great stories to grow the channel and revenue.
Simplifying the Business Model
In this section, the speaker talks about his business model and how he plans to simplify it. He discusses his team size, creative individuals, and brand deals.
Simplified Business Model
- The speaker wants to have a small core team of effective creative individuals.
- He does not aspire to grow the team to 10+ members anymore.
- The goal is to continue making great videos with a sick core team.
- The speaker believes that having a team with energy, know-how, and systems in place will make them one of the best creators in the UK.
- One of their biggest frustrations was not being able to execute amazing ideas due to lack of means or methodology.
- They never had someone who could lay an order and methodology behind getting things done.
- The speaker wants to take the pressure off uploading as much as possible, earning as much money as possible, and doing too many brand deals.
- He submitted a brief for a brand deal but took liberties with it so that it's obvious he's just doing it for the team's pay and keeping more videos coming.
- At present, his market rate is lower than it should be because brands take into account only the last 10 average views.
- He has secured one brand deal per month until Christmas but plans on doubling his price by January.
Freedom in Creating Videos
In this section, the speaker talks about taking pressure off himself when it comes to creating videos and how he plans on growing his channel.
Freedom in Creating Videos
- The speaker wants to take the pressure off himself when it comes to uploading as much as possible, earning as much money as possible, and doing too many brand deals.
- He feels a great relief in allowing himself that freedom for at least the next 12 months.
- The goal is to 3x the views by spending two months figuring out what the channel needs.
- The beauty of YouTube is that the sky's the limit, and creators can raise the bar on what they're doing.
YouTube Success and Freedom
In this section, the speakers discuss the success of various YouTubers and how they balance consistency with creative freedom.
Balancing Consistency and Creative Freedom
- James Johnny gained 100k subscribers from one video after a six-month hiatus. He has only uploaded 18 videos but has 1.18 million subscribers.
- Alex's freedom is limited by his desire for consistency in uploading content.
- The perception of freedom is internal, and it can be challenging to feel free about one's situation.
- Matt Uber Butler is perceived as an enigma externally, but he desires to upload more content that he cares about.
Reframing Thoughts
In this section, the speakers discuss how to reframe negative thoughts into positive ones and how it affects happiness.
Reframing Negative Thoughts
- Most people think "I'll be happy if/when," but it's better to think "I'm going to be happy even though."
- The speaker tries to reframe "I have to" with "I get to" for a brand deal script.
- Reframing negative thoughts can help feel gratefulness.
Money and Happiness
- Money amplifies how you already feel. If you're happy, money makes you happier. If not, money makes you less happy.
- Having money can make one feel like a fraud if they thought they would be happy once they had it.
Coming Into Money and Fame
In this section, the speakers discuss what it's like coming into money for the first time in life and what fame is like when it happens.
Effects of Money on Happiness
- Money amplifies how one already feels.
- Coming into money can make one feel less happy if they thought they would be happy once they had it.
What Fame Is Like
- The speakers will answer what coming into money for the first time in life is like and what fame is like together.
- No further content related to this topic was discussed in the transcript.
Travel Experience
In this section, the speakers talk about their travel experience during a trip to Seattle.
Travel Experience in Seattle
- The speakers were in Seattle for 10 days and filmed four videos, including a lemonade stand outside Bill Gates's house.
- They stayed in a mansion overlooking a lake and smoked weed legally.
- Despite the amazing experiences, the speaker felt the best on the last day when they went to an American diner and had pancakes.
Fame and Wealth
The speakers discuss their experiences with fame and wealth, including interactions with fans and the concept of being "rich."
Fame
- The speakers have experienced a low level of fame but still find it weird to get used to.
- They share anecdotes about being recognized by fans in different parts of the world.
- They discuss how fame can make people act awkwardly around them, and how some fans try to take photos or interact with them on the sly.
Wealth
- The speakers talk about how being rich in the UK is relative, and that earning 60k a year could be considered wealthy.
- They note that money and wealth can be a source of insecurity for some people.
- The speakers mention feeling uncomfortable when they notice people staring at them in public places like restaurants.
Interacting with Fans
The speakers discuss their experiences interacting with fans, both positive and negative.
Positive Interactions
- The speakers note that many YouTube viewers feel like they know them personally, which makes it easier to chat with them.
- They share an anecdote about a fan who complimented them while walking behind them in the woods.
Negative Interactions
- The speakers mention feeling uncomfortable when fans try to take photos or interact with them on the sly.
- They also note that some fans stare at them or talk about them without saying hello, which can be awkward.
Reflections on Life and Community
In this section, the speakers reflect on their approach to life and the sense of community they felt through their YouTube channel.
Building a Community
- The speakers express missing the sense of community that came with their YouTube channel.
- They discuss how they touched a lot of people with their approach to life.
- The speakers invite viewers to get involved via Twitter.
Working with Friends
- The speakers discuss working together as friends and how it did not impact their friendship.
- They share stories about spending time together during lockdown.
Travel Stories
In this section, the speaker shares some travel stories from his time away.
A 30-Hour Rave
- The speaker shares a story about attending a 30-hour rave in Medellin.
Responding to Criticism
In this section, the speaker responds to criticism he has received online.
Dealing with Negative Comments
- The speaker discusses how he does not give attention to negative comments.
- He shares an example of responding to a negative comment on Twitter.
Pursuing Unconventional Paths
In this section, the speakers discuss the idea of pursuing unconventional paths and how it was once considered punishable in their hometown.
Pursuing Unconventional Paths
- Pursuing unconventional paths was once considered punishable in their hometown.
- The idea of doing something that wasn't normal was frowned upon.
- A clip of ASAP Rocky is mentioned where he talks about trying new things and how it's cool to do so.
Leaving YouTube
In this section, the speakers talk about leaving YouTube and what it means for their relevance as YouTubers.
Leaving YouTube
- The speaker left YouTube after making it a full-time thing within a year.
- Leaving YouTube doesn't make someone irrelevant as a YouTuber.
Future Plans
In this section, the speakers discuss their future plans and whether they will collaborate on videos again.
Future Plans
- The speaker has been traveling to Colombia and Mexico and has ideas for high-performing videos but hasn't had the freedom to create them yet.
- There is a strong possibility that the speaker will appear on Zack Alsop's channel again in some capacity.
- Both speakers are fulfilled in what they're doing and see light at the end of the tunnel. They're happy for each other's success.
Closing Remarks
In this section, the speakers give closing remarks and thank viewers for watching.
Closing Remarks
- The speakers thank viewers for watching.