After Two Weeks
It’s been two weeks today since I launched this website, my YouTube Channel, and my other social media accounts. It’s been an eventful time, and I have learned much in that short period. Here is an update on how it is going and some insights you might glean from my experience.
On September 5th, the day after Labor Day, I unleashed the world onto my new venture. I had no idea what to expect or how people would react. It was completely uncharted territory for me and offered an authentic growth experience. I must admit I had anxiety and doubt as I clicked the publish button. Since that button click, I have gained a small but growing following.
Setting Expectations, Or Not
It would certainly be nice to have become an overnight success with hundreds or thousands of subscribers, but that takes a lot of luck and a suitable set of circumstances. I knew going into this that it would take a lot of effort and time. Adopting an optimistic outlook, irrespective of the challenges, can be pivotal in attaining a state of contentment and joy.
It’s essential to separate the concept of expectations from goals. Setting the right goals and having a positive attitude are crucial life skills that can significantly impact our happiness and success. But some can conflate goals with expectations.
When we set goals for ourselves, we create a vision of what we want to achieve and work towards it. This gives us a sense of direction and purpose and allows us to measure our progress. By setting realistic and achievable goals, we set ourselves up for success and avoid unnecessary disappointment.
Expectations are preconceived notions of the future that can distract us from living in the present. Moreover, they can be dependent on events or circumstances outside your control.
Expectations are the greatest impediment to living. In anticipation of tomorrow, we lose today.
While having goals can be positive, you shouldn’t let expectations about achieving those goals impact your life in the present. Adopting a mindset free from expectations can lead to a more positive outlook.
Having a positive attitude can influence our interactions with others. When we positively approach situations, we are more likely to inspire and motivate those around us. People are naturally drawn to those who radiate positivity and optimism. By cultivating a positive attitude, we can create an uplifting environment encouraging others to do their best and reach their full potential.
By The Numbers
Starting as a small creator is entering into a crowded and highly competitive landscape, and getting people to see your content is challenging. It doesn’t help that the landscape has changed in recent years, making it harder to get exposure.
Several platforms intentionally restrict the reach of posts and content, which is relatively new. They do this to try and get people to pay for their content to be shown to more users. It’s called different things, like promoted or boosted. One platform is so bold that it tells you up front that if your post reached 12 people, it could have reached 300+ people if only you would have paid us for that privilege.
Based on their algorithms, some of these platforms know that specific users would like and engage with your content but don’t show it to them because they want you to pay. It’s disappointing and frustrating for a small creator.
Out of curiosity, I spent a few bucks to see what would happen with a post if the artificial limits were removed. The result was both heartening and disheartening at the same time.
It was heartening because, when folks saw my post, many would react positively towards it. It was disheartening because those people would never see it if you don’t pay to play, to use a gaming term, on certain platforms.
Even with these limitations in place, at the time of writing this post, I have gained 15 subscribers on YouTube, with over 2.5 thousand views, totaling a little over 16 hours of watch time. If you haven’t already, please consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel .
I’m slowly gaining a following on Instagram as well. A platform that I had never used before launching this venture and which I’m still trying to figure out. I have reached over 3.5 thousand people there and gained 13 followers. Feel free to follow me on Instagram as well.
I’m slowly gaining some traction on Facebook. X (Formerly Twitter) and Threads engagement could improve, and I will look at how to utilize those platforms better. Consider following me on Facebook and X/Twitter if you use those platforms.
The Future
I will be continuing on this journey and will keep regularly releasing content. The pace at which I release videos will likely slow down. I had an inventory of videos that I had made over several months. I released them much faster than I had initially planned. I learned something new with each release and got too excited to get the subsequent data points. My inventory of videos is almost empty, and I am working on creating more.
Since this endeavor is a one-person band, I can only create so much at once. Don’t take any slowdown of video releases to equate to me losing interest or being disappointed with the results. I am even more excited than when I first launched.
With only two weeks, I have learned much about what is working and what isn’t. I still have much more to learn, but I enjoy the journey. I appreciate your support for those who have joined me along the way! To thank my supporters, I recently posted a video on my channel. Check it out if you haven’t already.
Until the next post or video, I hope you enjoy your real, simple, and healthy life!
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