Sean Cannell, CEO of Think Media and a YouTube strategist with over 3 million subscribers, shares his inspiring journey from creative teenager to online video expert. He discusses pivotal moments like going all-in with Think Media after losing freelance clients. The conversation tackles diverse revenue streams, the necessity of college for entrepreneurs, and the importance of delivering value to audiences. Denise Jordan, a 73-year-old homemaker, also shares her wealth of experience and homemaking tips, enriching the dialogue with practical insights.
Sean Cannell believes that traditional college education is often irrelevant for aspiring entrepreneurs, advocating instead for alternative learning methods that emphasize practical experience.
The pivotal moments in Sean's journey, particularly losing freelance clients, taught him resilience and adaptability, helping him view failure as a growth opportunity.
Creating genuine value for viewers is essential for content creators, as understanding audience needs builds credibility and fosters a loyal community.
Deep dives
Embracing Entrepreneurship Over Traditional Education
One major insight from the conversation is the shift in perspective regarding traditional college education. Sean Cannell expresses a strong belief that the current educational landscape does not serve everyone, particularly aspiring entrepreneurs. He views college as increasingly overpriced and often irrelevant to the skills needed for success in today’s digital age. Instead, he advocates for alternative learning methods, such as online courses and hands-on experience, allowing individuals to connect with those already succeeding in their desired fields.
Transitional Moments in Career
Sean highlights critical transitional moments that shaped his path to entrepreneurship, particularly after losing freelance clients. Following this financial setback, he was encouraged by a mentor to jump 'off the cliff' into entrepreneurship, signaling that it was time to fully commit to his venture, Think Media. This experience taught him resilience and adaptability, reshaping his view of failure as an opportunity for growth rather than a reason to retreat. Sean emphasizes that those pivotal moments, while daunting at the time, were essential in motivating him to pursue his passion for video creation and entrepreneurship.
The Importance of Creating Value
Sean stresses the significance of creating value for viewers as a core tenet of successful content creation. He advocates for understanding viewers' needs and crafting content that directly addresses those needs, thus building a loyal community. This approach is exemplified by his method of ranking videos in search, which allows creators to respond effectively to specific queries and problems faced by their audience. By focusing on delivering genuine value, creators not only cater to their audience's interests but also establish credibility and trust, which can lead to sustainable growth.
Diverse Revenue Streams for Sustainability
The discussion showcases Sean's journey in developing multiple revenue streams to ensure the sustainability of his business. He talks about the evolution from initially relying solely on affiliate marketing and ad revenue to a more diversified model that includes online courses, brand deals, and even physical products. This strategic approach underscores the importance of not putting all eggs in one basket, especially in the rapidly changing digital landscape. By being proactive in exploring various income avenues, Sean illustrates how entrepreneurs can weather fluctuations in any single revenue source.
Building a Legacy through Stewardship
Finally, Sean reflects on the legacy he wishes to create through his work and the impact he hopes to have on both his audience and team. He emphasizes stewardship as a guiding principle, indicating a desire to use his platform and experiences to empower others while nurturing a strong company culture. By fostering a supportive environment for his team, he aims to create a ripple effect that can positively influence the lives of many. Sean believes that true success lies not only in financial gains but in the meaningful connections and positive changes he can inspire through his content and leadership.
In this episode, Sean Cannell, CEO of Think Media and co-founder of Video Influencers, shares his inspiring journey to becoming one of the world’s leading online video experts and YouTube strategists. With over 3 million subscribers and 100 million views across his channels, Sean’s insights are essential for creators and entrepreneurs alike.
Sean reflects on his early days as a creative teenager in Seattle, discussing how his passion for skate culture and music evolved into a career in video production, starting with his involvement in church media. He delves into pivotal moments, such as going all-in with Think Media after losing freelance clients, and how resilience and adaptability played a crucial role in his success.
The conversation also explores the importance of providing value to an audience, building a legacy, and the diverse revenue streams fueling Think Media’s growth. Sean also discusses whether college is necessary for aspiring entrepreneurs (spoiler alert.. it’s not!).
Episode chapters:
00:00 The Early Years of Sean Cannell 05:00 The Transition to Video and Creativity 12:41 Building a Career in Social Media 16:20 Going All In: The Birth of Think Media 24:06 Navigating Challenges and Finding Clarity 31:53 Revenue Streams and Business Growth 49:27 Stewardship in Business 54:18 Building a legacy beyond yourself 1:04:24 Interview with Denise Jordan
This episode also features a special story from a student of Think Media’s youtube courses, Denise Jordan. As a 73 year old woman with over 50 years of homemaking Experience, she wanted to teach young homemakers tips on cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and laundry. Her channel now has over 80,000 subscribers. (https://www.youtube.com/@homemakingwithdenise)
This show is produced and presented by Circle, where creators turn pro.
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