The Full Story of Colin and Samir

255 snips

Oct 8, 2023

Guest

Samir

Guest

Colin

Colin and Samir, a dynamic podcasting duo and YouTube experts, have played a pivotal role in the creator economy for over a decade. They share their journey from modest beginnings to influential mentors, discussing the balance between passion and audience connection. The duo dives into overcoming challenges, emphasizing an abundance mindset for decision-making and the significance of personal branding. They also reflect on the evolution of content strategies, from vlogs to podcasts, highlighting the joy of connecting with audiences authentically.

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ANECDOTE

Lacrosse Network Origins

Colin and Samir's early venture, Lacrosse Network, aimed to create a niche online sports network.
It was driven by passion, not profit, and involved creative work for Colin's father's clothing company.

ADVICE

Prioritize Identity and Process

Young creators should prioritize building confidence and identity before pursuing a creator career.
Focus on the creative process, not just outcomes like validation or money.

ANECDOTE

Early Financial Struggles

Colin and Samir initially earned very little, relying on savings and side jobs.
Their internship offered $700/month, highlighting their financial constraints.

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The Daily Stoic

366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living

Ryan Holiday

Stephen Hanselman

This book provides 366 meditations on Stoic wisdom, featuring new translations of passages from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other Stoic philosophers. Each day, readers are presented with a Stoic lesson explained in modern language, along with advice on how to apply these lessons in everyday life. The book is organized temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, making it a daily resource for practicing Stoicism[4][5][6].

Feel-Good Productivity

How to Do More of What Matters to You

Ali Abdal

In 'Feel-Good Productivity,' Dr. Ali Abdaal challenges the conventional notion that productivity is about hard work and discipline. Instead, he argues that the secret to productivity is feeling good. Drawing on decades of psychological research, Abdaal introduces the three hidden 'energisers' that underpin enjoyable productivity, the three 'blockers' to overcome procrastination, and the three 'sustainers' to prevent burnout. The book includes inspiring stories from founders, Olympians, and Nobel-winning scientists and provides simple, actionable changes to make work more enjoyable and sustainable. Abdaal's approach focuses on cultivating a deeper energy for work, balancing well-being with productivity, and enjoying the journey.

The Creative Act

A Way of Being

Rick Rubin

In *The Creative Act: A Way of Being*, Rick Rubin distills the wisdom he has gained from a lifetime of working with artists across various genres. The book is not just about music production but about the broader creative process and how it applies to everyone's life. Rubin emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with a state of innocence, being aware of the world, and tapping into what he calls 'Source'—an infinite and constant flow of ideas and inspiration. The book is structured around 78 areas of thought, providing practical wisdom, philosophical insights, and encouragement for anyone seeking to enhance their creative expression.

The Practice

Shipping Creative Work

Seth Godin

In 'The Practice', Seth Godin emphasizes the importance of consistent creative work and the process of creation over the outcome. The book argues that creativity is a choice driven by the desire to find new truths, solve problems, and serve others. Godin insists that the practice itself is the output, and it is what we can control. He encourages readers to trust the process, commit to the journey, and embrace discomfort and potential failure as part of the creative process. The book also highlights the importance of generosity and serving others through one's work, and it discourages the pursuit of external validation and outcomes[1][3][4].

For a lot of people, the creator economy can seem like a bit of a mystery. You might be wondering how to start creating online, or how to scale a side hobby into a monetisable business. And with trends and platforms and algorithms changing all the time, it can be really hard to keep up, let alone know what your next steps could be to make the most of your potential. Today I’m joined by Colin and Samir, the podcasting duo and Youtube experts who have spent over ten years helping creators navigate the creator economy. They got their start building a small online network for college lacrosse, before their business was built and they then pivoted into helping creators make the most of the online space. Their main channel has over 1 million subscribers, and they have interviewed some of the world’s biggest YouTubers like MKBHD and MrBeast. They also have a side channel called Creator Support, where they answer questions from audience members to help them scale their creator businesses. In this episode we’re going to talk about everything they've learned in 12 years on YouTube, how to build a long-lasting creative business, and the future of the creator economy. Enjoy!

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(00:00) Colin and Samir
(01:16) How did you get to becoming thought leaders in the creator economy?
(03:17) To what extent would you recommend being a creator as a career? Pros and cons
(06:58) How much money were you making in the early days and how much do you make now?
(10:41) Starting a job for passion vs. money
(26:21) A roadmap to success in the creator economy in 2023
(31:07) Advice for a music YouTuber
(40:51) To what extent passion is prerequisite for success in the creator economy?
(47:43) What are the commonalities you see among the creators who managed to make it professionally vs. the ones who treat it as a hobby?
(59:07) The fear setting exercise
(01:02:28) What is it like to be a duo of co-founders?
(01:10:19) Would you ever start a couple’s channel with your respective partners?
(01:15:16) Filming with no commercial intent
(01:21:10) Productivity guilt
(01:24:36) Finding the format
(01:30:46) Format FOMO
(01:33:19) Experimenting with formats
(01:40:54) To what extent would you recommend starting a podcast to someone who’s new to the creator world?
(01:49:23) The story behind publish press
(02:04:24) The “Daily Productivity” newsletter
(02:09:24) Is going viral a bad thing?
(02:12:59) “Brand is more important than reach in the long term”
(02:19:07) Long form vs. short form while building a new channel
(02:22:16) If you won the lottery, what would change about the way you’re spending your time?
(02:24:13) How long should you spend building and creating content before thinking about monetisation?
(02:27:52) What are you working on up until the end of the year?
(02:29:29) Final pieces of wisdom

🔗 CONNECT WITH COLIN & SAMIR

🎥 YouTube Channel
🐦 Twitter
📸 Instagram
💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH ALI

📲 Join My Telegram Community - https://t.me/+bH5gLHty5kBiOGZk

🎥 YouTube Channel

🎙 ABOUT THE PODCAST

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