Book Recommendation:
YouTube Formula– Derral Eves
This past year, we got serious about a YouTube channel at work.
It started as a way to make in-depth videos about topics that our clients frequently bring up. It turns out, thousands of people across the country have the same questions, so I am always looking at ways to make our videos more effective in communicating the intricacies of Medicare and Social Security.
After reading this book, I got plenty of ideas of how to help our YouTube channel grow by improving how our videos are made.
Maybe someone reading this is passionate about some particular topic, which could be anything. There is a massive number of people throughout the world who are passionate about the same topics that interest you. Maybe it’s travel, sports, cooking, quilting, book reviews, fishing, pins, taxes… you name it – there are people out there looking for similar information.
So, the reason I recommend this book is because maybe one of you has felt the desire to teach a skill or discuss topics, and making a YouTube channel is an option. There are thousands of channels that do not record their face or say anything, just show people how to do neat things.
One of the most fulfilling activities I’ve done this year is the 90 Days YouTube channel because I get to meet people all across the country who reach out with Medicare questions, and we are able to help.
If that sounds appealing to you, grab this book for yourself.
“Erik… I would never, ever record myself and put it out there for the world to see. Nope. No way.”
If that sounds like what you’re thinking in this moment, then this book might make an excellent gift for that person in your family who is interested in teaching, recording, entertaining, or streaming their video games online.
YouTube Formula– Derral Eves
My kids want to grow up to be “YouTubers,” which is funny and scary at the same time. I’m sure they will be digging through this book in a couple years. This will all tie together here in the Words of Wisdom…
Words of Wisdom – My Greatest Accomplishment
One of the best days of my life happened two weeks ago. Allow me to tell you the story with some colorful details.
About a week and a half ago, a friend of mine interviewed me on a podcast.
One of the questions he asked was, “What is your greatest accomplishment in life so far?”
My answer at the time felt like it was cliché, because a part of me wants to sound unique or like I’m a deeper thinker than I really am.
I said what I think a lot of people would probably say, which was:
“Convincing my wife to marry me, and our kids.”
As I worked my way through that answer, and as I’ve thought about it since, I don’t know how I could answer any other way.
You already got to experience me gushing about my wife in last month’s newsletter (for those new here, let me know and I can send you that one), so this one will focus more on my kids and one of the best days of my life that happened in the last month.
YouTube… Again?!
Back to the whole YouTube thing… my kids watch YouTube A LOT. They are only allowed to watch YouTube Kids, which is made to only show content appropriate for kids, so it is mostly toy unboxing videos, video gamers who show how to play certain games, and families that record their adventures.
They also stumble upon the videos I do here for work as well as some videos I’ve made outside of work – and the kids think their dad is famous (don’t tell them the truth).
To them, just being on YouTube means that person is famous. So they asked me if I’d be willing to make a channel for them, and a video with them.
And we did! My 10-year-old made a product review of a camera she got for Christmas and my 7-year-old made a video where he ranks his 5 favorite video game YouTubers, and I threw them on YouTube.
When the videos were ready, they ran over to the computer, jostled for the best position on my lap to watch, and had me play their videos for the family.
As each video was playing, both of the kids reacted to their sibling’s video like it was the coolest thing ever made in the history of humanity. They were complimenting each other. They were giving each other high fives and hugging each other. They were positive that they would each get a million subscribers today and they started planning the blueprints to their future mansion with Olympic swimming pools and rock walls and theaters from the money they’d earn on YouTube…
We shared these videos with family members and friends, and they got a handful of views – as in 30-ish views, but even with that, my kids were pumped. And this made me deliriously happy.
Payday (not the candy)
The next day was payday for them.
They have a little business where they go around to “their customers” (our neighbors) and take out garbage cans the night before garbage day and bring the cans back in after the garbage truck does its thing.
I pay them once a year, which I know could be considered cruel, but keep reading.
They had payday the day after their YouTube videos were done, and each of the older kids got $240.
$240!
That’s a lot of money for anyone, let alone a 10-year-old and 7-year-old! To them, it’s like… more money than has ever existed! They’ve never seen what that looks like, so they are jumping up and down, they are screaming, they are showing each other the dollar bills… the whole 9 yards.
After a few minutes of ecstasy, they both come over and give me the biggest squeeze hugs of all squeeze hugs.
And then, the promises begin…
“Dad, I promise I’ll save this. I really want to go buy a bunch of candy, but I promise I’ll save this.”
“Dad, I don’t know how much a phone costs, but I REALLY want a phone and maybe this could buy it, but you said to save my money, so I promise I’ll save this.”
“Dad, can I buy a car with this? How much do cars cost? Oh, and I promise I’ll never complain about doing garbage cans again.”
Several other promises involving perfect behavior for the rest of their lives were scattered in there. It was awesome. And that series of events included some of the happiest moments of my life. Seeing my kids do hard things, get rewarded, treat each other nice, and massive squeeze hugs. What else could I ever need?
Little Moments are the Big Moments
As I “grow up,” little moments become much more impactful to me than big, grandiose extravaganzas. Fancy vacations, get-togethers with friends, professional sporting events, and others… while fun, just don’t seem to hit as hard as my kids tackling me, telling me they love me, and watching them grow up into kind-hearted humans.
I acknowledge that several of you may not have the opportunity to have children for various reasons. Additionally, several of you have likely lost children in a variety of tragic ways. I do not mean to cause pain. I have deep empathy based on close family members and friends who have similar experiences.
The attempt at words of wisdom revolves around the importance of the human condition and relationships that bring joy. I am in pursuit of as many deep, human relationships as reasonably possible with people who bring joy into my life, and I haven’t yet found relationships that bring this feeling more often and as strong as my family.
That’s all I have for this one. Thank you for making it this far.
PS – If you want to see the videos my kids made, they are here:
Noel Product Review
PPS – Here is the podcast interview if you want to learn more about the weirdo writing these posts:
Man Games Podcast
If you liked this post, or you’re just looking for an account to troll, feel free to subscribe!
Erik Soderborg 