Stop being a perfectionist. Just upload it.

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes, 53 seconds

MrBeast has uploaded 727 videos on his main channel.

But only 15 in 2022, 26 in 2021 and 38 in 2020.

That’s 79 videos in the last 3 years. What on earth were the other 648 videos?

They were reps.

The first upload being comically far away from the most recent, but absolutely crucial to getting where he is today.

Now, is MrBeast the creator everyone should aim to be? No.

And why am I using gym lingo in a YouTube Newsletter? I’m not sure.

But let me try and explain…

Firstly, MrBeast's specific content and goals are beside the point. His ‘creative journey’ is what people can (and really should) learn from.

For most, the only way to make better content is to put in more reps.

Reps meaning the action of one complete strength training exercise? No.

Reps meaning the action of uploading a video.

The more you upload, the more you learn.

But the majority of creators don’t think like that.

Why? Well, three reasons.

1/ Firstly, we glamorise stories of YouTubers ‘blowing up’ overnight.

‘Blowing up’ has become the goal and if you don’t, you’re a failure. Years of slowly growing your audience just isn’t as glamorous.

YouTubers want exponential growth and they want it now.

But there’s a problem.

It’s impossible.

Overnight success stories are never overnight success stories.

Jeff Bezos (that very famous YouTuber) has a great quote:

“All overnight success takes about 10 years.”

The years of uploading before the ‘overnight success’ are always forgotten, rarely celebrated or purposely ignored.

Stop aiming (or expecting) to become an overnight success. Play the long game.

2/ The standard of YouTube content has gone intergalactic

Intergalactic → moving between two or more galaxies (I’m not sure really, felt more sensationalized than ‘through the roof’)

But back to the point…

This ‘intergalactic’ content has created unrealistic standards for most creators.

They feel like their videos have to match this quality or are entirely pointless.

This just isn’t true.

Yes, to get crazy views, the quality will have to be similar but that’s not the point.

The point is it’s impossible for most to achieve that quality.

It doesn’t matter how long you spend on a video, there’s a skill gap between you and these top creators that makes it impossible to ‘replicate’.

The only way you can get there is by creating a lot of content.

Putting in the reps.

There’s a great video by Ira Glass (an American radio personality and creative genius) called ‘The GAP’ that articulates this much better than I’ll ever be able to.

I’d recommend watching it (it’s on Vimeo that’s how edgy and creative it is) but the essence of it is this:

As a beginner, your work isn’t going to be that good. That’s just the way it is.

This creates a gap between your ‘taste’ (which I like to define as your potential) and the quality of work you’re currently creating.

At this stage, a lot of people quit. Don’t.

Accept that you must go through years (not weeks, years) of creating a huge volume of work to close that gap.

And only then can you create something that truly aligns with your taste (or potential).

Don’t let the quality of the best videos on the platform stop you. Use it as motivation.

3/ Most YouTubers overestimate where they are in their ‘creative journey’.

Everyone’s creative journey requires ‘putting in the reps’ at some point, but eventually, it becomes less important.

The problem is most who think they are there, aren’t.

What is this mystical point of not having to put in the reps?

Well, it’s a point when the creator has found Content-Audience Fit - when they've found a type of content you can consistently create, that an audience consistently loves.

At this point, you should focus more on the quality of the reps, not the quantity of the reps.

But as I said, most creators aren’t there. Most won’t ever get there.

The only way to get there is by putting in the reps.

Stop trying to upload MrBeast's 727th video, without having uploaded his 1st.

So, so what? What am I rambling on about?

For the vast majority of YouTubers, the focus should be on putting in more reps.

It’s the fastest (and only) way you can truly get better.

Stop expecting to become an overnight success.

Stop being afraid of uploading because it won’t get millions of views.

Stop trying to run before you can walk.

Play the long game and learn to love the process. 

That's the way to succeed on YouTube.

And that’s it. The first chapter of The Curious Creator.

If you have any questions, ideas, or feedback please just reply to this email. I will reply.

Thanks for reading. Jay Alto.

(that’s a boring sign off right? Might have to work on that...)

Too busy to reread? Here’s a summary written by AI:

This chapter of the Curious Creator discusses the importance of "reps" (i.e. uploading content) for YouTube creators, and how it is the only way to truly get better.

Key takeaways:

1. Overnight success stories are never overnight success stories - it takes years of grinding and uploading to get to the top.

2. Don't be afraid of uploading, and learn to love the process.

3. Don't let the quality of the best videos on the platform stop you - use it as motivation.