Mr Beast and Unnecessary Learnings – The Climb #626

Monday 9^th November 2020

There was a time when I found disappearing down a Youtube rabbit hole most annoying. It seemed to me to be the height of procrastination.

However, I’ve learnt to better use them so they don’t eat time and enjoy the weird places they take me.

In case you don’t know, a Youtube rabbit hole is where you watch a video, see another recommended to you, watch that and carry on until you are watching random stuff you’re not sure you are interested in or not.

I now mostly do it when I’m gaming (not streaming), working on spreadsheets or some other monotonous work that needs some background noise.

I’ve discovered some fascinating niches doing this. My interest in marketing has lead me to these influencer channels where it’s modern snake oil salesman trying to sell you fame. My interest in people’s personal journey’s of success has had me watching people from sports personalities to businessmen.

And today I found myself watching interviews with Mr Beast. He’s a Youtuber who does crazy stunts and has one of the most popular channels on the planet. I’ve seen a few videos but I wouldn’t say I was a fan. Yet watching him talk about Youtube and strategy and his trials and tribulations has filled my day.

I have no interest in being a Youtuber. Yes, I’d like to do some videos but more as a way to drive attention rather than be an actual Youtuber. I have friends who have been able to give up successful jobs to do it full time, but that’s not me.

Likewise, I’d like to do some Twitch as part of some video projects, but these are all secondary and fun side quests.

I questioned why I was watching it. Was I thinking of giving it all up and thinking of becoming a Youtuber? No, I just found it interesting. And I’m OK with that.

I know some of this will find its way into a book, possibly this NaNoWriMo project, but I’m OK if it doesn’t. Because I curtail this to when I’m doing other stuff and just have it on in the background, it means I don’t lose time.

Instead, it might just make for an interesting character down the line.