Seriously though, I'm glad that we can get this kind of content from Hank (although I usually expect this kind of thing to be on Hankschannel) and if having someone else edit it makes that happen then I'm all for it!
Hank, I work with nonprofits all the time. Many nonrpofits suffer from the "founders problem." You are doing your group so much good by stepping away but being available when needed. All nonprofits need a new set of voices. You are doing what a lot of leaders refuse to do. You are letting your idea grow and become more than just you.
Even regular for profit small businesses can suffer from founder's syndrome. The place I worked a few years ago was unable to grow because the founder and CEO "needed" to approve every decision which meant she had to know a ton of details for each project. A single person doesn't have that capacity!
@@vlogbrothersyou're the only UA-cam channel I've consistently watched for over a decade. Thanks for your continued online presence and work, I love feeling like a part of it.
We got rid of all the major sources of anxiety (unless you live in a superpower or one of its colonies) and we found anxiety was hardwired into us to keep us safe. There was no reason to evolve to feel safe because we were never safe
For what it's worth, I'm one of the people who's currently not in a position to shop at Good Store or contribute financially to most of the great work you and this community do. But somehow I still feel deeply invested and proud of it all! To the point that I sometimes question where that sense of pride comes from-other than a small contribution to P4A every year, I haven't done much. But it just feels good to be part of a community with such a strong moral compass, that does so much good in the world, while spreading important messages and having fun. Even if I'm only contributing my attention, you guys have helped me understand that my attention has value. So if I'm part of the demographic that you're stressing about, I suggest crossing us off the list! We're not going anywhere. We're happy to be here (because we're here because we're here).
+ fully agree with this. I currently cant afford to shop at good store but hearing about it makes me so proud of nerdfightaria and hopeful that there are good things like this in the world. It would be an active loss for me to hear less about it, i actually want to hear more. Despite it not being possible for me to purchase, because i heard about the awesome socks club, i was able to tell a friend about it who had no clue who you guys were and shes been subscribed for a few years now. Please keep telling us about it, dont worry about people like me. DFTBA
so much of what you said here resonated with me, particularly about feeling a maybe-somewhat-larger-than-my-share amount of pride in the work this community has done, but even if my contribution has been small like you said it feels good to participate in something larger. money i spent on purpose has gone to materially changing lives for the better, and i get regular updates about how it's going and how well it's working. other people with more resources believe in the same things i believe in. it feels good.
@@VioletEmerald People can hold their stress in different parts of their body. Tummy and back are pretty common locations. Over time, it can build up cause things like stomach aches, acid reflux, back aches, shoulder pain, etc. But it can also manifest in different ways for other people.
@@erika_7777oh yes. My shoulders are so tight from stress they make a weird grinding sound apparently from muscles moving across my joints or something? I dont remember exactly what the doctor said. I also have gerd and so i get nausea often when im stressed and sometimes throw up because of it but also bc of that sometimes i end up not being able to eat for several days. I get heart palpitations and it feels like theres pain in my stomach, my teeth are grinded down to oblivion, i get idiopathic pain like tooth nerve pain or twitching eye pain, severe insomnia but when i do sleep i sleep for like 18 hours at a time, i am extremely sensitive to loud noises and busy places bc of that also general extreme social anxiety, anxiety about deadlines etc. all of which causes me to be depressed. Also bc of insomnia im always tired mentally and physically but i cant drink coffee or sometimes even tea with caffeine is too strong for me because it also gives me heart palpitations and i feel like death. And even after my 18 hour sleeps i still feel tired and unfortunately its all extremely treatment resistant and the one thing that works i cant take a larger dose of bc my blood pressure is too low.
But yeah when my sis got her new job and realized this is how i operate on a day to day basis she said she was so incredibly miserable. Not to mention sometimes i get hives from stress too it started after my grandma passed.
I'll be honest, as someone who grew up poor while being in the community, there were times when there was an opportunity, and when I couldnt get involved, I've felt left out. But that does NOT mean that I want you to stop. It's always been the opposite. I hope you keep growing so that when I can participate, it's available. That said, with Good Store, specifically the awesome socks club, have you considered sponsorships? People can pay for multiple sets of socks while only receiving one pair, and those who can't afford it could sign up on a lottery basis to occassionally get a pair of socks, maybe limited to once or twice a year. It might enable some to feel a part of this and allow others with the means to give in another way.
@@ElpSmith They could set it up less as a "give-a-way" sweepstakes, pull a name out of a bag type thing, and more of a registry. Sign up for the broke person package and if enough people donate during their purchase, then you will receive some socks, first come, first serve. They could probably use mostly the same infrastructure that way with some tweaks rather than designing a whole separate system. idk though, not my area of expertise!
Speaking from the DFTBA side, it’s felt very special that you’ve trusted the team to love your vision and keep building off of it. We not only get to do cool things, but we also get to grow professionally while we do it! I hope the community appreciates the work too!
I got to watch the DFTBA vision exist independently in the wild when I saw Dr. Glaucomflecken on tour recently. It was fantastic to see a creator offering merch that created connection to the audience and finding out that the rad new products were due to their new relationship with DFTBA. For me it was fantastic values alignment in action.
2:52 The holo taco shoutout makes me so happy. I’ve been watching both Christine and Hank for years, so this convergence of internet spaces gladdens my heart
It's great that you are able to talk about your experience. I'm currently terminal with liver and lung cancer and was told a few days ago that there's a good chance I don't make it to Christmas. I really appreciate everything you've done to educate me and the public about, well, seems like everything.
"I hire people I can trust and let them go" This is a great leadership move. In my own work, I often get frustrated at how micromanaging upper leadership can be. Why did they hire me if I can't be trusted to do my job? So important that you can find the right balance
10:50 -- it's never failure to shrink. Plants do it all the time . -- Shrink a little and grow when you can. Sometimes, when you shrink a little, the growth stage is incredible!!!
"because it makes my tummy hurt" actually hit so deep for me. You're acknowledging that deep feeling of dread that can become so heavy and distracting from everything else and I appreciate the level of honesty you always have when talking about these hard topics. Thank you for not shying away from telling the truth about human vulnerability regardless of how flattering it is.
The gut mind… link thing! I forgot the word! Is it axiom? Feels like it’s axiom. But yeah the tummy and the head do a lot of stuff it’s fun (and not fun sometimes!)
@@crissycrossgamingAn axiom is a statement/foundation in a system that is held as true (for no other reason that deciding it is true in that system). So not that. The gut-brain axis would make more sense.
I had cancer 25 years ago. It didn't make us paranoid, but we did realize that if we wanted to do something, we should do it now, because we couldn't plan on the future being there. Now we're in the future and are so glad we built such wonderful memories.
I have loved Nerdfighteria, and the times where I felt that financially, P4A wasn't in my budget or Pizzamas didn't have something affordable that I wanted, I never felt guilty. I know that just coming to these videos makes me part of our community. We get it. Thanks for the permission to keep buying my favorite coffee from Coffee Shop Of Horrors. I have a flavored coffee obsession and they're a great small business. ❤️
I will say that although I haven't always been able to be as much of a financial contributor to the community as I've wanted to be, John's incessant messaging (affectionate) about how one of the most important things we can do is just /pay attention/ has really assuaged a lot of the guilt I think I would ordinarily feel. It makes me feel like I help just by being part of the community -- a rare feeling!
I like buying Keats & Co. coffee, but that's really an extension of liking that I'm a Nerdfighter. I think Complexly and Good Store are doing a great job of being a part of that group identity without turning it into "just a brand" or whatever.
Also, when projects like good store get bigger if anything, makes it feel like a more fun and wholesome part of the Nerdfighteria project specifically because we don't feel like we're being asked to buy something and can just enjoy that it's being successful.
I think the best decision good store made was having more products that you use up and need to replace. I LOVED the sock subscription but I have a lot of amazing socks that are good quality now so I'm not running through those and ultimately had to end it for a while. Soap is always a need. Coffee is always a need
Hank you are the reason I believe in chemotherapy rather than useless alternative therapies and that is an extremely amazing impact to have on someone's life.
From a total stranger: I can't tell you how many times I've relied on Crash Course videos to understand complex topics, especially as someone with limited financial means and a woefully lacking public school education, and I hope you and John and everyone on your team feel pride for what you all do. I've never known the pressure of running a business and being responsible for other people's financial livelihoods, and motivations can be conflicting and messy. But that anxiety is indicative of integrity and shows a concern for creating educational/entertaining content that benefits the most people, both staff and viewers included. Wishing for much more success for you and your team in the future 🙏
As somebody who cannot afford any of the good store products, I have felt left out, but it does really, really help to hear how you're thinking about people like myself and that you care how we feel. Because I am part of this community, even if I can't afford the products, and I do want to keep belonging here. Thank you!
As someone who can afford some of the products, you are just as much a part of this community as any of us. You being here is part of what makes nerdfighteria what it is!
I see how the focus on products could make you feel left out when you can't afford that. Even though I can afford some of it, as someone who is generally pretty cheap, it makes me a bit uncomfortable feeling compelled to buy things. No matter what the circumstance, we all belong here.
As a person who isn’t in a position to shop at Good Store, I love the vision behind it and get excited to share it with other people! I feel good sharing the knowledge of it, even if I’m not always able to contribute monetarily to it. And I don’t feel any less part of the nerdfighter community not being able to contribute to it. But I also think part of that is how deeply you and all the folx who work at all of these kick ass companies care about making sure people feel like they’re part of the community, regardless of what their contribution looks like.
Being surprised about the products your companies were launching seemed like a pretty effective way to me to communicate you had a different role. Talking about your new roles from time to time would still be interesting, and I think it would help further to get that message across
Something that could be cool is interviewing the people who are taking on bigger roles in the organization of that would be something they’d enjoy. I’d be super fascinated in a conversation between you and the people you helped choose to run the companies. Obviously only if that’s something that sounds fun to you all.
The “unlocked a new background level of anxiety” thing is so real. I went the first 20 something years of my life without having a panic attack, and then I had a panic attack, and just knowing what that feels like and having access to those neural pathways created a before/after point where even in totally chill times, that is always still just there. It’s a very strange thing.
I’ve been following Christine since she was just a nail art instagrammer, before she joined UA-cam in 2014. The evolution from being well known for a super specific type of nail art on Ig, to nail art tutorials on YT, to her polish mountain videos, launching holo taco, her podcast, etc, feels very vlogbrothers coded. Everyone knows Christine for something totally different, just like everyone knows the Green brothers for very different reasons.
As an old 2007 nerdfighter who cannot afford GoodStore products and haven’t ever been able to support Patreon stuff, these things are still very good and have my support. I might not have access to them but I don’t have access to lots of things. I am grateful knowing that all of your efforts to decrease worldsuck are ongoing. The system as it exists requires successfully wealthy people to be investing in such projects, however incremental. There are plenty of wealthy evil overlords at the moment who would not care at all about the things you’re processing in this video. And that makes all the difference for me. You’re doing great, Hank. And yes, we love a long fairly raw vlog. 😁
I'm 100% on board with the work y'all are doing. I wish you'd spend a bit less time on vlogbrothers trying to sell me stuff, but I'm happy that stuff exists, that people are enjoying it, and that it actually supports good causes. And it is nice to hear you just talk about a thing openly. I didn't even realize this was a vlogbrothers post and not hankschannel until like the 19 minute mark. It's nice.
hi hank! i recently made a reddit post expressing frustration with the amount of 'ads' on vlogbrothers. something that people in the comments helped me understand is that it isn't just about getting people to buy these products, although that is good. these projects mean a lot to you and take up a big part of of your brainspace so you want to talk about them. i think that makes a lot of sense! something you said in this video that connected with me is that you want nerdfighteria to believe in goodstore and its mission, even if we aren't buying the products. this helps me see some of what i had been interpreting as 'ads' to be excitment about the goals of goodstore. i do agree with what you said at the end though, maybe having more videos that are about connecting with the audience and building community would help this problem! anyways, long post to say that it feels like i maybe criticized you and caused some of this spiral, and i appreciate you sharing your thoughts and being vulnerable. dftba!
You're a founder, not a CEO. The magic of you is the passion and disorganization and constantly bringing us new things. We're always here because you're always you. There's no other channel I've been watching since 2007. Also, your problems change like my problems change and that's always reassuring. ❤ Keep doing what you're doing 😊
A few hours ago I finally watched your stand up special, really funny and thoughtprovoming, and now this video. I'm glad we are not on the "Hank is secretly a greedy moneygrubber"-timeline, that is a big relief. Your concern fordoing the right things and doing things right is inspiring. If all people could spend a fraction of their energy on that like you do... The children would be singing in the streets, until we'd ask them to please stop that.
Please know Hank, that you and John are well thought of, respected and loved. Wrap yourself up in all of the warm feelings and love and calmness that people watching you and Nerdfighteria gives you.
13:10 Of course you can't, that would quite literally be physically impossible Hank! You started all this stuff, and helped it grow, then found awesome talented people to take over and now you can do new things!
I'm about 12 years younger than Hank, and I grew up without a cohesive family. My mother was out of the picture and my father often needed my help more than he was around to help me. I started watching Brotherhood 2.0 in 2008 when I was about 16. As someone who struggles socially, and doesn't have much financially, I haven't really participated in the community past watching and listening. But I will continue to watch and listen for as long as you guys keep making things. I have a feeling Hank and John would cringe at the idea of me calling them familial figures in my life, but I cannot think of a better descriptor. It doesn't matter that Hank and John have no idea who I am because for 16 years they have helped me through good times and bad. They've been an inspiration, a moral role model, and source of humor in my life. Dear Hank and John always makes me smile. It is because of the thoughtful, open conversations you two have had over the years that I am who I am today, and I'm proud to be someone who struggles despite the futility of effort, and someone who imagines others complexy, and someone who really tries not to forget to be awesome. Whatever projects you pursue Hank, I'll be there cheering you on because I know you're a moral person who cares about us. In a world surrounded by endless greed, you have clear boundaries and your head on straight. You do deserve the money from your books. It would feel weird every time you plugged Good Store if you and John were profiting off of it. You have gotten this far because you have a good understanding of the very problem you are deliberating. I know it's hard, but trust yourself a little more! And if there's one thing I could communicate across this long term parasocial relationship, it's thank you. Thank you both for sharing so much of your own lives with me. Truly, I could never put in to words how much it means to have you both in my life! 🙅♂
I'm right there with you, I've also grown up without any meaningful family and have had to raise myself and my younger (and sometimes even older) siblings. I started watching Hank and John around 15/16, and they've been such a stabilising, calming presence; the first adults who were honest with me about the absurdity and meaning of life, who showed me how healthy adults take responsibility and make decisions and grapple with anxiety and such. I've now fled the extremist environment I grew up in, and the feeling of being completely disconnected from any familial system (no matter how horrifically violent) is daunting, but it feels a little better knowing that these two kind strangers will still be there for me to listen to. My hope is that in time I'll expand my social network enough find actual IRL role models and guardian figures, but until then, these two and Nerdfighteria help. Wishing you all the best, friend. May we both find chosen family and support.
I've had a very similar experience (toxic family, finances wonky, eventually had to leave) although I'm a bit younger than the two of you. I started watching Vlogbrothers at 13-14 and got hooked very quickly. I think one of the things that really struck me from an early age was Hank and John's ability to be vulnerable. Their honesty and integrity were great examples to me for how I should live my life. I'm so grateful I found them when I did and that they're still with me today through the hard times and the brighter light soaked days :)
I sincerely and wholeheartedly appreciate when you guys open conversations about your thoughts and processes behind what you push, where you put your efforts in, and when to promote certain stuff. It feels transparent, and sincere - which feels insanely refreshing in the internet as a whole. I'm from a relatively poor side of Brazil, so I don't really have the option to participate in the money-focused Nerdfighteria events. But I still get to share, and communicate, and think about stuff that matters, and I'm glad there's space for it.
I am a fan of Cristine and the reason why I support her is because she gave me hope. When I was anxious about my future in my home country, her videos gave me a ray of hope to move to Canada. After moving to Canada I still watched her and she is so honest with her products, she encourages people to pursue both academy and hobby (so rare these days) and she really made an impact to my life!
I love how passionate Simply is about education. And it's been really nice to see her manage the pivot from "burned out OG YTer trying to keep cranking out the same funny" to really seeming like she's enjoying life and always finding new avenues of interest. I wish Jenna had been able to find that angle (selfish wish, I admit - hopefully she's perfectly happy post-YT!)
I think one of my all time favorite vlogbrothers videos is where you went around the office and chatted with everyone on the team for a few seconds each many years ago now. I think showing these great teams for all of these great companies to your wider audience helps the public understand how many people actually work on something!
It sounds like your identity both personally and professionally is shifting a lot and it's hard to feel like people don't totally understand it and also hard to figure out how to communicate that so people do understand. I am just an internet stranger so I hesitate to comment too much on your experience (but I am also a 10+ yr nerdfighter and someone who had a bone marrow transplant in my youth) so for what it's worth I think it's completely natural and very common for this year to have felt how it did for you. I dont know how much it helps to say you're not alone in this, some of it is amplified by your profession, but it's certainly not totally unique. The shift out of Treatment Mode into whatever comes after that is HARD and in my humble opinion the oncology world does not do a great job supporting patients through that.
Thank you for trying your best to not exclude people who can’t financially support the many projects you’ve started (and those that the other teams have started). I think you saying it out loud does a lot to accomplish that goal.
Oh, man. Those feelings sound so familiar. That first year after cancer is so hard. 10 years later, I viscerally remember how lost I felt. The difference between Hank and the rest of us is that he channeled that into amazing productivity 😅😅😅😅
Hank, you birth things. the going to college metaphor was a great one. you raise them until they outgrow you. you are being an excellent parent by letting them soar without you. keep going.
I have done my best to minimize the parasocial relationship that i have with creators as so many of them have been mired in controversy, scamming their fans, grooming, or just treating the people under them poorly. But with the green brothers i really trust them to be decent people and to be open with their problems and to have a strong moral compass.
On other channels, I'm always like "ugh, why is this video longer than 4 minutes" but then I'm here, where I grew accustomed to the 4 minute rule, and I'm so excited because it's a 20 min video 😂
As a long time nerdfighter who can’t currently afford to buy things from the good store, I still absolutely love hearing about new things going on with it. Even though I can’t support it right now I still love its mission and hope that one day I can get my products there, not because it’s Hank’s store but because of its mission and model
Hank I think it is really important to take mental breaks as you need them and reevaluate your priorities often. I had to take a step back from the news because it truly was destroying my mental health. Just because you are Hank, doesn't mean you owe the world your time and energy to be chronically online and obsessively aware of everything. You are fantastic and can only keep being fantastic if you take care of yourself.
Years ago I asked someone why they invested in a startup that it turned out they EXPECTED to accidentally misuse funds. They told me it was because they believed in the idea, but idea people didn’t tend to be business people. They still wanted the project to get off the ground, and it did. Last I heard it was doing great. Anyway, you’ve always struck me as an idea person, and it has honestly surprised me that you’ve been able to do both successfully. I think my point/thought may have gotten lost somewhere in there, but I think you have great ideas, and hope you keep being creative. And being a good business person if that’s what you want
16:20 "To live life while I have it." Hank delivers this in an offhand way, but I think it is the core message. None of us knows how much time we have. So do the things you've always wanted to do. Love the people around you and embrace the love they give to you. And don't take a second of it for granted.
Never apologize for delegating, it is the sign of a good leader. Next, I don’t see why promoting good store is selling out any more than advertising someone else’s product, so long as it is a really good product and or a really good cause I think its way better than being sponsored by a third party.
I have project directors who easily have 20 years worth of experience more than Hank, and they don't understand how to not look at every little thing and make sure they have made their mark on it. Bless you Hank for understanding that other professionals can do great work.
We love you, Hank! Thank you so much for all of the authenticity and honest, raw emotion. And, especially, for all the work you do to reduce world suck! Take care of yourself
Something I heard about leadership is that a great leader builds strong leaders. And that great leaders can delegate tasks to those they trust. You’re just being vulnerable and transparent and authentic. Which is what I love and respect about you.
As a fellow survivor I am so appreciative of the honest way you’ve shared this time. Your experience resonates and I’ve been able to share your videos with family and friends and go “this is what it feels like!” Thank you and as someone a bit further past it all, I can promise it does get to feel more stable and clear with time. Thanks again!
I'm also part of the group that hasn't purchased from Good Store. I also haven't watched a ton of Sci Show or Crash Course (I'm of the generation just behind where my teacher friends show it in their classes and wish it was there for us). But, I love buying books and giving you guys views and commenting. It feels good to see people actively working to put "good" out in the world, so please keep going.
Great leadership is exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve sent a few kids off to college myself professionally and I find there’s no greater reward than watching something that was my idea fly without me.
I have to remind myself this a lot. I am a founder. I don't think I'd be good at being a proper leader. But can I turn nothing into something? Hell yeah.
@@itsDaedrin Its good to know what youre good at. The best piece of business advice Ive ever gotten was from my dad "Find people whose strengths are your weaknesses"
I have followed your channels for years. I am a huge Sci Show fan and I love the work you do. In May of 2023 I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma. It was incidentally found in the midst of diagnosing a heart condition. My thyroid was removed along with many lymph nodes some of which were malignant. I felt like at the time that I was in the same boat as you and I have drawn inspiration from your experience. My first instinct was that I wanted to continue to work and contribute. Time has become something of a discrete finite concept that wasn't before. Its been over a year since the surgery and radiation treatment and I have been cancer free to this point (November 2024). I am being medically retired. I am near the end of my military career in any case. And now its the anxiety that remains for me. But at least now I know what I want out of life and what I want to do with the rest of my life.
The sort of creative people that start amazing and interesting projects, are often not the best people to run amazing businesses well. This is as it should be, and no-one should have to endure the stress of trying to be a person they are not. Continue to do what you love Hank! x
1:30 today i had an important test, and one of the questions had a quote from tfois that starts with "i missed the future". this part made me think about that
Hank you’re amazing. You go around planting meaningful seeds for your ideas and letting them grow. I know that is oversimplifying it. But that is how I see you. An idea machine of planting seeds for a better world. I will always listen to you talk for 40 minutes, anytime. Thank you Milo for making it only 20, but I would have been all in either way.
I am becoming a high school science teacher soon (a lot of the inspiration for that is thanks to you, Hank). I think that will fulfill my purpose. But I also want to have time to create a UA-cam channel where I have a podcast, or Minecraft, or a Minecraft podcast. I want that so I'm also enjoying my life outside of school. I don't want to build a business where my livelihood comes from selling products or content. I am seeing after 3 and 1/2 of my undergraduate college years that I don't have time to sleep and play Minecraft when I have school and a job to make money. Once school is my job, I'm hoping a UA-cam channel is more possible and that that UA-cam channel isn't my job. I think it's important to grow but I think the work/life balance along with the growth is the most important part. Hank, I hope you find your balance as you grow, if you decide to grow. Not everyone is in your shoes as a UA-camr so when you vent, it won't be relatable to them. I humbly hope this comment is relatable to you. Love you Hank. Keep going. ❤
Seeing Good Store ads in my Facebook are honestly the only ads i don't just immediately scroll past. I really wish i could click through, but i at least want to say that your efforts to be seen are seen.
I feel that including your community in more of behind the scenes stuff (like these are the people you are helping, these are some of the people that make it happen, etc) it helps people to emotionally buy in even more. I know that a video you guys made about the coffee and who it benefits got me to buy it for my hubby. Then, of course, the video revenue helps. I love seeing the good and the people, and how the community has helped.
I’ve enjoyed joining the Alveus Sanctuary community on twitch. Twitch is such a different approach from UA-cam and I really recommend looking into their methods when considering creative models for making positive change in the world. All the love to Hank and John too!
Inside Out 2 helped me understand Anxiety. Hearing you describe it here, Hank, reminds me so much of the scene where Anxiety misappropriates creativity in the effort to protect but ultimately ends up causing harm.
hank!! (in the humble opinion of an internet stranger) the thing that makes you an excellent creator and thinker is the way you allow yourself to be guided not only by your thinking but also your feeling. you say it over and over again that you would or would not do things because either they feel good or bad. it’s what makes Good Store so beautiful, it’s good things that make people feel good!! i think it’s so valuable for your audience to hear that as the centered value. now, obviously there’s a balance. what feels good is not always what is good. but as people in a modern age, we have tools to help us figure that out. i think that’s worth something. it starts with you and your intuition.
It continues to be amazing watching you young fellas (yes, both brothers) develop and mature, especially in a medium that wasn't around for us. Y'all just keep following your passions. Even us old folks will support you. Sincerely, This Old Fart
I got diagnosed with vasculatis anca the same day you told us about your cancer situation hahahah and shared many of your thoughts with you (am i going to die like soon?, my purpouse in life, what i've done, what i haven't done, my relationships and the lack of them, etc) I felt that you were the only one actually capable of understanding what was going on in my mind and the anciety I was overwhelmed by.. being sick can be very isolating. Also you became my chemo buddy. Thanks and let it be know you are not alone in this rollercoaster.
I already commented and I try not to comment more than once But I just wanted to say how much Hank has affected my life for the better. I don't watch every one of his videos but I've bought bizarre beast pins and when I see them they make me smile. I watched scishow and I've learned things that have improved my life. I watched one of the previous hank videos about r-CPD and discovered that I have it and it's treatable. Some of those things are little and some are big but they all mean a lot to me. So Thank you Hank, for making my life better.
Hank, it makes me so happy to hear that you allowed a trusted member of your team edit this for you. I also have issues giving up control over projects I started, despite knowing that they'd be in good hands. This video has as much personal growth in it as any other of your vlogbrothers videos. Thanks for sharing this with us!!!
One of the things I love most about this community is that you and John are so reflective on how to make Nerdfighteria a healthy and welcoming and awesome place, how much you respect and cherish it. It makes all of us respect and cherish each other. You’re doing great.
I have been watching scishow for about 9y now. And never have I had a thought remotely close to “you using your audiences attention for your benefit”. My impression of your platforms is shortly just “genuine”. And so I want to thank you for that! 🌱
A+ to Milo for getting this down to 20 minutes and ending it on "Milo is great".
Seriously though, I'm glad that we can get this kind of content from Hank (although I usually expect this kind of thing to be on Hankschannel) and if having someone else edit it makes that happen then I'm all for it!
I kinda wish milo wrote this
I did have a random/reflexive "ooh! Punishment time!" when I saw a 20-minute video on vlogbrothers, though.
@@kevinwells9751 I initially assumed it was on Hankschannel when I saw Hank's face on the thumbnail for a 20 minute video.
I got married yesterday and today I get an extra vlog brothers video what a great weekend.
Congrats!!
Congratulations!!!!🎉🎉
Congratulations
Congratulations!!🎉🎉🎉
Congratulations 🎉
Hank, I work with nonprofits all the time. Many nonrpofits suffer from the "founders problem." You are doing your group so much good by stepping away but being available when needed. All nonprofits need a new set of voices. You are doing what a lot of leaders refuse to do. You are letting your idea grow and become more than just you.
How amazing would it be if crash course survives us all. (Hopefully remaining free to all)
Yes, so impressed that Hank has not succumbed to founder's syndrome!!
All of this. I worked at a nonprofit that couldn’t liberate itself from the founders.
Matt Mullenweg should take note.
Even regular for profit small businesses can suffer from founder's syndrome. The place I worked a few years ago was unable to grow because the founder and CEO "needed" to approve every decision which meant she had to know a ton of details for each project. A single person doesn't have that capacity!
Influential sock salesman, Hank Green, sharing his inner thoughts with his followers
Wait, so that is who the eff Hank is?
😂😂😂😂
He is up there with influential sock salesman Bob from Bob Hearts Abishola 😂
Vlog brothers is quite literally my favorite UA-cam channel nowadays, the transparency and vulnerability is refreshing
This has to be, at least in part, because you are very weird!
@@vlogbrothersyes, but so many of us are!
@@mariannetfinches It's one of the best things about nerdfighteria!
@@vlogbrothersyou're the only UA-cam channel I've consistently watched for over a decade. Thanks for your continued online presence and work, I love feeling like a part of it.
@@vlogbrothersaren’t we all
Hank before cancer: I think I might be in a journey of meaning
Hank after cancer: I'm on the *biggest* journey of meaning.
John, before Hank's cancer: Hank is on a journey of meaning
Hank: ehhh
Hank after cancer: OH
“ I want to feel less anxious.” The human quest for this is never ending.
It joins our quest to feel more rested
Cannabis moment
We got rid of all the major sources of anxiety (unless you live in a superpower or one of its colonies) and we found anxiety was hardwired into us to keep us safe. There was no reason to evolve to feel safe because we were never safe
Me before clicking on this
For what it's worth, I'm one of the people who's currently not in a position to shop at Good Store or contribute financially to most of the great work you and this community do. But somehow I still feel deeply invested and proud of it all! To the point that I sometimes question where that sense of pride comes from-other than a small contribution to P4A every year, I haven't done much. But it just feels good to be part of a community with such a strong moral compass, that does so much good in the world, while spreading important messages and having fun. Even if I'm only contributing my attention, you guys have helped me understand that my attention has value. So if I'm part of the demographic that you're stressing about, I suggest crossing us off the list! We're not going anywhere. We're happy to be here (because we're here because we're here).
Beautifully said and thank you for the reminder! “Your attention has value.”
100%
I'm here, because I'm here...
I LOVE John's call to actions because I can actually DO something!
+ fully agree with this. I currently cant afford to shop at good store but hearing about it makes me so proud of nerdfightaria and hopeful that there are good things like this in the world. It would be an active loss for me to hear less about it, i actually want to hear more. Despite it not being possible for me to purchase, because i heard about the awesome socks club, i was able to tell a friend about it who had no clue who you guys were and shes been subscribed for a few years now. Please keep telling us about it, dont worry about people like me. DFTBA
so much of what you said here resonated with me, particularly about feeling a maybe-somewhat-larger-than-my-share amount of pride in the work this community has done, but even if my contribution has been small like you said it feels good to participate in something larger. money i spent on purpose has gone to materially changing lives for the better, and i get regular updates about how it's going and how well it's working. other people with more resources believe in the same things i believe in. it feels good.
Top tier comment ❤
"It makes my tummy hurt... All of the time." May be the most relatable thing Hank Green has ever said.
I've never felt anxiety that hurts my tummy and I feel so bad for the world that like 25% of you are going through this level of disordered anxiety.
@@VioletEmerald People can hold their stress in different parts of their body. Tummy and back are pretty common locations. Over time, it can build up cause things like stomach aches, acid reflux, back aches, shoulder pain, etc. But it can also manifest in different ways for other people.
@@erika_7777oh yes. My shoulders are so tight from stress they make a weird grinding sound apparently from muscles moving across my joints or something? I dont remember exactly what the doctor said. I also have gerd and so i get nausea often when im stressed and sometimes throw up because of it but also bc of that sometimes i end up not being able to eat for several days. I get heart palpitations and it feels like theres pain in my stomach, my teeth are grinded down to oblivion, i get idiopathic pain like tooth nerve pain or twitching eye pain, severe insomnia but when i do sleep i sleep for like 18 hours at a time, i am extremely sensitive to loud noises and busy places bc of that also general extreme social anxiety, anxiety about deadlines etc. all of which causes me to be depressed. Also bc of insomnia im always tired mentally and physically but i cant drink coffee or sometimes even tea with caffeine is too strong for me because it also gives me heart palpitations and i feel like death. And even after my 18 hour sleeps i still feel tired and unfortunately its all extremely treatment resistant and the one thing that works i cant take a larger dose of bc my blood pressure is too low.
But yeah when my sis got her new job and realized this is how i operate on a day to day basis she said she was so incredibly miserable. Not to mention sometimes i get hives from stress too it started after my grandma passed.
Chidi-coded :)
I'll be honest, as someone who grew up poor while being in the community, there were times when there was an opportunity, and when I couldnt get involved, I've felt left out. But that does NOT mean that I want you to stop. It's always been the opposite. I hope you keep growing so that when I can participate, it's available.
That said, with Good Store, specifically the awesome socks club, have you considered sponsorships? People can pay for multiple sets of socks while only receiving one pair, and those who can't afford it could sign up on a lottery basis to occassionally get a pair of socks, maybe limited to once or twice a year. It might enable some to feel a part of this and allow others with the means to give in another way.
I love this idea!!
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Giveaways are mad complicated but this is such a good idea!
@@ElpSmith They could set it up less as a "give-a-way" sweepstakes, pull a name out of a bag type thing, and more of a registry. Sign up for the broke person package and if enough people donate during their purchase, then you will receive some socks, first come, first serve. They could probably use mostly the same infrastructure that way with some tweaks rather than designing a whole separate system. idk though, not my area of expertise!
'IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOING TO BE WORSE, IT JUST MEANS IT GOING TO BE DIFFERENT." I needed to hear that.
Speaking from the DFTBA side, it’s felt very special that you’ve trusted the team to love your vision and keep building off of it. We not only get to do cool things, but we also get to grow professionally while we do it! I hope the community appreciates the work too!
Thanks Abi! This means a lot.
We do! ❤
I got to watch the DFTBA vision exist independently in the wild when I saw Dr. Glaucomflecken on tour recently. It was fantastic to see a creator offering merch that created connection to the audience and finding out that the rad new products were due to their new relationship with DFTBA. For me it was fantastic values alignment in action.
We stan Abi now ❤
It's great to know there are so many talented people doing awesome work!
2:52 The holo taco shoutout makes me so happy. I’ve been watching both Christine and Hank for years, so this convergence of internet spaces gladdens my heart
Cristine without the "h" 😂
Yes! I looked down at my nailed currently painted with holo taco and felt my worlds colliding
This was the UA-cam respect friendship I didn't know I needed.
Yes that was amazing and I didn't know I needed it either. Love this mutual respect and admiration
💕
It's great that you are able to talk about your experience. I'm currently terminal with liver and lung cancer and was told a few days ago that there's a good chance I don't make it to Christmas. I really appreciate everything you've done to educate me and the public about, well, seems like everything.
❤
All the Love of NerdFighteria to you!
Thanks y'all 🙏 I have been ready for it and looking forward to relief of all the physical pain it's caused.
❤❤❤
I hope you are surrounded by love and light, and I wish gentleness into your life. 🫂
"I hire people I can trust and let them go"
This is a great leadership move. In my own work, I often get frustrated at how micromanaging upper leadership can be. Why did they hire me if I can't be trusted to do my job? So important that you can find the right balance
10:50 -- it's never failure to shrink. Plants do it all the time . -- Shrink a little and grow when you can. Sometimes, when you shrink a little, the growth stage is incredible!!!
Yes!! This is an incredible comparison
Yeah, but very few good bosses enjoy laying people off. Shrinking for a company generally means lay-offs.
"because it makes my tummy hurt" actually hit so deep for me. You're acknowledging that deep feeling of dread that can become so heavy and distracting from everything else and I appreciate the level of honesty you always have when talking about these hard topics. Thank you for not shying away from telling the truth about human vulnerability regardless of how flattering it is.
It is surprising how much the tummy can hurt for no physical reason!
@@vlogbrothers truth
And it's very important to say, a lot of people don't know that that can happen and it's good to hear it every now and then regardless if you know.
The gut mind… link thing! I forgot the word! Is it axiom? Feels like it’s axiom. But yeah the tummy and the head do a lot of stuff it’s fun (and not fun sometimes!)
@@crissycrossgamingAn axiom is a statement/foundation in a system that is held as true (for no other reason that deciding it is true in that system). So not that.
The gut-brain axis would make more sense.
I had cancer 25 years ago. It didn't make us paranoid, but we did realize that if we wanted to do something, we should do it now, because we couldn't plan on the future being there. Now we're in the future and are so glad we built such wonderful memories.
❤
"And it came to me then, that every plan is a tiny prayer to father time"
I have loved Nerdfighteria, and the times where I felt that financially, P4A wasn't in my budget or Pizzamas didn't have something affordable that I wanted, I never felt guilty. I know that just coming to these videos makes me part of our community. We get it.
Thanks for the permission to keep buying my favorite coffee from Coffee Shop Of Horrors. I have a flavored coffee obsession and they're a great small business. ❤️
I will say that although I haven't always been able to be as much of a financial contributor to the community as I've wanted to be, John's incessant messaging (affectionate) about how one of the most important things we can do is just /pay attention/ has really assuaged a lot of the guilt I think I would ordinarily feel. It makes me feel like I help just by being part of the community -- a rare feeling!
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Appreciate the openness about hard times and showing the struggle! It makes others struggling feel less alone.
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I like buying Keats & Co. coffee, but that's really an extension of liking that I'm a Nerdfighter. I think Complexly and Good Store are doing a great job of being a part of that group identity without turning it into "just a brand" or whatever.
Also, when projects like good store get bigger if anything, makes it feel like a more fun and wholesome part of the Nerdfighteria project specifically because we don't feel like we're being asked to buy something and can just enjoy that it's being successful.
I think the best decision good store made was having more products that you use up and need to replace. I LOVED the sock subscription but I have a lot of amazing socks that are good quality now so I'm not running through those and ultimately had to end it for a while. Soap is always a need. Coffee is always a need
Hank you are the reason I believe in chemotherapy rather than useless alternative therapies and that is an extremely amazing impact to have on someone's life.
From a total stranger: I can't tell you how many times I've relied on Crash Course videos to understand complex topics, especially as someone with limited financial means and a woefully lacking public school education, and I hope you and John and everyone on your team feel pride for what you all do. I've never known the pressure of running a business and being responsible for other people's financial livelihoods, and motivations can be conflicting and messy. But that anxiety is indicative of integrity and shows a concern for creating educational/entertaining content that benefits the most people, both staff and viewers included. Wishing for much more success for you and your team in the future 🙏
Stream of consciousness Hank is classic Hank
Here's to more vlogs on Vlogbrothers!!
As somebody who cannot afford any of the good store products, I have felt left out, but it does really, really help to hear how you're thinking about people like myself and that you care how we feel. Because I am part of this community, even if I can't afford the products, and I do want to keep belonging here. Thank you!
As someone who can afford some of the products, you are just as much a part of this community as any of us. You being here is part of what makes nerdfighteria what it is!
You do belong here, and we are happy to have you! thank you for being here with us!
I see how the focus on products could make you feel left out when you can't afford that. Even though I can afford some of it, as someone who is generally pretty cheap, it makes me a bit uncomfortable feeling compelled to buy things. No matter what the circumstance, we all belong here.
As a person who isn’t in a position to shop at Good Store, I love the vision behind it and get excited to share it with other people! I feel good sharing the knowledge of it, even if I’m not always able to contribute monetarily to it. And I don’t feel any less part of the nerdfighter community not being able to contribute to it. But I also think part of that is how deeply you and all the folx who work at all of these kick ass companies care about making sure people feel like they’re part of the community, regardless of what their contribution looks like.
There’s nothing wrong with the growth slowing. If you had shareholders, you’d be in trouble, but that’s the beauty of not having shareholders!!
Growth slowing is indeed fine! Shrinking sucks though.
@@vlogbrothersdoes it though?
Provate companies and co- ops are better fr
@@vlogbrothers Did DFTBA lose a few clients?
@@felipevitorino7745it does if you've got employees
Being surprised about the products your companies were launching seemed like a pretty effective way to me to communicate you had a different role.
Talking about your new roles from time to time would still be interesting, and I think it would help further to get that message across
Something that could be cool is interviewing the people who are taking on bigger roles in the organization of that would be something they’d enjoy. I’d be super fascinated in a conversation between you and the people you helped choose to run the companies. Obviously only if that’s something that sounds fun to you all.
@@emu_phase That’d be super interesting!
You should only have a CEO surprised about the products their company is launching if it's Brennan Lee Mulligan playing a CEO
I would love to see that! If they're a person Hank would trust to take over one of his creations then I'm sure they're worth hearing from!
Love that Hank peripherally loves holo taco (I am a huge nail polish enthusiast partially due to cristine (simply nailogical))
Yesss love this crossover interest in Nerdfighteria and Holo Taco ❤
The “unlocked a new background level of anxiety” thing is so real. I went the first 20 something years of my life without having a panic attack, and then I had a panic attack, and just knowing what that feels like and having access to those neural pathways created a before/after point where even in totally chill times, that is always still just there. It’s a very strange thing.
I’ve been following Christine since she was just a nail art instagrammer, before she joined UA-cam in 2014. The evolution from being well known for a super specific type of nail art on Ig, to nail art tutorials on YT, to her polish mountain videos, launching holo taco, her podcast, etc, feels very vlogbrothers coded. Everyone knows Christine for something totally different, just like everyone knows the Green brothers for very different reasons.
Omg, it's an oxford comma, instant like.
A vulnerable and authentic CEO is orders of magnitude more valuable, than any number of pretended genius titans of industry.
19:25 love the ramblings man, always insightful and real.
As an old 2007 nerdfighter who cannot afford GoodStore products and haven’t ever been able to support Patreon stuff, these things are still very good and have my support. I might not have access to them but I don’t have access to lots of things. I am grateful knowing that all of your efforts to decrease worldsuck are ongoing. The system as it exists requires successfully wealthy people to be investing in such projects, however incremental.
There are plenty of wealthy evil overlords at the moment who would not care at all about the things you’re processing in this video. And that makes all the difference for me.
You’re doing great, Hank.
And yes, we love a long fairly raw vlog. 😁
I'm 100% on board with the work y'all are doing. I wish you'd spend a bit less time on vlogbrothers trying to sell me stuff, but I'm happy that stuff exists, that people are enjoying it, and that it actually supports good causes.
And it is nice to hear you just talk about a thing openly. I didn't even realize this was a vlogbrothers post and not hankschannel until like the 19 minute mark. It's nice.
hi hank! i recently made a reddit post expressing frustration with the amount of 'ads' on vlogbrothers. something that people in the comments helped me understand is that it isn't just about getting people to buy these products, although that is good. these projects mean a lot to you and take up a big part of of your brainspace so you want to talk about them. i think that makes a lot of sense! something you said in this video that connected with me is that you want nerdfighteria to believe in goodstore and its mission, even if we aren't buying the products. this helps me see some of what i had been interpreting as 'ads' to be excitment about the goals of goodstore. i do agree with what you said at the end though, maybe having more videos that are about connecting with the audience and building community would help this problem!
anyways, long post to say that it feels like i maybe criticized you and caused some of this spiral, and i appreciate you sharing your thoughts and being vulnerable. dftba!
You're a founder, not a CEO. The magic of you is the passion and disorganization and constantly bringing us new things. We're always here because you're always you. There's no other channel I've been watching since 2007. Also, your problems change like my problems change and that's always reassuring. ❤ Keep doing what you're doing 😊
4:56 Would you say it's a "Nailogical" extension? 🤔😆
A few hours ago I finally watched your stand up special, really funny and thoughtprovoming, and now this video.
I'm glad we are not on the "Hank is secretly a greedy moneygrubber"-timeline, that is a big relief. Your concern fordoing the right things and doing things right is inspiring. If all people could spend a fraction of their energy on that like you do... The children would be singing in the streets, until we'd ask them to please stop that.
Please know Hank, that you and John are well thought of, respected and loved. Wrap yourself up in all of the warm feelings and love and calmness that people watching you and Nerdfighteria gives you.
13:10 Of course you can't, that would quite literally be physically impossible Hank! You started all this stuff, and helped it grow, then found awesome talented people to take over and now you can do new things!
I'm about 12 years younger than Hank, and I grew up without a cohesive family. My mother was out of the picture and my father often needed my help more than he was around to help me. I started watching Brotherhood 2.0 in 2008 when I was about 16. As someone who struggles socially, and doesn't have much financially, I haven't really participated in the community past watching and listening. But I will continue to watch and listen for as long as you guys keep making things. I have a feeling Hank and John would cringe at the idea of me calling them familial figures in my life, but I cannot think of a better descriptor. It doesn't matter that Hank and John have no idea who I am because for 16 years they have helped me through good times and bad. They've been an inspiration, a moral role model, and source of humor in my life. Dear Hank and John always makes me smile. It is because of the thoughtful, open conversations you two have had over the years that I am who I am today, and I'm proud to be someone who struggles despite the futility of effort, and someone who imagines others complexy, and someone who really tries not to forget to be awesome.
Whatever projects you pursue Hank, I'll be there cheering you on because I know you're a moral person who cares about us. In a world surrounded by endless greed, you have clear boundaries and your head on straight. You do deserve the money from your books. It would feel weird every time you plugged Good Store if you and John were profiting off of it. You have gotten this far because you have a good understanding of the very problem you are deliberating. I know it's hard, but trust yourself a little more! And if there's one thing I could communicate across this long term parasocial relationship, it's thank you. Thank you both for sharing so much of your own lives with me. Truly, I could never put in to words how much it means to have you both in my life! 🙅♂
I'm right there with you, I've also grown up without any meaningful family and have had to raise myself and my younger (and sometimes even older) siblings. I started watching Hank and John around 15/16, and they've been such a stabilising, calming presence; the first adults who were honest with me about the absurdity and meaning of life, who showed me how healthy adults take responsibility and make decisions and grapple with anxiety and such. I've now fled the extremist environment I grew up in, and the feeling of being completely disconnected from any familial system (no matter how horrifically violent) is daunting, but it feels a little better knowing that these two kind strangers will still be there for me to listen to. My hope is that in time I'll expand my social network enough find actual IRL role models and guardian figures, but until then, these two and Nerdfighteria help.
Wishing you all the best, friend. May we both find chosen family and support.
I've had a very similar experience (toxic family, finances wonky, eventually had to leave) although I'm a bit younger than the two of you. I started watching Vlogbrothers at 13-14 and got hooked very quickly. I think one of the things that really struck me from an early age was Hank and John's ability to be vulnerable. Their honesty and integrity were great examples to me for how I should live my life. I'm so grateful I found them when I did and that they're still with me today through the hard times and the brighter light soaked days :)
watching and listening IS community!!
I sincerely and wholeheartedly appreciate when you guys open conversations about your thoughts and processes behind what you push, where you put your efforts in, and when to promote certain stuff. It feels transparent, and sincere - which feels insanely refreshing in the internet as a whole.
I'm from a relatively poor side of Brazil, so I don't really have the option to participate in the money-focused Nerdfighteria events. But I still get to share, and communicate, and think about stuff that matters, and I'm glad there's space for it.
P.S. as someone that's been watching YT since 2006, I thoroughly enjoyed a 20 minute rambling vlog about kind of connected thoughts
Sharing and communicating and thinking, this is the best part!!
good job blurring the check! also wow a Sunday video, what a treat
I am a fan of Cristine and the reason why I support her is because she gave me hope. When I was anxious about my future in my home country, her videos gave me a ray of hope to move to Canada. After moving to Canada I still watched her and she is so honest with her products, she encourages people to pursue both academy and hobby (so rare these days) and she really made an impact to my life!
I love how passionate Simply is about education. And it's been really nice to see her manage the pivot from "burned out OG YTer trying to keep cranking out the same funny" to really seeming like she's enjoying life and always finding new avenues of interest. I wish Jenna had been able to find that angle (selfish wish, I admit - hopefully she's perfectly happy post-YT!)
We're doing what we can with the tools that we have.
Great job Milo!
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I think one of my all time favorite vlogbrothers videos is where you went around the office and chatted with everyone on the team for a few seconds each many years ago now. I think showing these great teams for all of these great companies to your wider audience helps the public understand how many people actually work on something!
It sounds like your identity both personally and professionally is shifting a lot and it's hard to feel like people don't totally understand it and also hard to figure out how to communicate that so people do understand. I am just an internet stranger so I hesitate to comment too much on your experience (but I am also a 10+ yr nerdfighter and someone who had a bone marrow transplant in my youth) so for what it's worth I think it's completely natural and very common for this year to have felt how it did for you. I dont know how much it helps to say you're not alone in this, some of it is amplified by your profession, but it's certainly not totally unique. The shift out of Treatment Mode into whatever comes after that is HARD and in my humble opinion the oncology world does not do a great job supporting patients through that.
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Thank you for trying your best to not exclude people who can’t financially support the many projects you’ve started (and those that the other teams have started). I think you saying it out loud does a lot to accomplish that goal.
Oh, man. Those feelings sound so familiar. That first year after cancer is so hard. 10 years later, I viscerally remember how lost I felt. The difference between Hank and the rest of us is that he channeled that into amazing productivity 😅😅😅😅
Hank, you birth things. the going to college metaphor was a great one. you raise them until they outgrow you. you are being an excellent parent by letting them soar without you. keep going.
I have done my best to minimize the parasocial relationship that i have with creators as so many of them have been mired in controversy, scamming their fans, grooming, or just treating the people under them poorly. But with the green brothers i really trust them to be decent people and to be open with their problems and to have a strong moral compass.
When John first started talking about Hank's journey of meaning, I thought he was having a little joke, but no, that was insider information 😅
On other channels, I'm always like "ugh, why is this video longer than 4 minutes" but then I'm here, where I grew accustomed to the 4 minute rule, and I'm so excited because it's a 20 min video 😂
Hank just out here being the most logical, selfless, and cooperative leader ever. Never change man. Or do, it’s your life. #HankForPresident2029
As a long time nerdfighter who can’t currently afford to buy things from the good store, I still absolutely love hearing about new things going on with it. Even though I can’t support it right now I still love its mission and hope that one day I can get my products there, not because it’s Hank’s store but because of its mission and model
Hank I think it is really important to take mental breaks as you need them and reevaluate your priorities often. I had to take a step back from the news because it truly was destroying my mental health. Just because you are Hank, doesn't mean you owe the world your time and energy to be chronically online and obsessively aware of everything. You are fantastic and can only keep being fantastic if you take care of yourself.
Years ago I asked someone why they invested in a startup that it turned out they EXPECTED to accidentally misuse funds. They told me it was because they believed in the idea, but idea people didn’t tend to be business people. They still wanted the project to get off the ground, and it did. Last I heard it was doing great.
Anyway, you’ve always struck me as an idea person, and it has honestly surprised me that you’ve been able to do both successfully.
I think my point/thought may have gotten lost somewhere in there, but I think you have great ideas, and hope you keep being creative. And being a good business person if that’s what you want
16:20 "To live life while I have it."
Hank delivers this in an offhand way, but I think it is the core message. None of us knows how much time we have. So do the things you've always wanted to do. Love the people around you and embrace the love they give to you. And don't take a second of it for granted.
Never apologize for delegating, it is the sign of a good leader.
Next, I don’t see why promoting good store is selling out any more than advertising someone else’s product, so long as it is a really good product and or a really good cause I think its way better than being sponsored by a third party.
I have project directors who easily have 20 years worth of experience more than Hank, and they don't understand how to not look at every little thing and make sure they have made their mark on it. Bless you Hank for understanding that other professionals can do great work.
We love you, Hank! Thank you so much for all of the authenticity and honest, raw emotion. And, especially, for all the work you do to reduce world suck! Take care of yourself
Something I heard about leadership is that a great leader builds strong leaders. And that great leaders can delegate tasks to those they trust.
You’re just being vulnerable and transparent and authentic. Which is what I love and respect about you.
As a fellow survivor I am so appreciative of the honest way you’ve shared this time. Your experience resonates and I’ve been able to share your videos with family and friends and go “this is what it feels like!” Thank you and as someone a bit further past it all, I can promise it does get to feel more stable and clear with time. Thanks again!
I'm also part of the group that hasn't purchased from Good Store. I also haven't watched a ton of Sci Show or Crash Course (I'm of the generation just behind where my teacher friends show it in their classes and wish it was there for us). But, I love buying books and giving you guys views and commenting. It feels good to see people actively working to put "good" out in the world, so please keep going.
Great leadership is exactly what you’re talking about. I’ve sent a few kids off to college myself professionally and I find there’s no greater reward than watching something that was my idea fly without me.
I have to remind myself this a lot. I am a founder. I don't think I'd be good at being a proper leader. But can I turn nothing into something? Hell yeah.
@@itsDaedrin Its good to know what youre good at. The best piece of business advice Ive ever gotten was from my dad "Find people whose strengths are your weaknesses"
the journey of meaning continues, and I love it
As someone who doesn't currently have the money to be participating (turns out being trans is expensive) I definitely still feel included
I have followed your channels for years. I am a huge Sci Show fan and I love the work you do.
In May of 2023 I was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma. It was incidentally found in the midst of diagnosing a heart condition. My thyroid was removed along with many lymph nodes some of which were malignant. I felt like at the time that I was in the same boat as you and I have drawn inspiration from your experience. My first instinct was that I wanted to continue to work and contribute. Time has become something of a discrete finite concept that wasn't before. Its been over a year since the surgery and radiation treatment and I have been cancer free to this point (November 2024). I am being medically retired. I am near the end of my military career in any case. And now its the anxiety that remains for me. But at least now I know what I want out of life and what I want to do with the rest of my life.
The sort of creative people that start amazing and interesting projects, are often not the best people to run amazing businesses well. This is as it should be, and no-one should have to endure the stress of trying to be a person they are not. Continue to do what you love Hank! x
Not me crying watching the video and the reading people's comments 😭😭😭💗💗💗
1:30 today i had an important test, and one of the questions had a quote from tfois that starts with "i missed the future". this part made me think about that
Hank, you got me through high school, then uni, then through my cancer journey, now out of it. Thank you.
Thank you for all of the seeds you and your brother have planted! I love yall!
Hank you’re amazing. You go around planting meaningful seeds for your ideas and letting them grow. I know that is oversimplifying it. But that is how I see you. An idea machine of planting seeds for a better world.
I will always listen to you talk for 40 minutes, anytime. Thank you Milo for making it only 20, but I would have been all in either way.
I am becoming a high school science teacher soon (a lot of the inspiration for that is thanks to you, Hank). I think that will fulfill my purpose. But I also want to have time to create a UA-cam channel where I have a podcast, or Minecraft, or a Minecraft podcast. I want that so I'm also enjoying my life outside of school. I don't want to build a business where my livelihood comes from selling products or content. I am seeing after 3 and 1/2 of my undergraduate college years that I don't have time to sleep and play Minecraft when I have school and a job to make money. Once school is my job, I'm hoping a UA-cam channel is more possible and that that UA-cam channel isn't my job. I think it's important to grow but I think the work/life balance along with the growth is the most important part. Hank, I hope you find your balance as you grow, if you decide to grow. Not everyone is in your shoes as a UA-camr so when you vent, it won't be relatable to them. I humbly hope this comment is relatable to you. Love you Hank. Keep going. ❤
Seeing Good Store ads in my Facebook are honestly the only ads i don't just immediately scroll past. I really wish i could click through, but i at least want to say that your efforts to be seen are seen.
Even if Hank is insane, we still love your videos.
I feel that including your community in more of behind the scenes stuff (like these are the people you are helping, these are some of the people that make it happen, etc) it helps people to emotionally buy in even more. I know that a video you guys made about the coffee and who it benefits got me to buy it for my hubby. Then, of course, the video revenue helps. I love seeing the good and the people, and how the community has helped.
I’ve enjoyed joining the Alveus Sanctuary community on twitch. Twitch is such a different approach from UA-cam and I really recommend looking into their methods when considering creative models for making positive change in the world. All the love to Hank and John too!
"I hire people I can trust and let them go..." This is a hallmark of a great leader. Keep doing this, Hank.
Always happy to just hear your thoughts Hank ❤❤❤
Inside Out 2 helped me understand Anxiety. Hearing you describe it here, Hank, reminds me so much of the scene where Anxiety misappropriates creativity in the effort to protect but ultimately ends up causing harm.
beautiful to know, although in different circumstances, Hank and I both have career anxiety
hank!! (in the humble opinion of an internet stranger) the thing that makes you an excellent creator and thinker is the way you allow yourself to be guided not only by your thinking but also your feeling. you say it over and over again that you would or would not do things because either they feel good or bad. it’s what makes Good Store so beautiful, it’s good things that make people feel good!! i think it’s so valuable for your audience to hear that as the centered value.
now, obviously there’s a balance. what feels good is not always what is good. but as people in a modern age, we have tools to help us figure that out. i think that’s worth something. it starts with you and your intuition.
We love a bonus off-the-cuff Hank video!
It continues to be amazing watching you young fellas (yes, both brothers) develop and mature, especially in a medium that wasn't around for us. Y'all just keep following your passions. Even us old folks will support you.
Sincerely,
This Old Fart
I got diagnosed with vasculatis anca the same day you told us about your cancer situation hahahah and shared many of your thoughts with you (am i going to die like soon?, my purpouse in life, what i've done, what i haven't done, my relationships and the lack of them, etc) I felt that you were the only one actually capable of understanding what was going on in my mind and the anciety I was overwhelmed by.. being sick can be very isolating. Also you became my chemo buddy. Thanks and let it be know you are not alone in this rollercoaster.
I already commented and I try not to comment more than once But I just wanted to say how much Hank has affected my life for the better. I don't watch every one of his videos but I've bought bizarre beast pins and when I see them they make me smile. I watched scishow and I've learned things that have improved my life. I watched one of the previous hank videos about r-CPD and discovered that I have it and it's treatable. Some of those things are little and some are big but they all mean a lot to me. So Thank you Hank, for making my life better.
Yay!! I can't believe how many people that RCPD video helped!!
I could watch your vids all day!
Hank, it makes me so happy to hear that you allowed a trusted member of your team edit this for you. I also have issues giving up control over projects I started, despite knowing that they'd be in good hands. This video has as much personal growth in it as any other of your vlogbrothers videos. Thanks for sharing this with us!!!
Hank we love you!! Keep it up
and you know, keep stepping it down :)
One of the things I love most about this community is that you and John are so reflective on how to make Nerdfighteria a healthy and welcoming and awesome place, how much you respect and cherish it. It makes all of us respect and cherish each other. You’re doing great.
Heck yeah, let's do that census again!
+++
Happy to come along with you on the journey, Hank! ❤
We love you Hank
I have been watching scishow for about 9y now. And never have I had a thought remotely close to “you using your audiences attention for your benefit”. My impression of your platforms is shortly just “genuine”. And so I want to thank you for that! 🌱