What was your favorite lesson from this video? Or do you have other advice I didn't mention in this video? Comment and let us know! :) *PS: If you want more creator lessons and exclusive freebies, make sure to sign up for The Creator Journal newsletter (it's free):* www.thecreatorjournal.co
I love this! I would love to hear your tips on building a community. I really want to serve my people but at times I feel like my content is just random and not helping anyone. 😢
Not making content that you no longer want to make. Years ago I attracted a big audience (big to me lol) because I talked about relationships a lot. I don’t care to talk about that anymore but my old audience kept trying to get me to talk anout it and it seemed to be the only thing they payed attention to. So I would still talk about it and sell courses here and there. I decided it didn’t feel good and finally let it go.
I love how genuine it is, and you saying “ feeding the pig” I had this lesson this month. It’s so important to be in alignment Truly of what your heart wants. Money is not always the goal, yes we have bills but like… as creators we can do both. Or should! Love this
❤ Same here! I actually don’t even edit my videos-I just upload them throughout the day into my daily playlist. It’s like blogging, but without having to wait a week to post a few snippets. I take you guys along with me throughout the day, and then the next day, I start a new playlist. It’s so low maintenance, and since I started on the 16th of this month, I’ve already gained almost 40 new followers!
I'm glad you came back with this 'unapologetically authentic' advice as I pivoted to UA-cam. My niche is unsexy, nor fun. All of the 'UA-cam Guru' advice was intimidating. They made me feel 'less than' because I didn't care about the money grab. I genuinely just want to share my family's lessons learned about the consequences of not planning for golden years outside of the retirement fund aspect. Once I started being just me, my subscriber count tripled to a whopping 150. And I cried happy tears because that is 150 people I can help. My most viewed video has reached over 300 views. That is 300+ people I've helped with that topic. I'm getting paid in the comments from people saying THANK YOU! That is my WHY! And why I will keep going.
love this!! I also love the video title "how being laid off at 55 was a blessing in disguise" - you took a seemingly "shameful" / taboo topic into an empowering one. Keep up the amazing work!! Congratulations!!
I was subsribed to you a couple years back and started to feel like I was no longer connecting with your content because of how sterile it started to feel. Seeing you now shows to me that your proactive personality was what drew me in and how you are pivoting your channel made me subscribe again. I'm excited to see your content again :)
Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I have a faceless UA-cam channel and I've been posting a bunch of Shorts lately. The thing that worked best for me was giving my videos a small boost on third party tools specifically designed for this (my favorite is to use a bit of Famester). This caused my Shorts to spread out literally everywhere, bringing more and more organic views and subs day after day.
Vanessa I can't thank you enough for this video. Right on time! I just pivoted on my channel and people are falling away but I'm happier and feel like the ones that stayed are there for the big virtual hug I'm trying to give.
Let them! And know some people may circle back! I also sometimes get comments from certain people who only liked my older content, and the rare times where comments they leave are judgemental, offensive, and mean. It often reveals the transactional nature of social media, and has made me realize that I don't necessarily want those types of intentions in my community. When you build a tribe of people who have values similar to yours and emulate the vibe you want, showing up becomes much more fun and loving - because you feel SAFE!
I just got this HUGE insight from your video: if the only thing you obtain by going into a specific business is to find out that that you don't want to be in that business, it was totally worth it. And I also say it from experience. Thanks, amazing video!!!
Love to see you back as your authentic self Vanessa You're shining so brightly ✨✨✨ I'm rooting for you I totally agree with you when you said "we don't have content ideas, we have thoughts, lessons, stories and experiences" These are the things that makes us Creators. And it makes creating content itself easy like a flow and fun. I'm so happy to see the growth you've attained Vanessa and how you're more of yourself now and you're enjoying this. Will forever be your fan😁 Sending you loads of love❤, Victoria.
YES! i think that there's a lot of pressure and constraints we put on ourselves, which affects how we view and show up in our content. Once you reframe certain things, the pressure comes off almost immediately. Thank you so much Victoria, I appreciate you leaving such a kind comment!
@@VanessaLau Precisely. All it takes is a change in perspective, and we can beginning creating from within our true self. Thanks for sharing that Vanessa
00:00 Introduction 00:13 Depth vs. Volume 03:50 STOP Feeding the Pig! 06:46 Perfection Alienates Others 09:20 Stop Speaking Poorly 12:00 TFAR Self-Coaching Model 13:01 Creative Goals vs. Metric Goals 14:19 Content Won't Define You 17:37 Create Evidence for Safety 20:05 Employee vs. Investor Mindset 21:39 Withdrawal is Necessary 23:07 Work on Your LIFE! 23:56 Personal is Universal 27:29 Content Ideas vs. Thoughts 28:08 The Creator Journal
I hope you are the leader of change when it comes to talking about creator burnout. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear about the struggles of constantly feeding the pig ❤
I hope everyone here realizes that you don't need a huge audience to build a 7 figure creator business. I built a 6-figure business with my audience by teaching them how to create funnels and to make the right offers to their audience. As long as you give value and you are authentic, the sky is the limit!🙌🏻💖📈🚀
THIS! I think when more people put this into perspective, and focus more on retention and having the right pricing/business model, it would free up a lot of the pressure.
this is so relatable! Going through learning ALL these lessons rn. thank you so much Vanessa, I'm done feeding the pig and even though engagement's gone down, i feel more alive than ever. 💕
I really appreciate your content and the vulnerability you show. Taking a break not only added value to you, but also your audience gets to benefit from your experience 🙏🏾.
Appreciate this so much! The break was much needed and I'm glad everyone else also gets to benefit from my time off :) imagine if more creators took breaks and came back renewed!?
I love these types of vulnerable videos, Vanessa! ☺As a small content creator with a little bit more than 10K subs I am always on the lookout for authentic advice but there is not much out there except for the usual "keep posting regularly without any breaks and make sure every video is a little bit better than the last one blah blah" and I am honestly so sick of it. It is a recipe for burnout. I want to create content that connects with my audience and makes them feel seen. Your advice is a breath of fresh air. Thank you so much for creating content based on your true self and letting us be part of your journey 💗
I've always found your content to be valuable to a degree, but I really love the direction of your channel now. THIS is the stuff I've wanted to hear from influencers for the longest! 🙌🏾💎✨
I swear you like the only person making content for those of us in the middle of our journey. You’re right there’s so much that just targets the top of the funnel we’re kind of left out!
I SCREAMED when you mentioned Inner child healing 😊 Recently i found The Inner Child Podcast after a friend’s recommendation and it changed my life… like a year of therapy in a few episodes. It’s free to listen on Spotify and some other apps too I believe Vanessa you would love it, the host is a famous therapist called Gloria Zhang and she sometimes speaks of the asian parenting experience too. But just hearing someone explain so clearly but also give clear tips on how to fix it was healing for my soul! Like you, my personal journey also changed my business in good ways. Thank you for always inspiring us!
That does sound like something that would be up my alley! Thank you for sharing. Yes, I used to think the inner child stuff was a bunch of BS - but it really isn't...
100% - sometimes the answer comes when you're not looking for it, or when you create SPACE for yourself to even think about it thoughtfully vs. rushing and forcing things.
I read this in a book and I think this suits perfectly regarding the vulnerability point you raised -> We love seeing raw truth and openness in other people, but we’re afraid to let them see it in us… Here’s the crux of the struggle: I want to experience your vulnerability but I don’t want to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is courage in you and inadequacy in me. I’m drawn to your vulnerability but repelled by mine.”
WOW! this is so necessary for all of us to know!. The highlight of this video for me is: " You don't have Content. You have thoughts, stories, lessons, experiences." !!!! tysm for this amazing video!!
You’re amazing. I have to say, I’ve seen a couple of people use your goodbye post as a way to promote their own business model and that never sat well with me. This is absolutely beautiful. This is YOUR amazing journey. You actually walked and experienced the path and you learned so much and then came back and taught us….and that speaks volumes of your character. I think finding you and your Chanel has been a huge blessing and I am so grateful you’re taking the time to really speak vulnerably about your experience. It does feel like you’re a genuine bestie and that is super rare ❤
hahaa i have seen those too and it also never sat well with me, so I appreciate you noticing that as well. Thank you so much, your comment means a lot to me and is very motivating to keep sharing!
Really glad to see someone telling the truth instead of putting on the perfectionist mask. Please keep sharing these valuable insights about content creation and online business vanessa. I really respect your honesty and authenticity.
I’ve been watching you for years and you helped me gain 150k followers on tiktok, but now that I don’t feel right sharing beauty content, no one watches me, I’ve lost thousands of followers, and I get about 500 views each video when before I’d get millions. It’s been hard making the switch but your video has helped give me more motivation that I need
I didn’t expect this video to be so emotional 🙂 We are who we are. What is authentically us in the moment is the only sustainable way. & Asian mental health matters! Thanks, Vanessa 💜
Thank you so much for this! I've been second guessing my content and decided to just stop thinking so much, and your story helps me remember that being natural is the best way to maintain longevity and create authentic connections. For now, I'm just focused on consistency instead of chasing trends!
I can't tell you how much more I enjoy your videos now vs before. You gave a lot of value before, but it felt transactional. I didn't always pay attention because it just felt like a lot. But your approach now resonates so much deeper. Proud of you.
VANESSA! Thank you so much for putting this out. There was a moment in there I felt like big sis was talking to me and I'm only 10 minutes in lol. I remember you being one of the channels I used to watch back in the day when trying to grow on IG and one of my faves. It's so great to see that you are at this place in life and is beautiful for you to use your platform to shine a light on this new way of living and thinking. I am in the process of starting my channel and growing a genuine audience, something I've always wanted to do for decades now but trying out different types of videos and trends etc., never worked for me and I couldn't figure out why it hadn't clicked. Now that I just want to lift the mask and share myself with the world, my wisdom, my journey and truly help people in reaching their goals, content creation has been much easier and I am making genuine connection with people. No fancy edits, no sales pitches, just me genuinely sharing myself. I used to be soo concerned with growing and growing my audience and I now have a deeper understanding of the true value in showing up and being of service to anyone who supports me, even if it's just a few people- they matter. And like you said, we can make GOOD money just being of service to a small group of people!!
Bahhaha I definitely put the big sis hat on for this video - it was fun to make! And thank you so much for saying that. I feel like I can now speak to the dark side of fast growth, and my hope is by sharing some of this wisdom, others can course correct or find a happy medium so they DONT have to burn everything down! And YES! People overestimate how much is truly necessary to make a living. It's because the goals aren't clearly defined and the numbers haven't been crunched. In reality, you don't need 100k followers. And even knowing that can put the pressure off things.
I believe the self talk lies in the middle and not at the extremes of the parent talk and the overly patting yourself on the back style. Sometimes we go to the opposite extreme in order to “fix” what we went through originally. Great content as always!
This makes so much sense. I have found that having a core group of ride or die viewers who have grown with me and love the content I love to make has been such a richer experience. I have pivoted and added or stopped making content based on what my core group enjoys and thrunthat process grown myself. Every Saturday I have a Live and connect with my viewers for over an hour with regulars who join in every week and evrn connect woth each other.
I LOVE the Saturday Lives that you too! I've had an intention to do weekly lives too. One step at a time! But i love love love that for you and how you're building community
Im eating my breakfast this morning and wanted to watch something that would inspire me, motivate me, or make me feel like I learned something before I started the day. I wanted to tell you how I watched this video. I had a brain fart and forgot your name, so I went to my subscribers list, had to click "View All" and scrolled through until your face popped up. I dont watch all you videos, but it's this kind of content that is bringing me back. I am a creator and business owner and all of this relates. So thank you for taking a break and thank you for bringing your authentic self.
Love this and the genuine content. I also create just to create for fun, from the heart for the joy from it. So I love it- and the genuine advice etc I also do SMM content creations and I will agree it is wildly ….. draining! Great advice
Yes! It becomes draining when you're performing and not doing it from the heart. When you never take breaks, it can also lead to resentment that you project onto your community. Appreciate you watching the video and leaving a comment!
Hey Vanessa, this was really insightful, I have come to understand that it's always important to feel in control when sharing content, afterall, the aim is not to please anyone, but build a community of people who like and share the same interests as you. I like your point on focusing on depth, rather than volume, retaining people you already know is very vital to building a business that lasts, and also a personal brand
Vanessa, this video is a game changer for me! 🎯 Your insights about balancing creativity with sustainability really hit home, especially as someone who’s navigating the challenges of building a business and now after having started my own channel. Your transparency about burnout and the importance of setting boundaries is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you for always keeping it real and sharing the hard-earned lessons.✨
I have spent the last 48h answering the question ”who do I want to be as a creator” and it’s almost as if I was trying to scope in who I am, media wise. There is YT, Tiktok and Instagram and YT Shorts, and make videos about this and that. BUT the best strategy is to film in the format I think best tells my story and film a storyline I find meaningful (and ultimately do best). Additionally, there is no purpose of marketing my content on say Tiktok if I don’t resonate with those type of viewers. Good job with the video! I completely agree!
I just want you to know that you’ve changed the way I look at my content creation and I can’t thank you enough for posting your journey and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. I was very close to burnout and now I’m able to not stress and focus more on what I love to do. AND the best part is that I’m able to spend more time with my family now and I don’t stress about being away from social media for an entire day or two. Again, thank you so much!
This comment is EVERYTHING and is the reason why I make these videos - to give back and talk about the other side of fast growth and doing content solely based on "tactics". I'm so happy for you that you get to spend more time with family and have less stress. It probably makes you feel less resentment towards your community too, when you have your cup filled :)
@@VanessaLau thank you! I’m so lucky to have a super supportive community. :) They’re here for me when I need to take breaks. I love that you mentioned growing a community and not just looking for new followers. For the past several months, I’ve been focusing more on being myself and more genuine in everything I put out there. It’s been going really well and I’m having a lot more fun. Again, thanks so much for all you share!
I’ve been following you for years and seen your ups and downs. You have helped me so much in the beginning of my journey of content creation and I appreciate you so much! I just want to say I appreciate you showing your ups and downs of this journey a lot of us are on. I appreciate this authentic genuine approach you are going in. It definitely makes creators that don’t have all the growth feel more relatable. I love this bestie approach. Can’t wait to see more Vanessa❤!
"Depth over Volume" is another way of saying more quality over quantity. I 100% agree. Aim for substance over style and I've felt your content lately has done just that. I always take the time to watch you because it keeps me accountable for my journey as a content creator. So please continue to do what you do. It's really helping people like me understand myself as a whole.
Yeah, and I think people hear "quality over quantity" so much that they don't actually "get it". Whereas I feel when you say "VOLUME" and how exhausting and never-ending having a volume-based business can be, I hope it paints the picture of the consequences more clearly. Appreciate you so much and thank you for the feedback on my newer videos. It's been a joy to create in this pressure-free way and just expressing what I've learned and how I feel. Thank you so much again for the support!
Discovering you is a blessing in disguise. Ive been on a rut of starting my sidebusiness, basically i self sabotage and feel frustrated to start because i dont think im gonna be good enough (inner child) so this was very eye opening seeing someone like you also went through the same feelings. Thank you for doing these videos, you have a new subscriber.
I resonate so much with creating evidence that breaks wont hurt your business, training your audience to know that it is okay to breaks - that resonates deeply and will be implementing that this time around!
This is probably my favorite video of yours! And I agree 100% to everything you said for experiencing it myself. I've been following you for a few years and I'm happy to see you evolve that way. Thanks for sharing your precious lessons
Vanessa, can I just say I've been following your journey for over 3 years and at first I consumed your free content, then I fell in love with your energy and personality that I bought into your coaching program. This current content is PHENOMENAL! I LOVE how you share the video and break down the notes to detail in the newsletter...so so so helpful for visual learners like myself. *I need to hear it several times before it sticks, waste of time for me...* Anyway, It shocked me when you came out about your burnout, because there's a current common misconception that burnout only happens to those people that are struggling...specifically: financially and "chasing the dream". Yet, you had the dream already and it burned you out. It shocked me when you came out about this...because I also at the same time realized I burned myself out in my career (plus running a nonprofit alongside of it) and trying to maintain an online brand for my personal business. Listening to other peoples opinions online really made me...mad! Because yes I know financially struggling and doing all the things to try to see what sticks is going to cause burnout but it is not the only reason why burnout happens. I have since stepped down from the nonprofit, left my job - and I'm literally interviewing with a local coffee joint *following your footsteps* because that's what brings me peace and joy in my life. I don't need the prestige or the titles to be credible, its my personality and perspectives that will shine the light for many others that are burned out. Your perspective is shining a bright light in my life and has solidified that I need to stay in this lane of focusing solely on burned out individuals in need of a "spiritual awakening". Thank you so much for coming back, we need you! You are so incredibly powerful and amazing and I'm sorry you had to go through the struggle (I just went through it last Fall/Winter myself and it SUCKED) but in the end, we come out of it stronger and WISER!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much!!! This comment mean the world to me, and I'm so happy you're doing what feels best to you. Burnout doesn't just happen to those who are struggling, it can happen to those who are working overtime trying to maintain and keep their success. I find burnout accelerates even more when you're performing, because it takes 2x the energy to be someone else than yourself. It's like lying. It's harder to lie than to tell the truth. I'm so excited for this step in your journey and I have a feeling so much weight is going to be lifted off your shoulders. I will say that it comes with it's ups and downs, and I had to do a lot of journalling and grounding (still do). The path is not linear, but whats most important is to go at your own pace, and know that ups and downs are fine, because when you zoom out, it's still upward progress :)
@@VanessaLau that really puts it into perspective of the many ways we can be burned out: “from being someone we’re not” WOW, that is so eye opening and I never would have considered that perspective. Thank you for your Birds Eye view on this landscape. I’m so excited to follow your journey here, with Boba making and wherever your life’s journey takes you. ❤️❤️❤️
Every part of this video is so good, relatable and valuable! The inner child healing part just really hits different. Thank you so much for this Vanessa. As someone that wants to start this creator business full time, this was exactly what I needed to know❤
You're welcome, I'm glad this video was valuable to you! And yes, the inner child stuff often gets overlooked - but it's not until someone breaks down the consequences is where we can finally understand how impactful it is.
Vanessa. You are a gem. I really appreciate what you’ve shared here. The video doesn’t define me, just post it. The teacher hat. Leading by example on self care. Only names a few bits of inspiration you’ve given me today. Also, I found it interesting that you were sick during your first months of sabbatical because your body needed to heal from survival mode. Thank you for sharing that. It’s a valuable lesson to us all. I’m sticking around for whatever you have to offer. Huge forever fan! 🙋♀️💕
Brilliant. Love how you're moving from a mind-led to a heart-led approach, living more in sync with yourself and the flow of creativity too. Also, the idea of "thinking like an entrepreneur" reminds me of the difference between factory-style income vs the way of nature and its abundance, it doesn't rain every two weeks, it rains when it does, and yet nature thrives at its own natural rhythm. 😊
I love this I’m in digital marketing it’s so overwhelming. My goal always been content creator doing what I love without getting burn out. And to be honest this is how I always been thinking but glad that 7 figure content creator like you it’s a proof to not make the same mistake. Thanks for sharing.
Dear Vanessa, Thank you so much for this video. For the past few weeks I've thought of quitting YT because of burnout and the fact that YT seemed to be taking over my entire life. My thinking is very much like yours. I do not even have a "business" yet with my tutorials, it's all given away. It's so easy to be swept away in all of this and we always need to reassess and keep a good balance in life. I deeply appreciate your video. Great job! Best wishes! Sally
Love this video! I've been planning to start building my personal brand and I really struggled a lot in creating content even though I felt like I have lots to share. I've watched different videos on how others write their content, and it really felt like there was something lacking. I was also somehow afraid to show the genuine side of me because I had this thought at the back of my mind that everything should be perfect and there is that fear of not being like. I like how you share your take of building a genuine community as it allows me to re-evaluate why I wanted to start creating content in the first place, it's like going back to the 'why' I wanted to start this. And I love the part where you shared to not label content as content ideas but thoughts, stories, lessons, and experiences because it helps to not put that pressure in myself of constantly thinking of what others would feel about what I'm sharing but more on what I truly want to share. Thanks for this Vanessa!
I had to let go of my posting schedule because it was causing too much stress. So now I’m more of a “when it’s done, it’s done “ and create videos I’m proud of. 😊 Also, I decided to leave social media (minus YT because it feels slower here) indefinitely because I like myself better when I don’t have that obsession to check my apps. I’m creating a slower pace for my life that actually matches my homesteading life and I’m so proud of myself. 😊 Thanks for sharing!
Vanessa you really brought me to a light bulb moment when you started talking about your parenting and how to talk to yourself. It hit home for me and brought a lot of things in my life into perspective. Please know that that simple small section of this video was able to make an impact on at least one person.
That is the video we needed. We are currently in a dilemma, because we love doing vlogs, but we also love doing talking videos to help people. Thanks to you, we know we can do both, we dont have to stick to one concept and it's normal to change. ❤ thank you so much, new subbies here🤗💕
yes! and sometimes people don't want 1 concept, they want to see all dimensions. OR having multiple dimensions attracts different type of people, which widens your net :) and beyond all that, fuels your creative need too , which IMO is most important!
Absolutely love your reminder to have the time and space to let us take a break as a creator. The funny thing is, I went to travel for the last 2 months and literally took a hard break as a creator, and my community loves me when I make my come back! However I still feel guilty taking a long break becoz I feel like I’m not being productive and making enough income while traveling. It makes me realise I need to create passive income as a creator ❤ thanks Venessa for your heartfelt sharing once again!
Yes and you probably feel so much more refreshed and joyful coming back! It changes the way you interact with your audience when your own cup is filled. And what if travelling actually made you more money in the long run because you're getting more ideas and taking care of your nervous system? Wealth doesn't have to be created RIGHT NOW, wealth can accumulate and pay you back later. That's the investor mindset.
I've irregularly watched your videos throughout the last 3 or so years, whenever I needed specific advice for something, being a self-employed graphic designer and having tried my hand at several small scale businesses during that time, but recently the videos you've made have been so, I don't know, "authentic"?? like, not coming from a need to create content, perhaps, so the advice is 100% on-point, and made me subscribe after all this time. Glad you're sharing your raw perspective on the other side of success. It's definitely much needed and perhaps very timely.
Thanks Vanessa for this video! I agree with you that people should stop speaking poorly about themselves. Our thoughts have an impact on our actions as well as our health
Always looking forward to your content! Most valuable: something you mentioned in a previous video as well. What can I create that allows me to be my authentic self and not what others want me to be. 💖💖💖
I've been watching your videos for a while & I have to say... I LOVE the videos you're putting out, after coming back from your break, now. They feel so much more authentic, real & connected. I enjoyed the videos you created in the past but these new ones just hit different, they have a vibe I'm digging way more!
I love you taking the time and energy to be so real. I am learning a lot from you as a new UA-cam content creator. Thank you 🥋🙏🏽It is SO important keep our realness as you so cover it here.
Wow...you really changed my whole perspective on everything. Lately Ive been pondering on how I can be like XYZ UA-camr within my niche because they have huge followings but then I overlook my returning viewers - those who continually come back to my channel and like me for me. Now I know what I should focus on moving forward. Thank you!
Wow, this is amazing! I’m so glad you could come back after going through that. I’m slowly trying to take breaks too, balancing time between my social media clients and my self-care. 😊
Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Is really helping me personally to avoid the valleys you’ve been through and how to avoid them. 🙏🙏🙏 Looking forward to test the SUPERBOBA 🎉
Thanks for discussing this. I've been there several times during my YT journey. I started with a channel focused on science communication and medical communication and did literally just one video on my experience as a medical doctor in Germany that got more interest and the channel got monetised because of it and got subscribers just interested in this topic. So I got excited and I fed the "pig" but then got the burn of feeling like this doesn't align with my goals. I tried to pivot back and made science comm videos, but nothing worked afterwards. So I decided to make the channel just about the german medical thing and focus on that topic only, built a course around and yeah now the channel is kind of revived. I think there is some wisdom of just going with the flow and the flow is helping others so why not. It has to do with getting over oneself and be grateful for it to workout in the first place. I try to remind myself of that whenever i feel bored because of focusing on just one topic.
This video is spitting pure facts. I'm so glad I saw it and will be re watching it as a reminder when I get stressed about content ideas. Because I've got ideas that I don't think would be very popular because it's not a "trending" topic. But for the sake of art and creativity I wanted to make it. I was going to ditch it after watching lots of videos talk about metrics and analytics. But this video has changed my mind in a positive way and I'm going to share my ideas even if they're not a trending topic ❤
Engaging with a dedicated community is really often more rewarding than just aiming for big numbers. A smaller, active audience can be incredibly supportive and help drive growth.
I'm glad it helps! It definitely helped me a lot, and its such a simple reframe, but changes everything when it comes to the energy. Takes the pressure off for sure.
You succeeded at sharing your thoughts in a really conversational way! I was nodding along at every point. I'm definitely working on talking to myself in a more positive way and embracing the freedom to explore and pivot.
Thank you, thank you... exactly what I needed to hear as a relatively new (and older😁) content creator trying to balance what I intuitively want to share - my lessons and experiences - and what is popular. Your advice has put it into perspective for me and confirmed that I need to be more relaxed and follow my heart. You also have me reaching for my copy of The Artist's Way which I read many years ago.🙏🙏
Yes! Relax, have fun, enjoy the creative process. I think tactics can still be useful, but I often see creators thinking it's one or the other and going to the extremes - which is what causes burnout. LOVE artists way, such a timeless classic!
I love your videos! Found you on UA-cam about a month ago and so grateful I did! Your authenticity comes through and you 100% give that comforting bestie energy which is why I fee l so drawn to your videos! Thankyou for sharing so much helpful advice and inspiring me so much!
God really works in mysterious ways... You preached with that segment about not putting the teacher hat on and having all that added pressure on yourself, the exact same happens when you believe in Christ and end up doing things for performance sake rather than trusting Him and letting Him mold you into someone who does things from a genuine place of love for others, not performance. Having a more selfless view and walking in it rather than making it about ourselves and our performance. Living for performance, numbers, views, likes, money, recognition, power, etc is not sustainable, you will lose yourself in the process. Great video, God bless you 🕊
Loved this! Completely agree that working on your life improves your art 💯 Good to have a reminder every now and again that we are human beings not human doings 🙏🏾💗✨️
Love this video ❤ It’s so relatable and the tips you give are so useful. I always struggle with content ideas but shifting thinking into stories, thoughts, lessons, etc, it feels so much easier.
Wow, this is seriously one of your best videos yet since coming off your sabbatical Vanessa. So dam good and so many gold nuggets in this video. This is as real as it gets.
Let me tell you, you have something in you that will take you places no matter what! I loved your content then I love your content even more now!!!! You Go Girl! ❤❤❤❤ God Bless You!!!!!!
Amazing insights. Thanks for sharing. This really takes off much pressure. I love how you discussed self talk and our identity as content creators being fluid.
miss Vanessa lau , I want to say that your videos is changing something in my mindset I was searching about it for a really long time , you are a real person , shokran " thanks a lot "
What was your favorite lesson from this video? Or do you have other advice I didn't mention in this video? Comment and let us know! :) *PS: If you want more creator lessons and exclusive freebies, make sure to sign up for The Creator Journal newsletter (it's free):* www.thecreatorjournal.co
My favourite lesson is to focus on doing what I love❤ Thank you
My videos are just usually unserious because I got tired of being serious about life...
I love this! I would love to hear your tips on building a community. I really want to serve my people but at times I feel like my content is just random and not helping anyone. 😢
Not making content that you no longer want to make. Years ago I attracted a big audience (big to me lol) because I talked about relationships a lot. I don’t care to talk about that anymore but my old audience kept trying to get me to talk anout it and it seemed to be the only thing they payed attention to. So I would still talk about it and sell courses here and there. I decided it didn’t feel good and finally let it go.
I love how genuine it is, and you saying “ feeding the pig” I had this lesson this month. It’s so important to be in alignment Truly of what your heart wants. Money is not always the goal, yes we have bills but like… as creators we can do both. Or should! Love this
I make simple, unscripted, unapologetic UA-cam videos just for the pure joy of being creative and having fun. Love this video! Enjoy the journey!
👏👏👏
❤ Same here! I actually don’t even edit my videos-I just upload them throughout the day into my daily playlist. It’s like blogging, but without having to wait a week to post a few snippets. I take you guys along with me throughout the day, and then the next day, I start a new playlist. It’s so low maintenance, and since I started on the 16th of this month, I’ve already gained almost 40 new followers!
love that! those are the best!
Me too!
I just subscribed so i can check it out later. So cool!
@MrsParkerToYou
I'm glad you came back with this 'unapologetically authentic' advice as I pivoted to UA-cam.
My niche is unsexy, nor fun.
All of the 'UA-cam Guru' advice was intimidating. They made me feel 'less than' because I didn't care about the money grab. I genuinely just want to share my family's lessons learned about the consequences of not planning for golden years outside of the retirement fund aspect.
Once I started being just me, my subscriber count tripled to a whopping 150. And I cried happy tears because that is 150 people I can help.
My most viewed video has reached over 300 views. That is 300+ people I've helped with that topic.
I'm getting paid in the comments from people saying THANK YOU!
That is my WHY! And why I will keep going.
love this!! I also love the video title "how being laid off at 55 was a blessing in disguise" - you took a seemingly "shameful" / taboo topic into an empowering one. Keep up the amazing work!! Congratulations!!
@@VanessaLau Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️
Hi there...love your channel
I was subsribed to you a couple years back and started to feel like I was no longer connecting with your content because of how sterile it started to feel. Seeing you now shows to me that your proactive personality was what drew me in and how you are pivoting your channel made me subscribe again. I'm excited to see your content again :)
Hi there...lets grow in youtube life
Thank you for sharing your knowledge! I have a faceless UA-cam channel and I've been posting a bunch of Shorts lately. The thing that worked best for me was giving my videos a small boost on third party tools specifically designed for this (my favorite is to use a bit of Famester). This caused my Shorts to spread out literally everywhere, bringing more and more organic views and subs day after day.
This video is so, so good. It's 100000% spot on + what I'm talking to all my creator friends about as well. So happy you made this video!
Vanessa I can't thank you enough for this video. Right on time! I just pivoted on my channel and people are falling away but I'm happier and feel like the ones that stayed are there for the big virtual hug I'm trying to give.
Let them! And know some people may circle back!
I also sometimes get comments from certain people who only liked my older content, and the rare times where comments they leave are judgemental, offensive, and mean. It often reveals the transactional nature of social media, and has made me realize that I don't necessarily want those types of intentions in my community. When you build a tribe of people who have values similar to yours and emulate the vibe you want, showing up becomes much more fun and loving - because you feel SAFE!
@@VanessaLau I love how natural you are now.
I just got this HUGE insight from your video: if the only thing you obtain by going into a specific business is to find out that that you don't want to be in that business, it was totally worth it.
And I also say it from experience. Thanks, amazing video!!!
Lets grow too like this...i love your content
Love to see you back as your authentic self Vanessa
You're shining so brightly ✨✨✨
I'm rooting for you
I totally agree with you when you said "we don't have content ideas, we have thoughts, lessons, stories and experiences"
These are the things that makes us Creators. And it makes creating content itself easy like a flow and fun.
I'm so happy to see the growth you've attained Vanessa and how you're more of yourself now and you're enjoying this.
Will forever be your fan😁
Sending you loads of love❤, Victoria.
YES! i think that there's a lot of pressure and constraints we put on ourselves, which affects how we view and show up in our content. Once you reframe certain things, the pressure comes off almost immediately. Thank you so much Victoria, I appreciate you leaving such a kind comment!
@@VanessaLau Precisely. All it takes is a change in perspective, and we can beginning creating from within our true self.
Thanks for sharing that Vanessa
00:00 Introduction
00:13 Depth vs. Volume
03:50 STOP Feeding the Pig!
06:46 Perfection Alienates Others
09:20 Stop Speaking Poorly
12:00 TFAR Self-Coaching Model
13:01 Creative Goals vs. Metric Goals
14:19 Content Won't Define You
17:37 Create Evidence for Safety
20:05 Employee vs. Investor Mindset
21:39 Withdrawal is Necessary
23:07 Work on Your LIFE!
23:56 Personal is Universal
27:29 Content Ideas vs. Thoughts
28:08 The Creator Journal
I hope you are the leader of change when it comes to talking about creator burnout. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear about the struggles of constantly feeding the pig ❤
I hope everyone here realizes that you don't need a huge audience to build a 7 figure creator business. I built a 6-figure business with my audience by teaching them how to create funnels and to make the right offers to their audience. As long as you give value and you are authentic, the sky is the limit!🙌🏻💖📈🚀
THIS! I think when more people put this into perspective, and focus more on retention and having the right pricing/business model, it would free up a lot of the pressure.
I needed this video today. Thanks for posting Vanessa. And I love the quote “the personal is universal.” That’s so powerful.
You're welcome! Just sharing ALLLL the things I wish I knew sooner. "The personal is universal" was a huge one for me!
this is so relatable! Going through learning ALL these lessons rn. thank you so much Vanessa, I'm done feeding the pig and even though engagement's gone down, i feel more alive than ever. 💕
I really appreciate your content and the vulnerability you show. Taking a break not only added value to you, but also your audience gets to benefit from your experience 🙏🏾.
Appreciate this so much! The break was much needed and I'm glad everyone else also gets to benefit from my time off :) imagine if more creators took breaks and came back renewed!?
I love these types of vulnerable videos, Vanessa! ☺As a small content creator with a little bit more than 10K subs I am always on the lookout for authentic advice but there is not much out there except for the usual "keep posting regularly without any breaks and make sure every video is a little bit better than the last one blah blah" and I am honestly so sick of it. It is a recipe for burnout. I want to create content that connects with my audience and makes them feel seen. Your advice is a breath of fresh air. Thank you so much for creating content based on your true self and letting us be part of your journey 💗
I've always found your content to be valuable to a degree, but I really love the direction of your channel now. THIS is the stuff I've wanted to hear from influencers for the longest! 🙌🏾💎✨
Thank you so much! Loved your encouragement so much, I shared it on my IG stories :) Appreciate you!
I swear you like the only person making content for those of us in the middle of our journey. You’re right there’s so much that just targets the top of the funnel we’re kind of left out!
You have grown so much Vanessa, well done! Now ... that's SUCCESS!!!
Thank you so much! I feel like I've gained a lot of wisdom through the ups and downs. Appreciate you!
I SCREAMED when you mentioned Inner child healing 😊 Recently i found The Inner Child Podcast after a friend’s recommendation and it changed my life… like a year of therapy in a few episodes. It’s free to listen on Spotify and some other apps too I believe
Vanessa you would love it, the host is a famous therapist called Gloria Zhang and she sometimes speaks of the asian parenting experience too. But just hearing someone explain so clearly but also give clear tips on how to fix it was healing for my soul! Like you, my personal journey also changed my business in good ways. Thank you for always inspiring us!
That does sound like something that would be up my alley! Thank you for sharing. Yes, I used to think the inner child stuff was a bunch of BS - but it really isn't...
@@VanessaLau That would be a dream collab omg! Thanks for replying Vanessa this made my whole day 🥰
I see a new Vanessa upload, I click.
Love seeing you find your creative stride again these last few months V!!!!
Thank you so much Jay!! Appreciate you!
You're so right! The greatest business ideas came to my mind when I was on holidays. Because the brain was relaxing and became more creative.
100% - sometimes the answer comes when you're not looking for it, or when you create SPACE for yourself to even think about it thoughtfully vs. rushing and forcing things.
I read this in a book and I think this suits perfectly regarding the vulnerability point you raised -> We love seeing raw truth and openness in other people, but we’re afraid to let them see it in us…
Here’s the crux of the struggle:
I want to experience your vulnerability but I don’t want to be vulnerable.
Vulnerability is courage in you and inadequacy in me.
I’m drawn to your vulnerability but repelled by mine.”
Can you name the book? ❤
@@ambrag2cute358 Daring greatly by Brene Brown :)
WOW! this is so necessary for all of us to know!. The highlight of this video for me is: " You don't have Content. You have thoughts, stories, lessons, experiences." !!!! tysm for this amazing video!!
You’re amazing. I have to say, I’ve seen a couple of people use your goodbye post as a way to promote their own business model and that never sat well with me. This is absolutely beautiful. This is YOUR amazing journey. You actually walked and experienced the path and you learned so much and then came back and taught us….and that speaks volumes of your character. I think finding you and your Chanel has been a huge blessing and I am so grateful you’re taking the time to really speak vulnerably about your experience. It does feel like you’re a genuine bestie and that is super rare ❤
hahaa i have seen those too and it also never sat well with me, so I appreciate you noticing that as well. Thank you so much, your comment means a lot to me and is very motivating to keep sharing!
Really glad to see someone telling the truth instead of putting on the perfectionist mask. Please keep sharing these valuable insights about content creation and online business vanessa. I really respect your honesty and authenticity.
I’ve been watching you for years and you helped me gain 150k followers on tiktok, but now that I don’t feel right sharing beauty content, no one watches me, I’ve lost thousands of followers, and I get about 500 views each video when before I’d get millions. It’s been hard making the switch but your video has helped give me more motivation that I need
I didn’t expect this video to be so emotional 🙂 We are who we are. What is authentically us in the moment is the only sustainable way. & Asian mental health matters! Thanks, Vanessa 💜
Thank you so much for this! I've been second guessing my content and decided to just stop thinking so much, and your story helps me remember that being natural is the best way to maintain longevity and create authentic connections. For now, I'm just focused on consistency instead of chasing trends!
Awesome video, thanks Vanessa :)
I needed this video. I feel I have to be perfect in everything but now I realize I don't and I'm going to break away from perfection.
I can't tell you how much more I enjoy your videos now vs before. You gave a lot of value before, but it felt transactional. I didn't always pay attention because it just felt like a lot. But your approach now resonates so much deeper. Proud of you.
VANESSA! Thank you so much for putting this out. There was a moment in there I felt like big sis was talking to me and I'm only 10 minutes in lol. I remember you being one of the channels I used to watch back in the day when trying to grow on IG and one of my faves. It's so great to see that you are at this place in life and is beautiful for you to use your platform to shine a light on this new way of living and thinking. I am in the process of starting my channel and growing a genuine audience, something I've always wanted to do for decades now but trying out different types of videos and trends etc., never worked for me and I couldn't figure out why it hadn't clicked.
Now that I just want to lift the mask and share myself with the world, my wisdom, my journey and truly help people in reaching their goals, content creation has been much easier and I am making genuine connection with people. No fancy edits, no sales pitches, just me genuinely sharing myself. I used to be soo concerned with growing and growing my audience and I now have a deeper understanding of the true value in showing up and being of service to anyone who supports me, even if it's just a few people- they matter. And like you said, we can make GOOD money just being of service to a small group of people!!
Bahhaha I definitely put the big sis hat on for this video - it was fun to make! And thank you so much for saying that. I feel like I can now speak to the dark side of fast growth, and my hope is by sharing some of this wisdom, others can course correct or find a happy medium so they DONT have to burn everything down!
And YES! People overestimate how much is truly necessary to make a living. It's because the goals aren't clearly defined and the numbers haven't been crunched. In reality, you don't need 100k followers. And even knowing that can put the pressure off things.
I believe the self talk lies in the middle and not at the extremes of the parent talk and the overly patting yourself on the back style. Sometimes we go to the opposite extreme in order to “fix” what we went through originally. Great content as always!
This makes so much sense. I have found that having a core group of ride or die viewers who have grown with me and love the content I love to make has been such a richer experience. I have pivoted and added or stopped making content based on what my core group enjoys and thrunthat process grown myself. Every Saturday I have a Live and connect with my viewers for over an hour with regulars who join in every week and evrn connect woth each other.
I LOVE the Saturday Lives that you too! I've had an intention to do weekly lives too. One step at a time! But i love love love that for you and how you're building community
I love this new Era of you, Venessa, keep it up!!
Thank you so much Aliena!! Appreciate you watching my vids!!
I’ve been following since before the Sunny Leonarduzi interview. I’ve never loved you more than I do now. Your authenticity is shining through. ❤
WOW! That is a LONG TIME AGO! Appreciate you for sticking around and even watching some of my vids to this day! OG STATUS!
Im eating my breakfast this morning and wanted to watch something that would inspire me, motivate me, or make me feel like I learned something before I started the day. I wanted to tell you how I watched this video. I had a brain fart and forgot your name, so I went to my subscribers list, had to click "View All" and scrolled through until your face popped up. I dont watch all you videos, but it's this kind of content that is bringing me back. I am a creator and business owner and all of this relates. So thank you for taking a break and thank you for bringing your authentic self.
Love this and the genuine content. I also create just to create for fun, from the heart for the joy from it. So I love it- and the genuine advice etc
I also do SMM content creations and I will agree it is wildly ….. draining! Great advice
Yes! It becomes draining when you're performing and not doing it from the heart. When you never take breaks, it can also lead to resentment that you project onto your community. Appreciate you watching the video and leaving a comment!
@@VanessaLau always 🤍✨
Hey Vanessa, this was really insightful, I have come to understand that it's always important to feel in control when sharing content, afterall, the aim is not to please anyone, but build a community of people who like and share the same interests as you. I like your point on focusing on depth, rather than volume, retaining people you already know is very vital to building a business that lasts, and also a personal brand
loving you, always
this was a hug 💛
Vanessa, this video is a game changer for me! 🎯 Your insights about balancing creativity with sustainability really hit home, especially as someone who’s navigating the challenges of building a business and now after having started my own channel. Your transparency about burnout and the importance of setting boundaries is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you for always keeping it real and sharing the hard-earned lessons.✨
I have spent the last 48h answering the question ”who do I want to be as a creator” and it’s almost as if I was trying to scope in who I am, media wise.
There is YT, Tiktok and Instagram and YT Shorts, and make videos about this and that. BUT the best strategy is to film in the format I think best tells my story and film a storyline I find meaningful (and ultimately do best). Additionally, there is no purpose of marketing my content on say Tiktok if I don’t resonate with those type of viewers.
Good job with the video! I completely agree!
I just want you to know that you’ve changed the way I look at my content creation and I can’t thank you enough for posting your journey and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. I was very close to burnout and now I’m able to not stress and focus more on what I love to do.
AND the best part is that I’m able to spend more time with my family now and I don’t stress about being away from social media for an entire day or two. Again, thank you so much!
This comment is EVERYTHING and is the reason why I make these videos - to give back and talk about the other side of fast growth and doing content solely based on "tactics". I'm so happy for you that you get to spend more time with family and have less stress. It probably makes you feel less resentment towards your community too, when you have your cup filled :)
@@VanessaLau thank you! I’m so lucky to have a super supportive community. :) They’re here for me when I need to take breaks. I love that you mentioned growing a community and not just looking for new followers. For the past several months, I’ve been focusing more on being myself and more genuine in everything I put out there. It’s been going really well and I’m having a lot more fun. Again, thanks so much for all you share!
I’ve been following you for years and seen your ups and downs. You have helped me so much in the beginning of my journey of content creation and I appreciate you so much! I just want to say I appreciate you showing your ups and downs of this journey a lot of us are on. I appreciate this authentic genuine approach you are going in. It definitely makes creators that don’t have all the growth feel more relatable. I love this bestie approach. Can’t wait to see more Vanessa❤!
"Depth over Volume" is another way of saying more quality over quantity. I 100% agree. Aim for substance over style and I've felt your content lately has done just that. I always take the time to watch you because it keeps me accountable for my journey as a content creator. So please continue to do what you do. It's really helping people like me understand myself as a whole.
Yeah, and I think people hear "quality over quantity" so much that they don't actually "get it". Whereas I feel when you say "VOLUME" and how exhausting and never-ending having a volume-based business can be, I hope it paints the picture of the consequences more clearly.
Appreciate you so much and thank you for the feedback on my newer videos. It's been a joy to create in this pressure-free way and just expressing what I've learned and how I feel. Thank you so much again for the support!
@@VanessaLau Point taken. Regardless, thank you for making this video. I look forward to whenever/whatever you put out next.
Vanessa, you KEEEPPP on serving! Thank you for this. I realized HOW much pressure I'm putting on myself.
Discovering you is a blessing in disguise. Ive been on a rut of starting my sidebusiness, basically i self sabotage and feel frustrated to start because i dont think im gonna be good enough (inner child) so this was very eye opening seeing someone like you also went through the same feelings. Thank you for doing these videos, you have a new subscriber.
I resonate so much with creating evidence that breaks wont hurt your business, training your audience to know that it is okay to breaks - that resonates deeply and will be implementing that this time around!
My gosh I came to this realisation recently too. So glad to hear this confirmed. Appreciate you mate 🙏
This is probably my favorite video of yours! And I agree 100% to everything you said for experiencing it myself. I've been following you for a few years and I'm happy to see you evolve that way. Thanks for sharing your precious lessons
I think this is my favourite video I've created so far !!! Thank you for letting me know it's your favourite too. Appreciate you for tuning in!
Vanessa, can I just say I've been following your journey for over 3 years and at first I consumed your free content, then I fell in love with your energy and personality that I bought into your coaching program. This current content is PHENOMENAL! I LOVE how you share the video and break down the notes to detail in the newsletter...so so so helpful for visual learners like myself. *I need to hear it several times before it sticks, waste of time for me...* Anyway, It shocked me when you came out about your burnout, because there's a current common misconception that burnout only happens to those people that are struggling...specifically: financially and "chasing the dream". Yet, you had the dream already and it burned you out. It shocked me when you came out about this...because I also at the same time realized I burned myself out in my career (plus running a nonprofit alongside of it) and trying to maintain an online brand for my personal business. Listening to other peoples opinions online really made me...mad! Because yes I know financially struggling and doing all the things to try to see what sticks is going to cause burnout but it is not the only reason why burnout happens. I have since stepped down from the nonprofit, left my job - and I'm literally interviewing with a local coffee joint *following your footsteps* because that's what brings me peace and joy in my life. I don't need the prestige or the titles to be credible, its my personality and perspectives that will shine the light for many others that are burned out. Your perspective is shining a bright light in my life and has solidified that I need to stay in this lane of focusing solely on burned out individuals in need of a "spiritual awakening". Thank you so much for coming back, we need you! You are so incredibly powerful and amazing and I'm sorry you had to go through the struggle (I just went through it last Fall/Winter myself and it SUCKED) but in the end, we come out of it stronger and WISER!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much!!! This comment mean the world to me, and I'm so happy you're doing what feels best to you. Burnout doesn't just happen to those who are struggling, it can happen to those who are working overtime trying to maintain and keep their success. I find burnout accelerates even more when you're performing, because it takes 2x the energy to be someone else than yourself. It's like lying. It's harder to lie than to tell the truth.
I'm so excited for this step in your journey and I have a feeling so much weight is going to be lifted off your shoulders. I will say that it comes with it's ups and downs, and I had to do a lot of journalling and grounding (still do). The path is not linear, but whats most important is to go at your own pace, and know that ups and downs are fine, because when you zoom out, it's still upward progress :)
@@VanessaLau that really puts it into perspective of the many ways we can be burned out: “from being someone we’re not” WOW, that is so eye opening and I never would have considered that perspective. Thank you for your Birds Eye view on this landscape. I’m so excited to follow your journey here, with Boba making and wherever your life’s journey takes you. ❤️❤️❤️
As someone who aspires to soon start a product brand, this really resonates still. Thanks Vanessa.🥂
That's amazing! I'm also on the journey of starting a product brand. Rooting both of us on!!
I loved this video Vanessa! I really feel the bestie hangout vibe, and am SO grateful for your invaluable tips.🙏❤️❤️
Thank you so much! I really put the bestie hat on for this video LOL!
Every part of this video is so good, relatable and valuable! The inner child healing part just really hits different. Thank you so much for this Vanessa. As someone that wants to start this creator business full time, this was exactly what I needed to know❤
You're welcome, I'm glad this video was valuable to you! And yes, the inner child stuff often gets overlooked - but it's not until someone breaks down the consequences is where we can finally understand how impactful it is.
Vanessa. You are a gem. I really appreciate what you’ve shared here. The video doesn’t define me, just post it. The teacher hat. Leading by example on self care. Only names a few bits of inspiration you’ve given me today. Also, I found it interesting that you were sick during your first months of sabbatical because your body needed to heal from survival mode. Thank you for sharing that. It’s a valuable lesson to us all. I’m sticking around for whatever you have to offer. Huge forever fan! 🙋♀️💕
Brilliant. Love how you're moving from a mind-led to a heart-led approach, living more in sync with yourself and the flow of creativity too.
Also, the idea of "thinking like an entrepreneur" reminds me of the difference between factory-style income vs the way of nature and its abundance, it doesn't rain every two weeks, it rains when it does, and yet nature thrives at its own natural rhythm. 😊
oh thats DEEEEP, i love the nature analogy. that's so powerful when you put it that way.
I love this I’m in digital marketing it’s so overwhelming. My goal always been content creator doing what I love without getting burn out. And to be honest this is how I always been thinking but glad that 7 figure content creator like you it’s a proof to not make the same mistake. Thanks for sharing.
Every creator should watch this ❤️
Thank you so much! Share it with any of your creator friends who would benefit! And congrats on your channel!
Dear Vanessa, Thank you so much for this video. For the past few weeks I've thought of quitting YT because of burnout and the fact that YT seemed to be taking over my entire life.
My thinking is very much like yours. I do not even have a "business" yet with my tutorials, it's all given away. It's so easy to be swept away in all of this and we always need to reassess and keep a good balance in life. I deeply appreciate your video. Great job! Best wishes! Sally
Absolutely loved this. Your authenticity shines through, keep it up
Thank you so much, I had fun making this video once I took the "teacher hat" OFF!
Love this video! I've been planning to start building my personal brand and I really struggled a lot in creating content even though I felt like I have lots to share. I've watched different videos on how others write their content, and it really felt like there was something lacking. I was also somehow afraid to show the genuine side of me because I had this thought at the back of my mind that everything should be perfect and there is that fear of not being like. I like how you share your take of building a genuine community as it allows me to re-evaluate why I wanted to start creating content in the first place, it's like going back to the 'why' I wanted to start this. And I love the part where you shared to not label content as content ideas but thoughts, stories, lessons, and experiences because it helps to not put that pressure in myself of constantly thinking of what others would feel about what I'm sharing but more on what I truly want to share. Thanks for this Vanessa!
I had to let go of my posting schedule because it was causing too much stress. So now I’m more of a “when it’s done, it’s done “ and create videos I’m proud of. 😊 Also, I decided to leave social media (minus YT because it feels slower here) indefinitely because I like myself better when I don’t have that obsession to check my apps. I’m creating a slower pace for my life that actually matches my homesteading life and I’m so proud of myself. 😊 Thanks for sharing!
Omg! Yes to this. Same here and it feels so good to do that. I literally turn off my apps and logout.
Vanessa you really brought me to a light bulb moment when you started talking about your parenting and how to talk to yourself. It hit home for me and brought a lot of things in my life into perspective. Please know that that simple small section of this video was able to make an impact on at least one person.
All of this landed for me! Loving the new content and post sabbatical vibes, so happy for you. Keep crushing it V
That is the video we needed.
We are currently in a dilemma, because we love doing vlogs, but we also love doing talking videos to help people. Thanks to you, we know we can do both, we dont have to stick to one concept and it's normal to change. ❤ thank you so much, new subbies here🤗💕
yes! and sometimes people don't want 1 concept, they want to see all dimensions. OR having multiple dimensions attracts different type of people, which widens your net :) and beyond all that, fuels your creative need too , which IMO is most important!
Absolutely love your reminder to have the time and space to let us take a break as a creator. The funny thing is, I went to travel for the last 2 months and literally took a hard break as a creator, and my community loves me when I make my come back! However I still feel guilty taking a long break becoz I feel like I’m not being productive and making enough income while traveling. It makes me realise I need to create passive income as a creator ❤ thanks Venessa for your heartfelt sharing once again!
Yes and you probably feel so much more refreshed and joyful coming back! It changes the way you interact with your audience when your own cup is filled. And what if travelling actually made you more money in the long run because you're getting more ideas and taking care of your nervous system? Wealth doesn't have to be created RIGHT NOW, wealth can accumulate and pay you back later. That's the investor mindset.
I've irregularly watched your videos throughout the last 3 or so years, whenever I needed specific advice for something, being a self-employed graphic designer and having tried my hand at several small scale businesses during that time, but recently the videos you've made have been so, I don't know, "authentic"?? like, not coming from a need to create content, perhaps, so the advice is 100% on-point, and made me subscribe after all this time.
Glad you're sharing your raw perspective on the other side of success. It's definitely much needed and perhaps very timely.
Thanks Vanessa for this video! I agree with you that people should stop speaking poorly about themselves. Our thoughts have an impact on our actions as well as our health
10000%. Our thoughts dictate the reality we live in. We can live in a reality of suffering or a reality of peace & happiness.
Health is Wealth!
I love these videos where you show up as yourself.
As I’m running my 6-figure business a lot of things resonates with me.
Always looking forward to your content!
Most valuable: something you mentioned in a previous video as well. What can I create that allows me to be my authentic self and not what others want me to be. 💖💖💖
I've been watching your videos for a while & I have to say... I LOVE the videos you're putting out, after coming back from your break, now. They feel so much more authentic, real & connected. I enjoyed the videos you created in the past but these new ones just hit different, they have a vibe I'm digging way more!
"You don't have content ideas. You have thoughts, stories, lessons, and experiences." Oooh this is so good!
Thank you so much Tishia! Really appreciate the feedback and support. I'm enjoying this vibe too!
I love you taking the time and energy to be so real. I am learning a lot from you as a new UA-cam content creator. Thank you 🥋🙏🏽It is SO important keep our realness as you so cover it here.
Wow...you really changed my whole perspective on everything. Lately Ive been pondering on how I can be like XYZ UA-camr within my niche because they have huge followings but then I overlook my returning viewers - those who continually come back to my channel and like me for me.
Now I know what I should focus on moving forward.
Thank you!
Wow, this is amazing! I’m so glad you could come back after going through that. I’m slowly trying to take breaks too, balancing time between my social media clients and my self-care. 😊
Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Is really helping me personally to avoid the valleys you’ve been through and how to avoid them. 🙏🙏🙏
Looking forward to test the SUPERBOBA 🎉
Thank you Adrian for the constant support!! Appreciate you so much and I'm glad that some of the lessons are helping you navigate your own process!!
@@VanessaLau🙏🙏
Thanks for discussing this. I've been there several times during my YT journey. I started with a channel focused on science communication and medical communication and did literally just one video on my experience as a medical doctor in Germany that got more interest and the channel got monetised because of it and got subscribers just interested in this topic. So I got excited and I fed the "pig" but then got the burn of feeling like this doesn't align with my goals. I tried to pivot back and made science comm videos, but nothing worked afterwards. So I decided to make the channel just about the german medical thing and focus on that topic only, built a course around and yeah now the channel is kind of revived. I think there is some wisdom of just going with the flow and the flow is helping others so why not. It has to do with getting over oneself and be grateful for it to workout in the first place. I try to remind myself of that whenever i feel bored because of focusing on just one topic.
You’re amazing! Your growth is showing. Keep it up
Thank you for showing me what authenticity truly feels like online❤
This is exactly what I needed! Thank you!
This is like the content creator therapy session we didn’t realize we needed and I’m all the way here for it! 😌🥰
This video is spitting pure facts. I'm so glad I saw it and will be re watching it as a reminder when I get stressed about content ideas. Because I've got ideas that I don't think would be very popular because it's not a "trending" topic. But for the sake of art and creativity I wanted to make it. I was going to ditch it after watching lots of videos talk about metrics and analytics. But this video has changed my mind in a positive way and I'm going to share my ideas even if they're not a trending topic ❤
Engaging with a dedicated community is really often more rewarding than just aiming for big numbers. A smaller, active audience can be incredibly supportive and help drive growth.
We are here not to teach, but to share. That frame helps so much.
I'm glad it helps! It definitely helped me a lot, and its such a simple reframe, but changes everything when it comes to the energy. Takes the pressure off for sure.
So grateful to come across your channel! You made me think about not being so niche focus thank you for offering a different perspective!
You keep giving us these great... conversations... and I appreciate that! Thanks for another good talk, Vanessa!😊💐
You succeeded at sharing your thoughts in a really conversational way! I was nodding along at every point. I'm definitely working on talking to myself in a more positive way and embracing the freedom to explore and pivot.
Love how raw your videos are Vanessa! On a separate note, would love to see a home office tour. 🤩
Thank you, thank you... exactly what I needed to hear as a relatively new (and older😁) content creator trying to balance what I intuitively want to share - my lessons and experiences - and what is popular. Your advice has put it into perspective for me and confirmed that I need to be more relaxed and follow my heart. You also have me reaching for my copy of The Artist's Way which I read many years ago.🙏🙏
Yes! Relax, have fun, enjoy the creative process. I think tactics can still be useful, but I often see creators thinking it's one or the other and going to the extremes - which is what causes burnout. LOVE artists way, such a timeless classic!
I love your videos! Found you on UA-cam about a month ago and so grateful I did! Your authenticity comes through and you 100% give that comforting bestie energy which is why I fee l so drawn to your videos! Thankyou for sharing so much helpful advice and inspiring me so much!
Lovin your new content and this version of you! So authentic and inspiring, thank you for sharing your journey and lessons x
God really works in mysterious ways...
You preached with that segment about not putting the teacher hat on and having all that added pressure on yourself, the exact same happens when you believe in Christ and end up doing things for performance sake rather than trusting Him and letting Him mold you into someone who does things from a genuine place of love for others, not performance. Having a more selfless view and walking in it rather than making it about ourselves and our performance.
Living for performance, numbers, views, likes, money, recognition, power, etc is not sustainable, you will lose yourself in the process. Great video, God bless you 🕊
Loved this! Completely agree that working on your life improves your art 💯
Good to have a reminder every now and again that we are human beings not human doings 🙏🏾💗✨️
Love this video ❤ It’s so relatable and the tips you give are so useful. I always struggle with content ideas but shifting thinking into stories, thoughts, lessons, etc, it feels so much easier.
First time seeing this much beauty in my whole life
I love this! Thank you also for putting timestamps. I want to repeat every part and how it applies on my situation. ❤
Wow, this is seriously one of your best videos yet since coming off your sabbatical Vanessa. So dam good and so many gold nuggets in this video. This is as real as it gets.
Let me tell you, you have something in you that will take you places no matter what! I loved your content then I love your content even more now!!!! You Go Girl! ❤❤❤❤ God Bless You!!!!!!
Amazing insights. Thanks for sharing. This really takes off much pressure. I love how you discussed self talk and our identity as content creators being fluid.
miss Vanessa lau , I want to say that your videos is changing something in my mindset I was searching about it for a really long time , you are a real person , shokran " thanks a lot "