This Subscriber Blew My Mind

A YouTube subscriber of mine asked if we could meet up.

I said yes.

After working around our crazy schedules, we nailed down a time.

December 7th, 10:00AM.

You have no idea where my brain goes before a meeting like this. Then I meet them and realize (yet again) that I’m an overthinker.

Neil (not his real name) and I sat in a cozy coffee shop, where he proceeded to blow my mind for the next few hours. He gave me so much feedback about my videos that at the end I was regretting I didn’t record the conversation, or at least have my handy pocket notebook out. He shared lots of stuff.

What he liked.

What he didn't like.

Ideas for how to improve.

Video ideas.

Ways to connect with my viewers.

I eat this kind of feedback up. Why? Because I’m terrified I am a delusional, head-in-the-clouds, Gen Z, who thinks his ideas are the best thing since sliced bread. That would lead nowhere good. It’s called being grounded. So when I get a chance to hear how others interact with my ideas, I pay attention.

And I’m glad I did.

Neil was incredibly helpful and encouraging. His story gave me chills. At some point, I’m sure he will share it and when he does, people better listen up. In hearing his story, it reminded me of my own and the real impact productivity had on me. What it actually means to me and how it pulled me out of a dark place. One of the most important things he helped me realize, is if I ask my audience to be open and invested in me, I have to lead the way first.

So what does that mean?

It means this newsletter isn’t just “Austin thoughts” that I hope to make money off of.

This newsletter is how I process.

It’s raw.

It shows my failures.

We all have monsters we are running from. In a way, this is me facing my monsters. If you don’t think productivity and personal development can fight off monsters, allow me to enlighten you.

Procrastination, inaction, laziness, distraction, lack of discipline, complacency, insecurity.

These are a few monsters that will slowly and painfully destroy you. I’m terrified of having a bad relationship with my children someday because I was constantly distracted.

If you don’t want to live with regrets, start fighting these monsters.

I don’t want to live in a vacuum

Listening to Neil also showed me just how much I create in a vacuum. As if my ideas are the only ones that matter, which is total nonsense. It is so incredibly dangerous to live in a vacuum, where the only things you hear are what you agree with. A utopia of the mind. It’s all great until it comes crashing down, like I wrote about in this post. That’s a lesson I don’t want to learn twice.

Be so good at taking criticism that people think you’re a psychopath.

If you don’t already, give feedback to people if they want to hear it. Tell them what you appreciate. If they are open to it, tell them what you would like to see different, but absolutely don’t force it.

If you offer constructive criticism be aware so you know when they’ve heard enough. If they aren’t asking you follow-up questions, they probably aren’t into it, so stop mentally vomiting on them.

Most important of all, be someone capable of taking feedback. It comes in all kinds of ways. Criticism, silence, off-handed comments, anger, a compliment, etc. Some of these are painful until you realize they could help you improve, which requires skill to unpack.

You can learn from everyone, even your enemy.

Conclusion

This newsletter is important to me.

I want to do a good job.

I want to provide value to whoever spends their time reading it.

That’s why I value feedback so much. I don’t just value it, I NEED it.

If you have 17 seconds, I would really appreciate your input. It will make this newsletter better and keep me grounded.

Here’s the link to a Google Form