moving on

Summary

In this candid video, the creator shares their journey with YouTube and Twitch, reflecting on the ups and downs of content creation, money, and personal fulfillment. They discuss the success of their Twitch contract and the popular 'aux battles' series, but also the burnout, creative struggles, and challenges with copyright claims. Despite facing a significant revenue drop and a difficult year in 2023, the creator highlights the lessons learned, focusing on creative freedom and personal growth. Looking forward to 2025, they express gratitude for their audience and the chance to create content on their own terms.

Takeaways

• 😀 The content creator reflects on the ups and downs of their journey in YouTube and Twitch, emphasizing both the rewards and struggles of content creation.
• 😀 They started the Pat CC channel in 2021 to experiment with different types of content, while keeping their main channel focused on video essays.
• 😀 A surprising opportunity from Twitch led to a lucrative contract that guaranteed them $250 per hour, which significantly impacted their income and life.
• 😀 The success of Twitch streams, especially 'Aux Battles,' helped boost their YouTube channel and earned them substantial revenue in 2021.
• 😀 Despite Twitch not renewing the contract in 2022, the content creator pivoted to YouTube and continued to make money through 'Aux Battles.'
• 😀 Their content creation was driven by money and business opportunity, which led to burnout and a feeling of being creatively stifled.
• 😀 Views and revenue from 'Aux Battles' started declining in 2023, partly due to repetitive content and the overall saturation of the series.
• 😀 Copyright claims from record labels heavily impacted their YouTube revenue, as they struggled to use music content, leading to a significant loss of earnings.
• 😀 The creator made a major investment that put them in debt, but the changing landscape of YouTube and Twitch led to declining revenue.
• 😀 Despite facing financial pressure, the creator learned the unpredictability of YouTube revenue and entrepreneurship, stressing the need for adaptability.
• 😀 By 2025, the content creator had gained more financial freedom through smart investments, allowing them to focus on content creation for personal enjoyment rather than financial necessity.

Q & A

What were the main reasons for the creator's inconsistency in uploading content?

The creator's inconsistency in uploads was primarily due to two factors: boredom with the repetitive nature of their content and the pressure related to money. These two issues were intertwined, as financial concerns impacted their motivation and content choices.

How did the creator feel about the opportunity with Twitch and what was the initial reaction to the offer?

The creator felt extremely grateful and shocked by the opportunity offered by Twitch. They were initially uncertain about moving platforms, but the guaranteed pay of $250 per hour with no minimum streaming requirements was a compelling offer that made them willing to accept it.

What impact did the Twitch deal have on the creator's career?

The Twitch deal had a significant positive impact on the creator's career, leading to a substantial increase in YouTube views, the popularization of Ox battles, and a very profitable year with $145,000 in earnings from Twitch and YouTube combined. It helped the creator grow their audience and content presence.

Why did Twitch decide not to renew the creator's contract, and what effect did that have on the creator financially?

Twitch did not renew the contract because they did not see a return on their investment in the creator. Despite the initial success, streamers typically become profitable when they attract thousands of viewers, and the creator’s numbers did not meet that threshold. This led to a transition from guaranteed income to an uncertain financial situation.

How did the creator adapt after losing the Twitch contract?

After losing the Twitch contract, the creator focused on making streaming more efficient by only doing Ox battles, keeping stream times to 2-3 hours, and balancing content creation for YouTube. They continued to rely on YouTube revenue and the popularity of Ox battles while reducing their streaming hours.

What challenges did the creator face in 2023 regarding their content and revenue?

In 2023, the creator faced declining views on their videos, which affected their revenue. They also struggled with frequent copyright claims on their content, particularly related to music, which caused significant revenue losses. Despite experimenting with new video styles, the creator’s income dropped by 60% compared to the previous year.

How did the copyright issues impact the creator's ability to make money?

The copyright issues severely impacted the creator’s ability to make money, as record labels claimed all the revenue for videos that featured any music, even brief snippets. As a result, the creator could no longer generate income from videos involving music, which was a key component of their content.

What was the creator’s mental state during the decline in views and revenue?

The creator struggled with feelings of defeat and frustration, particularly as their viewership dropped and their revenue began to decline. They started doubting their content and questioning their ability to continue innovating. The lack of financial incentive led to a sense of burnout and loss of motivation.

What was the creator’s approach to balancing creative fulfillment and financial stability?

The creator struggled to balance the content they enjoyed creating with content that generated revenue. They acknowledged that focusing solely on financial success would lead to burnout, while prioritizing personal creative satisfaction could result in decreased views and revenue. Finding a balance between the two was a challenge.

What lesson did the creator learn from their experience with YouTube, Twitch, and entrepreneurship?

The creator learned that YouTube and entrepreneurship are highly unpredictable, and success can be volatile. They recognized that they were not entitled to views or income and had to earn it with each video. The experience also taught them the importance of saving and investing wisely to ensure financial stability, allowing them more freedom in the future.