Why most video editors stay poor af (& how to avoid it)

Summary

In this video, the speaker reflects on their early days as a video editor, feeling insecure when comparing themselves to more successful peers. They share their journey from earning $500 a month to charging $1,000 to $2,000 per day, emphasizing the importance of mastering the craft and building client relationships. The speaker discusses the value of consistency in outreach and editing, and the necessity of volume to achieve success in the competitive field of video editing.

Takeaways

• 😌 The speaker initially felt insecure comparing their editing skills and earnings to more established editors on Twitter.
• 💼 They were making around $500,000 a month from editing, which was significantly less than what they perceived others were making.
• 🚀 The speaker has since overcome that phase, now enjoying their work, having 'dream clients', and earning a day rate of approximately $500 to $1,000.
• 💰 They emphasize that achieving mastery in any skill is key to making a substantial income, regardless of the niche.
• 📈 The speaker explains that financial growth in editing comes from working with top creators in any niche, not just the most popular ones.
• 🔄 To improve, the speaker suggests focusing on the volume of work and the quality of client interactions rather than just the hours worked.
• 🗣️ Overcoming insecurities, such as in speaking or presenting oneself, is part of the growth process and can be improved with practice and mentorship.
• 📊 The speaker shares their experience with exponential growth, where after a period of little progress, there's a sudden leap in skill and income.
• 🔗 Building a strong client flow is crucial, especially in the early stages of career growth, and involves consistently reaching out and acquiring new clients.
• 🌐 The importance of creating a system for improvement is highlighted, which includes inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback to refine one's craft.
• ⏱️ The speaker warns about 'Outreach lag', the delay between efforts in outreach and seeing results, and encourages persistence despite this delay.

Q & A

What was the initial insecurity the speaker felt when comparing themselves to other editors?

The speaker felt insecure because other editors were working with larger channels and clients, and they perceived those editors to be much better and more successful than themselves.

How much was the speaker making per month at the beginning of their editing career?

At the start, the speaker was making around $500,000 a month from editing.

What is the speaker's current day rate for editing?

The speaker's current day rate is around $500 to $1,000, working approximately 3 to 5 hours per day.

What is the significance of the speaker having 'dream clients'?

Having 'dream clients' signifies that the speaker is now working with clients they have always aspired to work with, which is a significant milestone in their career.

What advice does the speaker wish they could have told their earlier self?

The speaker wishes they knew that achieving mastery in editing and consistent effort over time would lead to improved skills, better clients, and higher pay.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of editing a large number of videos?

The speaker emphasizes this because editing a large number of videos leads to mastery and the ability to charge higher rates, as it demonstrates experience and skill development.

What is the speaker's perspective on the idea of a 'best niche' in video editing?

The speaker believes there is no single best niche in video editing as all niches have potential for high earnings if one can work with top creators within them.

How did the speaker overcome their insecurity about speaking on camera?

The speaker overcame their speaking insecurity by recording 50 videos, which improved their on-camera presence and speaking skills.

What is the speaker's view on the relationship between the number of videos edited and the quality of editing?

The speaker views the number of videos edited as directly correlated with the quality of editing, suggesting that more experience leads to better skills.

What is the 'Outreach lag' mentioned by the speaker?

Outreach lag refers to the delay between the effort put into outreach and the results or clients acquired, emphasizing the importance of patience and consistency in outreach efforts.

Why does the speaker stress the importance of consistency and charisma in outreach?

Consistency ensures that outreach efforts are sustained over time, increasing the chances of success, while charisma helps in making a positive impression and building rapport, which can lead to better response rates.