How I Killed My Gaming Career…

Summary

In this reflective video, content creator Flexinja candidly discusses his decline in the gaming industry, detailing the pressures and challenges that led to his burnout. Despite having a substantial online presence, he shares his struggles with maintaining content quality, dealing with internet criticism, and the emotional toll of a declining viewer count. He offers advice to aspiring creators, emphasizing the importance of uniqueness, variety, taking breaks, and avoiding unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol. Flexinja's story is a testament to resilience and the potential for rebuilding a career with a healthier approach.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Flexinja started gaming at a young age and was inspired by early YouTube content creators to start making his own videos.
• 🚀 His break came with the release of the game Valorant, where he capitalized on the game's popularity to grow his channel significantly.
• 📈 Flexinja's success was rapid, leading to collaborations with well-known streamers and even a position with NRG as their first Valorant content creator.
• 🔥 At the peak of his career, he experienced burnout, which led to a decline in his content quality and a shift in his attitude towards streaming and content creation.
• 📉 The pressure of maintaining views and the repetitive nature of his content led to a decrease in viewer engagement, which affected his mental health.
• 💔 Flexinja struggled with depression and self-hatred, which manifested in his online persona and led to a further decline in his content creation.
• 🍺 As a coping mechanism, he turned to alcohol and partying, which provided temporary relief but ultimately exacerbated his problems.
• 🍽️ His lifestyle choices led to financial strain and a further decline in his mental health, affecting his ability to create content.
• 🔄 Flexinja emphasizes the importance of taking breaks, maintaining a variety in content, and not relying on alcohol or external validation for mental health.
• 🔄 He concludes with a message of hope, stating that despite falling off, he has learned valuable life lessons and is working towards rebuilding his career in a healthier way.

Q & A

Why did Flexinja feel he 'fell off' as a content creator?

Flexinja felt he 'fell off' as a content creator because he experienced burnout, stress, and a decline in the quality and creativity of his content, which led to a decrease in viewer engagement and satisfaction.

What was the turning point for Flexinja when he decided to pursue content creation full-time?

The turning point for Flexinja was when his Omen exclusive video blew up, garnering over 100,000 views within the first day, which prompted him to quit his job at FedEx and focus on content creation.

How did Flexinja's initial success with 'Valorant' impact his career?

Flexinja's initial success with 'Valorant' led to rapid growth in his subscriber base and viewership, which eventually resulted in him being contacted by NRG to become their first 'Valorant' content creator.

What were some of the challenges Flexinja faced during his peak in content creation?

During his peak, Flexinja faced challenges such as burnout from streaming and creating content for long hours, dealing with online criticism and negativity, and maintaining a consistent level of performance and content quality.

Why did Flexinja's content and streaming quality decline over time?

Flexinja's content and streaming quality declined due to his increasing focus on playing well rather than creating enjoyable content, his growing perfectionism, and his mental health struggles, which led to a decrease in creativity and viewer engagement.

How did Flexinja's mental health affect his career as a content creator?

Flexinja's mental health significantly affected his career, leading to depression, anxiety, and a loss of motivation, which in turn impacted his content creation process, social interactions, and overall online presence.

What role did alcohol and partying play in Flexinja's life during his struggles?

Alcohol and partying served as an escape mechanism for Flexinja during his struggles, providing temporary relief from his mental health issues and career pressures, but ultimately contributing to his complacency and lack of motivation to create content.

What advice does Flexinja give to aspiring content creators based on his experiences?

Flexinja advises aspiring content creators to be unique, diversify their content, take breaks to avoid burnout, not to rely on alcohol as a coping mechanism, and to focus on creating quality content rather than obsessing over view counts.

How does Flexinja plan to improve his content creation process moving forward?

Flexinja plans to improve his content creation process by catching up on his content backlog, potentially hiring an editor and a manager, and focusing on creating content that he enjoys and that resonates with his audience.

What is Flexinja's current perspective on his career and the lessons he has learned?

Flexinja's current perspective is one of gratitude and a desire to rebuild his career in a healthier way. He has learned valuable lessons about the importance of mental health, content diversity, and maintaining a balance between work and personal life.