Why Linus Tech Tips FIRED Us

Summary

After being unexpectedly fired from Linus Tech Tips, the creator and his colleague Andy found the experience to be a blessing in disguise. With severance and social benefits in hand, they launched their own car channel, Zip Tie Tuning, and even expanded to tech reviews with Zip Tie Tech. The transition from a dream job to self-employment allowed them to create content on their own terms, free from corporate constraints. Despite facing challenges with the non-compete clause, they embraced the freedom to produce videos they truly loved, all while building an engaged community of supporters through Patreon.

Takeaways

• 😀 Getting fired from Linus Tech Tips (LTT) was the best thing that could have happened to the speaker and Andy, providing them the opportunity to start their own channel, Zip Tie Tuning.
• 😀 Despite being fired, the speaker acknowledges how invaluable their time at LTT was, learning important skills in video production, hosting, and content creation.
• 😀 The speaker dropped out of university to join LTT, having previously studied mechanical engineering, but realized it wasn't the right fit for them, eventually finding their passion in creating tech and car-related videos.
• 😀 LTT's early days felt like a startup, with a small team and a lot of hands-on roles, allowing the speaker to experiment with various tasks, from writing scripts to building heatsinks and hosting videos.
• 😀 The speaker's passion for cars was supported by LTT, leading to the creation of over 50 car-related videos, but rising production costs and challenges eventually made it unsustainable.
• 😀 The car videos at LTT were high-budget, and the production process was complicated. Later, they streamlined the process, cutting costs while maintaining quality, with the help of new methods of shooting video.
• 😀 The speaker and Andy faced a shift in roles at LTT as the company grew, with responsibilities being delegated to others, and they felt their creativity and learning opportunities were shrinking.
• 😀 A major external factor, the Gamers Nexus controversy, had a huge impact on LTT, hurting its reputation, brand partnerships, and internal morale, especially among talented employees who were affected by the fallout.
• 😀 In January of the current year, the speaker and Andy decided to pursue their car channel independently, despite LTT's management not fully supporting it, mainly due to the restrictive non-compete clause.
• 😀 After launching Zip Tie Tuning, the channel quickly gained traction and success, but soon after, the speaker was fired due to a breach of the non-compete clause, leading to a generous severance package and the freedom to continue their new project full-time.
• 😀 With their new freedom, the speaker and Andy are now able to create the car videos they’ve always wanted, and are excited about the future, focusing on car content while also planning to bring back tech content with Zip Tie Tech.

Q & A

Why was getting fired from Linus Tech Tips considered a positive experience for the speaker?

The speaker felt that getting fired from Linus Tech Tips was a positive experience because it provided them with severance, access to social benefits, and the opportunity to focus on their own YouTube channels, including starting a second channel. They saw it as a fresh start, offering greater creative freedom.

What role did the speaker have at Linus Tech Tips, and how did their job evolve over time?

The speaker started as a writer at Linus Tech Tips but quickly expanded into various roles such as testing products, hosting videos, engineering, and project management. Over time, as the company grew, their responsibilities shifted toward more managerial tasks, and their role became less hands-on in the technical and creative areas.

What inspired the speaker to leave mechanical engineering and pursue a career with Linus Tech Tips?

The speaker realized that while they loved mechanical design, the repetitive nature of the work, including long negotiation processes with suppliers, wasn't fulfilling. They were also passionate about science and tech YouTube, and the opportunity to join Linus Tech Tips, which aligned more closely with their interests, was a turning point.

How did the speaker feel about the growth of Linus Tech Tips, and how did it affect their role?

The speaker felt that the rapid growth of Linus Tech Tips led to a dilution of their role. Initially, they had a hands-on position where they could manage entire projects, but as the company expanded, they moved into a more managerial role, focusing on delegating tasks rather than directly executing them. This shift led to a sense of stagnation and less excitement in their work.

What impact did the Gamers Nexus controversy have on Linus Tech Tips and the speaker's work?

The Gamers Nexus controversy significantly damaged Linus Tech Tips, resulting in lost sponsors, negative community sentiment, and some employees leaving due to the stressful environment. The controversy also put a halt to discussions around expanding into new content areas, such as a car channel, which the speaker was passionate about.

What changes did the speaker make to reduce the costs of car video productions at Linus Tech Tips?

To reduce the costs of car video productions, the speaker, along with Andy, reworked the production process. They started filming both A-roll and B-roll shots together, which reduced the time and expense needed to complete a car video. This shift allowed them to maintain quality while cutting costs significantly.

Why did the speaker and Andy decide to start Zip Tie Tuning, their own car channel?

The speaker and Andy decided to start Zip Tie Tuning because they were frustrated with the lack of opportunity to create car-related content at Linus Tech Tips. After being denied approval to launch a car channel internally, and feeling increasingly restricted by their roles, they launched their own channel in June to follow their passion for cars and be in full creative control.

What was the issue with the non-compete clause at Linus Tech Tips, and how did it impact the speaker's decision to leave?

The non-compete clause at Linus Tech Tips was overly broad and prevented the speaker from starting a car channel while still employed there. After negotiations, the company offered a solution where they could launch the channel but without monetization, sponsorships, or free car parts, which the speaker felt was impractical. This led to their decision to leave the company and start their own channel.

How did the speaker and Andy's partnership contribute to the success of Zip Tie Tuning?

The speaker and Andy's partnership was crucial to the success of Zip Tie Tuning. The speaker handled the content creation, including research and presenting, while Andy was responsible for cinematography, ensuring the videos were visually polished and high-quality. Their combined skills and shared vision were integral to the channel's growth and production value.

What does the speaker plan for the future of Zip Tie Tuning and Zip Tie Tech?

The speaker plans to continue growing Zip Tie Tuning, focusing on car-related content while also launching Zip Tie Tech to cover tech reviews, starting with a review of the Asus TU A14 laptop. The focus will remain on cars, but they plan to include tech content when opportunities arise, especially in the winter months when car content slows down.