I made $1,000,000 USD per year at 24 (as a Software Engineer) - DON'T MAKE MY MISTAKES

Summary

In this candid video, the YouTuber opens up about their struggle with the purpose of their content creation, questioning the pursuit of wealth and success at the expense of passion. With 1,000 subscribers, they reflect on their journey, from a driven individual focused on high-frequency trading to a realization that money isn't everything. They encourage viewers to consider their talents and how they can positively impact the world, sharing their own aspirations to contribute to education or health research. The video is a vulnerable and raw account of self-discovery and the importance of aligning one's work with their values.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The YouTuber is struggling with the authenticity of their content and feels the need to be honest with their audience.
• 🚀 They have gained a significant number of subscribers quickly, which they find impressive but also overwhelming.
• 💭 The creator is not passionate about the content they are producing and is questioning their motivations.
• 💰 They express a lack of belief in high-frequency trading as a worthwhile pursuit of talent and intellect.
• ☕ The YouTuber takes a break to gather their thoughts, indicating a moment of vulnerability.
• 🧠 They praise their audience for their intellect, drive, and hard work, and sees themselves as part of this group.
• 💼 The creator discusses their past focus on making money at all costs and how their perspective has shifted.
• 🏡 The YouTuber shares their personal background, including their motivation to provide for their family financially.
• 🌱 They encourage their audience to reconsider chasing money without purpose and to think about how they can contribute positively to the world.
• 🏫 The creator expresses a desire to contribute to education, specifically in computer science, and to democratize access to it.
• 🔬 Another area of interest they mention is health research, particularly mental and physical health.
• 🤔 The YouTuber admits to being lost and encourages others who feel the same to reach out and have a conversation.
• 💪 They emphasize that they are privileged not to have to focus solely on money and can afford to pursue their passions.
• 📈 The creator shares their past high earnings in contracting and software engineering to illustrate their point about money not being the driving factor for them anymore.
• 🎬 The video is intended to be raw and unfiltered, showing that everyone, including YouTubers, go through struggles.
• 🌟 The YouTuber was inspired to make this video after watching a video by N Code, emphasizing the importance of creating content that is meaningful rather than just profitable.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video is the creator's personal struggle with the purpose of his work and his realization that making money isn't everything. He emphasizes the importance of finding passion and contributing positively to the world.

How many subscribers does the creator have?

The creator mentions having around 1,000 subscribers.

What is the creator's opinion on high frequency trading?

The creator does not believe in high frequency trading and thinks it's not a good utilization of talent.

Why does the creator feel the need to be honest with his audience?

The creator feels the need to be honest because he doesn't want to continue making videos if he's not passionate about them and believes in transparency with his audience.

What does the creator believe about his audience?

The creator believes that his audience is composed of highly intelligent, driven, and hardworking individuals.

What is the creator's background and why does he mention it?

The creator comes from a privileged background with a supportive family, which allows him to not worry as much about money. He mentions this to contrast his situation with those who might need to prioritize financial stability.

What is the creator's new perspective on life after being unemployed for five months?

After being unemployed, the creator has realized that he wants to contribute to fields like education and health research, rather than just chasing money.

What specific field in education does the creator express interest in?

The creator expresses interest in computer science education and democratizing access to it, similar to what is done at institutions like Stanford and Harvard.

What is the creator's view on the purpose of work?

The creator suggests that it's not necessarily about finding a purpose but rather about aligning one's work with what they truly believe in and are passionate about.

What does the creator suggest for those who are confused about their career path?

The creator suggests that those who are confused should reconsider their priorities and think about what they truly want to contribute to the world, rather than just focusing on making money.

What was the trigger for the creator to make this video?

The creator was inspired to make this video after watching a video by another YouTuber, n code, who encouraged making videos that one is passionate about, rather than just focusing on making money.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Struggling with YouTube Success

The speaker begins by admitting that making this video is challenging. They express a desire to show their audience the reality of their situation, which is one of uncertainty and self-doubt. Despite only having a few videos on their YouTube channel, they have gained a significant number of subscribers, which they find impressive. However, they confess that they are not passionate about the content they are creating and are being honest about their lack of direction. The speaker also questions the value of high-frequency trading, which they previously considered as a career path, but now believe it's not a good use of their talents.

05:02

🌟 Valuing Intellect and Contribution

The speaker praises their audience for their intellect and hard work, and identifies with them as being driven and ambitious. They share their personal journey, which was initially focused on making money to provide for their family. They discuss the importance of using one's abilities to contribute positively to the world, rather than just pursuing wealth. The speaker expresses a newfound interest in contributing to the field of education, specifically in democratizing computer science education, and mentions the influence of educators like those at Stanford and Harvard. They also consider the possibility of working in health research, emphasizing the desire to find meaningful work rather than just chasing money.

10:04

💭 The Search for True Purpose

In the final paragraph, the speaker reflects on their journey of self-discovery and the realization that the pursuit of money was not fulfilling. They recount receiving lucrative job offers in high-frequency trading but ultimately finding them meaningless because they lacked passion and belief in the work. The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding one's purpose and being true to oneself, rather than just chasing financial success. They also express gratitude for their privileged position, which allows them the freedom to explore their interests without the pressure of financial necessity. The video concludes with the speaker's desire to be open and vulnerable with their audience, hoping to inspire others who may be experiencing similar feelings of confusion and uncertainty.

Keywords

💡Reality

Reality refers to the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. In the video, the creator wants to convey the authentic side of their life and struggles, which contrasts with the curated image often presented on social media. The creator mentions feeling like they're losing their mind, which is a candid admission of grappling with the pressures of creating content and managing expectations.

💡Passion

Passion is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion, typically one that is aligned with a compelling interest or enthusiasm. The video's creator expresses a lack of passion for the content they've been producing, indicating a disconnect between their YouTube channel's output and what genuinely excites or motivates them.

💡High Frequency Trading

High Frequency Trading (HFT) is a type of algorithmic trading characterized by high speeds, high turnover, and high volumes of orders. The creator mentions not believing in HFT, suggesting a moral or philosophical objection to the practice, which they view as not being a beneficial use of their talents or a constructive contribution to society.

💡Intellect

Intellect refers to the capacity for rational thought, or intelligence. The creator praises their audience for their intellect, implying that they value and respect the cognitive abilities of their viewers, and sees them as a community of smart, driven individuals.

💡Democratizing

Democratizing means making something accessible to everyone, especially in terms of education or technology. The creator admires initiatives that democratize computer science education, such as the cs50 program at Harvard, which aims to make learning computer science available to a broad audience, regardless of their background or previous experience.

💡Privilege

Privilege refers to special rights, advantages, or immunities granted or available only to a particular person or group. The creator acknowledges their privilege, such as coming from a supportive family and not having to worry about money, which has allowed them the freedom to pursue non-financial goals and passions.

💡Mental Health

Mental health is a level of psychological well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. The creator discusses their own mental health, indicating that they have been stressed and struggling, which is a plea for authenticity and a reminder that even those who appear successful can face internal challenges.

💡Purpose

Purpose refers to the reason for which something is done or created, or for which something exists. The creator reflects on the difficulty of finding one's purpose and suggests that it's not just about making money but about contributing positively to the world, which aligns with their newfound perspective on life and work.

💡Vulnerability

Vulnerability is the state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either emotionally or physically. The creator chooses to be vulnerable by sharing their personal struggles and doubts, which is a way to connect with the audience on a deeper level and to normalize discussions about mental health and self-doubt.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment refers to the state of being without a paid job. The creator mentions being unemployed for five months, which has given them time to reflect on their life choices and career path, leading to the realization that financial success is not their sole ambition.

💡Contribution

Contribution is the act of giving something, typically money or time, to a cause or campaign. The creator expresses a desire to contribute to fields like education and health research, indicating a shift from personal gain to a desire to have a positive impact on society.

Highlights

Creator expresses difficulty in making the video and a desire to show reality

Acknowledges not having everything figured out and the importance of honesty

Surprised by the number of subscribers gained and expresses gratitude

Admits lack of passion for the current video content

Discusses the initial goal of gaining a large audience

Disbelief in the value of high-frequency trading and its misuse of talent

Apologizes for the video's raw nature and the need for coffee

Praises the audience's intellect, drive, and hard work

Shares personal journey from being driven by money to seeking a meaningful impact

Warns against prioritizing money over purpose

Reflects on personal privilege and the freedom it provides

Shares the story of making life choices to support family financially

Encourages viewers to reconsider chasing money without a purpose

Expresses a desire to contribute to education and democratize computer science

Mentions admiration for educators like those at Stanford and Harvard

Considers mental and physical health research as an alternative path

Stresses the importance of finding personal purpose over just making money

Shares personal financial success and the realization it's not fulfilling

Reveals the video's inspiration came from another YouTuber's advice

Encourages viewers to be vulnerable and reach out for support

Ends the video with a message of hope and the desire to inspire

Transcripts

hey guys um this is a really hard video

to make

firstly

um I just want to show you guys like

reality and I don't know if I'm losing

my mind right now or

not but um I think it's really important

to make this video to show you that like

I don't have everything figured out like

I present myself on this YouTube channel

and I know I've only made eight videos

um or nine videos uh I'm really

impressed with how many subscribers I

got I think that's amazing 1,000

subscribers

um I just don't want to like keep making

these videos because I'm not really

passionate about them to be completely

honest with you I was making these

videos with the purpose of getting

really big

[Music]

um

Without Really believing I don't believe

in high frequency trading I don't think

it's a good

utilization

of your

talent I think

that you guys the people watching these

videos sorry I'm just going to get some

coffee I truly believe that you guys the

people watching these videos are some of

the

most amazing people in the world in

terms of

intellect Drive

hardworking you guys are really awesome

uh and I am one of those people as well

like I was one of those

people no I am still one of those people

I'm very

smart sorry I took a little bit of

attention but the the point that I'm

trying to make is that I was in the same

shoes as a lot of you guys

before I was really driven really

hardworking and wanted to make as much

money as possible that's why I looked at

the field of high frequency

trading I want to give you a real

caution I now I've had a lot of time to

think can reflect and my question that I

give you is really be careful about just

doing things for

money I know it's much much easier

said than done especially I'm someone

who who comes from a really privileged

background I have a great family and

great support and and and I don't have

to worry as much about money I don't

have to worry about money like anywhere

near as much compared to a lot of people

in this world which I'm really really

grateful

for that's amazing that's really really

amazing however I'm sure a lot of you

because I have a lot of friends that are

just trying to work to maximize the

money output I have a lot of my friends

and I know they don't need

to

and I was one of those people and I'm

not telling you guys what to do I'm just

sharing my story I was one of those

people I always ju like I made All My

Life Choices since 16 years old my mom

doesn't make my my family are separated

and my mom doesn't make good

money my mom doesn't have financial

means so I made all my life choices to

make her as much money to make as much

money as possible for her to buy her a

house

um to to get her nice things

I know family is super important but for

me my Outlook changed that that's just

one person I really

think you guys are all really gifted I'm

gifted we have really smart

brains we can use our brains to really

contribute positively to the world and

this is where you guys have to do your

thinking if you are in this the same

boat as

me if you are in the same boat as me

that you are feeling like you're just

want to make money for the sake of

making

money but you don't need to make money

you have a support system behind you

then please reconsider please think

about it bro please think very strongly

about it I've been thinking a a lot

about it and I for me I would love to

contribute to the field of

Education my reasoning behind wanting

to contribute to the field field of

education is because I believe that I

can I'm not someone like I don't like

making decisions this industry is good

this industry is bad I think it it is

important to get like a gauge on all

these things like do you believe in the

healthcare industry how much do you

believe in it is it a lot about profit

get give percentages I I believe a lot

in if we're talking about Academia I

believe in I really believe in Academia

my ideal place would be working at

somewhere like Stanford or Harvard in in

an education so Harvard there's cs50 in

an education lab like cs50 in Harvard in

Stanford there's a professor called

Chris Peak or something like that he has

his own lab called the peak lab these

would be ideal places for me why

because I would love to be able to very

neutrally grow individuals by

teaching um teaching them computer

science and also democratizing computer

science allowing anyone in the world

this is what these people are doing

people that have founded

cs50 they

democratized education of computer

science which I think is so cool because

that grows so many seeds it's not

describable every single year they have

cohort every single few months they have

cohorts of students and they're growing

all of them they're getting them

passionate about computer science and I

think that's absolutely awesome so I did

a lot of thinking about that um I would

also like if if that doesn't work out

another area that I'm interested in is

research for for health mental health

and physical health

um there's one diabetes research in

Stanford I think they're doing some

really awesome

stuff but

my the gist of this video is

that it's not necessarily about finding

purpose because purpose is really really

hard to find I think

but you like for me I'm just going to

speak for myself I'm not going to tell

you guys you have to do this but I know

because I've talked talk to friends and

they're also lost I know myself

that I was I was just chasing money

what's the highest paying job what's the

highest paying job what's the highest

paying job but in reality I don't want

to do that I want to F because I have

the privilege not to focus on that I

have the privilege to focus on what I

truly believe helps the

world

and this is the conclusion I got from

being unemployed maybe I'm just losing

my my mind but I've been un unemployed

for five months and I really want to be

raw with you guys I mean I have a lot of

savings and I've made a ton of money a

ton of money I think uh at one point I'm

so I'm I was doing Contracting at one

point I was making like if you convert

it to uh like you know these these Rahul

pandies and these clickbait artists um

they they make like a a thumbnail no no

hate on that guy he's just trying to

play the game of getting stuff out there

but he has a thumbnail like making 700k

as a software engineer I was doing that

like if you convert taxes I was doing

that here I was making 700k at 24 years

old if you convert the taxes so like

because he he saying 700k as a raw

figure or gross figure in um in uh in um

California if you take that and convert

it to my my setup I was making pretty

much the same as him at 23 years old or

24 years old rather I can prove this to

you if you guys want

proof so it's not about money let me

tell you that it really for me anyway

it's not about money and I'm again I'm

in a very privileged position that I

don't have responsibility and I have

family that supports me but this is just

my my my two cents on the whole

situation

and the reason I'm sharing it is

because if there is anyone that is

confused like I

was please reach out to me Instagram I

will happily have a conversation with

you happily but let me let me tell you

that I got job offers from these high

frequency trading for I got I got a lot

of money job offers this is not a brag

at all but it was meaningless because I

was not passionate about it I didn't

believe in it I didn't think it's useful

none of that stuff and you know I always

had this

um I always had this mentality ah I'm

just going to make a ton of money and

help people with it but it didn't work

for me it did not work for me

because in my heart of hearts I believe

in myself and my ability to help the

world if I make if I just make a ton of

money and and uh and you know leverage

it to someone else it it doesn't feel

right to

me yeah this video was really a cluster

and it's very different to a lot of my

videos and I just want to show you guys

that

everyone goes through stuff as well it's

really normal to go through stuff I know

I'm acting like a YouTuber with a

million subscribers it's like sharing

about their their their mental

well-being and physical well-being but I

think it's also very important to be

vulnerable with people because I'm sure

that there's going to be someone in this

video you know I've been really really

stressed I'm sure there's a lot of but I

haven't been able to handle the stress

or communicate the stress or do

something about the stress or get back

onto get back onto track with stuff get

back on with life and and doing the

stuff that I want to do that I described

in this video and I'm sure a lot of you

a lot of you we'll be going through the

same thing so

please you know I wanted this video to

be very

raw and unfiltered so you guys can

actually see and you know funnny enough

the reason why I made this video is

because of n code n code is a is a

YouTuber and I really respect him

honestly I really respect him he made a

video today he said make the videos that

you want to

make not what makes money and that

triggered me to make this video so

hopefully this video can Inspire some of

you thanks everyone really and have an

amazing day

peace Legends