Hot Take: Authenticity Doesn’t Work

I have no problems with hot takes.

So here’s one:

Authenticity might be the problem.

If you start a YouTube today you’re likely trying to find different creators giving advice and you’re more than likely running into videos where one of if not the biggest piece of advice they are giving is to be your true Authentic self.

It sounds nice and it all but there is a huge problem with this, Its wrong.

I am not saying be fake. I am saying that if the biggest piece of advice other creators are giving to others to take off on YouTube or make it big is to be authentic, they are selling you some crap.

Why?

Because no one cares.

Ok by now if you haven’t clicked away you’re probably thinking, “Stephen, back off. This is backwards,” or maybe a more crude form of this. But its true. No one cares about your channel when starting off or maybe for many, many years.

Youtube is oversaturated with people trying to leave their mark and “make it big” and they are all being told all you have to do is be authentic and the rest will follow.

Be real. That is the first thing. And the second thing…

Get ready to work harder than ever before because the Youtube gig is no joke.

It takes way more than being yourself and being authentic.

I hope you are being real, I hope you are not misleading others but this is not what is going to make your channel interesting. What others are going to be interested in is you having a good time, making videos you enjoy but working so hard to bring the best content out there for those of us to watch.

Sometimes the authentic thing for you is not put in the hard work and wait for your big break. On YouTube that doesn’t cut it.

The motto, “Just be authentic” sometimes seems like a cop out excuse for those of us who’s videos may not be working out, running out of ideas and we have no where else to turn to but this.

Now, Youtube is also a game, which means you have to play to win. Again don’t be fake, but there might be some metrics or strategies you have to employ due to the way YouTube is built. You may not like it, and if just being authentic is your only strategy then Ive got no more hot takes for you.

Talk soon.