I appreciate all the insightful comments below. The fact that you took the time to meaningfully respond to what is a very difficult topic for me means a lot. I feel very vulnerable sharing that but my heart grows reading all the actionable advice and your trust in my recovery as a creator. This really enforces me in the belief that I can overcome this blockade and find easier and more effective ways to produce videos for you for years to come. That is essentially my goal.
First-time comment: I really enjoy your videos -- you have a gentle and insightful vibe I enjoy. Ironically, YOU are part of my effort to take care of my own mental well-being (as is Jangbricks -- again, the rational and laid-back style). I notice you don't get the views you "deserve" -- that is, you offer quality content and I believe many others would enjoy it but have not found you or tuned-in (yet). Your studio rocks (I wish so much I had space/resources to have something like that -- I am not a content creator so it would be just for myself)...your space is very modern and sophisticated and supports the overall "Cool Factor" vibe...love the furnishings/lighting, etc. I am a semi-retired psychotherapist (NYS licensed -- and can prove it) and you can consult me you wish. In any case, PLEASE take care of yourself....I wish I had great words of wisdom I could impart here in a nut-shell....best I can do spur-of-the-moment: self-care, practicing gratitude, create daily moments of joy (for me reading books, watching films, having cup of coffee, etc -- fatherhood is never done but kids now just reaching adulthood and more time to focus on myself) are what works for me...and seeking peace-of-mind (not big on whole "happiness and success" thing as I see these benchmarks as illusory and harmful). I wish you well -- do your content at YOUR pace and know you have viewers who appreciate your work -- if you are not seeking to make living income from the channel then do as avocation and for enjoyment -- as well as viewers' enjoyment. IF your goal is content creator/living income Idk...tricky...bit of luck involved not just quality and skill. Good luck -- and THANK YOU.
I very much appreciate you taking the time to comment for the first time. It means a lot that you value my output and consider it helpful. In todays day and age I feel that my chill vibe and toned down approach is unwanted in fast paced world of content where attention span is lower and lower and editing is expected to be crazy thanks to TikTok and all that stuff. I still want to stay true to myself and provide value on a slower lane. I am happy you enjoy what I do!
I rarely write comments anywhere, but I felt I needed to. Honestly others will probably write about alternative formats for videos, a channel name change etc. I would like to address my opinions or advices from a human perspective. I came to "know you" in the Brick Vault days. And I really liked your style back then and I like it now. I tell you why. You are honest, passionate, a simpler man whom the audience can connect with. And I don't mean by simpler that you are stupid 😀 I mean you are not some narcissistic a..ole swimming in attention. You love Lego and it can be seen from miles away. So my advice would be the following: Look at for example Doug DeMuro, he is making videos with an iPhone, kneeling in the dirt beside rare hypercars 😀 and you can see the dude loves every second of it. And you can see it is honest. Just like You. So as you said in your video about the "perfect video"... don't make it perfect, just do it however you can. Be cool, give yourself and by the way your editing style is already pretty good, so yeah just go ahead 😉 We will be here watching 😀 Wishing You the best!🙌
I love Doug DeMuro! He is actually local to me and I once applied to join his crew... Never heard back :((( Anyhow, I agree how simple his style is and how down to earth he is while checking out a 3 million dollar Bugatti. He is a huge inspiration and I often think the same way about his content and his principles and how I can apply them to my own channel. Love to hear that I am not the only one thinking that! I appreciate that comment a lot, thank you!
I hope you can find your way back. you have always given us great quality content and have followed your journey for a long time. Creating content consistently is rough. I can't imagine how much more taxing it can be with all the editing and work you put in your videos. You have loyal followers, we are here, we appreciate the content you put out and no matter where this journey takes you and how it shapes your videos in the future we will always be here to support you!
Consistency and routine is what I was good at within a creative team but it is so much more difficult as a solo creator when you have to constantly keep yourself in check. Thank you for the encouragement!
I'm not a youtube creator, but am a creator in other areas of life. I have learnt a few things, which might be helpful: never underestimate the difference that comes with working alone instead of with a team of people; it is easy to start out working from home and then suddenly find yourself living at work instead; put time into your schedule to connect with other human beings in person, especially if they are in the same line of work. Finally, work out what your vision is - "In 5 years I see myself...." - as that gives you a goal to work towards.
Definitely feeling that blur of work and home life more and more. I hope I can transition through that and set clearer boundaries so that I don't get more and more overwhelmed. Setting that vision of me in the future is equally important, I have to keep that in mind! Thank you.
I’ve posting twice a week for 2 and a half years, to which I added 2 shorts a week as well. I didn’t experience a real block, but of course there are lots of ups and downs, especially when you don’t achieve your targets. Over time I realised that it’s okay to skip an upload sometimes or upload later. My advice is to always put yourself as 1st priority and make videos that you enjoy making. As for the budget constraints, I guess most people can relate. I started to build my own MOCs for that reason. I get the enjoyment of building and rebuilding with Lego, without spending crazy amounts on sets I wish you all the best
Just my two cents but maybe just go with a refresh. When I joined up/subscribed/began to follow you, it was just refreshing to see a dude build some LEGO and have other LEGO fans in the chat. Period. LEGO has always been my pause from life and my getaway and I enjoy seeing people build and chat with that same vibe. So maybe just go back to the roots. Simple builds, and simple conversations. The camera angles, the lighting and the presentation are all on point. Nothing to change there and I would say don't even worry about that kind of stuff since it's already at a pro level. Kick off your shoes, and maybe just enjoy some little builds. You definitely don't need those big UCS sets or even a lot of lot of content. I mean, I for one am still excited for that MEga Core Magnetizer rebuild to reminisce in those nostalgia vibes. I appreciate your drive to go above an beyond, but I enjoy the simple stuff. Just a little build here and there and a place to hang. As adults, it's hard to find time to get together with friends, and especially find LEGO friends to hang out and build with on a casual weekend or something. The online community allows for that, and with your style of content, it give me that chill hang out vibe. You are unique in that way. Some streamers rely on that overly excited party vibe which is too amped up for me. Other streamers are chill, but have waayyyyy too many followers so the chat feels impersonal. You hit the perfect niche of professional easy on the eyes studio set up, great audio, but most importantly a welcoming hang out environment.
I really love the breakdown on why you started watching me. I tend to forget the roots for sure as I constantly upgrade my production. You are absolutely right about the simplicity of it all and how I began the whole thing. Something I mentioned recently on Twitch about returning to RU-vid streaming comes from the same point you're giving here - I kind of want to just return to simpler times when I was not worrying about too much production or too many social media bases to cover. Appreciate you always!
I really resonated with your video, as a fellow creator I often doubt my work. A painting is never finished it can always be painted over. Recently I re-edited a video and the whole tone of the video changed, I changed the background music to synthwave. The tone was happier and was a much more enjoyable video. I'm just saying have fun and it will "appear" over camera.
As an aspiring content creator who has yet to even venture out as far as a single video this is super relatable as the ideas and motivation are there it's just difficult to jump in all at once. From this I feel the biggest issue is striving for perfection, and from what you've put out already it's already near if that. I think with a lot of content creators/reviewers it simply comes down to basic routine, and figuring out a format that simply works consecutively while generating interest/views. Even smaller channels I have found can generate interest/views with subpar videos as it quickly becomes more about just creating content opposed to striving for constant perfection. It's really difficult to suggest a direction when reviews/news can only be changed up/presented in so many ways though an opinion can always subjectively be different. As a Twitch streamer maybe diving into some online gaming would be an option to break away from Lego content. I've often thought gaming with an audience could be fun though I personally find watching someone play a game is almost more fun than playing it. Even with the minimal content always like to see the life updates, and that you're still managing despite everything. Also don't force it, content creation should never feel like a chore as where's the fun it that?
Killing perfectionism is my number one understanding on how I should operate and yet I constantly fall into this trap. Perfectionism is the literal opposite of consistency I feel, it just kills it. Thank you for the valuable advice and insight!
I feel like this every other day, but I say to myself "Who will do it if not you? You must do it, nobody can do it same way. They can maybe do it better, but not your own way." And it helps me. Because I feel responsibility for never finished projects. I always enjoy your videos. BrickVlogs were my favourite thing on BrickVault channel. Than you moved to this channel and started your new way. I always sit and watch your new videos. Without them, LEGO part of the RU-vid will feel very empty for me. I hope you'll find new motivation for continue.
Viewers like you are a big part of motivation to continue. Also, great insight - "if not me, then who?". I forget to think that way sometimes. I forget that a video I may see as a mundane one, can be quite unique in viewers eyes. Thank you!
Try partnering up with someone for a project! Maybe a podcast or a joint video. Having someone’s expectations to put pressure on you could be a help and could lead to great creative sparks! Good luck and thanks for your honesty.
I am glad you appreciate it, it was tough for me to record this videos and share the struggle. I believe that collabs are very important for the long term growth but I have to figure out the solo operation first before I dive into collab content. Thank you!
Oh boy, I can feel you. I am in kind of the same situation. I feel like I am burned out and have no idea, what to do next. I love LEGO, but not the amount of space it occupies. But its not about me, it is about you. To be honest, I like you as a person and I really miss the days from brick fault with your vlogs. Your vlogs was the best part about brick vault and they never really came back on this Chanel. Sadly I have no advice for you how to get back to regular content. If you know a way how to do it, please make a video about this. it maybe will help your audience too. I really would appreciate this kind of content.
The space is a HUGE problem. I constantly think about a solution to literally figure out a flow of LEGO in my collection where I can acquire new sets and get rid of the old ones without losing too much money. Psychologically it is rather difficult as I tend to get attached to my bricks a lot :(. Vlogs were a huge thing for me back at BV and one day I will find away to consistently bring them back on The Cool Factor. I definitely to want to unlock myself and share more of day to day progress, operations, just things that work and those that don't. Sometimes I am too afraid for some reason to share, thinking that, yet again, the content might not seem good. I feel I just need to post no matter what and see where it goes. Thank you!
Do what ever is best for your mental health and family of course. People change. You’re totally normal. The stresses of life are real. I always appreciate your content and am excited when I see a new video! You’re one of my favorites. You’re being hard on yourself. You’re free to do what’s fun when you feel like it. With no expectations, especially not perfection. Don’t base it on the views and likes. I use your reviews to determine Lego purchases and interest all the time. From one Lego lover to another thank you for sharing your passion. Lego is excessive so most normal people can’t get it all or keep up. You kill it every time!
I admit I do live in the past comparing my current drive to what I had when all my creative life was day in day out with likeminded people and our collective goal was great content. I think I am completely unprepared for solo journey at such pace :D Thank you for great insight!
I’m a RU-vidr but in a completely different area of interest. I only upload as a hobby. My advice is to take your interests outside of the house and see how it relates to the outside world. It’s one thing to just do reviews from the comfort of your own home, but seeing how you express your interests in everyday life would be your unique take on Lego. For instance how can you solve problems with Lego? How can you share Lego with others instead of being a passive builder? That’s my philosophy when I make new videos.
Hi Mike! I admire you, your openness, your honesty and of course the way you speak. What I wish is that you could use Lego to teach Polish language. I am trying to impress a Polish woman, and the online language videos all tens to be the same, same, same. I feel we fans could learn from you; you would be the perfect person to create videos that combine your expertise and love for Lego with your language skills. Imagine that combo of Lego video news with creative ways to teach people the complex Polish language, or even basic vocabulary. Anyway, whatever you do, you'll be great. Nice job on all your content!
As someone who also visited Poland, I can say with certainty that while it's great to see friends and family, it kills the drive. In America everything moves so quickly and the pace is quick. While in Poland people are more laid back. They work hard but the same type of grind is a lot less so it's understandable on how you are feeling. Start slow and you will get there
I tend to struggle with procrastination. I know I should be working on things but find something to distract myself. once I get started it's fine but the starting can be hard.
I'll be here when you upload. I wish you did more. Can you get on those Lego groups that you can get sets free or early to review. That would be a great motivator.
I'm not a content creator but i know how lonely it can feel doing something on your own. I started a BrickLink store a few years back & i did it all by myself & found it difficult sometimes to get motivated. Well the only thing that motivated me was the money :D (watching my PayPal balance go up) & being able to build my Classic Space set-up :P My Store has been closed tho for a year now due to me having to look after my parents(both got dementia now unfortunately) So i haven't got a clue whats next for me. One thing someone said was try & do one thing a day(work wise if you can't get motivated) & it sort of helped me a bit 👍 Anyway i do love your Videos & alway watch them & i hope you always will make more if you can :)
You know how I feel, I love you and your content.. but when you talk about being blocked like you are, and over promising and over extending.. sounds familiar in too many ways - have you ever explored that you might have a sort of ADD? Those are all symptoms that describe it to a T. Once I personally figured that out - and went to the dr, things got so much better. Just a thought... love you! We are all here for you, and help. ❤
As I told you on the stream, I actually did consider having some sort of focus / work mindset disorder. Doesn't hurt to actually talk to a doctor about it because I always had problems with procrastination and hyper productive periods closer to deadlines. Thank you again for all your support and presence!
Hey buddy. Burnout is a horrible thing. TBH I wish I could say something to help you, but I've felt like giving up for years. My channel is tiny yet I've created hundreds of vids, many complex and intricate, yet I can't find my audience... But I find personally, I need to do something that makes me happy. Right now it's always improving my skills. But if you are not happy, maybe change direction? After all "the cool factor" can be about anything. What makes you happy? Focus on that?
LEGO still makes me happy, I'm just too much into my own head, comparison game and just overall lack of belief and trust in my own skills. Your channel is quite unique! I feel you deserve much more given how much you already put out and how interesting niche you have chosen. I hope we both can find our everlasting groove to create!
@@TheCoolFactor you know, when I first encountered you, you had just left brickvault and you were full of enthusiasm. I thought the videos you were producing were entertaining and engaging, and I really enjoyed watching them. It’s not easy to break out on your own - and you have a family as well? Super hard. It’s not surprising you’re feeling burnt out and maybe a dash of imposter syndrome? Well let me tell you, as a complete unknown myself, you are good and the videos you create are definitely worthwhile 🙂 Thanks for your comment about my channel - I agree I should have more followers… but… where are they? 😉 As long as I enjoy the process I’ll keep doing them although I do feel I must be crazy: considering I only get between 20 & 100 views per vid, the amount of energy I put into them to far far disproportionate! 😀 Here’s to always being happy creating!
My advice is: don’t promise any schedule. Film something small rather than a big video. How about shorts? How about collab vids? I’m sure your fellow creators would love to help you out to get back in the game. Also: take care and try not to get down on yourself. I always like your vids.
Yup, sometimes projects grow too big against what they are supposed to be in the first place. Killing perfectionism is a step needed to get me to do Shorts and other simple forms of content. Collabs are a great idea too!
Look at other ways of making Lego content. Bricking up Brad's Tavern Talk series is an awesome one. You don't need a lot of budget just some editing & storytelling skills.
I really like his series! Great research and fun presentation, he's a really talented guy! I really want to get better and storytelling and shaping the message.
@@TheCoolFactor You have a good calm voice & pepper in just enough jokes/bits. Also, your editing is awesome. I really don't think it would take all that long for you to be able to produce in that style.
I see you've been going through a rough patch lately. Here's what I've noticed about content creators, Lego content creators in particular. First of all, there's way too many Lego RU-vidrs. And even the ones that are the most well known tend to suffer from "over exposure" at a certain point to where people (at least for me) tend to get burned out on watching them. I also see some people having the opposite of what you're going through to where they are literally killing themselves to pump out the content. No disrespect to Jang, he's the main go to guy for Lego but I can see him having health problems in the future because he is chronically fatigued and tired from lack of sleep and you can see that in his face and he looks unhealthy. I think you are overthinking this whole thing. You tend to worry too much about what camera to use, the lighting, the angles the editiing, etc. so it becomes overwhelming for you. While those things are important, they are not something to overwhelm yourself with. Just make a simple video. It doesn't have to be a Hollywood production. This is RU-vid. Stay consistent even if you're only doing one video a week. Don't get bogged down with all the side stuff. Also, I think you should do other things besides Lego. You're trapping yourself into a corner by only doing one thing which is already swamped with so many others already doing it.
I always appreciate your insight! Thank you for putting me closer to the ground, you are a huge inspiration and an example that simplicity helps consistency and in the end consistency is key. Wishing you more success!
Thank you Mike. I also think that because you're worried so much about all the production of your videos, it makes you not as eager to want to make them because it becomes so much work so in your mind you don't even want to get started. That's why keeping them simple will make it easier on you and you'll be more willing to produce the content. Don't make it so much extra work for yourself.
What if you tried doing some videos with moc related content? It really seems like the entire Lego review/news side of the community has been struggling to grow for the past year or two, and that viewers are really preferring content that is more moc based.
MOC showcases is something I used to enjoy a lot and I want to get back to it - right now my priority is to get outside of my own head and just start putting regular content out even if its just news videos and reviews at first. Without routine I won't be able to get far and re-introduce what I was good at in the past. But MOC content is for sure on my radar!
I was thinking about it honestly but in the end it is, I believe, a small factor in my problems. Consistency in quality videos is my priority. There many successful channels with completely non-bricks related names and they succeed because the content speaks for itself. That is where I have to get first. Thank you!
Also, you don't HAVE TO review the new sets. Til you get new sets, in between review older sets you have, inexpensive sets, small polybags til you get the major new releases. They don't all have to be the UCS kind.
Once I get consistent with my solo work, I will definitely look into collabs. The machine has to work first so I don't disappoint anyone that wants to collab with me :) Thank you!
Cześć! Zebrało mi się na wywody. Może trochę z mojej perspektywy. Może nawet napiszę coś co się faktycznie przyda w zaistniałej sytuacji. Pod uwagę weź proszę, jestem twórcą dużo mniej doświadczonym. Zacznę od z pozoru prostych prac, przykładowo, też przywykłem do układania ozdób, oświetlania, kadrowania, dodawania w obróbce drobnych szczegółów. Wypalić się ma tu znaczenie, kiedy to samemu się przy tym pracuje, jak to podkreślałeś, jeszcze dopieszczając potem nagrania przy komputerze. A gdyby tak, dla odmiany, ktoś inny ustawił aparat czy inną tam kamerę, podał Ci coś na wizji, czy nawet przygotował film do publikacji! Mi właśnie brakowało zespołu, trudno powiedzieć na ile dokładnie tego Tobie zabrakło po takim czasie od współpracy z Brickvault. Myślę, że ostatnie lata dały Ci też dużo swobody w podejmowaniu decyzji i skupieniu na swoich projektach. Nic tylko je realizować. Naprawdę możesz dużo, doświadczenie i potencjał masz. Druga sprawa. Z perspektywy czasu większość produkcji mnie nie zawolalała. Piszę o moich rzecz jasna. Nie widziałem w nich potencjału na dłuższe lata, że mogłyby być jeszcze i jeszcze raz dla kogoś ciekawe, przydatne. To trochę jak z gazetą, piszesz wielki artykół i jest głośno, tylko kto do tego artykułu potem wróci. A w teorii o nieustanny, nawet niewielki powrót widowni do filmów i wspomnienia chodzi. To buduje mocną społeczność, aż prosi się by dołączali do niej kolejni fani, którzy również dobrze się w niej czują. Co to w końcu za uczucie, dziesiątki jak nie setki godzin przy montażu, nie wspominając o filmowaniu, chce się by to było zauważalne dla audiencji. To też odnośnie newsów, pojawiają się na chwilę i znikają w głębinach YT. A dzięki takim materiałom tak skutecznie działają media. Czyli wynika z tego, że film, nawet króciutki, po prostu musi się nam chcieć obejrzeć i to bardzo. W najlepszym przypadku wrócić do niego kolejny raz. To się nazywa sukces, a sukces daje energię do dzielenia się swoimi pasjami właściwie na okrągło. Co dopiero z czyjąś drobną pomocą, czy to kogoś na miejscu czy bardzo wspierających fanów budowania. Co do przyjemności z tego czemu się oddałeś, czyli Twej pracy jako twórca, którą się obecnie zajmujesz. Sam zdecyduj! Sposobów czy jakiś gotowych planów działania mogę wypisać wiele, ostatecznie tylko Ty wiesz najlepiej co tak naprawdę lubisz i jak chcesz pracować. A definitywnie to jest to. Czerp z tego przyjemności, satysfakcję i już się poczujesz lepiej. Baw się. Chyba to najlepsze lekarstwo. :)
Wow, dzięki za tak rozbudowany komentarz! Zdecydowanie brakuje mi zespołu / kumpla czy po prostu kogoś kto by trzymał rękę na pulsie i motywował mnie do pracy :D W zespole pracowało się na pewno łatwiej - kombinuję ogólnie jak zaangażować nieco ludzi do pomocy w przyszłości. No i dzięki za przypomnienie o zabawie przy robieniu tego wszystkiego. Czasami to poczucie pracy zabiera cały fun factor a przecież o to w tym wszystkim chodzi... Trzymaj się i dzięki za oglądanie The Cool Factor!
Try thinking of a new format (very short videos?), or make content about making content. I think people want to see someone good at something to learn something new. You know things that other don’t, make content about that, not necessarily about Lego. I think you are stuck because deep inside you don’t want to do content about Lego like it has been done by so many others. Alternatively try to work with other people, at least for a while to get you going.
I actually had this in my mind for a long time - creating tutorials on filmmaking and editing but curated to this niche. Never done that before but maybe it is something I should finally explore. Thank you!
Not a substance user here but it is for sure an interesting topic. Not a tabu or anything as I had friends who used that sort of approach with, well, good and mixed results.
