Youtube success made me miserable 

The most endearing thing about you for me is how honest you are. I really respect it. I sincerely hope things work out for you whatever that is with or without youtube.

The reason that the video went viral is because you’re not afraid to tackle risky subject matter. You think outside the box. I loved that video. I also loved your honesty about Mexican racism. Being from the US and dreaming of retiring in Mexico, I had romanticized the country. Hearing about its warts was good to hear. A reality check. I still love Mexico with all my heart, but you have helped me by adding a dose of realism too.

I actually found you through the “why some Mexicans look Asian” video, as well 😅 It’s such a big risk to rely on third party platforms/one major area for your income when you work for yourself, and it’s completely natural for the ratio of what makes how much money to shift over time. The Chiapas coffee video was gold, the quality was good enough to be sold as a pro documentary for TV!

Great video! Thank you for sharing with everyone how difficult it is to be a RU-vidr. I've been at it myself for over 7 years and I've come to realize I do love what I do. Slowly but surely it is paying off, all the hard work throughout the years were not in vain. Thanks again for sharing your story! Glad to see you back! Saludos desde Merida Yucatan!

Thanks for sharing and sorry you went through that period. I’m happy to hear you are feeling better. For what it is worth, RU-vid is not the only profession where people have feelings like what you described. Your videos taught me (and many others) a lot about Mexican culture and you have a wonderful ability to tell a story even if they don’t all go viral.

We think about this a lot! We also started out as a hobby but once your hobby becomes your business it changes how you experience it. We feel the pressure to keep up the quality and content and as audience grows, people also expect us to keep up our quality but since we both went back to working full time jobs outside of RU-vid, we haven’t had the time or energy for the channel. We’re still trying to figure out what to do next 😕

Thank you for your honesty and addressing an issue I have always been curious about!!

Thanks for sharing! Good story and advice!

Just got an email from YT asking me to make more reels more frequently to achieve success...what exactly "success" looks like it's still a mystery but I won't allow that to consume my creativity! Liked at "the difference is nothing" that hit hard for me!!

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing your journey. I've worked on and around youtube for over 10 years, you're absolutely correct. There's a life cycle to every creator and every channel, most don't reach the level you've made and even the big ones have trouble sustaining a career in the long term. It works best when its a hobby that helps pay for itself, but becoming 'full time' is a big risk, especially if it comes at the cost of other long term stable opportunities (e.g. full time jobs with a career path).

Always appreciate your transparency!

Love this video! But yes, I started RU-vid after I retired so it's a hobby and side job for me, instead of a "job" that I need in order to survive. And I've always loved your channel - your perspective on Mexico and travel has taught me so much! And of course, your language course!

Love the "bloopers" at the end. It's tough to get things right in one take but nice to see the real side of things. Misery is no way to live.

I was recently attracted to your Mexican/Asian videos because you look like you could be the twin sister of my Chinese wife of 40 years ago! Also, I had lived in Yucatan 20 years ago and recall meeting a lot of very different Asian looking native people, very beautiful people. So I subscribed and left a comment or two; but now I am not surprised to hear that you've had some trials and tribulations regarding your well deserved success on RU-vid, and the challenges that come along with it. For many years I made my living as an artist - before the internet; and if you didn't have an audience that loved you, well, you didn't get paid... But anyway, I'm glad that you have the insight and instinct to see through the addictive aspect of all this, and the wisdom to keep it in a place where, as a dynamic hobby, it can still bring you pleasure and enhance your life in other ways. Brava, Karencita, to be wise enough to grow beyond the confines of mere 'social media' and into a more expansive life that will surely bring you further happiness and success! :)

I really like your content. I watch many channels do not always subscribe to them. But I chose to follow you. I liked the way you presented Mexican culture. How you showed off the area that you live in and why. I can understand that the chase of where your channel was going has been stress filled for you. I hope that you continue to produce videos on this channel. Thank you for your openess .

I can't imagine how much work it is to run a utube video channel - probably like producing, directing, filming and starring in a TV show all on your own. But I'm sure it is a great learning experience like perhaps working on television. Anyway, great to see another update here. Feliz Navidad.

Your gambling anolgoy is spot on. When a video goes to #1, you get a huge hit of dopamine. They knew what they were doing with the fireworks.

I just discovered you! Love your videos!

Awe, rhat was very sweet. You made yourself a bit vulnerable to be open and honest, and i respect that, admire that. I guess we are always learning and growing, it can be painful, and sometimes we dint realize it until later upin reflection, or after we experience just too much downside that we are forced to look at ourselves. I can see in yiur voice and face sime anguish recounting some of the negatives. It's your humaniry. Anyway, you are a wonderful person and i will always enjoy your videos! Take care and continued good luck!😊

Proud of you for the authenticity. My 10 year old son glamorizes RU-vidrs, so I’d like him to know your reality story. ❤ for you.

I'm back!!!! I think you are going to enjoy this video. I want to read what you think about this! It will be so enriching for me and all of us. 🤩 Also, I'm very proud to say that I have an online Spanish Academy focused on helping people gain confidence to speak Spanish. I have great promotions for you so you can start the 2024 on the right foot! Check it out here: www.thriveinspanish.com/

You are a very thoughtful and endearing person. I love your channel and your personality, but you need to be happy in what you do!

I am a singer/songwriter that spends a lot of time writing/ recording songs,and making videos,for them. I actually spend my own money.....and dont make any at all really...ha! I am not alone. I do it because a creative outlet is extrememy important to me...and, yes there are a reasonable number of people that like my music. I have accepted that I need to work and do music on the side. Could a song go viral? Perhaps.....All i know is that i feel i have accomplished my goal if i write a good song and make a good recording of it. What happens after that....can depend on the direction of the wind. I like your content. I hope to watch more of it. South America is on my bucket list of places to travel. Cheers!

I just want to say your videos really opened my eyes to the real Mexico. Of course some are pure entertainment, but one video changed my entire view of my country and the relationship we have with Mexico. The video was about Vicente Guerrero. I visited Queretaro to learn more about him. What lesson! I'm a 71year old African American and I thank you for doing that for me. Keep doing what makes you and your husband happy. Life is short.

¡Saludos Karencita!

I love you no matter what Karen. Your the "real deal"

I started my RU-vid channel just to document my move down to Mexico from Oregon and to talk about the things that really took me by surprise once I was actually living here. I think I have helped some people understand some of the culture shock and adjustments they have to make. I live at Lake Chapala and there are so many gringos here who expect and want life to be just like Canada or the U.S., but with better weather and less expensive. Really not good or realistic. I have really enjoyed your channel, bur I totally understand. I monetized my channel, but haven't seen a dime. And I probably won't because I don't post regularly and I only make a video when I have a good idea or have the time for all the work involved. It is definitely a hobby for me and I think I may turn monetization off again because I don't want my audience to be annoyed by advertising. I really resist the pressures from RU-vid to do things differently. I never understand why some videos get lots of views while other, better videos get few views. I'm sure it has a lot to do with how much RU-vid pushes my videos. When I was doing one video a week, they pushed them a lot more. But, you are right. It became a chore. It took too much time and it wasn't that fun. I do get a lot of local people coming up to me and saying they watch my videos...or they say they recognize me and can't figure out how they know me. It is strange because they feel they know me, but I have never met them and I know nothing about them. Well, I will switch over to your other channel and I am trying to learn Spanish. Thank you for all the countless hours you gave us. You have always been charming and honest.

So funny! My intro to your channel was the viral MexicansLookingAsian vid, which showed up randomly on my feed... I was very interested cuz I spent 5 yrs living in diff parts of rural Mexico, inc a yr with my wife, a Korean national! While traveling in Yucatan my wife&I met a woman that Hyun said looked just like her mum!!! Thanx so much for addressing the YT downsides Karencita.

It takes a lot of courage to show yourselves your husband your accent your history…you make good videos I have visited QTO and Mexico and your videos remind me of my family trips to MX 50k and growing very happy for you

We are a small youtube channel. I don't hav e any expectation of being a big channel. I enjoy editing our videos and constantly try to improve. When you are a youtuber you think about everything as being a possible youtube video and not really enjoying the experience at that moment. For that reason I don't always bring my youtube video camera with me. I wish you much happiness in everything that you do. -Marc

Happy for you congratulations

I have heard that youtube burnout is a real thing. It has to be especially hard when you are running a business that you love so that you feel torn between the two. I'm happy that you are feeling better now! I have loved your videos for a long time and appreciate all of the hard work that goes into every one of them, as well as sharing your country and its culture with me. Please post videos once or twice a month and never let youtube, haters, or anxiety about your channel get you down, it's not worth it. Make sure Dave takes you out for lunch or makes you feel special, because you are.

Very good message. Thank you for being so honest.

I love the comparison of youtube to a casino. I have another channel almost 100k and there was a period where I could live off my yt income with sponsors. But it seems now everyone is on TikTok, or maybe I'm just not doing as well for other reasons. I appreciate all your hard work and I look forward to your videos if it means anything. Your channel is one of my favorites.

I hope that you're happier. Thank You for sharing. What about doing a video about Asians in Mexico? Thanks for your honesty!

La clave es desacerce del ego, y ve el proposito de lo que hacemos de una manera y perspectiva mas grande sin que nosotros seamos la estrella principal.

Before we started our channel I had no idea how much work went into creating a quality video. It is so much work.

I have to like the RU-vidr. It’s more important than the content. Genuine people without too much hype are preferred. I’ve been a subscriber for quite a while and yes I am now in QRO partly because of you ❤

I jist found your channel like an hour ago. The first video i watched was the one about mexicans looking asian. 😅 I love your content and i am here to stay 😊 When you were talking about how not every video brings you the same amount of money, I was thinking how a lot of content creators use their fame to start their businesses. And that's what you did. Congrats. I will probably look into taking your Spanish classes. I am Mexican, but raised in the USA. For a while now, i have been thinking of learning Spanish so I can sound like a native, not a No Sabo. Lol

It is easy to get caught up in all RU-vid algorithms but it shouldn't be the main reason you make videos. I have watched all your videos for a few years and enjoy them. You have a great personality and it has been very interesting to see a Mexicans experience in Mexico.

Yes I still remember that video Why some Mexicans look Asian video as I am an Asian who was fascinated about Mexico a years back, then the video about What Mexicans Think of foreigners and the one about Wages in Mexico.. all those videos which I found very entertaining and useful for my knowledge, especially with your authenticity and unique accent. But here's a thing.. that was the time during covid where the rest of the world was locked down and MX was the only place to go or with the sueno Mexicano movement 2 years ago. Second, that was also the time where most corp workers had the chance to stay home and watch bunch of videos everyday at work. These days, YT is declining just like Netflix especially when most office workers are back to the office. I know YT offers a place to express yourself and be a celebrity-like type of platform.. but for me, there is no way I would give up my steady high paying job for it where it offers no stability..

I have watched some of your videos about Mexico!!! I'm so sorry doing these videos was so miserable for you. 😢😢😢

You have good content if you need a break have a break everyone will understand

Estaba preocupada que no bajabas videos sospeche que no lo harias mas y me preocupe porue tu cnal me ayudo a slair adelante en un momento dificil de mi vida. Entonces todo tu esfuerzo si vale la pena, talvez no monetraiamnete para ti, pero si puedes ayudar aalguien como me ayudaste ami entonces te has ganado mucho mas tesoros en el cielo

Subbed to "thrive in Spanish" channel. I think you can help me with my Spanish learning.

RU-vid is a special kind of place where the competition is fierce and people who have tried knows how hard it is! A good example is there are many singers on this platform showcasing their talents. And the singers all have talent but their viewer subscription levels and views are drastically different! Two singers that I have seen who are exceptional are Becky G and Natti Natasha both are Latinas. Becky G is an American from Los Angeles who speaks fluent English and Spanish but she does her music primarily in Spanish. Natti Natasha is from Dominican Republic but now resides in the US. She sings primarily in Spanish but the few times she speaks English - it's perfect! That said, both of these singers have tens of millions of subscriptions and they have videos in the hundreds of millions of views and at least one video that has over one billion views!!! No doubt they are talented but there are also other singers from Eastern Europe who I'd say are just as talented but they have no where near the subscription level nor video views. It is what it is. I think you are doing great and just do what you feel like and don't worry about what others think. If you can earn money from it - great. If not, don't sweat it!

Brava.

some of the other channels I follow have the same story as you. I think the problem is that there are simply too many channels and too much content now that not every channel will be able to succeed or sustain the view levels needed to earn a living. its the same as the countless numbers of businesses and vendors in Mexico all selling the same thing... as I always say to my girlfriend - demasiadas negocios y no clientes. I think there are more shoes for sale than people in Mexico!

Hola Ruby. Great video. Everyone contemplating starting a RU-vid channel so they can retire in luxury in Mexico should watch this video first. Where was this video when you were getting started? I used to start my Sundays with your videos. I miss them but as I've commented before, most people don't realize How Much WORK it can be to finish a video on a self imposed deadline. Instead of going out with Dave on a Saturday evening dinner date you are frantically trying to edit and polish a video for a Sunday morning release, then spending Sunday hoping for more views and Likes than you are receiving and deserve, then figuring out your next video. Life in service to RU-vid leaves a lot to be desired. I follow another Mexican RU-vidr, "Puebleando con Alberto". He admits that he gets many more views for his videos on Cancun than he does for a video on a feria in Zempoala, but he does them anyway because he loves the state of Hidalgo (where he lives) and its people, history and traditions. He's retired and he doesn't have to travel far to visit these little known towns. 50 to 100 years from now his videos of small town life in Hidalgo will be of far more interest to sociologists and anthropologists than another video of meals eaten at Cancun. He probably averages an hour or more of videos a week, partially because he often turns on the camera and walks around for 10-15 minutes at a time, recording everything without a lot of editing. I thought your video on the best barbacoa was very interesting, and aside from getting up early and spending the day didn't involve much expense, and it led to a great meal. There must be many more such videos waiting to be made in Queretaro. Following a camote or elote seller, from the time they buy their produce to the time they prepare and sell it could be interesting, including interviews with customers. Same with other traditional crafts and occupations, as long as you find them interesting. If you don't care don't do them. And no self imposed deadlines. There may still be some ceramic or rebozo artisans nearby, plus those silly cloth dolls that people love for some reason. I'd love to see a video of a rebozo being made. 50 years ago they were worn by almost every woman when out in public. Not so much now. You mentioned months ago that you wanted to do a then and now video of Queretaro, using old photos compared with the same site today. Not much travel involved in that, and interesting. Queretaro has changed a lot since I first visited in 1967 (pop. less than 70,000, and 37,00 in 1909). In 1909 the Plaza/Jardin Zanea, flanked by the Cathedral (San Francisco), was the site of a Sunday market where book dealers and numerous Indians brought their crafts for sale. The temporary stalls stretched south towards the market. The Gran Hotel, on the Jardin Zenea, at the end of the tram line ($2-$3 Am Pl.) and the Hotel Hidalgo, Calle Cinco de Mayo ($1.50- $2.00 Am. Pl.) were the best hotels for the traveler. Do they still exist? Santa Rosa de Viterbo, which occasionally shows up in the background of your videos (have you ever been inside?) is both beautiful and has a fascinating history. Eduardo de Tresguerras was responsible for the unique buttresses on the exterior, as well as the dome and cloister. The interior contains one of the richest collections of churrigueresque retablos in Mexico. Sadly the altar mayor was burned by French troops to recover the gold covering the retablo, , and a rather bland neoclassic altar has replaced it. Lastly, you once contemplated a video about your family's ancestral coffee finca. That would be very interesting. Anyway, you have a business, hopefully growing and prospering, and providing you some measure of fun and satisfaction. Future videos are probably best left for a pasatiempo. Videos made because the subject interests you, when you have the time, on no set schedule. Hello to Dave. Feliz Navidad.

Eres hermosa!

See you in Queretaro in two weeks.

I agree, I think yt is good when you don’t need the money. It must be awful if you become dependent on it

Whats the name of that site that calculates yt income? Social what?

😮 you should have more confidence in yourself just do you and everything that you like and everybody's going to love it too❤.

Hola----No doubt being a youtube is a lot of hard work. You are always working around the clock to produce and create content. Then you have to plan the video out, script what you plan to say and not to mention the edit. Lastly, you have to deal with the fame and recognition. It's a 24/7 job.

thank you, Karen, for the wonderful escapes of the past. if it makes you miserable, though, i'm glad you've stopped.

Where you find your identity is hugely important. As a believer in Jesus, I think this is the biggest advantage: I am who He says I am

🥰🥰🥰

Hola ❤

I found you through your aforementioned video, and it was very good. But on a different note, don't sit too close to those" Smart Meters " for too long. I know, it's a very random observation

So I went through your video listing and it looks like the video you are referencing was your 120th video...but your videos have a similar style and subject matter for a long period of time. It took you a long time for RU-vid to think you're doing something right. I think it's because you kept serving the group of people what they wanted. If you put in lots of variety with your videos, people will not stay loyal and the videos won't get recommended to new people so easily? On the one hand, I never felt personally attacked if my videos do poorly since they aren't about me, but on the other hand, I feel like my videos sometimes just don't get the attention they deserve considering how much effort I sometimes put into them. All my worst, most lazy videos are the most successful ones.

There’s no doubt you’re La Kabronzita. Yeah. I like your videos they’re very entertaining. I wish you a good luck

I think the issue is that viewers don't know exactly what this channel is about... Is it about travel and tourism in Mexico or Daily life in Mexico or do you provide immigration related tips for expats... I think if you need to have consistent viewers you need to focus on any one or all of these. I feel this channel is losing its direction and i see more complaints and negativity being showcased instead of real content

Never been trickortreat before. Asian Mexican paid Brooklyn.

still my favorite

Why not look for other sources of income or work?

I think you may have started RU-vid when a lot of people were switching to Twitter. Good luck in whatever you do in the future

opps, forgot to like.

I think faceless RU-vid channels are much better

Good bye.

Creo que traes buen tema pero le diste vueltas y vueltas al inicio, es difícil seguir viendo el video asi.

Mexicans are not Latinos, in fact no one in the Americas is Latino, the only Latinos in the history were the Romans more than 2K years ago. Speaking a Romance language with Latin roots does not make you Latin, just as speaking English does not make you Anglo-Saxon. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE😡