So check this out. Let me tell you something that contradicts everything you'll hear from the "creator economy gurus." Your age isn't a disadvantage. It's your competitive moat. While 25-year-olds are churning out their 47th "5 ways to be productive" video, you've actually managed teams through genuine crises. You've navigated office politics. You've delivered bad news to stakeholders. You've built things that matter. That's not just experience. That's an unfair advantage. The Trust Arbitrage Nobody Talks About Here's what I've learned building The Content Revenue Lab: professionals over 40 trust other professionals over 40. Instantly. When a 28-year-old tells them how to "crush it" on LinkedIn, there's scepticism. When someone who's been in the trenches for 20 years shares what actually works? That's different. Think of it like this: Would you take marriage advice from someone who's been married three months? Or from someone who's navigated 15 years, including the hard parts? Your audience isn't looking for hype. They're looking for credibility. You've got decades of it. The Pattern Recognition Superpower After 20+ years in any field, something magical happens in your brain. You start seeing patterns that everyone else misses. I spent 25 years in marketing. When I look at a content strategy now, I don't just see tactics. I see the underlying structure - what will work, what won't, and why. I can predict the failure points before someone even launches. Your younger competitors are still collecting data points. You're already seeing the patterns. That means you can diagnose problems faster, offer solutions with nuance, and provide insights that actually save people time and money. This is why your content can be shorter, more direct, and more valuable than the 40-minute rambling videos from creators who haven't lived what they're teaching. The "I've Made That Mistake" Authority Young creators have to manufacture credibility. You've earned it through failure.

I am trying to be more personable, but reading scripts help to get valid and helpful information across. Any suggestions?

Quick thought about something that's been bugging me lately... So I've been diving deep into why some videos take off and others flop, and the data is seriously mental. Here's the reality check: You lose 50% of viewers in the first 30 seconds if your hook fails. 🤯 I know, I know. Sounds dramatic. But stick with me here. The Numbers Don't Lie 🧐 Just pulled the latest 2025 data, and it's honestly terrifying: - Average attention span: 8.25 seconds (Gen Z is down to 6.5 seconds!) - 20% abandon videos within 10 seconds - Only 16.8% of YouTube videos achieve decent retention Here's a quote: "You often have as little as three seconds to get your message out to the world." Three bloody seconds. That's shorter than saying "don't forget to subscribe." Why This Actually Matters for Your Wallet Here's where it gets expensive. YouTube's algorithm prioritises early retention over everything else. A 30-second video with 85% retention beats a 60-second one with 50% retention. Every. Single. Time. Translation: Your opening isn't just about keeping viewers—it's about getting discovered. One creator I've been following jumped from 20% to 60% retention just by fixing their first 15 seconds. Result? 3x more views and way better sponsorship rates. Platform Survival Guide YouTube Long-Form: Jump straight into your promise. Never start with "hey guys, welcome back." Shorts: Speed ramps and zooms in the first 5 seconds. Simple but effective. TikTok: 15-30 second videos retain viewers 37% longer than longer ones. The Mistakes That Cost You Money 1. Wasting 15-30 seconds on intros → 40-50% instant drop-off 2. "In this video, we're going to..." → Algorithm death sentence 3. Poor audio in opening seconds → Instant scroll away What Actually Works 👇 The 3-Second Rule: Create a pattern interrupt immediately. Shock them, surprise them, make them think "wait, what?" 15-Second Promise: Validate your title's promise straight away. No fluff. Hook Examples That Work:

I've been doing YouTube seriously since May. Invested in many courses... I have only 60 subs. And over 100 vids. I guess I'm just not interesting enough. I'm on the edge. I'm practically burnt out. But I keep pushing. For how much longer can I last? God knows. But I'm not giving up till the last drop of a fight in me. Here is my channel: https://youtube.com/@prockstem?si=a_eC4XStzJDZvfFR

Hmmmm, this appeared in my email this morning. I must admit, I always recommend to others to celebrate those wins, but I never take my own advice 😂 This is a really nice milestone, and it took a lot of hard work to get every single view. Thanking everyone who voted on my thumbnail polls and also the advice given, especially from @Mike Bayer to answer every single comment and build a community and Alexa for building this awesome community.