thanks, but no thanks

Today, I answer your question about avoiding burnout…with a tip from Mark Rober (26M+ subscribers)

Q: It’s so hard to unplug. Even on vacations, I worry about my next upload. I worry about starting a podcast, merch line, replying to emails from brands…it never ends ugh. How do you manage it?

- Amari Elmis (via Discord)

A: Watch your treadmill speed. 

That’s what Mark Rober told me about how he’s managed his 12-year career on YouTube. 

“You could go at a sprinting pace: do the book, do the podcast, launch the merch line, go on tour, hire 20 people,” Mark said during our interview.

“[But] I've been very protective of my treadmill speed and I've just kept it at a jogging pace. I [say] no to so much.” 

Sure, many creators talk about “focus,” but few do it like Mark. Consider this:

• He didn’t leave his job at Apple until he had 7M subs

• He didn’t launch merch until 15M subs

• He didn’t hire a full-time employee until after 9 years 

Instead, Mark focused on making one video per month — and now those videos average 31M views each. That’s brought in bigger deals like a TV show with Jimmy Kimmel.

So next time you worry about saying no to an opportunity, ask yourself:

• Are you saying “no” or just “not now”?

• What’s the worst that will happen?

• Will that matter in 1 year? 5 years?

For Mark, saying no to “obvious” stuff meant saying yes to putting everything into his monthly uploads. 

All of which is crucial for mental health and maybe — just maybe — a tripod-free vacation.

Personally, I’m learning this first-hand as I’ve grown as a creator.

And now, a father to our newborn baby girl. 

I don’t say yes to as many opportunities. So when I do, I put my all into it and I think that’s why our numbers shot up with several Shorts crossing 40M+ views each and long-form with 1M+ views each.

Bottom Line: Sprinting in short-term may mean falling off the treadmill in long-term.

- Jon

PS have a question for next week? Submit in our Discord of 3,100 creators 

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