The Exchanges

Q So if I'm understanding this correctly, it's almost like a Venn diagram. So on one, one circle is formats and compelling formats. And the other circle is what am I uniquely equipped for? Is that right?

A Yeah, I think it's, it's, uh, You know, we, we, we often talk about this as a, uh, uh, concept of content market fit, which is, uh, you know, three things have to be checked. One is, uh, what you want to make. That's actually something that it sounds ridiculous, but a lot of people skip that step. It's like, do I actually want to make this? Uh, because to do it successfully, you're going to be making it for years and years and years, and you have to just love the process of making it. So do I want to make it? Uh, the second is like, is there an audience for this? Is there, is, is this content that somebody actually wants? Uh, uh, which is another honest question you have to ask yourself. And then the third is like, does this match the platform's wants and needs? And actually those three can, uh, evolve over time. Like just because they're all checked and like green light on all three, one week does not mean that it's the same thing the next month. Um, those all kind of oscillate and change. Like again, if you look at where YouTube is heading, Even with their announcements that made on YouTube two weeks ago, like the, the, you can, you can gather that they are heading in the direction of more and more connected TV viewership. Connected TV viewership means 30 plus minute videos that are organized into series, um, that can be watched. You know, they, they launched a new UI update …

AI assessment note: “concept of content market fit, which is, uh, you know, three things have to be checked”

Q Can you talk, can you talk more about that?

A Yeah, I think, like, there's a, there's a difference between, like, good theft and, and, uh, you know, bad theft. Uh, there's a really simple term that he, he talks about of, like, even yourself being copied of, um, the elevator test. Like, if you get into an elevator with someone who copied your work, or, uh, would they pat you on the back, or would they punch you in the face? Where it's just, like, uh, like, we all know the feeling of if someone, like, Take something we do. Uh, and you're like, that's like way too similar to what I do. Uh, you would, you would be upset if they walked into an elevator elevator with you. And then, you know, the feeling of someone who is inspired by you and they, they make something and you're like, dude, great, great job with that. Um, that's like a really, uh, simple, simplified version of it. Um, but you know, the, the other thing he talks about is, um, In the beginning, and we did this as creators, plain and simple. Like when we first started as the Colin and Smear channel, we were desperately trying to be like Casey Neistat. I think everyone was at that era. Uh, he was like this amazing daily vlogger, uh, was able to tell stories about his daily life that, uh, it just felt like no one had ever seen before and everyone wanted to be like him. And we tried our best and failed miserably. He's a much better storyteller and also lived a much more…

AI assessment note: “there's a difference between, like, good theft and, and, uh, you know, bad theft.”

Q I know that Mark Zuckerberg said a few days ago that he thinks that by 2030, uh, this platform is basically going to start, uh, replacing, like it, it'll surpass, uh, mobile phones. Um, smart glasses will surpass mobile phones according to Mark Zuckerberg. Do you think he's high on his own supply there, or do you think he is directionally correct, or, you know, what are your thoughts there?

A Potentially. I think that the, uh, in terms of being directionally correct, like, it, it does make sense when you experience it. It's hard to explain if you haven't experienced it. Um, but I think the, the primary thing is, like, Using, um, Orion felt like, both Colin and I said this, it felt like we got our hands back, and it also felt like we got our posture back. Like, I think there will be a moment in human history where we look back and go, that was weird that we were all hunched over these, like, black rectangles all day. You know, like, I think that will be something that we're like, huh, that's strange. And when I look at, like, my dad, um, you know, was, uh, is a lifelong entrepreneur, and he, he started a company Back in 1970 when he, when he, 1976, when he landed here in the States, and the photos of him working.

AI assessment note: “in terms of being directionally correct, like, it, it does make sense”

Q BoringMarketing.com, and that's why I invested in it. They're so confident in their approach that they offer a 30 day sprint with a hundred percent money back guarantee. Who does that nowadays? So check it out. Highly recommend BoringMarketing.com. What do you say to people who say that there's nothing new on the sun, so there's no format that hasn't been tried already? You know, what's your reaction to that?

A There's, there's definitely merit to that. I don't, I think like, um, you know, creativity is like looking through a kaleidoscope, right? It's like, you're just seeing different, um, uh, different like versions of, uh, light going through and getting like, you know, changed around. So I think like, I think there's a ton of merit to that. I think everything is a remix, and I think you're constantly collaborating with like your own inputs and things that you've seen. So I, I agree with that statement, but I do think that like, Some of this is just as an audience, you know, when something feels fresh and something feels new and someone put their own unique spin on it versus when you're like, that's kind of the same thing.

AI assessment note: “There's, there's definitely merit to that. I think everything is a remix”

Q You know, you take it out, you put it in, like people lock in. Um, but I do think that if I, yeah, if I were you, I would partner with someone to like do everything. You guys are just advisors and like co-founders. But if I were you, and this is a question for you, I'll bring it back to you. It's like, why aren't you doing more software?

A Yeah, it's a good question. Um, we're, we've been heavily involved in a software called Spotter Studio, which is a ideation software for creators. It's, it's, it's really cool. Actually, like, the, the coolest part is that, like, it exists now, and we use it on, like, a day-to-day basis. We just actually created a, uh, really dope thumbnail with it yesterday, um, that now we're designing. Um, so we're, we're involved with that, and that's been a really fun process. I mean, that's my, honestly, that's my first experience with software, like, truly with, um, Even understanding what's possible in the context of software, like sitting with their team and being like, could it do this? Um, so that, that's been really cool. And I think seeing like software come together has been a really powerful thing. So the, the short answer is like mostly because as creators, our biggest problem is that we're opportunity rich and time poor. Um, and so partnerships are always going to be like the cleanest way to get into stuff where it's like, it's not, we're not running a software company, but we're supporting and consulting and advising. Um, but the, uh, you know, the, the push for us is into digital products, specifically education. The question is, like, can that, can that type of stuff turn into, can software be education? Um, you know, can that be an extension of what we're doing? Because I, …

AI assessment note: “our biggest problem is that we're opportunity rich and time poor”

Q And what would a minimal viable product to build now for that future? And maybe it's events. Maybe it's IRL events.

A My hypothesis about the future is that there will be a premium on inefficiency. So let me explain that. Like, uh, you know, I, my wife and I went to go see John Mayer live and, uh, you know, at the forum in LA and, you know, I went over there. It's a pain in the ass to park. You buy this expensive ticket. You like go in, it's kind of miserable. You're like, have to go to the bathroom and it's really far. You like get in. And then John Mayer starts playing and he's like, it's super cool. Cause he's like riffing and like, Playing his songs in a totally different way. He's singing them in a different way. Um, And as I got in my car, I, you know, we put on another John Mayer album, and in my head I was like, oh, putting John Mayer on on Spotify is the most efficient way to listen to John Mayer, but the premium is we will pay hundreds of dollars for the spontaneity, the inefficiency of getting into this room with a bunch of people and hearing him play it in a totally different way, um, and verifiably human. So I also think about that as like a future, right, of like, Collective experiences that are verifiably human that don't necessarily value, like, incredible efficiency, uh, is, is really interesting. Because everything with AI is like, we're all talking about efficiency. It's more efficient to brainstorm with AI. It just is. Give, you know, hey, give me 10 ideas for a YouTube tit…

AI assessment note: “Collective experiences that are verifiably human that don't necessarily value, like, incredible efficiency”