We Got 100M Views In 12 Months, Here’s What We Learned - My First Million Recap

Podcast: My First Million

Published: 2023-12-27

Duration: 1 hr 1 min

Guests: James Courier

Summary

Shaan Puri and Sam Parr reflect on a year of growth, sharing nine philosophies they developed while achieving 100 million views. They emphasize lessons learned from negotiation discomfort, strategic tax planning, and the balance between consistency and innovation.

What Happened

Shaan Puri and Sam Parr celebrated a monumental achievement this year, reaching 95 million views across their podcast and YouTube channel. They attribute their success to a consistent content creation strategy, which helped them gain 210,000 new YouTube subscribers. A significant contributor to this growth was the 'gentleman's agreement' tactic, which encouraged viewers to subscribe as a gesture of goodwill rather than through aggressive calls to action.

The hosts shared their nine new philosophies, beginning with the idea of 'shill without shame', advocating for unabashed promotion if one truly believes in their product. They also discussed the value of seeking 'base hits' over 'home runs', suggesting that smaller, consistent successes often yield better long-term results than aiming for immediate, massive victories.

Negotiation emerged as a crucial skill, with Shaan noting that those willing to endure discomfort often secure the best outcomes. They highlighted real estate as a strategic tool for tax savings, emphasizing its potential to significantly reduce financial burdens.

The conversation turned to the risks of being a 'loose cannon' - while attention-grabbing antics can yield short-term gains, maintaining a reputable approach ensures sustained success. James Courier's advice to focus on upmarket deal flow resonated with the hosts, who recognized the importance of aligning content with high-value opportunities.

Shaan and Sam also delved into the psychological aspect of success, discussing the perpetual desire for more despite achieving substantial milestones. This ties into the concept of infinite versus finite games, where the joy of playing itself becomes the ultimate goal, rather than merely winning.

Books like 'The Courage to Be Disliked' by Alfred Adler were mentioned, underscoring the importance of personal responsibility for one's emotions and the idea that anxiety can be a choice. This philosophical exploration enriched the episode, providing listeners with deeper insights into self-improvement and emotional resilience.

Key Insights

• Achieving 95 million views in 12 months, the podcast and YouTube channel gained 210,000 new subscribers by using a 'gentleman's agreement' tactic, encouraging subscriptions through goodwill rather than aggressive calls to action.
• Promoting smaller, consistent successes known as 'base hits' is advised over seeking massive victories, as it often yields better long-term results.
• Real estate is identified as a strategic tool for tax savings, with the potential to significantly reduce financial burdens.
• The book 'The Courage to Be Disliked' by Alfred Adler is cited for its insights into personal responsibility for emotions and the concept that anxiety can be a choice.