The Caleb Wojcik Show: Interviews with Creative Entrepreneurs (Filmmakers, Photographers, YouTubers, & More)

#101 - At the end of every year I do an annual review and usually publish them too (like I did in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018).And yes, I'm finally publishing this review in March because I took time off during Christmas break and played Playstation. That's the honest truth.The year before last, 2019, ended up being one of the biggest years of change or growth I've had since I started working for myself full-time because of SwitchPod's Kickstarter launch and having our first child, but I didn't make the time to create a public annual review. I could blame it having a two month old baby with colic, but really I was just taking any extra downtime then to catch up on sleep or urgent work after starting to ship SwitchPod worldwide just two months earlier.But 2020 was a YEAR. Actually it felt two to three years long.What started off as a normal year with plans to continue traveling for my video client work turned into basically staying home for 10 months straight. My wife and I took the pandemic and our potential exposure very seriously (because of her past cancer surgeries and her parents living nearby) and thankfully we haven't lost anyone we know to COVID-19, but it has majorly disrupted the lives of many, us included.“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”I'll try not to mention any of the major world events from 2019 like the pandemic, the U.S. election, racial injustice, and more but it was definitely a harder year to stay focused on work and different events did impact my year financially, socially, mentally, and more.It makes me think back to 2008 and how in a way I took that economic downturn as a sign that I needed to choose myself to take care of myself, not rely on a company or economy to make sure I have a job or be in control of my income. I worked hard in college to get a job when I graduated with my two bachelor's degrees in May 2008 right before the recession.A few months into being a full-time employee I saw friends, coworkers, and family lose jobs, never land jobs, and be financially stunted. I also saw the company I worked for (Boeing) announce they were laying off up to 10,000 people. This made me start learning about entrepreneurship, how to make money online, and personal finance. It pushed to get my MBA right away. And overall, it made me not just trust that a large company would take care of me for 40 years and pay me a pension at the end.Because I took the risk and left my day job with solid pay and cushy benefits in 2011, I was able to build up the skills, connections, and multiple income streams that let me survive and even thrive financially in 2020 when the world was completely upended by coronavirus.If last year was rough for you and you felt out of control, try to use that as a wake up call for taking control back in your own life from whoever you've given it up to.Okay, I think that's enough preamble. Let's dive in.What I "Do" for WorkRight now I am running three different businesses day to day.A physical product business (SwitchPod)A client service business (Caleb Wojcik Films)A digital teaching business (online courses, YouTube, podcast, etc.).1. SwitchPodLet's start with SwitchPod since that has been the biggest change to my work lately. Since launching the Kickstarter campaign in January 2019, I'd estimate SwitchPod has taken up 50% or more of my time spent working. Some weeks more like 80%.2020 had some major projects for SwitchPod:Launched our 2nd & 3rd products, ball head and phone adapterCreated new stylized product photographyCompletely redesigned the Shopify website to be faster & more mobile friendly.Other than those larger projects, I spent my time reaching out to land more retailers to stock SwitchPod, fulfilling orders to Amazon and other existing retailers, marketing through social media, partnering with creators and companies on promotion, working on the less exciting admin bits (finances, taxes, legal, etc.), and handling customer support.It really isn't the type of business that I can let go more than a day or two without working on because systems will start to fall apart, customers and retailers will get upset by response time, etc.I think of it more like a garden I have to check in on every day. Some days I'm just pulling weeds or watering some things quickly. Other days I have to completely till the soil or plant a bunch of seeds which takes all day.I'm really proud of where the business is at. Could we be selling more units? Always. But the business is lean, very profitable, and has a lot of potential to grow. More numbers later.2. Client Services BusinessIn 2018 and 2019, my main client Smart Passive Income (run by Pat Flynn who is also my business partner on SwitchPod) accounted for about 50% of my service based business. The other half came from me flying around the U.S. filming courses and events for start-ups, authors, and more.In 2020, SPI and Pat made up almost all of my client revenue. I wasn't able or willing to travel due to COVID-19, work inquiries slowed down, events were cancelled, and more. However, we did do some editing on some previous client projects that had been pushed into 2020.The timing of becoming a father a few months before a worldwide pandemic meant I was able to be home more to help my wife with our daughter and not travel at all.Adjusting to the new reality of not traveling for work was actually quite nice. And financially I'm grateful that the timing of when SwitchPod could start paying me through a monthly salary and quarterly owner draws helped to more than off-set the decrease in other client work in 2020. This is the power of diversifying income streams and why I'm glad I've worked to set up so many different ways I make money.Project wise what we worked on for SPI was:we filmed and edited two courses (A to Z Webinars and Email Marketing Magic)helped with a bunch of live workshops they sellsupported Pat's YouTube channel which published 58 videos that weren't livestreamsHaving a steady client on retainer is a lifeline to a client business that is more prone to ups and downs. Even having just one can be the difference between making payroll one month or missing it. I highly suggest you try to pitch and convince clients to work with you monthly with a retainer.3. Digital BusinessI started 2020 all gung-ho with plans to make 1 video a week, 1 podcast a week, and 1 course a month. That didn't happen...Let's break down what I made and learned in 2020.My PodcastContent wise I was most consistent with my podcast in 2020 and released 25 episodes. I started the year filming the episodes, even doing in person 3 camera interviews for a month before the pandemic locked everything down. Eleven of the podcast episodes I did in 2020 have video versions.For how much I enjoy having long-form conversations with friends and guests on my podcast, the results just aren't there for the amount of effort they take to produce. Planning questions, setting up equipment, editing, publishing, and more take anywhere from 5-10 hours per episode and when they get less than a thousand audio downloads each or are viewed less than a thousand times on YouTube, I can't see myself continuing to do it with the limited amount of capacity and extra work time I have. It sucks to say that, but it's the reality.Just look at how 16 podcast interviews on my channel have performed 100x worse than 19 non-camera product reviews when it comes to views and revenue.I would maybe do an audio only podcast if someone else hosted it with me or I was getting more downloads. I've considered doing my podcast live on YouTube to see if getting guests & listeners on live would help grow it more, but I think lack of consistency and not having a more specific niche for the show other than "whatever Caleb wants to talk about or whoever he wants to have on as a guest" has hurt growth for the show. Right now having a podcast is just something I have to put on the shelf and leave there. In 2021 I may do a few episodes here and there for fun, maybe as livestreams on YouTube first.My YouTube ChannelI published 21 videos on my YouTube channel in 2020.11 were podcast episodes.2 were to announce launches for my course or the SwitchPod Ball Head.3 were made because a company sent me something early or sponsored me.2 were rants about Canon crippling cameras and buying too much gear.3 were about my new cameras (Canon C70 & R5)Another extremely sporadic, inconsistent year of publishing videos.I can't imagine what it is like to follow me online on social media or YouTube.I go weeks or months without posting anything.I don't mention or tease what I'm working on so everything is a surprise.There is no cadence or consistent release date or time.Topics are all over the place.Despite all of this, the YouTube channel made more money last year than any previous year while getting less views than any of the previous four years. Videos upload in 2020 only accounted for 8.5% of my revenue from Adsense and 4.6% of my views. So it really pays to have a backlog of videos ranking in search. My most popular video was about how to look better on a webcam from 2014. (See: pandemic + more zoom calls = views.)In the following graph you can see a list of how many videos I published on the left and then the cumulative stats during that year to the right.When I initially starting making YouTube videos in 2014 I was only making videos about things I was interested in or had recently bought. Podcasting gear, cameras, editing software, etc. There weren't as many people talking about those things on YouTube back then. Now I feel like by the time I get around to making a video about a product or topic, multiple people have already made something similar.I know my perspective and reviews on specific Canon cameras tend to perform well, but honestly I'm just kind of over talking about gear. I have "enough" gear and technology that allows me to do work for my clients or make high quality videos for myself. I rarely care when a new camera, lens, microphone, light, or piece of software gets released and I don't watch many videos about them, want to purchase them, or envy people that have them anymore.I'm planning to just create and publish YouTube videos about whatever I want since doing that would at least excite me enough to make them on a consistent basis and the other 193 videos on my channel will still live there making passive income from ads.I'll need to separate how a specific video is performing from my feelings though, as it is quite discouraging to see videos getting less views than I'm used to when they aren't served to or clicked by my audience since they will be different than what they expect from me or doesn't line up with why they subscribed to me in the first place.I'm much more interested in things other than video production and now spend my free time learning about other things. The categories of topics I plan to cover via YouTube videos include:money & wealth — beyond the basics of personal finance or getting out of debt, covering things like early retirement, investing, etc.productivity & habits — how to stay focused on what will give me the biggest results in the least amount of time working (especially now that I'm a parent) and covering tools I use like Notion & Thingsstoicism & mindfulness & essentialism — being happy and content with now instead of striving to get or have more, living a simpler lifestyle, etc.solo entrepreneurship — showing more of what it is like to run multiple "small" businesses while increasing revenue & profit without scaling up staff, expenses, or stresscreator tools & tech — basically what I've been making videos about for 7 years, covering equipment or software that helps with content creationSo if you see me start to make videos about random things unrelated to video production, it's because the few thousand dollars I make a year from YouTube are not enough to keep me from treating it more like a hobby than a necessary part of my businesses.I am going to start treating my YouTube channel more like a playground, have fun with it, share more behind the scenes than I have been, and just see where it goes. (This decision is partially influenced by the trio of books by Austin Kleon: Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going.)My Online CoursesI released one new course last year, Camera Basics for Filming Videos, and got a second one filmed and edited that launched in January 2021: Audio Basics for Filming Videos.I definitely hoped to release more than this, so I'll be working to release a couple more courses in the first half of 2021 (specifically updating my Premiere Pro course this spring and making a lighting basics course).From 2015 to today, my course sales have made up 55% of my digital revenue (with advertising making up 15% and affiliate income bringing in the remaining 30%), so it is a big portion of how I make money from my content.I've sold over $100,000 of online courses since 2015. Even saying that out loud is crazy to me and I'm very grateful to all of my students for choosing to learn from me when there are so many different ways and places to learn online nowadays.But at the same time I don't feel like I've ever really "cracked the code" for selling online courses like a lot of my clients, friends, or peers have. I don't have large launches, sophisticated funnels, or even an evergreen marketing or sales strategy.A few reasons why I think I haven't been able to sell more courses are:Not consistently releasing content for my audience to trust me and prove my expertise.The courses aren't "unique" (you can learn similar things from other places).No evergreen sales system like webinars, ads, etc.I really don't push them or try to sell them beyond the initial launch.I've always considered my courses to be things I make during "bonus" downtime and they bring in "bonus" money, but I do feel like my courses could help a lot more people and in turn, bring in more money. This is a code I'm still going to work to crack but I'm proud of the results over the past 7 years.2020 Numbers & MetricsHere's a breakdown of the hard numbers & metrics that I track.SwitchPodUnits Sold in 2020SwitchPod = 5525Ball Head = 4092Phone Adapter = 685Total # of Retailers = 16YouTube21 New Videos Published1,245,660 Views49,100 Subscribers (+5,374 in 2020)Podcast25 New Episodes Published26,727 DownloadsWebsiteEmail Subscribers = 7,621 (+103 net increase)Pageviews = 169,707 (down -10.4%)Users = 112,569 (down -13.5%)You'll see that I really don't get that much traffic to my website, grow my email list much each year after churn, and my podcast doesn't get many downloads. My digital efforts just don't get the results that they could, but when we talk finances, that part of my businesses still brings in a decent amount of income so I still continue to focus on it.Why I'm Sharing Revenue Numbers, But Not ExpensesI share the following financial numbers for the following reasons.For myself to look at year over year to chart my own progress instead of comparing myself to anyone else.To inspire the someone like me from 6 years ago that just risked leaving a job to start their own business.To inspire someone like me from 10 years ago that still worked a desk job at Boeing and didn't know what kind of business was possible to build.To show how diversify your revenue streams and running multiple styles of businesses can help you break through a potential earnings ceiling and survive major economic downturns.Now, why am I only sharing revenue, but not expenses?In year's past I've shared more detailed financial information including expenses (like in my 2015 & 2018 reviews), but I won't be doing that this year. Without diving completely into the details of what exactly I pay myself, my contractors, and in taxes it gets really convoluted. And honestly, I'm not sure I really want to be putting out THAT detailed of financially information about me publicly.I'd be happy to talk generally about how much my business spends each year on things like accounting, applications, recurring services, and other "spend money to make money" line items, but to simplify things this year I'm going to leave out expenses.Just know the numbers listed below are BEFORE expenses, taxes, gear purchases or sales, paying my editor, tax write off, and so much more. The numbers below do NOT equal how much money I "took home" last year.Another quick thing to note, the SwitchPod revenue is what was paid to me as an owner and manager of the company, not the top line revenue of the entire company. (I'll break that down in detail more later.)2020 RevenueClient Revenue = $ 173,934.30When it comes to revenue, there was actually a big dip in my client income because inquiries slowed down and I couldn't safely travel like I normally do to film. I'm still really happy with this number though as it allows me to have a full-time editor contracted and pays for overhead costs and my base salarypayroll for the year.Digital Revenue = $ 31,446.49Advertising = $ 8,734.73Affiliate Income = $ 12,147.61Course Sales = $ 10,564.15The digital business stayed pretty flat revenue wise overall compared to 2019. This "online business" has a lot of potential for growth considering how little attention it gets compared to the other two businesses, but I need to find the right balance of what to work on and how to maximize revenue from it.SwitchPod = $ 147,725.00Thankfully, this was the first full year SwitchPod shipped orders to customers and retailers, so there was profit in that business to pass through as an owner. Due to the amount of work it takes to do customer support, product development, retailer management, social media, and more I started taking monthly guaranteed payments to run SwitchPod day-to-day. The number above comes from the monthly payments + the quarterly owner draws that Pat and I take four times a year.The top line gross revenue for SwitchPod for 2020 was $685,012.39, so being able to withdraw ~21.5% of that amount directly feels great and means we have solid profit margins at scale in that business. The number above does not include cash left in the business or owner draws Pat took. We are taking substantial draws since we're treating this company as a lean cash cow at the moment and we are not reinvesting every dollar in advertising, staff, or scaling it up to try to build a billion dollar business and exit.TOTAL GROSS REVENUE = $ 353,105.79Again, this is not how much money that made it to my personal checking account in 2020. There are so many expenses, taxes, contractors, subscriptions, fees for operating businesses in California, office space, and more that eat into this top line revenue number.This also doesn't count all of SwitchPod's gross revenue like I mentioned above, just the portion I personally withdrew or was paid by that LLC. If you add up SwitchPod, Clients, and Digital income my businesses had over $890,000 of gross revenue in 2020, but I'm a co-owner in SwitchPod, so I'm only counting my portion for the above.I might share my expenses for certain things in the future, but to be respectful of not disclosing how much I pay others, what my co-owner earns, etc. I'm leaving it out of this review. Okay, hopefully that is enough caveats.What Went Well1. I grew SwitchPod into a very profitable & lean first full year. This is the catalyst for a bunch of the other things that went well below, so I'll start with it first. After reinvesting all of the money from our Kickstarter campaign (rough $365,000 after Kickstarter fees and non-payments) into manufacturing costs and stocking up on inventory in 2019, 2020 was mostly profiting off of the hard groundwork we had laid the years prior. We launched a second and third product as accessories (ball head and phone adapter) and pushed hard to sell what we'd made via email, social media, connecting with retailers, partnering with affiliates, and more. I really have tried to keep the company as lean as possible though to increase profitability. I do as much in house as possible (including packaging design, product photography, website design, marketing videos, and more). Building out all kinds of creative abilities and talents over the past decade allows me to not have to hire other people or contract out help on key projects. We are also continuing to grow only organically. We don't currently pay for advertising or influencer marketing. We'll keep SwitchPod lean for the foreseeable future while still investing in developing new products.2. I paid off all outstanding debt. Going into 2020 we still had some personal debt outstanding from past medical bills, student loans, and living above our means. Mainly due to the financial success of SwitchPod, we were able to be completely debt free for the first time since 2010. I talk about this in more detail during podcast episode 96, but it actually felt really weird to finally be debt free again. For too many years we had been carrying balances (sometimes small, sometimes large) and it became our normal. The mental weight that has been lifted since making those last payments is indescribable. I started being a better boss to myself and felt less guilty during my non-work hours. It is really odd that 2020 was the year we became debt free, considering the world was turned upside with the pandemic, but thankfully all the hard work I'd put in the previous 5 to 10 years growing business had us in a good position to persevere during COVID-19 without needing a PPP loan or anything. We're now aggressively saving money each month for a house, for the eventuality of replacing 16 year old cars, retiring early (hopefully), and more.3. I didn't travel for work during the first full year being a dad. One thing that I felt like was keeping me from having kids was how much my work required me to travel before 2020. In a normal year I would fly a dozen times or more for client projects, a few times to attend events or retreats, and more recently I'd visit factories overseas and warehouses for SwitchPod. All this time away would put additional pressure and workload on Jen. I always thought I'd HAVE to keep this kind and amount of travel to make a living, but 2020 happened and I didn't travel at all for work, which meant I got to be home every day to see my daughter grow up over her first year and beyond. I'm going to try to limit work travel as much possible for at least the next few years.4. I started "playing" again. I used to play a lot of video games. In high school and college I probably played around 15-30 hours a week. It was how I hung out with or stayed in touch with friends growing up and also was just a hobby of mine I enjoyed in the evenings. But since I started running my own business in 2014 I have mostly "retired" from it and skipped owning a full cycle of consoles. During lockdown and partially due to the guilt of not having debt anymore being lifted, I picked up a Nintendo Switch. It ended up being something I could do while my colicky 4 month old napped in my lap for two hours in the afternoon to give my wife a break. Bringing gaming back into my life was a way to distract myself from the outside world, but also to reconnect me with old friends. We started using Tabletop Simulator to play board games virtually, Jen and I played Switch online with some friends, and overall it was just a hobby to have when we couldn't really leave home. I missed playing games and plan to keep them around at a healthy level.5. I walked over 700 miles. Once our daughter was through the colicky newborn phase and the pandemic lockdown began I started going for a 2+ mile walk with her in the stroller and Pippa (my dog) every morning. And I mean... Every. Single. Morning. As for writing this I'm at ~330 straight days according to my Apple Watch. Sometimes I listen to a book or podcast, other times I just listen to the ocean waves and talk to Odette.6. We went to Cabo. Right before lockdown in February 2020, the three of us went with Jen's family and my mom to Cabo. The flight there and back timed well as I was able to bounce Odette in my arms for the duration and she slept or barely cried during the flight somehow. (This was still during peak colic). Odette was still only 4 months old, so her short cycles and relying on naps and feedings every couple hours were a different kind of "vacation" than we were used to, but it was still a blast and knowing that we'd be stuck at home for the next year or more, I'm glad we went.7. I read 19 books. I mainly consumed audiobooks purchased through Audible or borrowed them from my library via the app Libby. I kept a good habit of listening to books instead of podcasts (most of the time) on my walks. I've also been trying to branch out beyond the typical business or money genre I've mostly been reading the past decade. Some of my favorite books I read last year were Greenlights, Skin in the Game, Shoe Dog, Talking to Strangers, The End is Always Near, Sapiens, and Stillness is the Key.What Didn't Go Well1. I didn't release content consistently. I say this in every annual review. I haven't yet been able to keep a constant publishing cadence other than when I first started blogging in 2010 when I published a new post every day for 50 days. Success in this to me would (at a minimum) mean releasing one video every week on the same day and time. Ideally more and more often, with better performance than I have been getting on videos, but I'm trying to just focus on what I can do or create and let the results or performance happen out of my control.2. I struggled to get SwitchPod into physical stores or add on as many international retailers as I'd hoped. The timing of the pandemic starting just months after we got our first batch of inventory wasn't great. Part of my plans for growing the business included getting our products into physical big box stores and being stocked by retailers in countries around the world. Everything getting locked down really put a pause on orders from new partners. Thankfully people kept buying through our Shopify website, Amazon, and our other existing retailers. We did make progress with some big retailers I hope to get orders from in early 2021 and added a handful of international retailers in 2020 too though. Success in this for 2021 would mean landing at least 10 more international retailers and 2 big box stores.3. Lifting weights. Blame it on gym's closing due to COVID-19 if you want, but I didn't lift weights as much as I wanted to or should. I was in a good rhythm in January and February of going to the YMCA with Jen and doing the power lifts I enjoy (deadlift, bench press, back squat, overhead press, and barbell curl). We then got a pair of adjustable dumbbells (after scouring the internet when everyone else was) and put together a small home gym. Once we got all of that setup I lifted weights 14 times in July and 10 times in August, but fell off the routine after that.What's Next in 2021In year's past I've written out what I planned to do the next year, but since we are already 2 months into 2021 and I've already done extensively goal planning for the year privately, I'm not going to share too much here, but my main goals are to:Keep growing SwitchPod (more units sold, more retailers, more products developed)Deliver on projects for Smart Passive Income (courses, YouTube content, etc.)Have fun with my digital business (videos on different topics, launch a couple more courses)Keep a healthy work-life balance (daily walks, gaming with friends, weight lifting, only work 9-5)Save additional money (avoid lifestyle creep, stay out of debt, invest for retirement, save for a house)

#100 - Have you ever reached big milestone that shifts you to be more introspective?I'm talking something big like turning an age that ends in zero, getting out of debt, or having a child.This is what happened to me when it came to planning and recording episode 100 of my podcast.Not only did I start to question what episode 100 should be, but also what content I even want to be making.I've stopped and started my podcast up again multiple times since recording episode 1 back in 2014. I've done plenty of interviews with video creators and taught a bunch of what I've learned running my video business the last 6 years.I tend to focus most of my YouTube videos on specific pieces of video or photo gear because that is what I think will get me more views, which leads to audience growth, more affiliate income, and more course sales. And for the podcast I feature other creators to share what is possible to accomplish with online video, but also to potentially reach some of their audience as well.I already run two profitable businesses, the first making videos for clients and the second being SwitchPod, and each equate to a full-time job themselves a lot of the time. This means the hopes, dreams, and plans for my free content and paid courses business always ends up being a third wheel.And what I earn from it is also the least of my 3 income streams, so it gets the least amount of attention.So why am I putting so much pressure on myself to make it "the thing" or compare myself to other creators online?In this podcast episode I discuss this and more with my wife Jen.We talk about what's next for me online, what kind of videos, podcasts, etc. I should be making, discuss my website redesign, and share an open and honest look at what it is like to be a creator online balancing multiple businesses, passions, and goals.

#99 - The most common thing people ask me online is, "what camera should I buy?”When there are new cameras being released from every brand multiple times a year, it is really hard to do enough research on your own to figure out which camera is right for you and what you're going to use it for.In this podcast episode I chat with Greg Farnum all about cameras and which ones we'd buy. We talk through what features really matter when choosing a camera, what accessories we'd recommend beyond just the camera body or lens, and finish by discussing what we'd buy with a $500, $1,000, $2,500, or $10,000 budget.Whether you're in the market for a new camera or you want to be reassured that what you have is good enough, this episode will help you out.Chapters / Timestamps0:00 — Introduction01:41 - Greg's Background05:14 - Important Camera Features17:07 - $500 Budget Recommendation23:36 - $1,000 Budget Recommendation28:47 - $2,500 Budget Recommendation44:22 - $10,000 Budget Recommendation47:50 - Invest in Lenses Not Cameras48:53 - Essential AccessoriesItems MentionedGreg's YouTube ChannelGreg's InstagramBenQ 4K Art Series MonitorZoom H6 RecorderSony RX100 VISony a6000 & 16-50mmCanon G7XFUJIFILM X-T30 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm LensSony a6400 16-50mm LensPocket 4kPocket 6kSigma 18-35DaVinci ResolveCanon RPCanon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM LensPolar Pro 2-5 Stop Variable ND FilterSwitchPod - Handheld TripodSmall HD FocusAtomos ShinobiAtomos Ninja VBMPCC Tilta Modification Kit

#98 - In my opinion, lighting is one of the most underrated skills and underspent categories of gear when making high quality videos.If you understand how to light a video well and have the proper gear, your videos can even look better than someone that has a camera that costs 5 or 10 times as much as yours.In this podcast episode I chat with Tommy Callaway about how to improve lighting in your videos. We discuss common mistakes people make with lighting, what you can do to improve your lighting setup for under $100, what specs you should pay attention to when researching a light to purchase, and what lighting gear we would recommend at low-end, mid-range, and professional level budgets.Whether you're looking to invest money into new lights or just modify your current lighting setup with a few DIY solutions to improve how it looks, this episode is full of helpful tips.Chapters / Timestamps0:00 - Introduction0:40 - Tommy's Background04:12 - Choosing to Focus on Lighting07:25 - Working with Big Brands08:09 - Common Lighting Mistakes on YouTube11:40 - Lighting Upgrades Under $10024:35 - What Matters When Buying Lights32:40 - Gear Recommendations for Any Budgets50:56 - Learning How to Shape LightItems MentionedTommy's YouTube ChannelTommy's Twitter FeedBebob MICRO V-Mount BatteryIntellytech Pocket-V 98Wh Li-Ion BatteryGodox SL-60 LED Video LightNeewer Soft BoxAputure 120DAputure MCFalconEyes F7Aputure Nova p300cLupo Superpanel Soft Full Color 30 1x1Velvet Light Evo 2Intellytech Fast Frames

#97 - Everyone always wants to talk about the latest cameras that just came out, but the better way to spend your money is on making your videos sound better. And even if you don't have any extra budget to put towards a better microphone or audio recorder, there are a lot of tips and tricks for capturing better sound.In this episode I chat with Curtis Judd about how to record high quality audio, what gear he recommends for both the cheapest and high-end budgets, and common audio mistakes to avoid when making videos.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 - Introduction01:21 - Curtis' Background04:52 - Choosing to Focus on Audio & Lighting11:27 - Audio Gear Evolution23:23 - Tips for Hiding a Lav Mic26:34 - High Quality Audio on a Low Budget32:00 - Upgrading to a Medium Budget39:30 - Curtis' Favorite Microphones48:53 - Most Common Audio Mistakes to Avoid53:30 - Final ThoughtsItems MentionedCurtis Judd's YouTube ChannelCurtis Judd's WebsiteCanon C100 Mark II CameraCaleb's Review of the C100 Mark II Rode NTG3 Shotgun MicMix Pre 6TAKSTAR SGC-600Rode VideoMic NTGDeity V-Mic D3 ProCurtis' Video About How to Boom Your Camera Shotgun MicDPA Microphones 4017BSennheiser MKH 8050Shure TwinPlex TL48Shure SM7BEarthworks SR314BElectro-Voice RE20

#96 - Most people are afraid to talk about money.If I had to guess the reason I'd say it is because they are truly embarrassed about where they are financially. They would rather flaunt flashy cars or homes the debt they owe a bank actually owns then discuss the deeper going ons of their savings for retirement or their net worth.“But Caleb, what does this have to do with creativity, using cameras, and making videos?”Everything.You can't do your work, make your art, or run your business if you can't get your money right.I think money shouldn't be something you're ashamed of or hide from, no matter where you are at financially. There will always be someone further in debt or with a larger net worth than you.And instead of hiding where you're at, coming face to face to your reality of not being where you wish you were with money might be the wake up call you need.So as my wife and I just hit a financial milestone we're proud of, I wanted to record a podcast episode about my financial journey from getting out of debt two different times in completely different ways. The first time by being frugal and cheap, the second by building businesses to help me earn more (while spending to live the life I want to live).I also discuss what I'm calling the "money ladder". It describes the stages of getting out of debt and saving for the future that you should work your way up, one rung at a time.If money has been something you've been afraid to deal with yourself or talk about with the people close to you, I hope this episode will help to feel more comfortable being open and honest about it so you can work toward financially healthy.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 - Why We're Talking About Money03:34 - Balance Sheet Rich vs Income Statement Rich05:52 - My Debt Story18:12 - Climbing the Financial LadderItems MentionedThe Millionaire Mind by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.DI Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit SethiYour Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki RobinGet Rich SlowlyThe Simple Dollar

#95 - In this podcast episode I chat with Tom Martin about what a YouTube channel should do behind the scenes if it wants to get more views through search and suggested recommendations.Tom's experience working on large YouTube channels for companies like the BBC and advising smaller independent channels has led him to be a leading expert in the technical aspects of YouTube. I brought him back to the podcast to share what really works on YouTube to get more reach, gain more subscribers, and ultimately earn more money through the platform.We discuss how to research keywords for your video titles and tags, how to make sure your other videos show up in the suggested area when someone is watching your videos, how long YouTube videos should be, how frequently you should publish, tips for creating thumbnails, and more.If you have a YouTube channel that isn't performing how you want it to, this conversation is for you.Chapters / Timestamps0:00 - Introduction1:50 - Tom's Background4:19 - Managing Large Channels11:37 - Recommendations for Small Creators29:19 - Keyword Research36:19 - Best Way to Gain Subscribers37:23 - How Long Your Video Should Be40:03 - How Often You Should Publish a Video46:12 - Making Videos You Want to Make vs What YouTube Wants55:20 - Tom's Current Projects57:32 - YouTube Isn't for EveryoneItems MentionedTom's WebsitePro Channel ManagerMr. Bean YouTube ChannelvidIQTubeBuddyWordtrackerAhrefsYoutube defaultsText ExpanderVideo Insiders PodcastPro Channel Manager Podcast

#94 - In this podcast episode I chat with Sarah Beth, a yoga teacher on YouTube, about how she grew her channel to almost a million subscribers and built a thriving online business over a span of nearly ten years of uploading videos.We dive into everything she has learned about content strategy & release cadence on YouTube, figuring out which videos her audience really wants to watch, how she experimented with one off digital courses at first, and then how she ultimately built a paid membership app with a bustling community behind it.If you're wanting to turn YouTube into a full-time business, this episode is full of great advice, stories, and experience shared about what tactics and mindset changes it takes to achieve results.Chapters / Timestamps0:00 - Introduction2:50 - When Sarah Got Started with YouTube10:34 - Starting to Make Money on YouTube14:23 - Growth on YouTube20:18 - Trying to Play with the Algorithm22:18 - Having Others Work On the Channel27:22 - Deciding to Use an App for Membership34:47 - Fitting into the Youtube Space40:03 - Finding Future Content42:42 - Batching Videos1:00:18 - What's Next for Sarah1:07:13 - Advice for Building a Channel1:12:34 - Sarah's ResourcesItems MentionedSarah's YouTube ChannelSarah's InstagramSarah's WebsiteThe Four Hour Work Week

#93 - In this podcast episode I chat with Matt Giovanisci of Swim University & Money Lab about how to get more traffic to a website from Google. He shares what he's learned from 10+ years of experience optimizing his websites for search engines, doing content audits, and creating epic content.We dive into what he does on his websites to drive more email sign-ups, affiliate income, and digital product sales.If you're like me and you have years worth of old content on a website and a lot of what you've made is not being found by anyone anymore (or it is completely out of date or irrelevant) this podcast episode will help give you direction on what to do with all of it so your website starts to rank for what search terms you're targeting.Chapters / Timestamps3:07 - Matt's Businesses16:16 - Deleting Posts for More Traffic31:26 - Getting a Post to Rank40:29 - Tools for Website Rank and Speed47:13 - Matt's Beef with Squarespace54:03 - Affiliate Marketing58:55 - Books/Courses Surpassing Affiliate Income1:12:42 - Keep it Simple1:22:21 - Matt's Recommended ProductsItems MentionedSwim UniversityMoney LabBrew CabinTractionAhrefsWP EngineCloudflareImagifyTiny jpgConvertkitWordpressGenius LinkLassoBuyCarbonateMatt's Course on Asana

#92 - Separating work from your personal life is hard enough already without partnering with, hiring, or working for other people close to you. When you work with your spouse, friend, or a family member, it can be a convoluted mess of emotions, tones, and debating.In this episode I talk with my wife Jen about how we work together on each other's businesses or on the same business with all the dynamics of a boss/employee/partner relationship while staying married (and sane).We discuss how to over communicate, give appropriate feedback, split up roles and responsibilities, and prioritize what needs to be done. We also dive into how each of us work differently using digital or physical systems to track work and not make each other crazy.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 - Introduction02:55 - Whose the boss?08:36 - Giving & receiving feedback19:12 - Combining strengths & weaknesses21:31 - Agree on goals30:28 - Follow the calendar32:54 - Open communicationItems MentionedBOOK - Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are HighAsana

#91 - Working from home is way different than going to a separate physical location to work. You don't clock in or out, no one is looking over your shoulder, and your normal routine of hygiene or commuting go out the window.And right now, a lot of people are being forced to work from home due to CO-VID19.In this episode I talk with my wife Jen about how over the past 9 years of working from home we've figured out what boundaries, rules, and setups allow us to get the most done.We discuss finding a perfect location in your home for you to work, whether you should have set hours, how to let the rest of your family or roommates know the boundaries around interrupting you, and more.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 - Introduction08:21 - Setting BoundariesItems MentionedFrom Million Dollar T-Shirt Wearer to Selling His Last Name... Weird Business Ideas with Jason Zook — Caleb WojcikWhere work happens | SlackSelfControl

#90 - Whether you want one or not you have a personal brand.People want to follow and learn from other people online and even bigger brands “try” to act more like a person than a huge company.In this podcast episode I chat with my buddy Chris Ducker about how to build, scale, and monetize a personal brand, whether you should name your brand after your name or something else, what to do when your name is common or already being used online, and how having a strong personal brand can help future proof your business.We also discuss how to financially survive an economic downturn and get over your superhero syndrome (a.k.a. doing everything yourself and not hiring help).Chapters / Timestamps1:57 - Feeling at home on a stage10:40 - Build a personal brand28:19 - Scaling beyond yourself31:20 - Monetizing your brand37:42 - Surviving a downturn45:59 - Superhero Syndrome52:58 - Find ChrisItems MentionedVirtual Staff FinderVirtual FreedomChris DuckerSwitchpodPatreonRise of the Youpreneur

#89 - If you have the ability and skills to edit video a great way to supplement your existing income is to do video editing for other people.Not only can some editing only projects help fill the gap between other clients or projects you have, you can get paid well doing so.In this episode I chat with Jacob Cross, who I've hired to help me film for clients before, but who piqued my interest when he said he and his wife edit YouTube videos for 8 different clients at once on top of the video production work they already do. We discuss how you can find potential video editing clients, how to reach out to them, what the workflow is like, and how to charge them.Chapters / Timestamps3:31 - How Jacob got started with video8:43 - How 1/3 of his revenue comes from virtual editing20:36 - Editing to increase YouTube watch time26:59 - Music platforms for YouTube31:17 - Remote Editing Workflow Tips38:55 - Why Jacob only bills hourly42:16 - Advice for starting a virtual editing business48:03 - How Jacob increased his pricing52:01 - Allocating time for each taskItems MentionedFrame.io - Video Editing CollaborationMusicbed - Music LicensingArtlist.io - Royalty-Free Music Licensing For Video, Film & YoutubeSoundStripe - Royalty Free Music & SFXTimely - Fully Automatic Time TrackingTrello - Project Management AppJacob's Video Production Company - Cross & Co

# 88 - If you're running a service based company, like making videos for people, you need clients or customers to stay in business each month. And when there is a recession like what we're currently going through during CO-VID19, sometimes your services are the first to go for a company looking to cut back.But now is an important time to focus on who you can best serve, how you can find them, and convince them to work with you.In this episode I chat with Mike Kilcoyne, who I got to know well when he signed up for my Freelance Filmmaker Accelerator Program last year. We discuss how he niched down to what clients he could serve best, how to make them repeat clients, when the right time to hire help is, and how to land and work with clients in other cities then where you live.We also talk through this pandemic causing economic downturn and how you can work to help your business survive through it.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 - Mike's progression from start of Accelerator Program till now07:47 - Figuring out what style of work attracts you13:32 - How Mike gets new clients and keeps them21:54 - Relinquishing project control to grow the business36:18 - Collaborating with teammates and clients45:10 - Mike's unique lead generation system49:50 - Mike's advice for landing clients in the next 3-6 monthsItems MentionedMy Freelance Filmmaker Accelerator ProgramCreating Stuff with Mike Kilcoyne - Learn from my mistakes in entrepreneurship.How to Recession Proof Your BusinessMike Kilcoyne on LinkedInWhat The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Means For Marketers

#87 -If you're like me, you're overwhelmed with everything that is going on right now. The global pandemic is turning the economy into an unknown mess, we want to make sure our finances and our lives don't implode, and there is an ever-growing pile of work to do to help your business survive all of this. But sometimes, what's most important is to just take a break.In this podcast episode I give you permission to take a break.I discuss how to let yourself rest when there is so much to do, spend your downtime wisely, and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the news.Be nice to yourself. Give yourself a break.Items MentionedWandering AimfullySelf Control App for Mac

#86 - In this episode I talk with photographer and video creator Tyler Stalman about how important it is to become a “full stack creator”, his term for being able to do the multiple types of creative work needed in today's competitive landscape. We discuss how to start a client business and scale it, the importance of setting up multiple revenue streams, how to make your work stand out from the crowd, working authentically with sponsors, what has been working for him to grow on YouTube, and how to stop comparing yourself to others.Chapters / Timestamps00:00 - Introduction03:54 - Staying in Business During the CO-VID 19 Pandemic11:19 - From First Clients to Fully Booked16:56 - Building Multiple Revenue Streams22:39 - Making Your Work Stand Out to Potential Clients37:03 - Reviewing Product & Promoting Sponsors42:58 - What Works on YouTube44:49 - Comparing Your Work to Others54:14 - Are Cinema Cameras Worth it?1:00:41 - How is Tyler Improving?1:02:34 - Shooting Raw VideoItems MentionedTyler Stalman's YouTube ChannelThe Stalman PodcastThe Stalman Podcast #46: Make Money Making Videos, with Caleb WojcikAnia & Tyler Stalman PhotographyAnia's Fashion, travel and lifestyle blogTyler's InstagramiStockPhoto Philip Bloom's Review of the Sony PXW-FX9Quote by Ira Glass: “Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, ...”Crimson Engine & Mondobytes C200 Luts

#85 - With the CO-VID19 coronavirus, the world is a bit crazy right now. But I wanted to do my part to share how I'm trying to weather this as an entrepreneur and small business owner and give you some tips for how to best spend your down time during any pandemic quarantines.Now is a time for getting prepared. Not just through buying toilet paper, but using this time wisely to make sure on the other side of this pandemic you're set up for success.Most of the external precautions and panic are causing cancellations and closures that will either directly or indirectly impact what you do for work. Whether those are events you attend to network at and find clients or customers are being cancelled, products you promote are getting delayed, or just the overall wallet tightening that happens during an economic downturn, chances are you'll be impacted financially.If you've been sent home from school, are forced to work from home, or all of your business has suddenly dried up, the best thing you can do right now is work to take back control of the situation.First and foremost, yes, take all the precautions you need to. Stock up on non-perishable food, take care of your family, and stay informed.But, if you're like me, you've checked the news more this week than you did in all of 2019 and it is time to make better use of your time.Here is a hierarchy of how you should spend your time.1. Build.2. Learn.3. Audit.4. Distract.You can only sit in fear for so long. Fear is productive to a point. It made me cancel a vacation, go to the grocery store before the frozen food was all sold out, etc. But once the fear gets you to accomplish the utilitarian thing, it's time to re-group and move forward.So, go. Do something productive. Make a list and check things off.You can only quarantine and chill for so long.

#84 - If you choose what kinds of videos you're going to make, decide who you want to help, and then show up publicly every week year after year you'll grow your audience and reach.This is exactly what my friend Thomas Frank has done. He has continually showed up consistently for his audience and become an expert YouTuber.In this episode I talk with Thomas Frank, a full-time YouTuber, about what it is like to run a channel with millions of subscribers, work with sponsors, grow a team, and what goes on behind the scenes of planning, filming, editing, and sharing a YouTube video.Chapters00:25 - Introduction04:22 - Widening your initial audience12:04 - Making online courses affordable20:02 - Being a full-time YouTuber29:10 - Sponsored videos and ad agencies41:26 - Choosing what topics to put on YouTube52:10 - Thomas' system for video production57:28 - Advice for growing a YouTube channelItems mentioned in this episodeThomas Frank on YouTubeThomas Frank on InstagramThomas Frank on TwitterCollege Info GeekThomas' Skillshare coursesThomas' PodcastStarting Strength with Mark RippetoeNerd Fitness"I Don't Feel Like It" is a Mindset for Amateurs - College Info GeekStandard

#83 - From selling his last name (twice) to getting paid to wear different t-shirts everyday, Jason Zook has run some of the most unique businesses and marketing strategies online over the past ten years.In this episode I talk with one of the most creative entrepreneurs I've ever met.We discuss how he comes up with these unique business ideas, how he pitches company and customers to take a chance on him, and why instead of trying to get “rich” he is working towards just having enough.Chapters00:00:27 - Introduction00:01:49 - Getting off on the wrong foot00:05:15 - Always having “out there” ideas00:21:26 - Taking past lessons & moving forward00:29:06 - Does personality drive the type of business you have and the way you view money?00:37:02 - Being content with work-life balance00:42:03 - Advice to someone who feels stuck in their 9-5 job00:48:23 - Where should you go to learn business?00:55:38 - Trends in online business01:00:00 - Is the power of an email list still as strong as everyone claims?01:04:16 - What Jason learned making 900 videos in 900 days01:06:40 - Some of Jason's ideas that never came to be01:16:58 - Wrap-upShow NotesLearn More About IWearYourShirt and How I Made $1,000,000BuyMyFuture: Behind The Scenes of How I Made $178,000 Selling My Future in 2015BuyMyLastName: Why I Sold My Last Name For Nearly $100,000 in 2012 and 2013Welcome to Wandering Aimfully, we're Jason and Caroline ZookCreativity For Sale | by Jason SurfrApp (formely Jason Headsetsdotcom & Jason Sadler)Own Your Weird, An Oddly Effective Way For Finding HappinessWhy You Should Focus on Enough Instead of More

#82 - Nowadays anyone can become a "news outlet” by simply commentating on what's new, what was just announced, or regurgitating what they read online, but to really stand out from the noise in a topic you're interested in you need to bring a different slant to it.In this episode I talk with Ben Sullins of Teslanomics about how he approaches covering Tesla and sustainable technology news using his years of experience as a data scientist.We also discuss how & when to leave a day job behind, how he experimented on YouTube until something “popped”, how he makes money from his channel now, and the story behind how he bought Elon Musk a couch.Chapters00:00:25 - Introduction00:02:05 - Before Teslanomics00:11:21 - Teslanomics00:21:09 - Don't just quit your day job00:29:16 - What Youtube content worked and what didn't00:39:17 - Getting Noticed by Tesla00:41:59 - Buying Elon Musk a Couch00:48:43 - Income & Revenue Streams00:53:19 - Re-branding a Channel01:05:48 - Next 5-10 years of electric cars01:17:13 - Future of self driving carsShow NotesTeslanomics with Ben Sullins - YouTubeBen's Cybertruck Announcement Event Video - YouTubeBen's Tesla CyberTruck Ride Video - YouTubeTesla | Electric Cars, Solar Panels & Clean Energy StorageMarques Brownlee - YouTubeTrello | Project Management ToolBen's Courses on LinkedIn LearningBen's Courses on Pluralsight

#81 - Running a business is hard. You work long hours, you have the livelihood of your employees resting on your shoulders, and you want to do ALL the ideas that are in your head.But sometimes, as successful as you might feel financially or look to others online you burn out. You hit a wall. Your business runs out of money. You need to re-think everything and make the hard decisions.In this podcast episode I chat with Sean McCabe, who has built multiple businesses through client services, creating physical products, growing a membership community, and selling online courses.Throughout this episode we discuss starting how to grow a physical or digital product business, what to do when you feel stuck, why you need to be making content online, how to pre-sell a new product, avoiding scarcity mindset, and why Sean is taking a full year sabbatical.Show NotesSean's interview of me on his podcastRescue TimePresale Profits | seanwes256: How to Defeat Scarcity Mindset | seanwes podcastseanwes - Business Community for Creative ProfessionalsSwitchPod on Kickstarter — The minimal, versatile, handheld tripod

#80 - I've been talking to a lot of beginners lately.People just getting started with video, wanting to launch their YouTube channel, record the first online course, start their business, etc.And there is this recurring theme with all of them.They're doing it wrong. Here's what I mean.There is really only one metric that matters when you're starting out.Action. Doing. Movement. Go.When making videos, here are some things that you might think really matter at first, but don't.Should I use my phone or a DSLR camera?Should I film in 1080p or 4K?Should I start my YouTube channel or my website first?The answer to all of these questions is: YES.Its like when you starting working out at the gym. It almost doesn't matter what exercises you do. What matters is that you go to the gym, you do SOMETHING, and then you keep coming back.Even this video I'm filming right now is an example, I really needed to shave and I was gonna do that before I hit record, but NO. Action. Just, do it.Eventually you will reach a point where those earlier questions matter, but chances are you're not there yet.It doesn't matter which direction you go in if you're not moving.My friend Sean McCabe, who is a guest on my podcast soon, likes to say, “You Can't Steer a Parked Car”.Newton's First Law - An object at rest stays at rest. An object in motion stays in motion until forces act upon it.*Once you start doing, you learn. *If you're in a state of paralysis, nothing happens.When you're in it, you feel like every decision you make is HUGE. But you're trying to play a more complicated version of Go or chess instead of just playing checkers and moving forward.Research quickly, make a decision, and move on.When you're just starting you may be stalled out because you want a level of quality or professionalism that is only achievable through practice, time, and actually doing it.Just look back at the earliest videos of some of the biggest YouTubers. Chances are they were poorly filmed, barely edited, and don't feel anywhere close to the same as their current videos. They got better with repetition and so will you.Your most limited resource is time. Not money, not knowledge. The last thing you need to do is agonize about every decision you're making and what equipment or software you should use.Choose and go.Another thing I see people stall out on is what their current followers online initially followed them for.If you're worried about what people might think or that you've grown an audience or following talking about one thing but now you want to take about something else, just do it.Make what YOU want to make.Let your audience self filter out. Just do what you want to do. People that are attracted to you and what you make will follow you. Those that don't, will leave. Who cares?I'd rather have less people following what I make that care about it than millions of people who don't care.And if there are already people talking about or sharing what you're interested in online that have an audience, take that as a sign that there is a need for it. Not keep you making.Because if you're really interested in a topic or niche, you don't just follow one person that talks about it. You follow 5 or 10 or more.All this to say... The fact that you're even thinking of starting means that you're further along than most people. Which is great.But take it a step further and go make something.Head in a direction. You can always course correct later.If you're just starting out with something, focus on building the habit of showing up. Creating. Finishing. Publishing. Then repeat and make the next time better.My buddy James Clear has this 1% better every day idea that I love.If you get 1% better every day for a year, by the end of the year you'll be 37 times better. 1% worse and you slowly approach zero.Getting started and slowly, get a little better each day.You got this.

#079 - After six years of running a video production business I have developed and honed my entire process to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.In this podcast episode I talk in detail about that process and the changes I have made over the years. I cover all the phases of a project from the initial onboarding period to the actual shoot day and all the way through post production.I learned some lessons the hard way and share those with you so hopefully, you don't have to.This isn't the sexy stuff but it's the essential stuff that makes business run smoothly.Chapters / Timestamps:OnboardingPre-ProductionDay Before/Travel TipsShoot DayPost-Production & RevisionsGetting Reviews & Referrals Mentioned in this episode:Think Tank Roller Carry on BagTile Pro TrackerFrame.ioAdobe SignQuickbooksWipsterSquarespaceLensProToGoAirbnbBreather

#078 - Growing a business from scratch is tough. Especially when you're also trying to build up the skills to do the work your future clients need you to do at the same time.In this podcast episode I talk with my wife Jen Wojcik about how she built and scaled her wedding photography business into a full-time job over the course of 6 years after moving to a new city and not having photographed a wedding ever before.If you're looking to grow a client based business, there is a lot in this episode to learn from.We discuss building up your portfolio, landing a gig as a second shooter, and how to land the clients you dream of working for.Chapters / Timestamps:00:42 - Getting Started with Photography08:25 - Shooter her first wedding10:16 - Starting to scale your business15:08 - Setting prices at the beginning17:04 - Building a portfolio21:05 - Wedding workshops25:52 - Inspiration shoots29:17 - Standing out in a crowded industry30:56 - Shooting film instead of digital34:33 - Don't try something new on a paid job39:17 - Stepping away from wedding photography46:38 - Advice to new wedding photographers54:48 - Tools used to run a client businessItems mentioned in this episode:Jen's Wedding Photography WebsiteJen's InstagramSourced Co

#077 - One year ago I launched my camera tripod invention, [SwitchPod], on Kickstarter. It went on to raise over $415,000 and we have since manufactured and shipped almost 10,000 tripods all over the world.In this podcast episode I share 17 lessons I've learned from launching and growing SwitchPod over the past 3 years that you can apply to the projects and businesses that you're building.Here's a list of all the lessons:1. Have Patience When Building Something New2. Building Buzz & Hype3. Wait to Launch Until You're 90% Ready4. Don't Network, Make Friends5. Be Careful with Influencers6. Double Down on What's Working7. Fame vs. Being in the Trenches8. Pay Attention to Detail9. The Constant Inventory Battle10. Roll the Dice & Re-Invest11. Retailers Bring Legitimacy12. Amazon is a Pain13. Know Your Numbers14. Don't Forget About...15. Customer Support is a Full-Time Job16. Don't Quit Your Day Job17. Have Fun 

#076 - In this episode I share a quick update about what to expect from me in 2020. I'll talk about my YouTube channel, my podcast, and my training courses.2019 was the busiest and biggest year for me yet. And that's not just because my family actually grew by one and I'm now a Dad. :)Here's a full update about what's to come from me in 2020, what's been hard about balancing 3 businesses, my words for the year, and whether I'm changing my brand name online.Caleb Wojcik Films - My client businessSwitchPod - The handheld tripod I inventedDIY Video School - My training coursesIn this Episode I talked about:0:00 Introduction0:25 Balancing 3 Businesses3:39 Words for the Year6:11 Branding7:47 Summary

#075 - This episode is a little different in that I don't interview anyone, but I tell my story.I went immediately from college into the corporate world, and then from there, into the entrepreneurial space to work for a blogger. I eventually started my own business as a freelance filmmaker. I discuss how it's led to my channel, my podcast, and my new invention, the SwitchPod.In this episode I talked about:01:12 - Growing up - part nerd/part athlete03:54 - Choosing a 9 to 5 felt safe at the time07:48 - Stumbling into entrepreneurship10:00 - The Art of Non-Conformity and Chris Guillebeau14:14 - How a $500 investment in an online course changed my life17:00 - Helping build Fizzle.co and getting back into video22:43 - The itch to run my own thing29:16 - Connecting the dots going backwards33:50 - Leaning into my obsessionLinks to things mentioned:SwitchPodFizzle

#074 - In this episode I talk to Dave Maze who runs a channel called Kinotika where he talks all about camera gear and equipment.We talk about transitioning from full time freelancer to full time YouTuber, what it's like to run a channel focused on reviews, and the future of YouTube and camera gear. If you want to grow your YouTube channel or do sponsored content as an influencer, this episode is for you.Table of Contents:00:47 - Introduction05:28 - Shooting weddings09:02 - Becoming an independent Filmmaker15:48 - Starting out on youtube19:36 - Influencers and making sponsored videos25:50 - The direction YouTube is headed34:11 - Best piece of gear and what needs to change in cameras

#073 - In this episode I talk with Kitty Peters who runs Atola Visuals, a filmmaking company focusing on client work, as well as a YouTube Channel with the same name, where she features filmmaking gear and tutorials.We talk about whether or not she believes film school was worth it for her, why it's important to have multiple income streams, and quantity vs. quality when it comes to content.In this episode we talked about:00:31 - How do you explain what you do to non-YouTubers?01:44 - Going to film school08:48 - First getting into filming13:58 - How do you make your videos entertaining?17:06 - A tactic you know would work that you don't use18:50 - Balancing quality and quantity21:32 - The ups and downs to social media30:07 - Gear: A flop and the must haves

#072 - Levi Allen is an adventure filmmaker. In this episode we talk about how his short film Untethered got a Vimeo staff pick, which lead to the film being distributed internationally, but then how he fought back for the rights to have it free and public again.We also talk about how to build up a client business from scratch and why your personality is an important reason why people subscribe to your YouTube channel.In this episode we talked about:01:07 - Introduction02:01 - Untethered getting a Vimeo Staff Pick13:46 - After Untethered's success & tempering expectations17:55 - Distribution & owning your work25:43 - Why were are bad YouTubers29:39 - Letting your personality show33:25 - Titling & thumbnail tips for Youtube38:26 - Being open with other creators44:16 - Landing your first clients

#071 - Pat Flynn helped me co-invent and create SwitchPod over the past 15 months before we launched it on Kickstarter.At the time of recording this episode, a couple days into the campaign, we had already doubled our goal and raised over $227,000 to make thousands of SwitchPods for our backers.In this episode we talked about:1:06 — 15 Months of Development7:25 — Building Pre-Launch Buzz13:02 — Solving Problems with Products19:31 — Negative Marketing23:52 — Finding Your Own Niche27:52 — Launch Day Response32:09 — Pat's Amazing Wedding Video34:13 — SwitchPods in the Wild36:03 — Documenting & Connecting39:00 — Superpowers & Collaborating

#070 - In this conversation I chat with 5 other YouTubers and Filmmakers about what it takes to be a full-time YouTuber or Filmmaker, gear recommendations for starting out, what really matters feature wise in a camera, what stats and numbers you should track (and what you should ignore), and how to actually make money on YouTube.If you'd like to jump around the conversation, use the timestamps below.0:45 — Weird Things That Happen While Filming2:11 — Lightweight & Cheaper vs. Heavy & Expensive Gear12:42 — Camera Companies Purposely Limiting Features19:52 — The Urge to Always Upgrade Gear24:02 — "Reviewing" Gear on YouTube28:13 — The Long-Game of Making Money31:53 — Being Negative & Honest in Reviews34:21 — Current YouTube Trends & Competition38:22 — Does Subscriber Count Matter?41:30 — Focusing on Money instead of Vanity Metrics44:41 — Planning Successful Videos48:37 — Variability in View Counts51:30 — Why Did You Start?54:17 — Tips for Filmmakers Wanting to Go Full-TimeSubscribe to their YouTube Channels here:Armando: https://www.youtube.com/user/wicked4u2cMatt: https://www.youtube.com/user/blackboxfilmcompanyJason: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBG4ZzTTBVg23yVdQhztnfQGreg: https://www.youtube.com/user/lensprotogoJosh: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrJMMediaThis was filmed at the YouTube Space in Los Angeles. Special thanks to Greg for helping me set for hour before we started. :)

#069 - In this episode I share why I am putting this podcast on hold to focus on creating more video content for YouTube. I talk about doubling down, simplifying, following what is working, and how video is the best format for most of what I want to share & create. I also share my ten favorite episodes from the last sixty-eight.Show NotesSubscribe to the DIY Video Guy YouTube ChannelCheck out all our free and paid courses at DIYVideoSchool.comFollow me on InstagramMy Top 5 Favorite Interview Episodes So Far:Austin Evans — #31Thomas Frank — #56Sean McCabe — #10Amy Schmittauer — #12Levi Allen — #57Top 5 Favorite Non-Interview Episodes So Far:10 Video Mistakes I've Made & How to Avoid Them — #23Creative Distance — #48Professionals Show Up — #17Hey YouTuber, You're Doing These 9 Things Wrong — #349 Ways to Overcome Video Editor's Block — #37

#068 - I think podcasts are one of the best ways to continually learn while you're doing something. Most days I listen to multiple podcast episodes while driving, working out, or walking my dog. In this episode I share what some of my favorite podcasts for filmmakers, YouTubers, and freelancers are.April 21, 2016http://www.DIYVideoGuy.com/68

#067 - When you follow a lot of people online and you see them publishing videos all the time, it is easy to get down on yourself for not publishing as frequently or at as high a quality as you'd prefer. In this episode I chat with Satchell Drakes, who runs a YouTube channel with some of the highest quality videos in the video gaming niche. I talk with him about his process of creating videos, what has helped his channel grow, and what he recommends for someone that isn't getting the traction they want out of their videos.Items mentioned in this episode:Satchbag's Goods - YouTubeSuperTry Satch (@SatchellDrakes) | TwitterDidYouKnowGaming? - YouTubeTheNationalDex - YouTubeThat One Video Gamer - YouTubeNormalBoots - Entertainment RebootedNerd Writer on YouTube

#066 - In this episode I discuss video gear, but I don't talk about specific pieces I recommend. This will be more of a philosophical discussion about why you need gear and more importantly, when to stop buying it once you get to a certain point. I also talk about when to upgrade vs. when to keep using what you have and share my strategies for getting the most money you can when selling old gear you don't use anymore. We also published our new "Recommended Gear" pages.Here are all of our "Recommended Gear" pages mentioned in this episode:Cameras — DIY Video GuyLenses — DIY Video GuyAudio — DIY Video GuyLighting — DIY Video GuyBags & Traveling — DIY Video GuyMovement & Stabilizing — DIY Video GuyAccessories — DIY Video GuyPodcasting — DIY Video GuyiPhone & Android — DIY Video Guy

#065 - Knowing exactly why you're making videos and who they are for is the best way to be successful on a platform like YouTube. In this episode of the podcast I talk with Jessica Holsman, who YouTubes at Study with Jess, about what it's like to grow a YouTube channel to 100,000 subscribers in a year by knowing exactly who your target audience is and what to make for them. She also shares how she got more comfortable on camera by vlogging on a second channel, how she collaborated with a YouTuber on a different continent that she'd never met before, and how she used YouTube to grow an existing business selling physical products.Items mentioned in this episode:Study With Jess - YouTubeseed.ED EducationeryA Love Letter To My Younger Self - YouTubecommunitychannel - YouTubeThomas Frank - YouTubeAll Our Free & Paid Courses at DIYVideoSchool.comMarch 24, 2016

#064 - It is already a ton of work to make a video, so setting up your YouTube channel with proper branding, tags, upload defaults, and more often gets set aside. In this podcast episode I chat with Tom Martin about how to properly get your YouTube channel fully set-up so your videos are more likely to show up in search and as suggested videos in the sidebar. After listening you'll have a bunch of ways to make your YouTube channel look more professional and in turn help your videos rank even better than they do now.Items mentioned in this episode:FAQTube.com | Helping you achieve better YouTube resultsYouTube Optimization: The Complete Guide Ebook | FAQ TubeHow To Start A YouTube Channel The RIGHT Way | FAQ TubeTom's Page for DIY Video Guy listeners | FAQ TubeTom's YouTube Channel Audits | FAQ TubevidIQ | More Views, Less Time.vidIQ Vision Extension for ChromeTubeTrackrMarch 17, 2016

#063 - Being unique and standing out in a sea of creators within a similar niche is tough. That's why I wanted to chat with Luke Sizemore, better known on YouTube as Yungtown, about what it takes to stand out in the genre of making videos about video games. In this episode we talk about how he was making music way before rapping on YouTube, why it makes sense to hide older unrelated videos on a channel, when you should focus a channel on a single type of video vs. having different styles of videos on it, his advice for YouTubers just getting started, and more.Items mentioned in this episode:yungtown - YouTubeTop 10 Super Smash Bros. 4 Characters - Yungtown - YouTubeDraw My Life - Yungtown - YouTubeOpen Broadcaster SoftwareAmazon.com: Elgato Systems Game Capture HD Game RecorderFinal Cut Pro X - Apple.comFinal Cut Pro X 101 - A Free Course — DIY Video GuyLogic Pro X - Music Production App - Apple.comAmazon.com: Edirol UA-25 USB Audio InterfaceAmazon.com: Audio Technica AT3035 Condenser MicrophoneMarch 10, 2016

#062 - It can feel great to have all the time in the world to complete something, but more often than not, that leads to never finishing what you're doing. Deadlines push us to hustle, finish, and ship. (Just like cramming really hard in school for an exam.) In this podcast episode we talk about how having a release schedule and public accountability helps push you to be consistently creative and get better at your craft, while also getting more done.Items mentioned in this episode:044: Should You Break Down Big Goals to Make Them Attainable? | seanwesMarch 3, 2016

#061 - Some videos you make tank and get barely any views. Others, sometimes unexpectedly, continue to be watched and get plenty of organic search and referral traffic. How can you guarantee a video you're making will be the latter? In this episode we discuss how to plan and create videos that people want to watch. We use two of our recent videos as examples, one that worked and one that tanked; the possible reasons that happened and how to replicate the successful video. Some of the topics we discuss are: * Matching your thumbnail and title * Having your videos be current with events * The value of comparison videos * Using YouTube Analytics for tracking what works and what doesn't * Using a third party app to see what related videos are taggedItems mentioned in this episode:Canon 80D vs. 70D (Is It Worth The Upgrade?) - YouTubeNews on the Sony a6300, Canon 1DX mkII, Nikon D5 (+ A Fine Bros. Rant) - YouTubevidIQ | More Views, Less Time.YouTube Analytics basics - YouTube HelpFebruary 25, 2016

#060 - When you put a bunch of time, effort, energy, and money into making YouTube videos, you don't want to waste all that and not reach anybody. Yet, most YouTubers make the same mistakes over and over when getting started. In this episode I chat with Tim Schmoyer of Video Creators about 8 mistakes most YouTubers make. We also discuss what he has learned after vlogging for ten years and how to actually earn a living off making YouTube videos (hint: not from ads). February 11, 2016Items mentioned in this episode:Video Creators - YouTubeSchmovies - YouTubeTop 8 Mistakes New YouTubers Make - YouTubeReelSEO - YouTubeVideo Creators: YouTube Training to Build Your AudienceThe Secret to Building your YouTube Audience - Free Video Creators Course30 Days to a Better YouTube Channel - Video Creators Course0 to 10,000 Subscribers in 12 Months - Video Creators CourseAccelerate Your Channel Growth - Video CreatorsFebruary 11, 2016

#059 - I don't typically pay much attention to the current events of a platform like YouTube, but this week's controversy with The Fine Brothers trademarking 'react' videos made me want to share my thoughts on some recent trends and conversations happening about YouTube. In this episode I talk through the sad economics of being famous on the Internet, why you shouldn't try to trademark recording a basic human action, how the world of online publishing is getting harder, and how not to be a rip off artist.Items mentioned in this episode:The sad economics of being famous on the internet | FusionThe Fine Brothers Controversy Explained — MediumThe Fine Brothers' reaction video controversy, explained - VoxSTICK FIGURES AROUND THE WORLD?!?! (Special Announcement) - cgpgrey2 on YouTubeUpdate. - cgpgrey2 on YouTubeThe New, New Economy: How the World of Online Publishing Is Changing, and Why You Should Care : The Art of Non-ConformityShort Skirts and Rip Off Artists - YouTubeVideo Response to Casey's 'Rip Off Artists' - YouTubeFebruary 5, 2016

#058 - When people email and ask me questions about video, whether they're asking about ones I've made or they're trying to make videos themselves, without a doubt the majority of the questions I get revolve around gear and equipment. "What camera did you use?" "What lens is that?" "What software do you edit in?" I always answer their question, because I can geek out about gear as much as the next person, but part of me wants to answer with, "Gear doesn't matter. Gear doesn't make videos go viral. Gear only keeps you from making more videos." In this episode of the podcast I challenge you to make videos with what you have and think about whether gear really matters or not.Items mentioned in this episode:Free Email Course: Video Gear for Any Budget — DIY Video GuyEvolution of Dance - YouTubeThe Sneezing Baby Panda - YouTubeCharlie bit my finger - again ! - YouTubeDavid After Dentist - YouTubeCanon C300 Mark II Hands-on Feature Test + Footage - YouTubeWill It Fly by Pat Flynn (Book Teaser Trailer) - YouTubeJanuary 29, 2016

#057 - Today's episode brings you Levi Allen, a filmmaker out of British Columbia and Founder of Left Coast Media. Levi's most recent film 'Untethered' was featured as a Vimeo Staff Pick in December 2015. In this episode Levi discusses how he started out making films, the importance of not letting gear stand in the way of creation, why he decided to begin vlogging, the story behind the making of Untethered and why he decided to release his film for free.Items mentioned in this episode:LEFTCOAST - Adventure FilmmakingLevi Allen - YouTubeLevi's Film: UNTETHEREDTransposition FilmsRJ BruniKessler Camera SlidersKessler elektraDRIVE Slider Bundledevingraham - YouTubedevinsupertramp - YouTubeAmazon.com : DSLR Flycam Nano Camera Stabilizer with Free Quick ReleaseSpencer Seabrooke | FacebookMindNode - Mindmapping Appkeithwhiteaudio | Post Production Sound StudioBrain Farm | Creators of Media and EntertainmentWe Are Blood | Short FilmView from a Blue Moon on iTunesMusicbedRyan SchroederMOXLEYWorld Record Free Solo - Insane Slacklining! - YouTubeBUILDER - Official Trailer - YouTubeJanuary 21 , 2016

#056 - One of my favorite parts of being friends with entrepreneurs is seeing how far they progress in just a year. In this podcast episode I chat with Thomas Frank, a four-time guest on the show, to talk with him about how he has grown his YouTube channel to over 166,000 subscribers and almost 5,000,000 views by making weekly videos for just over a year. In this episode we discuss: * Why sometimes publishing a low production quality video is more important than missing a week * How better thumbnails and descriptions lead to your videos ranking higher * Why you might not want to send people to your website from YouTube * How to collaborate with bigger channels even when you don't have many subscribers * Whether or not your YouTube videos should have ads on themItems mentioned in this episode:Thomas Frank - YouTubeCollege Info Geek | College Tips for Smart StudentsDo the thing. (Procrastination Advice) - YouTubeHow to Learn New Skills Quickly (ft. Thomas Frank!) - YouTubeYou Can't Make It On YouTube Anymore — by Hank GreenThe Definitive Guide to Making YouTube Thumbnails That Will Be ClickedCrashCourse - YouTubeAsapSCIENCE - YouTubeJanuary 14 , 2016

#055 - Only in looking back can you accurately assess what you're capable of going forward. Looking back at 2015 gives me a lot of reasons to celebrate, be grateful, & look forward. In this episode we look at back at lessons learned, what went well, what didn't go well, and what to expect from DIY Video Guy in 2016.http://www.DIYVideoGuy.com/55January 6 , 2016

#054 - Dave Dugdale has been sharing his filmmaking journey on YouTube since he first got a Canon T2i in 2010. I stumbled across his videos a few years ago when I first bought a DSLR and was trying to figure out what camera settings to use. In today's podcast episode I chat with Dave about how he transitioned from making videos about real estate to drive search traffic into teaching video production and making videos for a living instead. We discuss why you might want to use a mirrorless camera like a Sony A7 series or Panasonic GH4 instead of a DSLR from Canon, give advice for making videos in a crowded niche, and why having a regimented release schedule for your videos might not be the best way to go.Items mentioned in this episode:Dave Dugdale's YouTube ChannelLearningVideo.comDave's Camera CoursesShould You Shoot in 4K? (& Mirrorless vs. DSLR) — DIY Video GuyDSLR Video Shooter - YouTubeBasic Filmmaker - YouTubeFilm Riot - YouTubeFilmmaker IQ - YouTubeIndy Mogul - YouTube

#053 - Should you put a lot of effort into trying to make something perfect, even if that means you can only create videos irregularly? Or should you have a schedule and stick to it, even if you are releasing sub-par content? In today's episode we debate consistency vs. quality and which you should strive for most. We also discuss how you can go about achieving both, if you should even attempt to do that, and how the types of content you make may decide it for you.Items mentioned in this episode:Gary Vaynerchuk's Take on Quality vs. Quantity: #AskGaryVee 149Casey Neistat on the Tim Ferriss ShowSpecial guests on this episode:Caleb Pike of DSLR Video ShooterCorbett Barr of FizzlePat Flynn of Smart Passive IncomeRollo Wenlock of WipsterSean McCabe of Seanwes

#052 - Live streaming video is all the rage. Periscope, Meerkat, Blab and YouTube Live are just a few of the platforms that people now use to live broadcast video after just a couple seconds of set-up. In this episode we ask: is live streaming video just a fad? We chat with five guests, add our two cents, and as you can imagine, we don't all agree. We also discuss ways to make your live broadcasts better, why you may want to incorporate live streaming into your business, and what we see as best way to use live streaming (even if your audience is tiny).Special guests on this episode:Caleb Pike of DSLR Video ShooterCorbett Barr of FizzlePat Flynn of Smart Passive IncomeRollo Wenlock of WipsterSean McCabe of SeanwesLive streaming options mentioned:PeriscopeMeerkatBlabYouTube LiveNovember 26, 2015

#051 - With all the pressures on "going viral" during an big announcement online, sales videos are becoming bigger productions and you could be leaving a lot on the table by not creating a video to accompany a launch. However, if you are going to do it, you need to make sure you are doing it well. In this episode we discuss whether or not sales videos are important, if you even need one, and how exactly it may benefit you and your audience. We also talk about how sales videos are just one part of a launch strategy and what else you should focus on.Special guests on this episode:Caleb Pike of DSLR Video ShooterCorbett Barr of FizzlePat Flynn of Smart Passive IncomeRollo Wenlock of WipsterSean McCabe of SeanwesItems mentioned in this episode:Fizzle.co - Honest Online Business Training VideoNovember 19, 2015