The Secret Of My Success = Suck Less

Defying Gravity With Authentic, Human Work

THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS (1965)

YouTube is, by far, the most popular video platform in the world. Chances are, you “met” me and my work on it. Without my YouTube channel, far fewer people would know about me or the work I create and curate. And for that, I’m genuinely grateful.

I love YouTube. Mostly. It’s given me a platform to share my creativity, connect with an incredible community, and reach people I never would have otherwise. But while I’m a passionate user of the platform, I’m also a vocal critic.

The truth is as much as YouTube empowers small creators like me, it also censors art and stifles creativity, favoring controversy and drama over authenticity and originality.

To classify our relationship as “it’s complicated” would be an understatement.

THE RISE OF SLOP

In the race for views, subscribers, and that elusive “viral” moment, YouTube has become inundated and overrun with “slop.”

In case you’re not familiar, “slop” is AI-generated, clickbait-driven, drama-packed, and/or rage-bait content. It’s designed to provoke knee-jerk reactions and keep a certain circle jerk of jerks alive and well.

It’s no secret that most humans are drawn to drama and spectacle. Greeks had their amphitheaters and Romans had the Colosseum. Sensationalism sells—especially on networks and platforms that limit anything remotely sexual.

Think “reality” tv ad wrestling but with even worse acting.
Think “news” but with even more misinformation and propaganda.

On YouTube, the algorithms promote and reward those churning out copycat CONtent while creators making meaningful and/or original work often get left behind.

Like most wallpaper, these videos aren’t all “bad,” but most aren’t very “good” either.

I’ll admit it—after a long day of creating and curating my own work, I’m a sucker for some mindless “slop.” Whether it’s on YouTube or via social media, I consume more “slop” than I’d like to admit. But…I refuse to make it.

For better and/or worse, my creative compass points in a different direction—toward humanity, simplicity, and positivity. My work may never be flashy enough to rack up millions of views in a matter of hours, but in my book, creating something meaningful is worth far more than playing to the lowest common denominator.

While a few have tried to label my work “low-effort,” I know how much love and work I put into my videos. And at the end of the day, those folks aren’t my audience.

THE AUDACITY OF “SUCCESS”

You don’t have to look far on YouTube to find the noise—drama channels breaking down petty feuds, reaction videos more focused on boosting audience numbers than responding to the actual content, and “challenges” that challenge little more than our collective attention span. This content isn’t inherently bad, but when consumed at such a high volume, it becomes a relentless cacophony.

And here’s the kicker: this noise sells. It’s a cycle where creators, viewers, and the platform itself feed into each other. Creators see that slop gets clicks, viewers consume it out of habit, and YouTube promotes it because it keeps people on the platform longer.

It may look like “success,” but it’s definitely not the kind I’m interested in.

When it comes to creating content, I’d rather defy gravity than lower the bar.

My goal isn’t to produce content that “sucks less” than the next channel, but to create something that sparks positivity or inspiration. Sure, positive content might not hit the trending page or ignite an army of reactions, and that’s okay. YouTube may want to amplify the popularity contest, but I’m focused on building something that resonates—deeply—even if that depth only reaches a small corner of the internet.

Success, to me, isn’t about the view count. It’s about leaving an impact, even if it’s subtle. It’s about encouraging someone, even just one person, to take a breath from the noise, to feel seen and supported.

COUNTER PROGRAMMING THE NOISE

My strategy is simple: Create “quiet” counter-programming. You won’t find my videos diving into the latest YouTube feud or preying on people’s insecurities. What you will find are moments of authenticity, creativity, and maybe even some silliness—because joy deserves a place on every platform, too.

There’s always was and always will be pressure to create what’s “popular,” but I have to remind myself that I graduated from high school—and college—a long time ago.

In a sea of performative outrage and produced, I’m standing firm on simplicity and positivity. No gimmicks, no shock value—just honest, simple montages and videos that reflect my own creative tastes and values.

And for those who don’t like it? They are welcome to scroll on. (But they aren’t welcome to spread their negative opinions and problematic politics. Not on my channels and platforms anyway.)

DEFYING GRAVITY

I know I’m swimming upstream, and I’m okay with that.

Choosing positivity over negativity is never the easiest path, but it’s the only way I want to use my talent and time. I believe there’s space for creators who care more about lifting others up than tearing them down.

It may not bring instant gratification, but the long-term satisfaction of building a community based on authenticity and kindness is far more rewarding.

While others race to the bottom, I’m going to keep reaching for something better, even if it means defying gravity.

If you’re with me, stick around—and tell a friend. I’m doing my best to create content that doesn’t just suck less, but actually feels like success—on my terms.

Thanks for reading and subscribing!
Clint

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ON THIS DAY = OCTOBER 9

BIRTHDAYS

• 1940 = John Lennon = English singer-songwriter

• 1948 = Jackson Browne = American singer-songwriter

• 1952 = Sharon Osbourne = English television host

• 1953 = Tony Shalhoub = American actor

• 1964 = Guillermo del Toro = Mexican-American filmmaker

• 1975 = Sean Lennon = American singer-songwriter

• 1979 = Brandon Routh = American model and actor

EVENTS

• 1970 = In Minneapolis, FREE (Gay Liberation Of Minnesota) opens the first “Regional Gay Convention” in the Midwest.

• 1986 = The Phantom of the Opera, eventually the second longest running musical in London, opens at Her Majesty's Theatre.

• 2005 = Kansas Equality Coalition is founded, uniting groups in five regions that fought against the passage of the state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

• 2011 = California Governor Jerry Brown announces the signing of the Gender Nondiscrimination Act (AB 887) and the Vital Statistics Modernization Act (AB 443). AB 887 makes illegal discrimination based on gender identity or expression in employment, education, housing, and other public settings and AB 443 allows transgender people to obtain a court order to protect their gender.

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QUOTES OF THE DAY

“I THINK WHEN WE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, WE CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN FEAR AND LOVE. EVERY MORNING. AND EVERY MORNING, IF YOU CHOOSE ONE, THAT DOESN'T DEFINE YOU UNTIL THE END... THE WAY YOU END YOUR STORY IS IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CHOOSE LOVE OVER FEAR, BECAUSE LOVE IS THE ANSWER.”
GUILLERMO DEL TORO

“THAT'S MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EACH GENERATION DOES, IS TO BREAK A LOT OF RULES AND MAKE UP THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS.”
JACKSON BROWNE

“I'M NOT CLAIMING DIVINITY. I'VE NEVER CLAIMED PURITY OF SOUL. I'VE NEVER CLAIMED TO HAVE THE ANSWERS TO LIFE. I ONLY PUT OUT SONGS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AS HONESTLY AS I CAN... BUT I STILL BELIEVE IN PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING.”
JOHN LENNON

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FOUND PHOTO OF THE DAY

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