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July 25, 2024 • 1hr 18min
#816 - 2.25M Q&A - The Manosphere, Mike Israetel & Overcoming Insecurities
Modern Wisdom
In this Q&A episode, Chris Williamson celebrates hitting 2.25 million subscribers on YouTube by answering questions from viewers. He covers a wide range of topics, from personal challenges he's faced recently to insights on confidence, success, and personal growth. Chris also discusses upcoming projects and tours while giving his candid thoughts on various subjects posed by listeners.
#816 - 2.25M Q&A - The Manosphere, Mike Israetel & Overcoming Insecurities
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Key Takeaways
- Chris hit 2.25 million subscribers on YouTube and did a Q&A episode to celebrate
- He discusses his recent challenges, including health issues and adjusting to increased attention/opportunities
- Chris shares insights on confidence, celebrating wins, overcoming insecurities, and balancing ambition with enjoyment
- He talks about upcoming projects, including a new product with Mike Israetel and his Australia tour
- Chris gives his thoughts on topics like worrying less, rewarding yourself, building back confidence, and more
Introduction
In this Q&A episode, Chris Williamson celebrates hitting 2.25 million subscribers on YouTube by answering questions from viewers. He covers a wide range of topics, from personal challenges he's faced recently to insights on confidence, success, and personal growth. Chris also discusses upcoming projects and tours while giving his candid thoughts on various subjects posed by listeners.
Topics Discussed
Worrying Less and Performance (5:27)
Chris addresses a question about realizing that worrying less can lead to better results. He shares:
- He struggles to think of times when worrying more led to better results
- Worrying can sometimes lead to small increases in performance, but overall results include more than just outcomes
- Finding ease and grace is generally better than worrying your way through things
- He gives an example of over-preparing and worrying too much for an early podcast episode with Robert Greene, which led to underperforming
Chris concludes that worrying typically doesn't help and can lead to poor performance spirals. Finding flow and ease is usually more beneficial.
Using Insecurity as Fuel (7:56)
Responding to a question about using insecurity as fuel, Chris says:
- Insecurity can be powerful for providing activation energy to get started
- It can be useful for moving from a "comfortably numb" state to taking action
- However, using insecurity long-term as fuel can become toxic
- It makes you easy to manipulate, predictable, and overly focused on external validation
- Chris advises using insecurity to get started, but finding other sources of fuel for the long-term
Recent Challenges and Personal Growth (35:38)
Chris opens up about recent challenges he's faced:
- The last 18 months have been one of his most challenging periods
- He's dealt with increased attention, opportunities, and changes in how people perceive him
- The rapid growth of the podcast (10x in 2 years) has led to operational challenges
- He's had to adjust to team growth, new projects, and increased demands
- This period has been an inflection point, reminding him to focus on enjoying the process, not just success at any cost
Chris sees this challenging time as an opportunity for growth and re-centering on what truly matters to him.
Podcast Recording Setup (18:51)
Chris explains his podcast recording setup:
- He records at a standing desk for virtual episodes
- Standing helps him feel more focused and less fidgety
- He recommends trying a standing desk for content creators struggling with focus
Saying No and Managing Opportunities (46:50)
Chris discusses what he's regularly saying no to:
- Calls without defined outcomes
- Exploratory partnerships without clear short-term benefits
- Most guest appearances on other podcasts
- He emphasizes the challenge of saying no to things that would have been exciting opportunities in the past
Chris notes that success often brings an overwhelming number of opportunities, requiring careful prioritization.
Monetization and Podcast Growth (24:45)
Chris shares insights on monetizing his podcast:
- It took until year 4 before the podcast became profitable
- The first 3 years were net negative financially
- Most podcasts start making money around episode 150
- Building a successful podcast often requires a long period of consistent work without financial reward
Celebrating Wins and Enjoying Accomplishments (54:27)
Addressing a question about difficulty celebrating wins, Chris advises:
- Celebrate wins with other people to break the pattern of immediately moving to the next goal
- Use experiences rather than possessions as rewards
- Tell friends you want to work on being more grateful and ask for their help in celebrating
- Remember that the point of accomplishing things is to enjoy them
- Ask yourself "What would this be like if it was more enjoyable?" to find ways to appreciate achievements
Building Back Confidence After Reducing Ego (1:01:51)
Chris responds to a question about feeling passive after reducing ego:
- He relates to this experience, having gone through something similar
- Confidence built around ego isn't true confidence - it's often blind confidence
- Building back genuine confidence takes longer but results in a more solid foundation
- Consider if losing some confidence was a worthwhile trade-off for reducing ego and gaining other positive traits
- Focus on building "undeniable proof" of your capabilities to develop true confidence
Personal Insecurities (1:07:09)
Chris opens up about his own insecurities:
- Wanting to be respected and liked
- Fear of being left out or feeling like an outsider
- Concerns about worthiness and being "good enough"
- Difficulty patting himself on the back for accomplishments
- He notes that increased attention on the podcast can amplify insecurities rather than diminish them
Balancing Wellness and Self-Destruction (1:11:02)
Chris discusses his perspective on wellness culture and occasional self-destruction:
- He feels like he's on a "self-destruction sabbatical" after years of intense partying from 18-30
- Acknowledges that over-optimization and extreme wellness culture can become off-putting
- Recently completed 6 months sober but has since had some drinks
- Believes there's a place for occasional self-destructive behavior, but being unable to ever let go is its own form of fragility
Upcoming Projects and Tours (1:17:28)
Chris shares details on upcoming events and projects:
- Australia tour coming up in November
- New product with Mike Israetel to be released before the end of the year
- Neutronic energy drink restocked and available
- Big guests coming up in August for the podcast
Conclusion
This Q&A episode provides a candid look into Chris Williamson's thoughts, experiences, and upcoming projects as he celebrates reaching 2.25 million YouTube subscribers. He offers insights on personal growth, managing success, and maintaining balance while pursuing ambitious goals. Chris's openness about his own challenges and insecurities creates a relatable connection with listeners, while his practical advice on topics like confidence, celebrating wins, and managing opportunities provides actionable takeaways. The episode showcases the evolution of Modern Wisdom and hints at exciting developments to come for Chris and his audience.