Loading...
September 27, 2024 • 52min
From Navy SEAL To Viral Content Creator - MrBallen’s Insane Story
My First Million
In this episode of My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri interview John Allen and Nick Witters, the minds behind MrBallen and Ballen Studios. John Allen is a former Navy SEAL who transitioned into content creation and storytelling, building a massive following across platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Nick Witters is a fellow veteran who joined as a manager and helped scale the business. The conversation covers John's military experiences, his journey into content creation, building Ballen Studios, and insights into effective storytelling.
From Navy SEAL To Viral Content Creator - MrBallen’s Insane Story
0:00
-0:00
Key Takeaways
- John Allen's near-death experience as a Navy SEAL gave him a profound perspective on life and death, motivating him to pursue challenging goals
- Finding your authentic voice and content niche is crucial for success as a content creator - John found his niche in storytelling after many failed attempts at other content styles
- Having a "North Star" goal or mission helps guide decision making and provides motivation - for John it's making Ballen Studios the premier destination for storytellers
- Fully committing to and "inhabiting" a story is key to powerful storytelling - don't just recite facts, but immerse yourself in the narrative
- Building a strong team and delegating responsibilities allowed John to scale Ballen Studios to over 50 employees and multiple shows
- Content creation can be a meritocracy where creating the right content at the right time can lead to rapid growth and success
- Having a growth mindset and willingness to pivot is important - John transitioned from military to networking events to content creation
Introduction
In this episode of My First Million, Sam Parr and Shaan Puri interview John Allen and Nick Witters, the minds behind MrBallen and Ballen Studios. John Allen is a former Navy SEAL who transitioned into content creation and storytelling, building a massive following across platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Nick Witters is a fellow veteran who joined as a manager and helped scale the business. The conversation covers John's military experiences, his journey into content creation, building Ballen Studios, and insights into effective storytelling.
Topics Discussed
John's Near-Death Experience as a Navy SEAL (0:00)
John recounts a harrowing experience where a grenade landed near him and his team during combat:
- Time seemed to slow down as John watched the grenade approach
- He prepared for death, hoping his face would remain intact for his mother
- The grenade detonated, incapacitating most of the team
- Their medic, Kyle, heroically rescued the team under heavy fire
- John experienced moments of blindness and deafness, feeling certain he was dying
"When I was in this blackness of not seeing and not hearing, I knew absolutely that this is death. Like, absolutely. It was just a matter of fact." - John Allen
Impact of Military Experience on Life Perspective (18:23)
- Heightened appreciation for life and willingness to take on challenges
- Realization that death can come unexpectedly, motivating John to seize opportunities
- Carrying the "matter-of-factness" of dying into decision-making about life and career
"Anytime there's an opportunity, no matter how big, no matter how scary, no matter the opportunity to fail, I do actively think about the fact that, like, bro, you're gonna die, and it's gonna happen, and it's gonna be matter of fact." - John Allen
Transition from Military to Content Creation (22:05)
John describes his journey from leaving the military to founding Elite Meet and eventually becoming a content creator:
- Started Elite Meet as a networking event for veterans transitioning to civilian life
- Pandemic disrupted the event-based model of Elite Meet
- Became fascinated with social media and content creation as a meritocracy
- Experimented with various content styles, facing many failures before finding success
Finding Success on TikTok and YouTube (24:32)
John shares how he stumbled upon his successful content niche:
- Had a document with 50 pages of content ideas, but one standalone idea: Dyatlov Pass
- Created a TikTok video about the Dyatlov Pass incident on a whim
- Video went viral, gaining over 5 million views in hours
- Shifted focus to storytelling content, posting three videos a day for 30 days
- Quickly grew to 7 million TikTok subscribers before transitioning to YouTube
Building Ballen Studios with Nick Witters (29:13)
Nick Witters joined John when he was struggling to manage the growing channel:
- John was overwhelmed, working 100+ hours a week on content
- Nick, a fellow veteran, offered to help manage the business side
- Allowed John to focus on storytelling while Nick scaled the company
- Grew to over 50 employees and multiple shows
"Nick came in when it was me and I think I had an editor and maybe like, a topic finder. And that was, like, overwhelming for me...Nick came in and was like, dude, I'll help you. And he grew the business." - John Allen
Content Creation as a Meritocracy (37:54)
- John saw social media as one of the few places where merit could lead to rapid success
- Creating the right content at the right time can be like winning the lottery
- Viral success provides an opportunity to capitalize and build a career
Motivation and Goals for Ballen Studios (40:44)
John and Nick discuss their motivations and aspirations for the company:
- John is driven by seeking out challenging goals that provide a sense of accomplishment
- Wants Ballen Studios to become the premier destination for storytellers, like the "Boston Red Sox of storytelling"
- Personal goal of owning a piece of the Boston Red Sox
"I want us to be that. I want to be the Boston Red Sox equivalent for storytellers. And so I don't know how we're gonna get there, but I want that level of prestige assigned to Ballen Studios relative to storytellers." - John Allen
Effective Storytelling Techniques (44:00)
John shares his approach to powerful storytelling:
- Fully commit to and "inhabit" the story you're telling
- Don't just recite facts, but immerse yourself in the narrative
- Espousing thoughts and dialogue that may not be explicitly known, but fit the story
- Act out pieces of the story for the audience
"If you're going to tell a story, own the f**king story. Like, enter the story and don't leave until it's done. People that, like, tell you a story, and it sounds like they're just telling something they heard. That's not storytelling. That's just regurgitating something you heard. You want to be a f**king storyteller? Inhabit the story." - John Allen
Building a Strong Team and Delegating (1:37:00)
- John emphasizes the importance of Nick's role in scaling the business
- Delegating responsibilities allowed John to focus on his strengths in storytelling
- Having a complementary partnership has been crucial to their success
Content Creation Metrics and Growth (1:43:46)
Nick provides an overview of Ballen Studios' reach:
- 9+ million subscribers on YouTube
- 8+ million followers on TikTok
- 3.5 million on Facebook
- Podcast generating 8-figure monthly downloads
- Total fan base of about 25 million across platforms
Conclusion
John Allen's journey from Navy SEAL to successful content creator and founder of Ballen Studios is a testament to the power of perseverance, authenticity, and effective storytelling. By finding his unique voice in storytelling mysterious and dark tales, John was able to build a massive following and scale his business with the help of Nick Witters. Their success highlights the potential of content creation as a meritocracy, where creating the right content at the right time can lead to rapid growth.
The conversation provides valuable insights for aspiring content creators and entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of finding one's authentic niche, fully committing to one's craft, and building a strong team to scale. John's approach to storytelling - fully inhabiting the narrative - offers a powerful technique for anyone looking to improve their communication and storytelling skills.
Ultimately, the episode underscores the value of having a clear "North Star" goal or mission to guide decision-making and provide motivation. For John and Ballen Studios, this means becoming the premier destination for storytellers, while also pursuing personal aspirations like owning a piece of the Boston Red Sox. Their story serves as an inspiration for those looking to turn their passions and skills into successful businesses in the digital age.
