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Casey Neistat (The Untold Story): "I was a homeless dad at 15 & had $200k debt!"...The Crazy Story Of How I Became The World's No.1 Video Creator!

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Sun Dec 10 2023



Casey Neistat's Childhood and Early Years:

  • Casey had a childhood with little supervision, allowing for exploration and independence from a young age.
  • His parents' divorce at a tumultuous time in the family left lasting impressions on him, shaping his character and resilience.

Casey Neistat's Journey to New York City:

  • At 15, after an altercation with his mother, he left home and moved in with friends before becoming a father at 17.
  • Despite facing financial hardships and having no formal education or resources, he made the bold decision to move to New York City without a clear plan.

The Privilege of Mindset and Taking Action:

  • Reflecting on his past decisions, Neistat emphasizes that individuals have unique desires and motivations, suggesting that not everyone is inclined to pursue extraordinary goals.
  • He highlights the importance of genuine desire, asserting that inspirational content can only motivate those who already possess the internal drive to act.

Challenges Faced by Young Parents:

  • Neistat shares how naivety and fearlessness characterized his approach as a young parent when faced with daunting challenges.
  • He acknowledges the contrast between his past audacity and current apprehension about protecting what he has achieved.

Financial Hardships and Naivety in Decision Making:

  • Neistat discusses facing financial struggles as a young parent while working long hours for minimal pay.
  • He reflects on his younger self's fearless decision-making process which was driven by naivety but also led to significant life changes.

Success and Happiness:

  • Success does not necessarily equate to happiness, as evidenced by the struggles of famous individuals like rock stars and actors.
  • True happiness and fulfillment can be found in a simple, contented life with strong relationships and meaningful experiences.

Overcoming Fear of Failure:

  • Embracing failure is essential for growth and success, as it provides valuable lessons and opportunities for improvement.
  • Persistence through failure is crucial, as demonstrated by the story of Anvil's relentless pursuit despite years of setbacks before achieving success.

The Importance of Patience:

  • Patience is a key factor in achieving long-term success, often overlooked due to its unglamorous nature compared to persistence.
  • The willingness to endure failure and persist over an extended period is necessary for ultimate success or personal satisfaction.

Motivation and Originality:

  • A lack of formal education forced the speaker to find their own style, leading to originality in their work.
  • Being drawn to video creation stemmed from a desire for self-expression when feeling unheard in other aspects of life.

Impact of Aspirational Models:

  • The phenomenon of emulating successful individuals on platforms like YouTube can lead to a race for views without genuine passion or purpose.
  • Truth matters more than views because authenticity in one's pursuits leads to personal fulfillment rather than simply chasing external measures of success.

Success and Artistic Integrity:

  • The speaker highlights the lack of correlation between commercially successful movies and those considered culturally significant, emphasizing that impactful films are often different from those with high commercial success.
  • Emphasizes the importance of creating work that matters rather than seeking popularity or financial gain, focusing on producing content that deeply impacts individuals.

Influence of Mr. Beast:

  • Acknowledges Mr. Beast as a pioneer in YouTube's history and entertainment due to his massive reach and impact, considering him one of the most important people in the history of entertainment.
  • Recognizes Mr. Beast's empire-building approach, respecting his honesty in pursuing this goal.

Advice for Aspiring YouTubers:

  • Encourages children to pursue creative endeavors based on personal passion rather than external validation, highlighting the significance of creating meaningful content over seeking fame or surpassing others' achievements.
  • Stresses the importance of guiding aspiring YouTubers towards creating content driven by genuine artistic expression rather than being motivated solely by popularity or comparison with others.

The Speaker's Journey to Success:

  • Despite being unqualified by conventional standards, the speaker pursued various ventures with determination, reflecting on experiences such as fixing a bicycle at a young age instilling a belief in closing the gap between current circumstances and desired outcomes.
  • Shares personal experiences indicating an unorthodox path to success, illustrating instances where qualification was not a limiting factor in pursuing new endeavors.

Casey Neistat's Problem-Solving Approach:

  • Casey recalls a critical situation where he took charge to help find a missing person, demonstrating his proactive problem-solving approach.
  • He emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and quick decision-making in urgent scenarios, highlighting his ability to handle complex situations effectively.

Entrepreneurial Resourcefulness and Resilience:

  • During his early days, Casey repaired his car himself instead of seeking professional services, showcasing his resourcefulness and hands-on approach to problem-solving.
  • Reflecting on the challenges faced during the growth of his tech company, he underscores the impact of naivety and ego in decision-making processes, acknowledging the failures encountered along the entrepreneurial journey.

Post-Business Exit Reflections:

  • Following the sale of his company to CNN, Casey shares insights into the disappointments and complexities that arose post-exit, expressing feelings of letting down those who supported him.
  • He delves into the aftermath of leaving CNN, revealing emotions of exhaustion mixed with relief but tinged with uncertainty about future endeavors.

Impact of Fame and Transition Period:

  • Casey opens up about experiencing a period of darkness following significant achievements, attributing it to feeling lost despite attaining financial security.
  • He details how fame affected him personally and professionally, leading to stress within relationships while also acknowledging its positive impact on exposure for his wife's entrepreneurial ventures.

Personal Growth and Current Mindset:

  • Casey candidly expresses a shift towards contentment but acknowledges that this phase is not sustainable in the long run due to its indulgent nature.

Casey's Creative Process:

  • Casey expresses a strong desire to focus on creating meaningful and diverse YouTube videos, distancing himself from the distractions of viewership metrics and feedback.
  • He acknowledges his procrastination in pursuing this creative endeavor despite having the means to do so.
  • Reflects on privilege as being able to solely pursue personal passion projects without external pressure or expectation.

Advice for Young Creatives:

  • Emphasizes the liberating realization that "nobody cares about you" in a positive light, encouraging creatives to embrace their authentic selves without fixating on others' perceptions.
  • Advocates for staying true to one's creative instincts and not seeking validation, ultimately leading to artistic growth and originality.

Evolution of Vlogging Medium:

  • Discusses the shift in vlogging dynamics from daily sensationalism driven by view counts towards more niche-focused content with engaged audiences.
  • Expresses initial optimism about vlogging as a genuine portrayal of life but notes its corruption by prioritizing views over authenticity.
  • Celebrates the emergence of successful micro creators catering to specific interests, signaling a positive trajectory for vlogging evolution.