How 43 Dislikes Earned Me $24.24 Of Passive Income On YouTube?

I posted my first and probably my worst YouTube video on 14th Feb 2016 that is on Valentine's Day last year. It had nothing to do with Valentine's Day.

Here is that video...

As of today, 3/25/2017, this video has over 38,689 views, that is, some 65,468 minutes of watch time, 98 Likes and 23 Dislikes resulting in $13.69 of revenue. If you do the math you would know that it took around 2800 views to earn $1. So if this video gets 2800 per day then it can generate $1 per day, that is, around Rs. 65 per day, equivalent to Rs. 1950/- per month. Wow, that is a good amount considering that it has 23 dislikes and rightly so because I consider it as my worst video till date. 

Now, let us just imagine if I have 10 such videos. The revenue generated would be 10 times, that is $10 per day or $300 per month. In India it would be Rs. 19,500/- per month. This is a great amount of money.

But the fact of the matter is that my video didn't get 38K views at the rate of 2800 views per day. The rate was a lot slower, it was somewhere around 100 views per day. So the math done above is valid but the rate at which the revenue is generated depends a lot on the rate at which the video is being watched. Of course search engine optimization and promotion on social media makes a lot of difference.

One more fact is that not every video that we prepare may get even 100 views per day, some of the videos don't get any views at all and some may just get 10 or 15 or 100 views in their entire lifetime. Such videos don't generate any revenue. 

So what should be done? 

Simple solution is to prepare 10x videos, that is, prepare 10 times more videos than what you think you need to achieve around 3000 views per day. Rough calculation goes like this, 1 video gets 100 views per day then you need 30 videos to get 3000 views per day. But in order to create those 30 successful videos you may need to actually create 10 times more videos, that is, total 300 videos. Wohoooooo, creating 300 videos is a lot of work. Isn't it? Indeed, it is a lot of work but remember it is just one time effort, if you are able to do it once then the same video gets you continuous revenue for your lifetime. This is a great example of passive income generation.

Before I leave, here are some of my successful videos along with some statistics of how they have performed.

Coconut Shell Toy, created at home, best out of waste: 38179 views, 44709 minutes watch time, 103 Likes and 12 Dislikes. $6.95 and counting.

Eggless Condensed Milk Cake Recipe, 5170 views, 11293 minutes of watch time 19 Likes and 4 Dislikes. $2.20 and counting.

I hope by now you have realized that it is NOT just the number of view counts that generates the revenue, what also matters is the watch time or the number of minutes your video has been watched. The geographical region from where it is being watched also matters a lot. So if in my example I had to get roughly 2800 views to earn $1 then it may not be true for others, some people make the same amount in comparatively lesser number of views and few others may even take a lot more than 2800. The data shared above is just my example for your reference purpose, there is no guarantee that it would work for you in the same exact way that it worked for me.

This directly relates to the quality of the content in the video. If your content is good there is no looking back.

Oh but wait, I didn't tell you yet how the revenue is generated? It is pretty simple, you generate the revenue by signing up for the Google Adsense Program. Through this program you allow Google to show advertisements on your YouTube videos and in return Google pays you a certain share of the revenue gathered from the advertisers. Google has an eligibility criteria and specific guidelines for registering publishers on its Adsense program. You may want to visit Google Adsense website to learn more. 

There are many more ways to generate revenue by creating video content. One such example is  Lorecart - LEARN EVERYTHING ONLINE, this platform provides you the ability to upload your own videos and sell them online.

To summarize, it doesn't matter whether you are a chef or a mechanic or a teacher or a home maker or a beautician or a techie or a management professional. Opportunity is equal for all of us. If you are ready to put that little extra effort then you can make the most of Video sharing technology and The Internet sitting at your home.

I hope you find this helpful, if you have any queries, feel free to post a comment and I shall respond with details.

Read This If You Are 35 or 40 And Want To Reinvent Yourself

Bob was turning 35 this Sunday, his hair started to grow grey and he was not as fit as he used to be in his prime. He was bored with his regular work routine and worried about the fact that his career was not going anywhere. On a lazy Saturday morning his friend James asked him to join for a workshop on Public Speaking. Bob was in no mood to do any work on a Saturday morning but when James insisted Bob joined him reluctantly.

At the workshop, Bob was astounded to see very energetic and passionate speakers who had worked very hard to prepare and deliver their speeches. These speakers came from all walks to life: Engineering, Education, Technology, Law and Business etc. In his mind Bob started to compare himself with these folks. He started to feel a bit inferior because he was almost equivalent to them professionally but he was nowhere close to them when it came to public speaking. These folks were just outstanding.

For two days, Bob couldn't sleep peacefully, the thought of being inferior was lingering in his mind. He finally decided to do what he always does when he confused, that is, he called me up. We met the very next day, he narrated all the details and shared his state of mind. It didn't take me a lot of time to understand his mental state because we are good friends since childhood. After listening to him I realized that he was going through pre mid-life crisis. He was showing the signs of anxiety and stress. He was comparing himself with others and feeling frustrated. I told him that he was overthinking the entire thing and he needed to reinvent himself.

He exclaimed 'Are you kidding me? I am just 35 years old and doing well in my profession. What do you mean by reinvent?'

I replied ' Take a deep breath, relax! Don't get worked up. I am not asking you to leave your day job. All I am asking you to do is to Act outside the box'. Below is the excerpt of what I told Bob that day:

Confront your weaknesses and fears

Ask yourself what are you scared of? Make a list of all such things that you don't do because of fear of failure or because you think that it is your weakness. For example, it may be public speaking, making new friends, learning new technology etc. List these things down and then give yourself a challenge that you will learn and master these things one by one. Set a timeline for yourself and get started immediately.

Find out your biggest competitor and beat them

No matter what you do, you will always have competitors, find out who is your biggest competitor and challenge yourself to beat them. Set a timeline and create a plan of action. The competition may be at your workplace or in your friend circle or in your business. Give yourself a pat on your back and go for the kill and don't stop until you win.

Ask your spouse or girlfriend/ boyfriend this question

What do you think I am not good at? Or What do you think is impossible for me to achieve? Listen to whatever they say very carefully. Make a note of it, post that note in your bedroom and at your workplace. Promise yourself that from today you will not stop until you have reached your goal and proved yourself right. Take this as a challenge from your near and dear ones and go for the impossible.

The pre mid-life crisis hits you without any warning. When you are around 35 to 40 years of age you are generally content/ satisfied/ relaxed with whatever you have achieved in your professional career. Your work seems to be pulling all the energy out of you and it appears that there is no thrill left in life. During this time it is very easy to get depressed and demotivated like my friend Bob. To turn things around one really needs to give oneself a kick. Reinventing the lost charm is not easy but by taking up some uphill challenges one can recharge and re-energize the passion.

Give yourself that challenge today, confront your weakness and fears, challenge your competitors and dare to ask your spouse...What do you think I am not good at? 

Go for it.

My Boss Changes The Subject As Soon As I Mention The Term - Career Path, What Should I Do?

Success is failure turned inside out. If you're afraid to fail, you'll never succeed.

- Dorothy Herman

Timothy was feeling as if he was in a silver cage. The office appeared to be so nice. The environment and culture was great but somehow Tim felt his wings were cut short. He had been working with this company for 11 years and while he loved everything he did at work he wasn't sure if it was right for him to hang around anymore.

Have you ever been in the same situation as Tim? Have you ever felt unsure of your job? Have you ever got worried about the future prospects? If answer to any of these questions is yes, read on...

In this article we will share some signs that will help you know whether your boss or company takes you seriously, whether they value your work and if they have any future plan for your career growth.

Sign#1 - Ask your boss or the HR manager about your Career Path and note their response. Does the HR manager or your boss change the topic as soon as you mention the term 'Career Path'? If they do not provide a definitive answer and clear direction then it is a clear sign that you are not being considered for a bigger role.

Sign#2 - Look for internal job postings in your own company and express your interest when you see one. Does your boss allow you to apply for an IJP? Does the HR approve? And when you apply for these IJP's are you able to get through the selection process? If you are not able to get through due to any of the reasons given above then it's a sign that you are stuck at your current role.

Sign#3 - Has your boss helped you plan a backup who can take up your role when required? If your boss always gives you some reason or another for not creating a backup then it means that your boss is not confident that you are ready to take up a bigger role. It is a clear sign that you will not be able to grow.

Sign#4 - You receive a salary hike once in a year but other than that you do not receive any recognition or appreciation of your work. This is a clear indicator that your organization does NOT value your work enough. It is also a sign that you may need to move on.

Sign #5 - You put additional or extended hours at work to meet the tight deadlines but the organization doesn't respond in the same gesture. You don't get enough flexibility and opportunities to learn, reskill, upskill are limited. This may be an indicator that the company doesn't have any plans for your growth as a professional.

It is also important to note if your boss gives you enough time on a day to day basis. You should also note if your boss has too many direct reportees and whether he/ she provides you get enough attention. If your boss is not spending enough time with you then it may mean that either he is very confident of your performance or he may not consider you important enough to spend time on you. This is where the five signs mentioned above may help you decide whether it's time to hang on or let go. When you note that these signs are becoming a reality then you need to take some necessary steps which will help you move on. Here are some of those key steps...

Step#1 - Check your market value by floating your CV and do appear for some interviews.

Step#2 - Build your professional connections outside your company. Use Linkedin, Payscale, Glassdoor etc.

Step#3 - Research and read the latest industry, business and technology trends. Follow Gartner, Mckinsey and other leading research companies.

Step#4 - After you see the response from the first few interviews, take a pause, draw a strategy, prepare well and then hunt for a better career option aggressively.

Once you receive an offer letter from the prospective new employer make sure that you research enough about your new employer. Ask the right questions to the new boss and the HR about your career growth and the growth and vision of the company in general. After all it's not just a job change, for you it is a big change that will define your career path. Be careful. All the best.

Your Decision To Pick A Chair In A Meeting Speaks A Lot About Your Character And Self Image

At a public gathering...Do you take a seat at the back because you are scared that the speaker may ask you questions? or is it because sitting at back is helpful in quiting the meeting if required? Consider this scenario...

Your boss forwarded a meeting invite to you. Meeting is with the CXOs or senior leadership team. Your boss explains the agenda to you and informs you that you may have to present or talk about one or two key supporting points. On the day of the meeting when you enter the meeting room you see a center table with few chairs at the table and then you see another set of chairs kept adjacent to the wall. Few chairs on the center table are already occupied and few are vacant, you look around the room to see if your boss is around? He isn't. As people start to step in the room you get under pressure to pick a seat. What would you do? Where would you sit? Will you pick a seat at the center table or will you play safe and pick a chair adjacent to the wall?
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Your decision to pick a chair in the above scenario tells a lot about your character and your self image. It reveals a lot about your behavior and the way you deal with tricky situations. More than anything else it tells whether you believe in being a spectator or whether you really push yourself to be a participant each and every time you attend a gathering of people (meetings, seminars, town-halls, workshops etc.).

Here are few more scenarios...

1. Your manager calls for a team meeting. You enter the room and see that most of the seats are vacant. Where do you sit? Do you occupy the seats in the last row or do you go and sit in the front row?

2. You are attending an award function to support your friend or family member. Do you leave the function as soon as the award for your friend or family member is announced or do you attend the event till the time last award is announced?

3. One of your friend invites you as a guest to attend a toastmasters meeting. When you attend the meeting you get an opportunity to speak at the table topics event. What would you do? Would you take the opportunity to speak or let it go because you think you are not prepared and wonder what would people think of you?

4. Your department head is giving a speech about how the organization will progress in the next 2 years. Once the speech is over he opens the forum for the audience to ask questions. What would you do? Would you ask your query? or Would you look for someone else to ask the question on your behalf?

Developing a front bench or front row attitude requires lot of practice and focus. Here is my suggestion: Whenever you attend a gathering ask yourself: Are you only a spectator or is there a way you can become a participant and make a mark in the event or gathering? Here are some tips that may help you become better at making your mark as a good participant...

1. Always carry a notepad and a pen when attending any public meetings. This will help you in taking notes of the key point discussed.

2. Always ask for the meeting agenda and the list of attendees in advance.

3. Make sure you reach at the venue 5 to 10 minutes prior to the meeting start time.

4. Knowing the meeting agenda and the list of participants in advance should help you prepare some questions that you may ask in the question and answer session.

5. Avoid arguing with the speakers during a public meeting. There is always an option to connect offline if you don't get a suitable answer.

6. Always pick a seat in the front or the second row from the front. Make sure you don't occupy a seat which is marked as reserved for other guests. Avoid siting towards the end of the hall.

In general, the point I am trying to make is that with a little bit of presence of mind and preparation you can elevate your status from being a spectator to being a good participant. Your attitude to make things happen matters a lot. This reflects in a lot of small things that you do on a day to day basis. Developing a habit of making your presence felt is a key attribute of successful people. You don't always need to take the center stage or be in the limelight but if you are smart you can make your presence felt in a small but effective way, which is equally important. At last remember that just talent may not be enough for you to succeed. Never under estimate the power of doing small things. God is in the details.

Bonus: If you are interested in getting better at setting goals you may want to read this recommended book for setting high goals...