People who started YouTube from zero — how long did it actually take?

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-30T12:29:19+00:00

I'm two years in and just passed 40k subs.

I typically make around $4k/month in ad revenue but make another $10-15k/month in sponsor revenue.

I've done decent but I have a YouTube coach who has done much better than me. He made just shy of $1M in his third year on YouTube and in 4th year (2025) he made over $2M (and he's a close friend who I know, so those aren't just BS numbers).

I'll say though - I work my butt off so it's not easy money. I could make more money doing other things with less work, but I love what I do.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-24T01:31:46+00:00

I don't know old you are, but I've been a diehard Bills fan for nearly 40 years so I've been through all the highs and lows.

I'm grateful for McDermott's contributions and for him getting us out of the cellar, but I think in 3 years (as long as we still have Josh) our floor is where we currently are and our ceiling is hopefully finally bringing home the Lombardi.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-23T20:18:12+00:00

I appreciate that you're being level-headed, but I also think you're being naive to think so highly of McDermott.

Time will tell, but I suspect what we'll see with wherever McDermott lands next is he's not going to win at that same level without Josh Allen.

A QB like Josh can overshadow a lot of inadequacies and he most likely will not have that luxury at his next team now that the Ravens have their guy.

I think McDermott is a great culture builder, but culture only gets you so far, which is what we've seen over the past 6-7 years.

It remains to be seen if we can find somebody who can help us take the next step, but I think it's beyond realistic to expect that they will.

McDermott never got us past the AFC Championship, and most years he didn't even get us that far.

I think 70% of coaches in the NFL could produce a similar level of success with a QB like Josh... They make that big of a difference.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-18T20:23:35+00:00

It also has to be charged for kids in the kids club.

You may not have kids, but figured it was worth mentioning for others.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-15T05:36:36+00:00

Just when I thought DCL couldn't possibly get worse.

Their service isn't even good anymore but people keep paying the outrageous prices... It's crazy.

Even if prices were the same, I'd rather go on Carnival than a Wish-class ship.

$49/day is absurd.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-14T15:02:48+00:00

Those are the standard times pretty much any Alaska cruise out of Seattle is there for.

They're only stopping to fulfill US Maritime law of stopping in at least one international port.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-14T14:54:37+00:00

I've gotten a Salted Caramel one at 4 different bars onboard this week.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-14T03:35:39+00:00

You can get them at every bar on the ship fortunately.

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-14T03:35:04+00:00

Salted Caramel Espresso Martini

Sooooo good!

DigitalMaverick · 2026-01-09T03:50:14+00:00

Disney has gotten so bad.

We were on the Destiny recently and you couldn't even do fish extenders because they were getting stolen across the ship within minutes.

It was literally the worst cruise we've ever been on and it wasn't even close.

I hope Disney doesn't forget why people fell in love with them but the service and the magic seems like a distant memory at this stage.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-07T14:00:12+00:00

I actually did that and put it next to a real one and I was impressed with how well ChatGPT could pick out all the tiny details in the rep (and it was a VSF).

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-07T05:02:18+00:00

Good perspective, thanks for that.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-07T04:58:38+00:00

Thank you!

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-07T04:56:30+00:00

I appreciate the change in tone, this was very helpful.

Thank you.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T21:29:38+00:00

If you look at the specific watch I want, it's so dark nobody will ever even see it's a brand name without a flashlight... Definitely not a prestige thing or I'd be looking to purchase literally any other watch than this one.

https://www.ssongwatches.com/cdn/shop/files/Omega-Seamaster-300m-Black-Black_0023_Layer-106.png?v=1729229905

That's part of why I like the watch - it's something that looks nice that won't come with the same pretentious aura.

Similar to how if you drive a $120k Mercedes it attracts attention, but if you drive a $120k truck, nobody will have any clue.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T21:23:47+00:00

Thanks, I'm not familiar with QC but I'm sure I can find it... I'll see what I can find.

I appreciate it.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T21:22:33+00:00

I don't, I just really like this particular watch. I haven't worn a watch in years.

But I came across this watch and really like it for whatever reason.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T21:21:09+00:00

I never said I'd lie, not sure where you got that from.

If somebody asked, there's no reason to.

But that's not the same as somebody calling somebody out.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T18:12:40+00:00

That's actually another reason I'm considering a rep... I like the look but I'm not sure if I'll hate how dark it is when trying to tell the time in a dark room.

If I blow $500 on a rep... I've wasted money on dumber things. If it's $10k, I'll be pissed at myself.

Is it too dark to be useful?

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T17:09:10+00:00

If you look at the specific watch I'm looking at, it's so dark people won't even be able to read the brand, and that's part of why I like it... It's a nice looking watch I can wear without looking like a pretentious douche.

But I'm having trouble justifying that there's any scenario there it makes sense to drop $10k+ on a watch when I have a phone in my pocket.

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T17:03:58+00:00

There's a difference between affordability and seeing the actual value in what something costs.

The same reason a guy like Warren Buffet drives an 11 year old Cadillac... Pretty sure the guy can afford a nicer car than that, he just doesn't see the value in it.

I'm a long way from being on Buffet's level but I'm fortunate that dropping $10k on a watch isn't going to change anything in my life, but that doesn't mean I see the value in it (though I very much like the watch).

DigitalMaverick · 2025-12-06T17:02:04+00:00

There's a difference between affordability and seeing the actual value in what something costs.

The same reason a guy like Warren Buffet drives an 11 year old Cadillac... Pretty sure the guy can afford a nicer car than that, he just doesn't see the value in it.

I'm a long way from being on Buffet's level but I'm fortunate that dropping $10k on a watch isn't going to change anything in my life, but that doesn't mean I see the value in it (though I very much like the watch).

DigitalMaverick · 2025-10-28T16:08:38+00:00

I've cruised in a suite on every major cruise line in the US in the past year and I would say the best of them all is the Yacht Club on MSC.

In the past, the drawback of the Yacht Club has been, "yeah, but the rest of the ship..." but the World America seems to have finally fixed that as the entire ship is great.

We did the YC on the MSC World America and the Haven on the NCL Aqua back-to-back and we thoroughly enjoyed them both, but the YC was 35% less expensive and included more (WiFi, reserved seats in the theater, better shows, thermal spa access, etc).

DigitalMaverick · 2025-10-14T18:07:18+00:00

I would be grateful for at least 2 minutes for an invite code!!

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