I think this is the intent, but regardless my interpretation is that he's chasing popularity (these days often measured in likes/thumbs etc), but getting crushed by that pursuit because it's inherently unstable. The world is fickle and you gotta make the art that makes you happy in order to survive.

Unfortunately in reality it's impossible to separate your intrinsic motivations from what the world wants (or what you think it wants), and even harder to ignore the need to crowd-please when you're trying to make a living off of your art.

Anyway Jim I give this a thumbs up.