Key Moments
Growing A 10+ Million Youtube Following At The Age of 22: Joe Sugg | E172
The Diary Of A CEOKey Moments
Joe Sugg discusses early YouTube success, imposter syndrome, and finding balance.
Key Insights
Early YouTube success brought rapid fame, but also amplified self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
Maintaining authenticity and finding a personal sense of accomplishment is more important than external validation.
Procrastination often stems from psychological discomfort and a fear of not meeting self-imposed high standards.
Success can be a curse if it distorts personal expectations and leads to an over-reliance on external validation.
Finding balance between the digital and real world, and embracing nature, is crucial for mental well-being.
Therapy and open communication with trusted individuals are vital tools for managing anxiety and self-doubt.
EARLY YEARS AND SHIFTING IDENTITY
Joe Sugg began his journey not as a confident performer, but as a timid child transitioning from a small rural school to a larger secondary school. This change, marked by teasing and bullying, led him to develop a self-deprecating humor as a coping mechanism. Despite social shyness, he possessed inner confidence in his academic abilities. His creative inclination, inherited from his parents, initially pointed towards animation, but a hands-on experience with roof thatching revealed a love for tangible, rewarding work, showcasing an early inclination towards practical skills and visible results.
THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD OF INTERNET FAME
The rapid ascent of YouTube fame at a young age brought immense success but also significant psychological challenges. Sugg experienced amplified imposter syndrome and anxiety, feeling that the rapid rise and potential fall were overwhelming. This early success, while rewarding, created a disconnect between his public persona and his internal feelings, making the reality of his achievements feel unreal and leading to self-doubt about his place in the burgeoning online creator space.
NAVIGATING SELF-DOUBT AND PROCRASTINATION
Sugg identifies a constant internal battle between best-case scenario confidence and worst-case scenario self-doubt, which fuels indecision and procrastination. He links procrastination to psychological discomfort, where a fear of failure or not meeting imagined creative outcomes leads to delaying tasks. This often manifests as perfectionism, which he argues can be a misattribution for underlying self-doubt, preventing individuals from starting creative projects due to the fear that the reality won't match the idealized vision.
THE QUEST FOR BALANCE AND AUTHENTICITY
The pressure to constantly chase the 'next big wave' of success in the digital world is something Sugg grapples with, even with his therapist's guidance to appreciate stability and joy in simpler pursuits. He notes how the instant success of early YouTube ventures could create an unhealthy expectation for immediate rewards in all endeavors. This can lead to neglecting activities that bring genuine happiness, like sculpting, in favor of those perceived to offer greater external validation or quicker, albeit less fulfilling, success.
MENTORSHIP AND THE EVOLVING MEDIA LANDSCAPE
Recognizing the potential pitfalls of rapid online fame, Sugg co-founded a management company to mentor young creators. He aims to provide guidance, drawing parallels to a 'Hunger Games' mentor, to help them navigate the mental and professional challenges of sudden success. This initiative stems from his own experiences and his observation of how quickly careers can rise and fall, emphasizing the need for support systems and realistic expectations in the ever-changing media environment.
THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON MENTAL HEALTH
Sugg openly discusses the significant mental health toll that social media can take, citing a period of burnout and anxiety around 2016-17 due to juggling multiple channels and projects. He found solace in nature, gardening, and reconnecting with the real world, which inspired his book 'Grow.' This emphasis on balance and disconnecting from the digital whirlwind is presented not as a rejection of social media, but as a strategy for mental well-being, acknowledging its benefits while advocating for mindful usage.
THERAPY, ANXIETY, AND THE PEOPLE-PLEASER'S PREDICAMENT
Sugg shares his journey with anxiety and therapy, influenced by his sister's experiences. Therapy has helped him identify himself as a people-pleaser, terrified of causing offense or upsetting others. He is learning to manage this by acknowledging his anxieties and exploring the root causes of his fear of negative judgment. Techniques like de-catastrophizing and breaking down overwhelming situations into smaller, manageable parts are proving effective in reducing anxiety.
RELATIONSHIPS FORGED UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY
His relationship with Diane, met on 'Strictly Come Dancing,' is discussed with a sense of serendipity. The intense environment of the show, while stressful, allowed them to see each other's best and worst qualities, forging a strong bond. The public attention and being followed by paparazzi created a jarring and unfamiliar experience for Sugg, highlighting the personal cost of public relationships and the challenges of maintaining privacy in the digital age. Despite initial anxieties about public perception, the support and unique circumstances of their meeting proved beneficial for him.
DEFINING SUCCESS BEYOND NUMBERS
Sugg reflects on the difficulty of self-definition in a career built on constant evolution and creative exploration. He finds it challenging to pigeonhole himself, preferring to identify simply as a 'creative person.' This aligns with his evolving perspective on success, shifting from external metrics like subscriber counts to a more internal sense of accomplishment and genuine happiness derived from pursuing activities that are intrinsically rewarding, such as gardening or art.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Products
●Software & Apps
●Books
●People Referenced
Common Questions
Joe started as a loud, then timid, and shy child. He was creative, enjoyed drawing, and came from a creative family. Transitioning from a small rural primary school to a larger secondary school significantly impacted his confidence, where he first encountered teasing.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Played during a car chase with paparazzi, adding a dramatic and surreal element to the experience.
Mentioned as a franchise event that Joe Sugg and his YouTube friends attended early in their careers. While not a big fan, Joe recalls the positive memory associated with the gathering.
Joe Sugg's sister, who encouraged him to start YouTube and was a pioneer in their early creative endeavors. She has also had a successful online career.
Joe Sugg's girlfriend, whom he met on Strictly Come Dancing. They discuss their relationship, the challenges of public scrutiny, and how the show facilitated their connection.
The guest on the podcast, who discusses his journey from starting YouTube at a young age to becoming a successful influencer. He talks about his early life, creative aspirations, struggles with self-doubt and anxiety, career changes, and personal relationships.
Joe Sugg was flown to Los Angeles to interview Simon Cowell early in his YouTube career, a surreal experience that highlighted the rapid ascent and potential for imposter syndrome.
A fellow YouTuber and collaborator with Joe Sugg. Together, they started a management company to mentor young influencers.
Author of a book on distraction and procrastination, whose insights Joe Sugg found helpful in understanding psychological discomfort related to tasks.
Joe Sugg's sister Zoe's partner, who was part of the early YouTube UK cohort and encouraged Joe. Mentioned in the context of early YouTube success and collaborations.
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