What was Jarvis Johnson's path into software engineering?

He first tried learning C++ but found it difficult. He later found success with TI-BASIC on a TI-84 calculator, which led him to pursue computer science at Georgia Tech for his undergraduate degree.

Why did Jarvis Johnson move to California for his tech career?

During career fairs at Georgia Tech, he noticed major tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft recruiting. An internship at Google as a sophomore solidified his desire to work in the industry and move to California after graduation.

What advice does Jarvis Johnson give about internships and job interviews?

He advises against sticking with the same company for multiple internships, advocating for trying diverse companies to find what you like. He also emphasizes that failing an interview isn't necessarily a final failure, as opportunities can arise later.

Why did Jarvis Johnson leave Yelp to work at Patreon?

While his growth at Yelp was slowing, an opportunity arose at Patreon. His familiarity with Patreon as a YouTuber and his proximity to the YouTube platform inspired him to make the career change.

What are the key differences between working at a big tech company versus a startup?

Jarvis suggests that big companies offer financial safety and teach good habits and patterns, which may be more beneficial early on than the potentially riskier and less financially stable environment of a startup.

What motivated Jarvis Johnson to transition from an Individual Contributor engineer to a manager?

He enjoyed problem-solving and creating but recognized other ways to contribute using his full skillset. Inspired by a good manager at Yelp and his own experience as a Teaching Assistant, he wanted to explore leadership and career development.

How did Jarvis Johnson decide to go full-time on YouTube?

After a period of juggling his management job and growing YouTube channel, he realized he couldn't sustain both. Encouraged by Patreon's CEO, Jack Conte, he made the 'clean break' to fully commit to YouTube growth.

How does Jarvis Johnson balance making content he wants to make with audience feedback?

He uses audience polls and social media questions as data points but emphasizes that people often don't know exactly what they want. He stresses the importance of maintaining a creator vision while staying aware of audience reception.

What lessons has Jarvis Johnson learned about content creation and audience expectations?

He discovered that audience reception isn't always correlated with the effort put in. Tech videos, which he thought of as tentpoles, resonated strongly, indicating a clear value proposition that viewers expected from his channel.

Are content creators responsible for their audiences?

Yes, Jarvis believes creators have significant responsibility due to their influence and platform. While not solely responsible for individuals' actions, they should actively call out harmful behavior and be mindful of the products and behaviors they promote.

How can content creation benefit a career in the tech industry?

Content creation helps develop problem-solving skills applicable across mediums and builds a personal brand. Teaching complex tech topics to an audience also improves one's own understanding and communication abilities.

What are Jarvis Johnson's predictions for the future of YouTube and content creation?

He anticipates TikTok will spawn more traditional creators, hopes YouTube becomes more supportive with stable monetization, and expects traditional media and YouTube to continue blurring lines, with creators investing more in platforms.

Key Moments

Software Engineer Turned Youtuber - Jarvis Johnson

Y Combinator

Science & Technology5 min read65 min video

May 1, 2019|24,066 views|617|36

YC Y Combinator Jarvis Johnson Jarvis Youtuber Software Software engineer Patreon Yelp Google Podcast Interview

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Jarvis Johnson, a former software engineer, discusses his transition to YouTube, his comedic critique of the tech industry, and navigating content creation.

Key Insights

Transitioning from a software engineering career to full-time YouTube creation required overcoming risk aversion and committing to a clean break.

Comedy and criticism can be powerful tools to engage audiences and highlight overlooked aspects of an industry, even from within it.

Navigating audience feedback involves balancing user desires with a creator's vision to avoid merely optimizing for local maximums.

The tech industry, while rewarding, is often over-glorified, prompting a need for critical perspectives that resonate with both insiders and outsiders.

Content creation for tech can benefit a career by improving problem-solving skills and building a personal brand, but creators have agency over its relation to their professional life.

Improv comedy teaches valuable lessons in teamwork, supportive dynamics, and stepping out of one's comfort zone, applicable to management and collaborative environments.

Creators hold responsibility for their audience's perception and the potential impact of their content, necessitating thoughtful consideration of what is promoted and how.

THE DUALITY OF A SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND YOUTUBER

Jarvis Johnson initially gained traction with software-related videos, a surprising turn for someone who was also a software engineer. He found success by humorously critiquing the technical interview process within the software industry. This created an interesting dynamic of being both a beneficiary and a critic of the tech world, a line he navigated by acknowledging the industry's popularity and the lack of public discussion around its less-talked-about aspects. His comedy often stems from connecting with existing audience sentiments and observations.

EARLY ENGINEERING AND THE PATH TO TECH

Johnson's introduction to programming began with TI-Basic on a TI-84 calculator, a more accessible entry point than his earlier failed attempt at learning C++. This led him to pursue computer science at Georgia Tech, where he found a supportive community that nurtured his growing interest. The allure of big tech companies like Google became apparent during college career fairs, presenting a 'game' where success was measured by landing internships. His internship at Google during his sophomore year solidified his desire to work in the industry.

NAVIGATING CAREER CHOICES: GOOGLE, YELP, AND PATREON

After Google, Johnson interned at Yelp, opting for a new experience over returning to a familiar company. He valued exploring different company cultures and operational styles, believing it offers broader experience than repeated internships. His decision to return to Yelp full-time was influenced by strong mentorship. Later, an opportunity at Patreon, a platform he was familiar with through YouTubers Hank and John Green, inspired a career shift. This move was driven by the proximity to the YouTube ecosystem and his increasing confidence in his technical skills, allowing him to consider smaller, more specialized companies.

THE TRANSITION TO MANAGEMENT AND CREATIVE PURSUITS

Johnson also explored a management role, combining his technical background with an enjoyment of problem-solving, people interaction, and career development. He recognized this as a rare combination of skills, further inspired by a positive management experience at Yelp. This transition allowed him to work on his business rather than just in it, a concept familiar to entrepreneurs. He eventually left the tech industry to focus on YouTube, a move that required overcoming his risk-averse nature and committing to a clear break, realizing that juggling two demanding roles was unsustainable.

MAKING THE LEAP TO FULL-TIME YOUTUBE

The decision to go full-time on YouTube wasn't driven by a specific monetary threshold but by the need to fully commit and grow. Juggling his tech job and YouTube creation was exhausting, prompting him to seek a healthier balance. A rapid, unexpected surge in his YouTube subscriber count created an opportunity he felt compelled to seize. Discussions with Patreon CEO Jack Conte helped him assess his progress and feel more at ease about the decision. He eventually made a clean break after ensuring he had sufficient savings to support himself, realizing the entrepreneurial parallels with creators seizing market opportunities.

BALANCING AUDIENCE FEEDBACK AND CREATIVE VISION

Johnson approaches audience feedback by considering it a vital data point, but not the sole determinant of content. He uses polls and social media interactions to gauge audience sentiment, but emphasizes understanding the underlying problems users express rather than literal requests. He believes in maintaining a clear vision for his channel, akin to product development, where simply iterating based on user feedback can lead to local maximums without achieving a true product vision. Listening to the audience is crucial to maintaining connection and relevance, preventing creators from becoming out of touch or solely driven by ego.

CONTENT STRATEGY AND THE EVOLUTION OF HIS CHANNEL

Initially, tech videos provided consistent traction, serving as 'tentpoles' for other content. However, Johnson discovered that his audience's value perception was strongly tied to his tech commentary, impacting click-through rates for non-tech content. He learned that high effort doesn't necessarily equate to audience reception and that he had a skewed sense of his own work's value. While he still creates tech videos, his channel has diversified, requiring stronger hypotheses about audience conversion across different styles. He notes that his audience's perception of his channel as 'tech' persisted even when tech videos were not the majority.

CREATOR RESPONSIBILITY AND INDUSTRY PREDICTIONS

Content creators bear significant responsibility for their audiences, especially those with large platforms. Johnson stresses the importance of thoughtful consideration regarding promotions, message delivery, and potential negative impacts, advocating for well-reasoned criticism over harassment. He sees parallels between content creation and software development in problem-solving and execution. Looking ahead, he anticipates TikTok influencing traditional creators and hopes for a more supportive YouTube ecosystem, less dominated by gatekeepers and more avenues for aspiring creators. He expresses concern about 'content farms' diluting the platform with less original or soulful content.

THE LESSONS OF IMPROV AND FUTURE OF CONTENT

Johnson highly recommends improv classes, highlighting their benefits for teamwork, setting up teammates for success (applicable to management), and fostering acceptance by stepping outside one's comfort zone. He believes improv creates a safe space for expression. For the future of content creation, he predicts TikTok will produce more traditional creators and hopes for a more stable and creator-friendly YouTube. He's concerned about the influence of those with unlimited resources on the platform and the potential for success to be 'bought' rather than earned through genuine creativity. He values creators who invest in the platform itself rather than just replicating existing successes.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Products

●Software & Apps

●Companies

●Organizations

●Books

●People Referenced

Key Lessons from Jarvis Johnson's Journey

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Embrace diverse experiences by trying different companies, not just returning to previous internships.

Frame failures as learning opportunities; they might not be objective setbacks.

Consider working for larger, more established companies early in your career for financial stability and learning patterns.

Leverage unique skill combinations (e.g., tech + people skills) for greater contribution.

Delegate and trust others, a crucial lesson from management that transfers to any role.

Use audience feedback as one data point, but maintain your own creative vision.

When creating content, focus on the value proposition for your audience.

Take at least one improv class to improve team dynamics and step out of your comfort zone.

When discussing controversial topics, use well-thought-out criticism instead of harassment.

Avoid This

Don't let your entire life be consumed by one industry (tech job + tech videos).

Don't be afraid to pursue new opportunities (like at Patreon) even if they seem outside your current scope.

Don't let a scarcity mindset dictate career choices, especially regarding interview processes.

Don't assume one failed interview means you can never get a similar job.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking you must do everything yourself; delegate and trust.

Don't solely rely on audience requests to dictate content; maintain your vision.

Don't ignore the potential downsides of building a personal brand, especially for younger creators.

Avoid content farms that exploit original ideas by poorly remaking them.

Common Questions

Jarvis Johnson's initial traction came from making satirical videos about the software industry, particularly technical interviews. His first viral video, which made fun of technical interviews, gained significant views on Facebook.

Topics

Mindset & Self-Improvement Technology & Innovation Creativity & Media Personal Branding Content Strategy Creator Economy Software Engineering Career Transitions Career & Skills Youtube Creation Creator Responsibility

Mentioned in this video

People

Jarvis Johnson

The guest on the podcast, a former software engineer turned YouTube creator.

Casey Neistat

Mentioned in relation to Matt Hackett and Scoop.

John Green

A YouTuber whom Jarvis Johnson followed, instrumental in his awareness of Patreon through his earlier platform, Subbable.

Matt Hackett

Mentioned as someone who follows Jarvis Johnson on Twitter and shared one of his videos.

CGP Grey

Mentioned as an example of a creator whose in-depth essay videos are sometimes poorly remade by content farms.

Will Smith

Mentioned as an example of a traditional media personality who has a presence on YouTube.

Kanye West

Mentioned as an example of someone who might become out of touch by solely relying on ego, compared to balanced listening.

Nathan Albon

Submitted a question about content creator responsibility. He runs the 'stinkums' Twitter account.

Jack Conte

CEO of Patreon, who supported Jarvis Johnson's YouTube aspirations and encouraged him to pursue it full-time.

Marques Brownlee

A YouTuber whose ability to make even mundane topics like paperclips engaging is highlighted as a strength of certain creators.

Hank Green

A YouTuber whom Jarvis Johnson followed, instrumental in his awareness of Patreon through his earlier platform, Subbable.

Products

TI-84

Jarvis Johnson learned to program using the TI-BASIC language on this graphing calculator.

Media

Geek Nights

A podcast that inspired Jarvis Johnson to try learning C++.

5-Minute Crafts

A channel mentioned as an example of content that Jarvis Johnson made a video about, but which didn't resonate with his audience as expected.

Companies

Yelp

Jarvis Johnson interned at Yelp and later decided to work there full-time due to good mentorship.

Facebook

Jarvis Johnson posted his first viral video on Facebook in a group called 'hackathon hackers'. He also interviewed there.

Georgia Tech

Jarvis Johnson's undergraduate alma mater for computer science, where he found a supportive community.

Patreon

Jarvis Johnson worked at Patreon, a platform he was familiar with as a YouTube creator, which inspired his career change.

Google

Jarvis Johnson interned at Google as a sophomore, which was a significant moment in his realization of the tech industry's scale. He also interviewed and failed to get an internship there initially.

Software & Apps

C++

Jarvis Johnson's first attempt at learning programming was with C++ in high school, which he found difficult.

Subbable

An earlier platform created by Hank and John Green that Patreon acquired, leading to Jarvis Johnson's awareness of Patreon.

Adobe Premiere

Jarvis compares his video editing setup to his coding setup, mentioning Adobe Premiere.

Books

The E-Myth

A business book that Jarvis Johnson recommends for its insights on working not just *in* the business, but *on* the business.