Casey Neistat (The Untold Story) I was a homeless dad at 15 & had $200k debt!...The Crazy Story Of How I Became The World's No.1 Video Creator!

Abstract
Summary Notes

Abstract

In this candid conversation, Casey Neistat, a pioneering force in the evolution of YouTube and vlogging, reflects on the peaks and troughs of his career, the intoxicating yet burdensome nature of fame, and the complexities of creative fulfillment. Neistat delves into his backstory, from a tumultuous childhood that fostered independence to his relentless pursuit of goals, often driven by necessity rather than choice. He discusses the dichotomy between achieving traditional success and finding genuine happiness, emphasizing that the latter is not guaranteed by the former. Neistat also shares his experiences with the tech startup world, including the sale of his company to CNN and the subsequent feelings of both victory and disillusionment. Throughout the dialogue, Neistat offers insights into the importance of patience, authenticity, and the realization that one's journey is intensely personal, often independent of external validation. As he navigates a period of self-professed indulgence, Neistat contemplates his future in content creation, aspiring to return to his roots of making videos for the pure love of the craft.

Summary Notes

Security Concerns and Moving to a Higher Security Building

  • Casey Neistat experienced a significant security threat that led to a move into a higher security building.
  • The situation was described as "scary" and a dark time for him.

"It got scary. We had to move into a higher security building, and I didn't know what to do. That's when it got dark."

The quote illustrates a period of uncertainty and fear in Casey's life, prompting a move to a more secure environment to ensure safety.

Persistence and Patience in the Face of Failure

  • Patience is highlighted as an essential yet often unattractive trait necessary for long-term success.
  • The journey to success is not romantic but filled with continuous failure and struggle.
  • Casey spent eight years on YouTube before gaining a significant number of subscribers, during which time he accumulated substantial debt.
  • His persistence paid off when his subscriber count skyrocketed to 10 million in just 18 months.

"The word I've been using is patience, because patience is so unattractive. And I think you need to remove this idea of success being this romantic, beautiful thing. It's not."

Casey emphasizes the importance of patience over the commonly held romanticized view of success, suggesting that true success requires enduring unglamorous and challenging periods.

Redefining Success: Happiness and Fulfillment Over Victory

  • Casey argues that the ultimate goal in life should be happiness and fulfillment, not just winning or achieving traditional success.
  • He reflects on his own experience of achieving success but finding fulfillment in the process rather than the outcome.
  • Fame and success led to unexpected challenges, including a move to LA and new uncertainties.

"That's when it got hard. Because the only goal that anyone should have in life is one of happiness and fulfillment. And like, this idea that you have to win to be happy could not be further from the truth."

The quote captures Casey's realization that happiness and fulfillment are more important life goals than merely winning or achieving status, which does not guarantee happiness.

The Underdog Story and Future Endeavors

  • Casey is recognized as an original and legendary figure in online content creation.
  • His underdog story is relatable and inspiring, showcasing a normal person who overcame adversity to achieve fame.
  • The discussion turns toward Casey's current life and his blueprint for turning a passion into a lucrative career.

"Casey is a legend. He's a legend to so many people. He's one of the originals as it relates to creativity, content, video, and YouTube."

The speaker acknowledges Casey's status as a pioneering and influential creator, setting the stage for a discussion on his journey and the lessons he can share about success.

Unsupervised Childhood and Its Impact

  • Casey's childhood was characterized by a lack of supervision, leading to independence and resourcefulness.
  • He shares anecdotes that illustrate the dangers and freedoms of his unsupervised upbringing.
  • This environment fostered creativity and the necessity to invent and figure things out on his own.

"So my whole childhood was just completely unsupervised. Like, there was no. Did you do your homework tonight? There was no dinner at six."

Casey describes the freedom and lack of structure in his childhood, which played a role in shaping his independent and entrepreneurial spirit.

The Influence of Parental Absence and Entrepreneurial Spirit

  • Casey's parents were absent due to work and personal reasons, which forced him to become self-reliant from a young age.
  • He started working early, learning the value of money and business through paper routes and illicit activities.
  • The absence of his parents led him to develop entrepreneurial skills out of necessity.

"And I think if you're ten and your parents all of a sudden are absent, you're just forced to figure shit out."

The quote highlights the role that parental absence played in forcing Casey to become self-sufficient and entrepreneurial from a young age.

Parental Divorce and Its Effects

  • The divorce of Casey's parents marked a challenging period in his life.
  • He felt overlooked and had to fight for attention within his family dynamic.
  • The tumultuous household and eventual divorce impacted Casey deeply, creating a sense of responsibility and awareness beyond his years.

"Yeah. That's when things got really hard."

The succinct quote conveys the significant emotional and practical difficulties Casey faced during his parents' divorce, which had a profound impact on his life.

Confronting Family Issues and Personal Growth

  • Casey had to confront the difficult situation of his mother's infidelity and inform his father about it.
  • This confrontation was a pivotal and emotionally charged moment in his life.
  • His mother's actions were seen as a manifestation of her struggles, and Casey had to navigate complex family dynamics at a young age.

"Yeah, I remember that vividly. I can picture the table we were sitting at. I can remember his posture. I can remember his response to it."

The quote reveals the intensity and clarity of Casey's memory regarding the moment he confronted his father about his mother's infidelity, emphasizing the significance of this event in his life.

Early Aspirations and Unwavering Determination

  • Casey's childhood aspirations were clear and focused on moving to New York City.
  • He was determined to fulfill the promises he made to himself as a child, regardless of the obstacles.
  • His plan was not specific, but his commitment to achieving his dreams was unwavering.

"The sole mission of my life, and this was defined then when I was a little kid. The sole mission of my life is to realize all the promises I made to myself as a kid."

Casey articulates his lifelong mission to fulfill the promises he made to himself in childhood, demonstrating his deep-rooted determination and focus.

Teenage Parenthood and Resilience

  • Casey became a father at a young age, which brought its own set of challenges.
  • Despite the difficulties, he maintained a positive and confident outlook on life and his ability to overcome obstacles.
  • His lack of fear and the sense of having nothing to lose propelled him to take risks and pursue his dreams.

"I always say that I had nothing to lose then. I had nothing."

The quote underscores Casey's perspective during his teenage years, where he felt he had nothing to lose, which fueled his fearlessness and resilience.

The Leap to New York and Embracing Risk

  • Casey's move to New York City was spontaneous and driven by a desire to escape the limitations of his previous life.
  • He acknowledges the naivety and fearlessness of his younger self in making such a drastic decision.
  • The move to New York was a pivotal moment that set the course for his future success.

"I've got a 10th grade education, no high school diploma, no work experience, no life experience, and a two year old. What's the best thing I can do right now? I know. Let me move to the most expensive, challenging city in the world with no plan."

The quote captures the bold and seemingly irrational decision Casey made to move to New York City, which, in hindsight, played a crucial role in his path to success.

The Role of Privilege and Opportunity

  • Casey discusses the concept of privilege, emphasizing the opportunities available to those born in the West.
  • He believes that despite his challenges, he was privileged to have the opportunities he did, compared to people in less fortunate circumstances.
  • Casey argues that the hardships faced by people today are minor compared to those in the past.

"If you're born in the United States of America, if you get to sit at a table and do this now... I'm like the luckiest person in the world to get to do that."

The quote reflects Casey's awareness of the opportunities and privileges he has had, despite any personal or financial hardships he faced.

Action, Aspiration, and Contentment

  • Not everyone aspires to change their circumstances, and that's acceptable.
  • Casey stresses that happiness and fulfillment are the only goals worth pursuing, regardless of societal definitions of success.
  • He uses the example of a friend who found contentment in a conventional life to illustrate that success is subjective.

"I think, like, in life, you can get whatever you want, but you can't want whatever you want if you don't want it."

The quote emphasizes that genuine desire cannot be forced or fabricated; it must be authentic for one to pursue and achieve their goals.

Embracing Failure and the Importance of Taking Risks

  • Casey views failure as an integral and valuable part of life.
  • He believes that fear of failure should not deter people from pursuing their dreams.
  • The willingness to accept and learn from failure is crucial for personal growth and achievement.

"I think failure is, like, the greatest gift. I think failure is, like, it hurts so bad, but failure is a part of life, and if you're not willing to accept, like, failure is part of it, you've got to keep failing."

The quote conveys Casey's belief that failure is not only inevitable but also a beneficial aspect of the journey toward success, as it teaches resilience and determination.

Persistence and Patience in the Face of Failure

  • Casey Neistat discusses the story of Anvil, a band that experienced decades of failure before finding success through a documentary.
  • The story exemplifies the importance of persistence and the willingness to endure failure to achieve success.
  • Casey highlights that giving up would have made the story unremarkable, but persistence made it extraordinary.
  • The Anvil story is used to illustrate that success often comes after prolonged periods of perseverance.

"Had he given up at any point in time, the documentary wouldn't have been interesting. We're just in another person who threw in the towel. But they made this, like, a filmmaker saw this story and was like, that's crazy. I need to tell that story. And it yielded that success."

This quote emphasizes the pivotal role that persistence played in Anvil's eventual success. Without the lead singer's refusal to give up, the documentary that catapulted them to fame would not have been compelling.

Fear of Failure and Public Perception

  • Casey argues that the fear of failure is often tied to worrying about others' opinions.
  • He suggests that this fear can be more damaging than failure itself.
  • The fear of being judged by others can prevent people from taking risks and pursuing their dreams.

"I think failure is overrated. I think failure. People are so scared of failure. And I think the fear of failure is that it's the fear of what other people are going to think about you."

This quote captures Casey's belief that the fear of failure is overemphasized and that the true fear is often about societal judgment rather than the failure itself.

The Role of Persistence and Patience in Success

  • Casey prefers the term "patience" over "persistence" when advising aspiring creators.
  • He describes patience as a less glamorous but more realistic aspect of the path to success.
  • The journey to success is often filled with repeated failures and public embarrassment, which requires a significant amount of patience to endure.
  • Casey shares anecdotes from Mr. Beast's early days, highlighting the struggles and ridicule faced before achieving success.

"Patience above every. Because if you're not willing to give up, if we're willing to stick with it forever, you will find success, or you'll die trying, which case, fuck it. Like, whatever."

This quote underscores the importance of patience in the pursuit of success. Casey suggests that a relentless commitment to one's goals, despite the lack of immediate success, is crucial.

The Impact of Having No Plan B

  • Casey and Mr. Beast shared a common trait: the lack of a backup plan.
  • Having no alternative path forced them to fully commit to their primary goals.
  • Casey recounts his personal experiences of hardship and determination, including being on welfare and facing homelessness.
  • The lack of a Plan B can increase motivation and focus on achieving Plan A.

"I think, very simply, it comes for me, and I think probably for Jimmy, too. We've talked about it, he and I have talked about it, but there was no plan b, there was no other."

This quote reflects Casey's belief that the absence of a fallback option was a driving force in his and Mr. Beast's pursuit of success.

The Dangers of Plan B Thinking

  • A study is discussed that demonstrates how the presence of a Plan B can diminish motivation and effort toward Plan A.
  • The psychological effect of having an alternative can lead to reduced performance and commitment.
  • Casey relates this concept to his own life, likening his drive to success to escaping a pack of wolves.

"And if there was ever a case for this psychology, and they've done this multiple times in multiple studies, but it is pretty solid evidence that even the presence of a plan b can reduce motivation towards your plan a completely."

This quote explains the psychological basis for the claim that having a Plan B can undermine the pursuit of Plan A, which is relevant to Casey's own experience of not having a backup plan.

The Value of Originality and Impact

  • Casey laments the trend of imitation on YouTube, particularly the emulation of successful creators like Mr. Beast.
  • He stresses the importance of originality and creating content that is true to oneself.
  • Casey believes that truth and impactful work have lasting value, unlike content solely aimed at gaining views.
  • He contrasts the fleeting nature of popular but shallow content with work that genuinely affects and changes people.

"But when people aspire just to get that view, count up, to me, it's a race to the bottom. I fucking hate it. I hate it. And I do think it's because of people not knowing what to do. So they look to see, well, who's successful. That's how I'm successful. Let me be that. And it will never work."

This quote highlights Casey's disdain for content creation driven solely by the desire for views. He argues that such an approach lacks originality and will not lead to lasting success or fulfillment.

The Importance of Truth in Creative Work

  • Casey discusses the distinction between creating for views and creating for artistic expression.
  • He emphasizes the longevity of work that is truthful and impactful.
  • Casey believes that work with genuine artistic value will resonate and be remembered, unlike work that is created purely for commercial success.
  • He urges creators to focus on making a positive impact and contributing to culture rather than chasing views.

"I think that truth lasts. Truth matters. There's no correlation, rather, between the movies that have won best picture, the Academy Award for best picture over the last 80 years, and the highest grossing movies."

This quote illustrates Casey's belief that truth and artistic integrity are more important than commercial success. He points out that critically acclaimed work is often not the most financially successful, yet it has a lasting impact.

Artistic Aspirations and Validation

  • Casey Neistat emphasizes the importance of genuine passion over seeking social media validation.
  • He suggests that if the desire to be an artist comes from a place of true passion, he will support it wholeheartedly.
  • Conversely, if the motivation is superficial, such as seeking more likes on social media, he advises caution.

"If you want to do it because your little girlfriend at school did it and she got 35 likes, and you want to get more likes than her, then pump the brakes, kid."

This quote underscores the distinction between pursuing art for intrinsic satisfaction versus extrinsic social media validation.

The Reality of Fame

  • Casey discusses the misconceptions and the reality of fame.
  • He points out that those who haven't experienced fame can't fully understand it.
  • He warns against seeking fame as an end goal, likening it to narcissism with no real benefit to the world.

"Fame is a very weird, very strange thing. And I think that the most strange thing about fame is it's not what you think."

This quote highlights the elusive and often misunderstood nature of fame.

Protecting Children from Social Media

  • Casey advocates for protecting children from the negative impacts of social media.
  • He shares how he supports his daughter's creative endeavors without exposing her to social media validation.
  • The discussion includes the mental health crisis and social issues exacerbated by social media.

"Protect them as long as you can, man. Keep the kids so far away from that."

The quote reflects Casey's protective stance on shielding children from the pressures of social media validation.

Casey's Success on Social Media

  • Casey shares his journey from traditional media to achieving massive success on social media through his daily vlog.
  • He discusses the exponential growth of his YouTube channel and the impact of consistency and patience.
  • The conversation touches on the alignment of preparation and opportunity leading to his success.

"I wasn't really doing anything different... But then all of a sudden, the moon's aligned like the fucking planets align, Pluto is lined up, the sun shined through like pradesh of the lost arc the light came through, and like 2015, YouTube was just becoming something more."

This quote captures the serendipitous moment when Casey's years of preparation met the right opportunity on YouTube, leading to his explosive growth.

The Role of Luck and Preparation

  • Casey acknowledges the role of luck in his success but emphasizes the importance of preparation.
  • He shares his belief in taking initiative and being ready for opportunities rather than waiting for them to come.
  • The discussion includes his perspective on being "unqualified" and the mindset of qualifying oneself for success.

"Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. I had just been preparing myself for that moment for 15 years, and then the opportunity opened up and I was right there."

This quote illustrates the concept that luck is not just chance but the intersection of being prepared and seizing opportunities.

Learning Through Manual Labor

  • Casey reflects on the value of learning to work with one's hands and how it teaches problem-solving and self-reliance.
  • He regrets not encouraging his son to engage more in manual labor and considers how to impart these lessons to his daughters.
  • The conversation explores the idea that manual labor can provide insights into life and self-discovery.

"I think you learn something about life by learning how to build and do things."

This quote suggests that manual labor is not only about the physical task but also about the life lessons and character-building it provides.

The Tech Startup Experience

  • Casey shares his experience with starting a tech company, acknowledging both the success and the numerous failures.
  • He discusses the emotional challenges of feeling like he let his employees down after the sale of his company.
  • The narrative includes Casey's journey from being in debt to selling his company and the aftermath of that sale.

"A million failures, though, for that one success. And the failures keep me up way more than the success puts me to sleep."

This quote conveys the weight that the failures and challenges of his tech startup experience have on him, even after achieving financial success.

Failure and Personal Responsibility

  • Casey Neistat reflects on his failure to lead and build within CNN after they acquired his company.
  • He attributes the failure to his ego and naivety, rather than blaming the corporate culture clash.
  • Casey acknowledges his role in the unsuccessful venture, despite the incentives and opportunities provided by CNN.

"The reality is the reason why we didn't succeed under CNN was because of me and only because of me."

This quote highlights Casey's acceptance of personal responsibility for the failure of the venture with CNN. He recognizes that his lack of leadership and awareness were key factors in the outcome.

The Emotional Journey Post-CNN

  • Casey experienced hubris a month after the acquisition, feeling like he knew everything and could accomplish anything.
  • Eleven months later, he felt exhaustion and relief when CNN decided to shut down the company.
  • The shutdown allowed him to escape the pressure but also led to a period of darkness and questioning his identity and purpose.

"Eleven months later, it was just exhaustion. I wanted to get out."

Casey describes his emotional state eleven months after the acquisition, which was marked by exhaustion and a desire to move on from the venture.

The Impact of Fame

  • Fame brought about unexpected challenges, including intense public attention and safety concerns.
  • Casey struggled with the transition from being in the spotlight to finding a new direction and purpose.
  • He started new projects, but they felt insufficient to fill the void left by his previous successes.

"The fame was fucking insane. We had to move into a higher security building in city."

This quote conveys the overwhelming nature of Casey's fame and how it led to significant changes in his personal life, including the need for increased security.

Reflections on Success and Fulfillment

  • Casey achieved financial security and widespread recognition but felt a lack of fulfillment despite his accomplishments.
  • He emphasizes the importance of enjoying the process, not just the end results.
  • The realization that achieving his goals didn't bring the expected satisfaction led to a dark period in his life.

"This isn't it. I wasn't running the marathon because I wanted to get across the finish line. I loved it."

Casey expresses that his motivation was not just to achieve his goals but to enjoy the journey, and he felt lost when the journey seemed to end.

Life Changes and Moving to LA

  • Moving to LA was an attempt to escape the pressures of fame and find a fresh start.
  • Casey and his family experienced difficulties adjusting to the move, which did not meet their expectations.
  • The move to LA was driven by a desire for anonymity and a simpler life.

"So much of my enthusiasm to leave New York was just like, I need to get away from all of this."

Casey discusses his reasons for moving to LA, highlighting his need to distance himself from the challenges he faced in New York.

Candice's Involvement and Relationship Strain

  • Candice, Casey's wife, became indirectly famous due to his content, which added complexity to their lives.
  • Their relationship faced stress due to the constant inclusion of their personal lives in Casey's work.
  • Candice's own entrepreneurial pursuits were both helped and hindered by the exposure.

"Mostly she's willing and supportive, but not all the time."

The quote illustrates the dynamic between Casey and Candice regarding her involvement in his work and how it sometimes placed a burden on her.

Current Life and Contentment

  • Casey describes his current life as coasting and enjoying time with his family.
  • He acknowledges that his current lifestyle is indulgent and not sustainable long-term.
  • Despite his peace, Casey still craves the fulfillment that comes from creative work.

"I'm just coasting through life right now. It's fantastic."

Casey summarizes his current state of life, emphasizing the ease and enjoyment he's experiencing, despite recognizing it as a temporary phase.

The Desire to Create and the Struggle with Indulgence

  • Casey has a desire to return to creating meaningful content without the pressure of views or notoriety.
  • He is critical of his own indulgence and lack of motivation to create, despite having the means to do so.
  • Casey is aware of his privilege and the opportunity to create for the sake of art alone.

"I just want to put my head down and make the things that I think are great."

This quote captures Casey's longing to focus on creative work that is personally fulfilling, regardless of external validation.

Advice to Young Creatives

  • Casey advises young creatives to realize that most people are too focused on themselves to pay attention to others.
  • He encourages embracing this freedom to be original and persistent in pursuing one's creative path.
  • The combination of persistence and patience will eventually lead to success.

"Nobody cares about you is something that was never made clear to me."

Casey provides a piece of advice to young creatives, emphasizing the liberating realization that they should not be overly concerned with others' opinions when creating.

Reflections on Vlogging and the Medium's Evolution

  • Casey reflects on the potential and downfall of daily vlogging, influenced by the pursuit of views.
  • He sees the current landscape as an opportunity for niche creators to succeed with authentic content.
  • Casey would return to daily vlogging if he could do so without the fame and attention it brings.

"What could have been something virtuous turned into something, I think, much less interesting, and that crashed and burned."

Casey critiques the trajectory of daily vlogging and how it deviated from its potential to become a more genuine form of reality television.

Final Thoughts and Advice for the Host

  • Casey gives practical advice to the podcast host about studio location to facilitate guest convenience.
  • He expresses his appreciation for the impact he's had on aspiring creators and the importance of creating authentically.
  • Casey emphasizes the need for creators to produce work that is true to themselves, which will inherently be interesting.

"When you set up a studio in New York City, don't do it 40 minutes out into fucking Brooklyn."

Casey offers candid feedback to the host, suggesting a more central studio location to make it easier for guests to attend recordings.

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