From Living with 7 Strangers to Building a $1M Business: Brett Conti’s Playbook for Aspiring Creators

In this week’s episode of Turning Pro, we sat down with Brett Conti, a New York-based YouTuber, entrepreneur, and founder of multiple businesses. Brett didn’t follow the typical entrepreneurial path. He turned his love for skateboarding into a YouTube empire and now balances content creation with launching a direct-to-consumer tea brand aiming for $1 million in revenue.

Brett’s story is one of hard work, sticking with it, and always figuring out how to adapt along the way. He openly discusses the struggles of entrepreneurship, from managing burnout to growing his YouTube channel to a million subscribers after years of grinding. His practical, grounded insights offer invaluable lessons for creators and founders.

Find Season 2, Episode 16 of the Turning Pro Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

Here Are the Top 10 Lessons We Learned from Brett Conti:

1.  Pursue Your Passion Relentlessly: Brett started by combining his love for skateboarding and content creation, which eventually led to a YouTube career. His advice? Pursue your passion authentically, even if it takes years to gain traction.

2. Consistency is Key: Brett’s YouTube channel didn’t gain momentum overnight. In fact, it took him over a decade to reach his first 1,000 subscribers. His journey proves the power of consistency and staying true to your vision.

3. Build a Brand Around What You Love: Brett’s entrepreneurial ventures, like his skateboarding apparel and his new tea brand, are built on his passions. He believes the best businesses come from what you genuinely enjoy.

4. Find Balance Between Business and Creativity: Juggling a successful YouTube career while building a business isn’t easy. Brett stresses the importance of finding a balance between being a creator and an entrepreneur, ensuring that both sides thrive.

5. Your Story Matters: Brett's openness and willingness to share his personal journey has helped him connect deeply with his audience. Sharing your authentic story can resonate with your customers and followers on a deeper level.

6. Set Big Goals and Break Them Down: Whether it's building a $1 million tea brand or growing a YouTube channel, Brett's strategy is to set ambitious goals but break them down into manageable steps. This method keeps him motivated and focused.

7. Embrace the Long Game: Success doesn’t come overnight. Brett’s journey shows that embracing the long game and not being afraid of slow progress is critical in both content creation and business.

8. Leverage Your Audience: Brett acknowledges that his YouTube platform is a powerful marketing tool for his business ventures. He advises creators to use their influence and audience to elevate new projects and ideas.

9. Stay Grounded Amid Success: Even with millions of followers and successful ventures, Brett emphasizes the importance of staying humble, learning from others, and continuously pushing your own limits.

10. Resilience is Everything: Brett’s entrepreneurial journey has had its challenges, from balancing work and travel to handling burnout. His key takeaway? Resilience and mental toughness are essential to overcoming obstacles and reaching your goals.

Brett’s story proves that with persistence, passion, and a relentless pursuit of your goals, you can achieve extraordinary things, whether in content creation or business.

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