How do you go from losing your biggest commercial acting break to creating a viral meme that has been viewed over 7 billion times?
Welcome to the Forbes Top Creator Show! This week, host Steven Bertoni decodes the business of influence with comedian, filmmaker, and “recovering actor” Steven He.
In this episode, Steven opens up about his unique Chinese-Irish upbringing and the harsh realities of trying to survive as a traditional actor in New York City. He reveals the exact strategy he used to pivot into social media, grinding through 220 failed comedy sketches before finally hitting his first million-view spark on video 221. He breaks down the chaotic, uncontrollable 7-billion view success of the “Emotional Damage” meme, and frankly discusses his biggest business failure: investing massive amounts of time and money into a highly-produced show that alienated his audience and tanked his channel’s revenue by 90%.
Steven delivers a true masterclass in how to pivot your YouTube strategy, shifting content just 10% at a time to successfully launch his new 30-minute action-comedy series, James Bao, and why your failures just might be your greatest asset.
#StevenHe #ForbesTopCreators #EmotionalDamage #CreatorEconomy
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0:00 Meet Steven He
1:11 From A Chinese-Irish Upbringing To The NYC Acting Grind
3:00 Heartbreak: Losing A $34,000 Big Break To The Pandemic
4:39 The Turning Point: Grinding Through 220 Failed Videos
8:57 The 7 Billion View Accident: The “Emotional Damage” Phenomenon
11:41 The Ultimate Fail: How A Massive Budget Tanked 90% Of Views
14:52 Boiling The Frog: The 10% Pivot Strategy
21:56 Taking Power Back From The Bullies
25:38 The Next Flex: Competing At The Box Office With James Bao
31:36 The Mic Drop: Why Your Failures Forge You
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