Fail Forward: From Startup Failure to YouTube Triumph | @ArjanCodes | Beyond Coding Podcast #145

In this episode, Arjan discusses the hard-earned lessons from his failed startup and how they informed his successful pivot to YouTube. Learn about the realities of owning all the decisions, the value of user engagement, and the strategies that helped him grow a digital audience. Connect with Arjan Egges: @ArjanCodes ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjanegges⁠ References: The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb OUTLINE 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:33 - Arjan is thinking about starting a podcast 00:02:18 - Teaching game development 00:04:36 - Teaching and researching 00:06:57 - The value of teaching 00:08:35 - Patrick wanted to do Game Development 00:09:56 - Starting a first company 00:13:36 - 90% of startups fail 00:15:23 - Shattering your ego 00:17:06 - Healthy optimism 00:18:41 - Letting go of your ideas 00:19:49 - Why Arjan's first company failed 00:24:14 - Pivoting and still it didn't work 00:26:30 - The value of talking to your users 00:27:44 - The Black Swan and the unpredictable 00:30:09 - Risk vs. reward 00:32:53 - How Arjan started on YouTube 00:37:43 - Going viral on Reddit 00:38:43 - Digital education and YouTube 00:41:00 - Getting fixated on YouTube metrics 00:42:47 - Negative comments on YouTube 00:44:25 - How Arjan expanded his team and content 00:47:47 - Learning to work with an editor 00:50:36 - Content and development cycle 00:54:33 - Automatic feedback collection 00:56:31 - Final thoughts #Software #Technology #Podcast - Connect with Patrick Akil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-akil https://twitter.com/PatrickAkil_ Feedback is always welcome :) Beyond Coding is a weekly podcast with fireside chats on tech, entrepreneurship and career journeys. Common topics are: software engineering, leadership, self-improvement and entrepreneurship. Authentic, informative and inspiring. That's the aim for each episode. Shoutout to Xebia for making these episodes possible 💜: https://www.xebia.com Beyond Coding on your favourite podcast platforms 🎙: Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7asIKIPU3N6n0SNWHxwMnQ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-coding/id1572440477 Google Podcasts - https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy81YmI1N2VhYy9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw== Audible - https://www.audible.com/pd/Podcast/B08K56MZBQ Anchor- https://anchor.fm/beyond-coding Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id4169675 Breaker - https://www.breaker.audio/beyond-coding Pocket Casts - https://pca.st/gljc9jhh Radio Public - https://radiopublic.com/beyond-coding-G3YVLg Equipment we use 💕 Rodecaster Pro - https://www.amazon.com/-/en/dp/B07M5LQ1YZ/ref=sr_1_1 Rode Procaster - https://www.amazon.com/Rode-Procaster-Broadcast-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B001IPUJJI/ Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro - https://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-Professional-Headphones-Limited-Renewed/dp/B07KWY57MR/