How to Create Viral Content & Build a Successful Company | Lex Fridman Podcast #351

MrBeast's Creative Process

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  The longer people watch a video, the more likely they are to keep watching, so it's important to create an overarching narrative and entertaining micro-moments throughout the entire video.
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  MrBeast's ability to real-time edit his videos while filming is one of his greatest strengths, developed over the last five years.
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  MrBeast's success on YouTube is due to his ability to consistently come up with original and creative ideas that people really need to see, ideally never been done before.
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  MrBeast and his team have found success on TikTok by innovating and creating original content that no one else is doing, despite the platform being around for years.
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  MrBeast's success is largely due to his ability to find creative solutions to seemingly impossible challenges, such as giving away an island to his subscribers.
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  MrBeast doesn't try to pertain to his viewers, he just makes whatever he thinks is interesting and good content.
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  Generating a lot of ideas through brainstorming with people who think differently can be valuable in coming up with new concepts and innovations.
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  MrBeast's impact on the world through YouTube and other businesses has been net positive and has brought joy to millions of people.

MrBeast's Entrepreneurial Philosophy

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  MrBeast reinvests everything he makes into content creation, even to the point of sacrificing sleep: "I reinvest everything I make even to this day... It's absurd the amount of money I spent on content and I don't care. I'll just stop sleeping and I'll just film every other day."
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  MrBeast believes that taking time to recharge and do activities that may not seem optimal for work, such as watching anime or playing board games, is crucial to his success as an entrepreneur.
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  MrBeast shares the best advice he ever received: "You're crazy until you're successful. Then you're a genius."
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  MrBeast values having a team that challenges him and thinks for themselves, rather than just being "yes men."

Ethics and Transparency in Social Media

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  MrBeast's Twitter poll on whether people would take $10,000 if it meant a random person on Earth would die revealed a disturbing aspect of human nature where many people were willing to commit murder for money.
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  Transparency is crucial in social media platforms like YouTube to prevent manipulation and censorship of speech, and viewers should have control over content rather than the hosting entity.