Why I Started a YouTube Channel at 40
Have you ever thought about starting a YouTube channel, only to be held back by that voice in your head saying: “I’m not good enough.” “I’m not attractive enough.” “I can’t do it.” “It’s too hard.” “No one will watch.” “It’s too late.”
That’s exactly what I told myself six years ago—and as a result, I gave up before I even started.
Instead, I spent the last six years writing blogs because it felt safer, easier, and less intimidating.
But now, as I approach 40, I’ve decided to finally give YouTube a real shot.
In this video, I’ll share two reasons why I made this decision. Hopefully, my journey will inspire you to take action on something you’ve been putting off.
To Better Myself
Everyone knows that persistence is the key to success, but few can truly sustain their efforts over time.
I believe the secret to lasting persistence is enjoying the journey.
First, identify your core values, then ask yourself: Do the gains from this journey align with them?
If they do, the more you engage in the process, the more fulfillment and growth you’ll experience—making the journey itself enjoyable rather than just a means to an end.
For me, self-improvement is my highest priority. Let’s see how much I can grow on my YouTube journey.
English
English is not my first language, and the main reason I started this YouTube channel is to improve my English.
If English isn’t your first language, running a YouTube channel in English is an amazing way to practice!
Every time you record a video, you’re actively speaking, which helps improve your pronunciation, fluency, and confidence.
Plus, scripting and structuring videos is also a great way to sharpen your writing skills.
So, through this journey, I’m not just creating content—I’m also becoming a better English speaker, one video at a time!
Public Speaking
I used to stutter as a child, and even now, whenever I have to speak in front of more than two people, my heart starts racing.
This has always been my biggest weakness, and that’s why I’m determined to improve.
Speaking in front of a camera is just like speaking in front of an audience—except you get to practice without the pressure of a live crowd.
At first, it might feel awkward, but over time, you’ll become more natural, expressive, and engaging.
These skills will not only help me on YouTube but also in real-life situations—whether it’s talking to friends, giving short presentations, or even doing job interviews.
So, by creating videos, I’m not just improving my public speaking—I’m building confidence for life!
Time Management
Nowadays, countless platforms compete for our attention and time.
But unlike how we carefully manage our money, we often don’t consciously manage our time—we just let our most valuable moments slip away without realizing it.
What’s worse? We may later regret wasting so much time mindlessly scrolling, feeling unproductive. That regret then drives us back to these platforms, seeking an escape—trapping us in a vicious cycle while tech companies continue to profit.
On the other hand, creating content demands time and effort—you have to think, plan, write, film, edit, and post consistently.
To do this effectively, you naturally develop better time management skills.
When you invest your time in content creation and self-improvement, you receive positive feedback, feel more accomplished, and boost your mood.
Eventually, this shift helps you break free from distractions, making you more focused, productive, and fulfilled.
Persistence & Patience
Growing on YouTube isn’t easy. Most of the time, no one will watch your videos.
That’s why I’ve set a challenge for myself: Even if no one watches, I will create and upload 100 videos.
But it’s not just about reaching that number—it’s about staying consistent, learning from my mistakes, and improving with each video.
If I can commit to creating 100 videos, I will consider myself successful, regardless of the views.
More importantly, through this journey, I will have developed two of the most valuable skills—persistence and patience—both of which are essential for success in any field!
Confidence
I’ve never been a confident person. I remember sitting in the classroom—even when I was 100% sure of an answer, I still didn’t dare to raise my hand.
One reason was that I used to stutter; the other was my lack of confidence.
So, how do you build confidence? By taking on challenges and pushing yourself to accomplish them.
The more you step outside your comfort zone, the more confident you become.
For me, confidence grows when I invest my time in creating rather than consuming.
Every time I complete a video, I see myself moving one step closer to my 100-video challenge—and that small achievement gives me a boost of confidence.
Bit by bit, I’m proving to myself that I can do this.
Other Skills
Along the way, you’ll naturally develop many valuable skills—from interpersonal skills to video editing, graphic design, storytelling, and more.
But beyond the technical skills, this journey is about growth.
At the end of the day, the biggest reason I’m starting this YouTube channel is simple: to become a better version of myself.
The other reason i started this channel is to document my journey
Documenting My Journey
I got this idea from writing blog posts.
For six years, blogging allowed me to track my progress, capture my thoughts, and reflect on my experiences. Every post became a snapshot of a moment in time—a record of where I was, what I was learning, and how I was improving.
Through that process, I realized the power of documenting my journey.
But now, instead of writing words on a page, I’m shifting to sharing my journey through videos and blogs.
This is new to me, but I believe documenting yourself brings many benefits—and I’m excited to explore them.
Tracking Personal Growth
Every video I create is more than just content—it’s a snapshot of my progress at this moment. It captures my thoughts, skills, and confidence level.
Months or even years from now, I’ll be able to look back and see how much I’ve grown—whether it’s in my speaking ability, technical skills, or creativity.
Growth isn’t always obvious in the moment. Sometimes, it feels like we’re not making progress at all. But when we look back, we realize how far we’ve come.
That’s why documenting my journey through YouTube is so valuable. It allows me to track my improvement, learn from my mistakes, and stay motivated to keep going.
Help You Learn More
Creating YouTube videos helps me learn and understand things on a much deeper level.
Writing posts and explaining concepts in videos is a completely different experience than simply studying them. For example, when I wrote a post explaining a difficult algorithm, I thought I understood it well. But once I started breaking it down for the video, I realized there were gaps in my understanding.
Making videos forced me to dig deeper, clarify my thoughts, and truly grasp the concept.
That’s why I believe documenting my journey through YouTube is such a powerful learning tool. When I create content about something I want to master, I’m not just passively absorbing information—I’m actively processing it, restructuring it in my own words, and reinforcing my knowledge.
Help Others
You might wonder—how can documenting my own journey help others? But the truth is, it absolutely can, especially when I sincerely share my experiences, challenges, and how I overcome them.
Real sharing is both useful and inspiring. People relate to honesty, and when they see someone facing similar struggles, it makes them feel less alone. Whether it’s learning a new skill, improving a habit, or tackling a tough challenge, sharing the process can provide guidance and motivation for others on a similar path.
For example, when I shared how I rebuilt my kitchen, I didn’t expect much. But to my surprise, that post ended up helping tens of thousands of people! It showed them the challenges I faced, the mistakes I made, and the solutions I found.
That’s the power of sharing—your journey, no matter how personal, can have a real impact on others.
End
I know that succeeding in this field is tough.
Only 9% of YouTube channels have over 1,000 subscribers, which means 9 out of 10 people who start YouTube will fail.
But for me, success isn’t defined by views or subscribers—it’s about creating 100 videos.
That’s why my mindset is: making videos is an incredible journey of growth.
Enjoying the journey is what helps you stay the course.
Every video you post is proof that you’ve made progress.
If I can truly commit to creating 100 videos, I believe the growth I accumulate along the way will transform me.