When I finally committed to launching my YouTube channel, I had a solid plan. I’d been studying the best—Van Neistat, Ali Abdaal, Answer in Progress. But something unexpected happened. Instead of getting to work, I kept hesitating. Every script felt underwhelming. Every idea felt done. The more I admired their craft, the harder it became to create mine.
The Problem: Too Much Inspiration, Not Enough Action
As a content creator, I regularly watch other creators to get inspired. But when I sat down to actually make something, I realized the very people meant to spark my creativity were holding me back. Their success, their polish, their unique flair—made my own ideas feel… unfinished.
My Top 3 Creator Inspirations (And Why They’re So Good)
Currently, my top three most inspiring YouTubers are:
- Van Neistat – because he’s artsy yet down to earth
- Ali Abdaal – because he’s a systematic genius
- Answer in Progress (Sabrina Cruz) – because of her humor-driven storytelling
But here’s how their very success can keep both me—and maybe you—from hitting publish.
The Internal Dialogue of a Stuck Creator
Let’s say you have an idea for your first video.
You’ve got the title. The outline. Even the video that inspired it all.
You start writing.
Then you hit a line like:
“Writing is like sailing.”
And suddenly, your brain interrupts:
If Van Neistat wrote this, he’d cut to a 2009 clip of himself sailing.
Or building a boat. Something real.
You? You’ve got a messy drawer. No archive. No cinematic cuts. Just a line. And doubt.
What Most People Do When They Hit That Wall
They seek guidance—from the same creators who made them feel stuck.
And the advice is always the same:
- Just do it.
- Believe in yourself.
- Don’t overthink. Start now.
That’s where the critical mistake happens: you listen.
You turn to ChatGPT (hello), use the same content templates everyone swears by, follow the “step one: find your niche” formula—and end up with something safe at best, generic at worst.
The Real Reason You’re Blocked: The Hidden Creator Edge
You’re not blocked because you lack motivation or tools.
You’re blocked because you’ve been impacted by something I call:
The Hidden Creator Edge
This is the unique, often invisible advantage a creator brings to their content. It shapes their storytelling, their execution—even when it’s not obvious.
- Van Neistat has 20+ years of footage and handcrafting skills.
- Ali Abdaal built learning systems while becoming a doctor at Cambridge.
- Sabrina Cruz can code, animate, and build her own running shoes.
And you? You’re comparing your starting point to their evolved edge.
A Simpler Example: April Dunford’s Plain-Style Power
April Dunford makes positioning content. No B-roll. No edits. No animations.
Just her. Talking to camera.
But each episode drops a gem: a real client story, tied to the topic.
“I want to tell you a story about the first product I ever worked on…”
That’s her edge: lived experience. Something no script or AI can fake.
My guess? She spends a lot of time digging into her past for the right story to match the topic.
That’s the edge. Not production. Not pace. Not graphics. Just truth.
So What’s Yours?
Before you “just do it,” you need to define and invest in your own edge.
Mine? Analyzing other creators.
Here are a few others:
- Unique archive → Spend time collecting and editing old footage (Van Neistat-style)
- Filming abilities → Plan shots, shoot over and over (Casey Neistat)
- Access to people → Book guests, ask sharp questions (David Perell)
- Subject matter expertise → Stay up-to-date in your field (Aleyda Solis, SEO)
- Research skills → Dig deep into concepts (Answer in Progress)
- Location → Let your place be your narrative (John Wilson in NYC)
- High production value → Meticulously plan your filming days (Chris Do)
- Building in public → Document your everyday work (Adam Robinson)
- Thought leadership → Develop bold POVs on big topics (Jay Acunzo)
The Hidden Hidden Edge
There’s one more edge worth mentioning—one you shouldn’t chase.
It’s the mysterious, unnameable force behind creators like Wes Anderson.
Something that only emerges after years of creating.
Don’t try to find that one. It will find you.
Final Thought: “This Should Have Been Made”
When you work from your hidden creator edge, everything changes. You stop asking, Is this good enough? and start feeling:
“Yeah. This should have been made.”
That’s the goal. Not perfection. Not mimicry. Just meaningful progress.
I’ll be exploring more creator psychology, content thinking, and creative edges in future episodes.
Join me.