When people talk about YouTube success, it’s usually a story about going viral overnight.

But that’s not how it happened for me.

The turning point in my business and my entire life came long before my channel hit any big milestones. In fact, the biggest transformation happened when I had fewer than 100 subscribers.

So if you’re just starting or struggling to grow your channel, this is a realistic, hopeful look at what’s possible, even with tiny numbers. Let’s talk about how less than 100 YouTube subscribers transformed my life.

What Your YouTube Analytics WON’T Show You

In the early days of my YouTube journey, my analytics dashboard was a mess of zeroes. No views. No subscribers. Day after day, I felt like I was talking into the void. It was easy to feel like I wasn’t getting anywhere…

But here’s what I didn’t realize – something much bigger was happening behind the scenes.

In fact, the only reason I didn’t quit is because I had committed myself to publishing one video a week for a full year, no matter what. Not because I had free time (I definitely didn’t—full-time agency job, two little kids, and my wife working nights), but because I knew I had to give this a real shot. Half-committing wasn’t going to get me anywhere.

“Decide YouTube is important or decide it’s not. Half-assed efforts rarely pay off.” – Jerry Potter

The real magic of those early months wasn’t in the views or subscribers. It was in the opportunities. I got my first paying client just 11 days after launching my channel, when I only had 17 subscribers. Two months in, I had already booked two paid speaking gigs. And by the six-month mark, I had less than 100 subscribers –  but was already building authority, credibility, and momentum.

None of that shows up in our analytics.

Your Authority Grows Before Your Audience Does

Even when my channel was tiny, people saw me as an expert simply because I was showing up consistently and talking about topics I knew well. You don’t need thousands of followers to be seen as credible. Just being on YouTube, putting your face on camera, and sharing valuable content positions you differently. People take notice.

During those early months, I also got better at everything…

Better at speaking.

Better at teaching.

Better at making videos.

All that growth happened long before I hit 100 subscribers. That’s why I always say: Don’t let the size of your channel determine the size of your impact.

What Happens Next

After six long months I hit 100 subscribers.

The next month I jumped to 1,000.

And a year later I had 10,000.

By the end of my first year, I had almost 100,000 views on my videos.

Big Wins Don’t Require a Big Channel

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned: You don’t need a massive audience to see results. I’ve seen people with under 1,000 subscribers making over $10,000 a month from their channel. What you do need is consistency, intention, and a plan.

If you’re thinking about YouTube, or if you’re already publishing but struggling, the best thing I can recommend is getting back to basics, because the basics are what lead to long term growth.

“You don’t need big numbers to win on YouTube. You need strategy, consistency, and a message people care about.”

Set Your Channel Up for Success

Did you know there are 12 different parts of your channel that need to be optimized to make sure you get found and convert visitors into buyers?

If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to waste time doing something without a solid plan. That’s why I created the YouTube Incubator—a $9 workshop that shows you how to optimize your channel for real, long-term results. This is what I wish I had before I ever hit record on my first video.

Here are a few of the visible areas of your channel that can be optimized:

The good news is optimizing your channel is a one-time task, and if you want help, grab this $9 workshop.

Conclusion

Don’t let low subscriber counts stop you. The biggest impact YouTube had on my life happened before 100 subscribers. Stay consistent, be intentional, and focus on opportunities, not just analytics. A year from now, you could be celebrating having reached 100,000 people.

Links & Resources

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