Successful YouTuber, Aged 47 lol

Hello warriors, how are you?

Well, I turn 47 on Monday 15^th of July.  I started my YouTube channel on September 4^th 2022, nearly 2 years ago!  As we all know the right time to start a career as a YouTuber is when you are 45 years old hahahaha

I started my YouTube channel as I did not want other people to lose a decade of their lives to suffering and isolation caused by chronic illness.

I also was attempting it in a desperate effort to carve out a new career that I could do based on my bodies ‘abilities’….I mean when I am alert.  As I cannot start at specific times, I can’t guarantee I will be able to finish at specific times.  Basically, everything about my life is controlled by my condition and this means I am not able to be employed in a traditional job.  But, as you might have heard me say:

I AM DISABLED NOT DEAD

I have never said out loud: I am a YouTuber

It doesn’t feel real/right.  But the facts are I AM a YouTuber (typed with confidence lol).  Nope.  Still doesn’t feel right.  Fuck.

I was warned that everyone gets imposter syndrome and fears it will end tomorrow.  I hate it when I fit a statistic.  OK, lets look at the facts:

• Over 1.6 MILLION views

• Over 140,000 watch hours (time people have spent watching the videos/guides)

• Over 30,000 subscribers

• Average watch time (this is a really important one in the world of YouTube) can be up to 12 MINUTES (my mentors eye balls nearly fell out of his head when he saw this!  I think Mr Beast will be proud when I have a meeting with him – one of my life goals)

You know what I think when I see all of this?

Fuck.  I am not doing enough.

I know I have said this before but I will continue to say this for the next 10 years of how ever long it takes me to fix it.  People should NOT have to pay for support to access what they are legally entitled to.  I am of course referring to PIP.

I never planned on becoming a consultant.  I never thought I would launch a business in this manner.  (This is my third attempt at a business and the ONLY time I have been able to pay myself!).

At the moment, people want help with PIP.  But I KNOW based on my nearly 20 years experience with chronic illness.  This is NOT the most important factor.  PIP will ease pressure and it’s a great way to identify your ‘starting point’.

So.  What does this mean for YouTube?  I am going to continue to make videos and products to help people WIN the funding they are legally entitled to.  I am going to continue to make videos that will NOT get many views, but for the people that watch them……the value will be vast.

I am going to continue working on videos that will help people in their daily lives.  And I am going to build our community.

Our community is full of people with the same traits:

• Stubbornness (we are extremely stubborn lol)

• Great sense of humours (I was talking to my business coach yesterday and I said I miss filming for YouTube.  I literally said: I miss having a laugh with them (the audience).  He looked at me and I realised…..and then corrected myself. 

OK, I know I sit by myself, laughing by myself or at something I have said.  But in my mind they are with me!  So I am not like, a total weirdo laughing at a conversation in my head…..

I truly feel like I am talking to YOU.  The audience.

I am launching the YouTube Community within the next month.  I have figured it all out (with a lot of help from Fawkes, Bedsocks and Jamie Wiffen.  And a bitch slap from my business coach: Robin Waite lol – FYI the bitch slaps are done with ‘affection’ hahahaha).

I LOVE Youtube, I mean there is soooo much to learn and as it is constantly evolving I will never get to the end of the learning curve.  I am so excited about it.

AHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh I have sooo much I want to chat about here but lets face it this is not supposed to be a fucking novel LOL.

So, has this worked.  Let me try again: I AM a Youtuber.

Nope.  Can’t say it or believe it.  OK, adding it to the ‘work in progress’ list!

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Achievement of the week

I over booked (shocker) with new clients this week.  The problem is I LOVE meeting people (online, face to face is too much physically for me).  And its always amazing going through the process with people.  Helping them figure out what their lives are really like.

What may be their norm is NOT the norm for able bodied people.  We spend a lot of time problem solving.  This week I was working with code name: FUCKING AMAZING and I asked her opinion about a video that I have never done before.  We were both emotional in our meeting, we had a LOT to figure out.

Thanks for FUCKING AMAZING I am going to do a video for MUMS.  I do this a lot but I have kept it private and I realised when we chatted about it that its wrong to keep it in the shadows.  Even though I am using code names, I feel nervous linking FUCKING AMAZING to this.  But I will be thanking her in the video.  So lets get over the fear that I have……I don’t know why….I don’t really understand this.

Let me explain.  I help quite a large number of mums who are chronically ill.  But we have an extra challenge.  They have young children.  So, when we are doing their PIP forms and preparing for their assessments we have to be VERY aware that all of the information might be passed over to social services.

There are so many mums who do not apply for the funding they are entitled to as they are scared their children will be taken away.  It breaks my heart.  These mums are making sure their children are safe, fed, have clean clothes, a safe warm home.  They will forget to eat themselves, but their children will never go without.

But, it doesn’t change the fact that we DO have to be careful in how we explain the mums daily life.

The great thing is that I have spent time with Social Workers who specialise in child protection so I have a clear understanding of what would constitute a child being taken into care.  But even with that knowledge, the mums are terrified.

I am going to do a video about this and let’s start talking openly about these challenges.  Whilst protecting the chronically ill mums.  As I typed this, I think I need to get a social worker to explain the reality of what would result in a child being taken away or a parent being monitored/experiencing visits from a social worker to their home.

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What has made me happy

I have been really stuck with how to solve the issue of providing MORE support for people that need it with PIP issues.   With my business coach and the EMPATHY GODDESS, I have figure out want type of person I want to recruit and how.  I am so so happy with this.

I also got to work with code names:

• POLICE DOG

• MY TWIN

• YOLO

• GET A FUCKING DOG

• FUCKING AMAZING

• SAVAGE

I didn’t realise how much I swore in code names LOL.  These code names help me recall the individual.  I remember them uniquely, but never where they are in PIP or what I have helped them with.  Its been an amazing week working with these stunningly stubborn, determined warriors.  It makes me so happy.

Part of the problem is that everyone is so fucking interesting and I litereally do not have enough time. I want to be able to speak to EVERYONE I have linked with. If you are reading this, once you get a code name. You are in my head and I worry about you. I really hope you are doing ok and have made progress.

And FFS be nicer to yourself!!!! Give yourself credit.

I need to set up some sort of community soon as I would love to see little updates like weekly updates on ‘wins’ things like: I got dressed twice this week! Or I managed to make a sandwich! Or a biggy…..I had a BATH!!!!

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Books I have read

None.  Crap.

Well fuck. Subscribe now for more ‘book guilt’ updates LOL. I LOVE to read but with brain fog and fatigue its so damn hard.

I didn’t even read a terribly brilliant romance hahaha

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Arthritis update

I can’t remember if I told you last week, that I contacted the hospital for help.  I need to get steroid injections into my jaw joints, ribs to sternum and potentially my right shoulder joint.  I am just waiting for them to give me a shout.

I have cut down my daily steps to try and be kinder to myself.  When I take Ollie and Matilda out, its like my Everest.  Even if I don’t get to what I call the ‘dog pond’ I still feel massively grateful and so happy.  But, a couple of times this week I have been stuck on the floor. 

I got home one day and went straight into my mums bungalow.  She thought I had been in a bath, fully dressed in my waterproofs…..nope it was just raining and I couldn’t get off the floor LOL.  I was fine.  I was warm and safe and it doesn’t take long until I know another dog walker will be by.

I did the really ungraceful crawl (trying to not put weight on my right knee) to then crawl up some rocks to a vertical position.  I am so glad no one saw me do this hahaha.  I didn’t sit back down on this day so I was super fatigued all day.  Sometimes I have to stay seated for up to an hour.

Don’t worry if you are new to reading this.  Its normal for me.  I still get out, I don’t care if I have to sit on the floor or look like a dick trying to get back up.  I still achieve taking the dogs out!  I get to listen to the birds and enjoy the habitat around me.  Its worth the unusual approach!

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PIP

It is NOT confirmed that we will be getting VOUCHERS!!!  Please refer to the video below.

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What I am looking forward to

So, for my birthday due to fatigue we have staggered the day.  Normally I dread my birthday as its too overwhelming.  Even with loads of planning I cannot keep up and I hate it.  All I want is to be able to rest but you have to smile for people.

Well this year, I think I have sussed it.

Last Sunday we went for a lunch time carvery.  I was still struggling, but we picked seating so I could support my body.  I found it hard to eat whilst out.  I think I was trying hard to look ‘normal’ and sit upright.  The food was LUSH!

On Sunday we (The Bird Nerds) are doing a short journey (I’m not driving) to try and spot some wading birds as I have not seen hardly any in my lifetime.  I am sooo excited.  We will only be there for an hour or two max as then I will need to go to bed.  BUT, I WILL be doing it!!!!

Then on Monday, my actual birthday.  I am popping round my BFF’s before he goes to school so I can open my gifts with him.  Then I am having a relaxing day at home with my mum and all of the cats and dogs and many many birds in the garden.  We are actually going to have our Christmas Dinner on my birthday.  Filet steak, cheesy mash and pepper corn sauce.  Its making me dribble just typing this!

I will also be calling YOLO to open her gifts during a Google Meet LOL.

Then I am going to chill and hopefully (if I am not too sick from Sunday) read a book!  Or at least start a book!

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This weeks video

I LOVE this video, I had so much fun recording it and it WILL help loads of people. I know its a really serious subject but its great being able to have a laugh as well:

Take care of yourself

Charlie

If anyone sends me anything via Amazon, I put photos in here. If I get anything in the PO Box I film it and they will be available in the YouTube Community thingy (including anything I have received to date! I don’t know about you but I love watching ‘haul’ or ‘gift opening’ videos so I film it.

P.S If any of you want to contact me, please email: charliesjourney2024@outlook.com

Code name: YOLO protects me, so she manages all email communication and attempts to make sure I do not over load myself LOL

To book an appointment with me: https://calendly.com/charliesjourney

If you want to send me a little thank you (please do NOT do this unless you can truly afford it as I promise I have food to eat and can pay the mortgage x), here is my Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/29P1EFQ3E47FW?ref_=wl_share