All opinions are always 100% honest and my own. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I also participate in: CJ Affiliate; eBay Partner Network; Rakuten Affiliate Network; ShareASale; Walmart Affiliate Program; independent affiliate networks.
Do you ever feel like YouTube just isn’t working?
After reviving my channel last year, I’ve been wrestling with discouragement, stalled views, and subscriber counts that bounce up and down with no clear reason. It’s not easy to keep creating when the numbers don’t match the effort.
Discouragement Is Real
I’ve had some wins over the years—videos with thousands or even hundreds of thousands of views. But lately, my new uploads barely break a hundred. My Viking funeral video? About 40 views so far!
My old goal was 10,000 subs by 2025. Now? Not happening. So I’ve reset. Today my goal is simpler: 100 views per vlog. A realistic bar, but one that still matters.
Purpose Over Numbers
If I only focus on analytics, I’ll burn out fast. So I asked myself: why am I really here?
- To document projects and progress
- To leave stories for my kids and grandkids
- To hold myself accountable
- To share lessons I’ve learned
That’s purpose worth showing up for, even when views don’t soar.
The Power of People
The second piece is community. I believe there are kindred spirits out there—midlife creators who want to thrive without the crisis. I’m not looking for endless leisure, doom and gloom, or chasing youth. I want to love my family, stay active, serve, and keep living with energy.
George Bernard Shaw said:
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
For me, that truth—anchored in Christ—is the life I want to build.
Invitation
If you’re a midlife YouTuber, I don’t have the secret formula. But I’d love to connect. Share your channel or nominate another in the comments. I’m building a list of creators who share joy, honesty, and hope.
Because views may rise and fall. But purpose and people? That’s what keeps me here.
Alison Moore Smith is a 60-year-old entrepreneur. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 39 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons.
She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
Join her on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X, and (barely) TikTok.