I Hit 10,000 Subscribers on YouTube

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Today I reached a big milestone on YouTube: 10,000 subscribers.
It only took me six years to get here—some makeup influencers manage that in six days. But hey, they say it’s about the journey, not the destination.

If you haven’t checked out my channel yet, it’s all about graphic design, photo and video editing, coding, and a bit of AI. I create tutorials for both Adobe and open-source programs, and I document my personal learning projects—like using AI to make comics or diving into new programming languages.

I remember exactly when I started: January 2019. I wanted to learn something new and maybe build a side income. I saw a few people on YouTube doing Photoshop tutorials and thought, why not? I could improve my Photoshop skills, practice speaking English, and pick up some video editing along the way.

Fast forward six years, my English has improved a lot, my Photoshop skills are bordering on advanced, and I’d say my video editing is at an intermediate level. I’ve also explored the world of AI, which was an unexpected but exciting bonus. And I’ve tried open-source alternatives to Adobe that I probably never would’ve looked at if I hadn’t started the channel.

As for the income stream… let’s just say there’s plenty of room for improvement. The money I make covers the cost of the software I use to make my videos and leaves a bit of spare change for books and vide games I rarely play.

Back when I started, I had high hopes: 1,000 subscribers in six months, 10,000 in a year, 100,000 in three, and eventually a million.

Yeah… not quite. Growth was slow and sometimes painfully so from day one. For a long time, nothing happened at all.

What kept me going was the fun and the drive to keep learning. That’s what’s kept me going for six years, and that’s what will keep me going for another six. I don’t really expect to ever hit a million subscribers—heck, even 100K seems far off—but I’m deeply grateful for everyone who joined the channel. Wherever it goes from here, I’m happy to find out without any expectations of hitting it big.

Thanks to everyone who’s subscribed—and welcome to those just jumping on board. Onwards to a full decade on YouTube.

The Idol – Season 1 Review

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This show was torn apart by critics and audiences alike. I tend to enjoy unusual films and series that most people can’t quite connect with, so I had to check it out for myself.

The Idol follows a pop singer (played by Lily-Rose Depp) who finds herself at a career crossroads after a public breakdown. She meets Tedros (The Weeknd), a mysterious nightclub manager and self-proclaimed guru who seemingly reignites her creative spark.

Critics described the show as “bordering on pornography” and lacking in substance. The explicit scenes were a bit much for me, too. They felt unnecessarily graphic, though not quite as extreme as some have made them out to be. Yes, Lily-Rose Depp wears revealing outfits and appears nude in several scenes that felt unnecessary, but it’s not accurate to say the show is solely about erotica.

What I do agree with is that the story lacks depth. And that’s a shame, because the premise is unique and had a lot of potential. The biggest letdown was the final twist—it wasn’t properly set up and left me with more questions than answers.

The strongest aspects of the series are the cinematography and the music, both of which are excellent.

With a better script, The Idol could have been fantastic. The concept and visual design are top-notch. The first two episodes are suspenseful and refreshingly different. Unfortunately, the later episodes derail everything with forced and unconvincing character developments. It’s a pity—this is exactly the kind of show I want to see, if only it had been written better.

Defense Wins Championships But Not Play-Ins | The Mavericks Disaster

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On February 1st, I thought the internet had successfully fooled the mainstream media. When I first read about Luka Doncic being traded to the Lakers, I assumed it was just another troll job that had tricked the entire sports news cycle. But it wasn’t.

Luka was actually traded to the Lakers — in a deal nobody saw coming, and only a few ever thought possible.

The man behind the trade, Nico Harrison, instantly became the most talked-about name in basketball. History will either make him famous or infamous for this decision.

Yesterday, I watched the Mavericks get blown out in the Play-In game against the Grizzlies. A complete disaster. The season is over for Dallas — a team that made the Finals just last year.

Sure, Kyrie was injured. Anthony Davis wasn’t fully healthy. And the Mavs dealt with role player injuries all season long. But even if everyone had stayed healthy, this team wouldn’t have been a legitimate championship contender.

Next season will be make-or-break for Nico Harrison as GM. If this trade turns out to be the disaster most people believe it is, he might never work in the NBA again — and rightfully so.

And even if the Mavericks do become a contender next year, it will still carry a bitter aftertaste. Because Luka Doncic wasn’t just a great player — he was that kind of player. The kind you associate with one team. Like Tim Duncan. Dirk Nowitzki. Stephen Curry. Kobe Bryant. A player you simply can’t picture in a different jersey.

Nico Harrison made the unimaginable a reality — and forced it onto millions of fans.

Some say the league wanted Luka in a Lakers jersey to boost declining ratings. Others claim the Mavericks’ owners want to tank the franchise and move it to Las Vegas. Harrison himself says Luka’s defense and work ethic weren’t championship material. One of his key quotes was: “Defense wins championships.”

Well, I guess we’ll never know what really drove the trade.

But one thing is clear: defense doesn’t win Play-In games — at least not for Dallas.

Let’s see what next season brings, while the NBA and Luka move own to play for the championship 2025… without the Mavericks. And without Nico Harrison.

I’ve Added a Search Bar to My Archives Page

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This site runs with WordPress which is a content management system for blogs like mine. If you want to have your own site, I’d recommend checking it out. It’s easy to use and offers so-called plug-ins that you can add to your site easily.

Yesterday, I added a search function to my archives page with a plug-in called “Search in Place”. It can be used to search my website easily and I think it’ll help with accessibility of my content – especially in the future, when there are hundreds (maybe thousands) of posts on this site.

The search bar can be placed on any page or post and it looks like this:

If you run a blog (or think about running one) check out the plug-in, you can find it here: WordPress Search in Place

Creating A Resources Page

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I used to run a bigger website. One of its main features was a collection of resource links — a personal roadmap to the internet filled with videos, articles, websites, books, and courses I found helpful.

It wasn’t just about writing. It covered all kinds of interests: from writing to graphic design, video editing, fitness training, philosophy, and more.

People found it useful. So now, I’m thinking about rebuilding it here on my current site. It’ll be a work in progress, expanding over time. Whenever I come across something valuable, I’ll add it.

What will be part of it?

  • Writing
    Author blogs, helpful tools, books, and YouTube channels about writing better books — and marketing them.
  • Graphic Design
    I used to make most of my income as a graphic designer. These days, I’m transitioning to teaching design tools on YouTube. I’ll share links to my own courses and other great resources for anyone wanting to learn design for personal projects or to start freelancing.
  • Video Editing
    One of my mid-term goals is to start vlogging. I already have a good handle on Premiere Pro and CapCut. After Effects is a different beast — still working on that one.
  • AI
    I use AI tools for editing and creative work. I’m familiar with Midjourney, and the long-term goal is to create AI-generated comics and films.
  • Social Media
    I’ve learned quite a bit about YouTube over the years. Twitter/X and Instagram still confuse me, but maybe that’ll change. I’ll document the biggest lessons I learn as I figure out how to grow on each platform.
  • Fitness
    I used to work as a personal trainer, so I know what I’m talking about. My health isn’t what it used to be, but I still train regularly to stay in shape. I believe everyone should. I’ll share the tools and routines for it.
  • Religion / Philosophy / Politics
    The older I get, the more I realize these three are deeply connected. My current perspective falls somewhere between Ayn Rand’s Objectivism, libertarianism, and Christianity.
  • Advice to My Son
    My father was a hardworking man, but apart from instilling a strong work ethic, he didn’t teach me much. I don’t want to repeat that mistake. This section will collect the most valuable life lessons I’d want to pass on to my son(s).
  • Making Money
    Everyone wants to make money — especially those who say they don’t. I’ve worked many jobs. I failed at many, succeeded at enough to live a good life. Here I’ll share what I’ve learned from making a living online, investing, and the corporate life.
  • Entertainment
    All a man needs is danger and play, Nietzsche said. Life without play and entertainment is dull. I love James Bond, Reacher, Star Trek, (non-Disney) Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Kill Tony, Anthony Jeselnik’s comedy, and more. I’m a casual gamer and still enjoy watching the NBA Playoffs, NFL, Formula 1, and football. I’ll share my favorite books, movies, shows, comics, anime, YouTube channels — all the things that entertain me.
  • International Living
    I was born in Germany, but I don’t want to die here. One of my mid-term goals is to leave this overtaxed, bureaucratic mess for a better life elsewhere. Once I start this chapter, I’ll share everything I learn: living abroad, multiple passports, driver’s licenses, foreign bank accounts, and more.
  • Other Hobbies
    I’m currently learning Spanish for fun. In the short term, I want to get into motorcycle riding. I’d like to try canoeing. One of my bolder dreams is to become a pilot and build a homestead on my own farm. I don’t know which of these goals will become reality, but once they do, I’ll share what I learn.

As I said, this will be a lifelong project — constantly changing, always expanding. I plan to blog for the rest of my life. So this resources page will grow along with me. Let’s see what it becomes.

For now, you can check out the (almost) empty resources page right here.