Building a Business from Zero

Welcome to the 16th edition of Notes by Chris B Co.  The year has got off to a flying start!  Project work is relatively on track, and I’ve delivered two client projects (phases) so far.  I’ve been doing research on my digital product idea and building out what that might look like in five years.  I’ve even tested my skills in a CAD speed modelling tournament!  I’ll get into it all below. Let's go.

Here’s the content from today's edition:

• Starting a YouTube channel

• Developing a plan to align values and goals

• Too Tall Toby’s CAD Modelling Tournament

• Where to next

Please find any of my previous editions here if you've missed them.

01 / LAUNCHING SOON
Starting a YouTube Channel

Let me introduce you to Fully Defined 

No published videos yet, but planning and recording has already started.  As you can see from the channel description - the plan is to create a home for Designers (product/industrial) to learn and excel in the use of SolidWorks.  

My preliminary research has found that such a channel or website does not exist, and I believe there would be an audience for one.  (If something like this does exist, please point me in their direction).  Yes, there are general channels and many training platforms for SolidWorks, but from what I can see, they are generic.  It is difficult to find information on how to use SolidWorks throughout the design process.  I’d like to show others how to use CAD software from concept to production and teach them how to do so from a design perspective.  This will be my niche.

Let me answer some more questions in a short format:

• Why YouTube (videos)? 
  The best way to learn is by doing.  Most people I know like to work/learn when it suits them.  YouTube (or any subsequent digital product/course) will allow this.
  

• What kind of content?
  I’m starting with the lessons I used to teach when I spent a decade at RMIT University.  After that, I’ll branch out into more advanced topics and include personal projects.
  

• Aren’t videos a lot of work?  
  Yes - as I’m finding out.  But I have all the skills, why not put them to good use.
  

• What skills? 
  Video/animation editing and graphic design - learnt from years of doing instructional videos and acting as a graphic/branding designer where there was none at Quest PS.
  

• Will it make any money?
  To start, no.  Long-term, maybe?  See planning below for more details.
  

• What will family/friends/colleagues think? 
  I don’t know, but I’d think they would be supportive!
  

• Why teaching? 
  Well, I gave up my role at RMIT at the end of 2017 not because I didn’t enjoy teaching but because I could no longer commit to the time’s designated by the university.  I’ve always enjoyed teaching/coaching and now I’ll have the opportunity to do so on my own terms and at my own pace.
  

• Who inspired this? 
  Chris Do (theFutur), Aryan Fallahi (SolidWorks Course Pro), Daniel Scott, and others
  

• What’s happening next? 
  I want to record and edit a number of videos before I officially launch the channel.  I’ll have the first project up so any viewers can complete it.  It’s looking to be around 6 hours of content!

02 / BUSINESS PLANNING
Developing a Plan

Ok, so the idea for a YouTube channel does not stand alone.  I’ve been working on a plan to see how various elements would connect.  Things like: free content, paid content, lead (viewer) generation, “products” to sell, and where it all might lead to.  As the idea is to “build in public”, let me share with you the plan.

This is a living document; you can view and zoom around via the Figjam link.  As I make edits, they’ll appear within the file.  The plan is not just to provide free SolidWorks lessons and stop.  The plan is to teach other Designers how to master the software and use it to build their own careers!  If I successfully communicate the value and execute the lessons, the hope is that viewers will seek additional resources.  These resources or additional training are what would equate to the PAID content.  The FREE content (YouTube) will allow for segments to be clipped and shared elsewhere, like Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok (!) and even combined into other projects or courses.  Curation and editing are going to be important.

How big is the potential market?

Let’s look at that with estimates built on what we know, with gaps filled in by ChatGPT.

That means a lot of people are potentially looking for help.  When I say market, and look at those numbers above, there is a part of me thinking, “wow, if I could provide value to just 1% of those @ $10 a pop, that’s $20K a year!”  But the more exciting part is the opportunity it shows to make an impact and help others.

When I taught at RMIT, it was approximately 20 students in a class at a time, and I’d have them for 36 hours a semester.  Then they’d move on.  I did this for ten years, so give or take, having done four classes a year for ten years, that was 800 students I’d helped.  Yet there are hundreds of thousands of potential learners out there that could be looking for help!

BY THE WAY

I came across some other stats while I was doing this research.  I can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it, but I hold a CSWE (Certified SolidWorks Expert) from Dassault Systemes.  Back in 2013, when I obtained it, I think I was around the 90th CWSE in Australia.  How many more would there have been in the last decade?  Current stats:

So there are 7406 CSWE worldwide.  How many do you think are Product Designers who run YouTube channels teaching their skills?  I can only find a handful!

03 / BUILDING TRUST
Too Tall Toby Modelling Tournament

Building trust is part of building a YouTube channel or any product audience.  You get some time to do this when students come into your class - you show some examples of your work or experience and get to know them over time.  However, I expect online is going to be a different experience.  I’m going to have to put myself out there a bit more.

So I thought, why not challenge myself on the public record…  Too Tall Toby’s channel has been showing up on my YouTube algorithm for a while now; let’s check it out.  The basics are this:

• Free to enter 

• CAD speed modelling challenge

• Use any software

• The task is to create a 3D model based on a drawing

• Apply a material/density and submit your answer with the mass of the model

• If you haven’t accurately recreated the geometry, your mass will be wrong

• The tournament is knock-out, 1v1, in a best-of-3 matchup.

As of March 4th 2024, I’ve practised, submitted an entry (a recorded set of 3 models), and competed in the first round of matchups.  You can view the recording of my matchup here. I won my round and have moved on to the next.  I was nervous AF, sweaty palms, etc.  And I had to wake up at 4.30am to compete.  But I did, and it was fun.

The idea here is to get as far as possible in the competition and start the journey of building that trust in my skills - in this example - being very fast at modelling.

04 / THE FUTURE
Where to Next?

I want (and need) to go public with this idea of mine and start gathering feedback and subscribers.  The smart play is to validate the idea - even if just for the free content!  If I’m planning to dedicate a huge chunk of my “free” (valuable) time to this project for the next few years, I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing.  So setting up an emailing list and a launch preview is high on the agenda.

I need to complete the recording of my first “class project” and start editing - that will be fun (and slow).

I need to refine the content plan and I need to start networking - getting into SolidWorks user groups, forums, Design school groups - and seeing who wants to chat, who wants help to get moving.  I’ll need testimonials.

And yeah, that’s it.  Thanks for reading - love to hear your thoughts