My Vette…

In a few previous blog posts, I talked about the car (shiny object) I purchased when I was much younger. I am slightly wiser now as I am relying on experience to help me make better decisions. But this blog post will not be about that unfortunate car buying experience but about my very first car.

My first car was purchased when I was a junior in high school.  It was a used 1982 Chevrolet Chevette. It was a four-door hatchback, it had a lot of miles on it, a few scratches on its blue paint and a hole in the muffler. The hole in the muffler made a very loud noise on occasion implying to some there was a very large, very fast engine in that car which was certainly not the case. The car was not a looker, but it was mine, it was loud and I was proud!

I bought the car with my own money and I drove that thing everywhere. I kept it clean. I changed the oil myself. I made sure that it was in good running order and I treated it as if it was the rarest of cars.

It was so great that I was finally able to give people rides rather than ask for rides.  It was also great to have the convenience of going anywhere I wanted and not rely on public transportation. Yes, I had a car and I didn’t care what it looked like because it was all mine.

That is until I met this girl at school. She was very pretty and she was, from what I soon learned, accustomed to being spoiled and treated like a “princess.” It became my mission to ask her out on a date and hopefully get to know her a little better. Deep down I knew that this was not the girl for me. But, I was a teenage boy without a lot of sense and I just had to give it a shot.

I remember approaching her in the lunch room and to my amazement she knew who I was. We struck up a conversation and in my silly shyness, nervousness and stuttering voice I asked her if she had a boyfriend. She smiled at me and said she did not. Then I did it… I asked her to a movie. This was going to be great! I worked at a movie theater and I could get in free and hopefully impress her with my influence at my place of employment. Yep, I planned to show off a little.

We arranged a date and time for me to pick her up and then she asked me a very interesting question. She asked me what kind of car I drove before she would give me her home address. I thought this was weird, but I didn’t care as she had agreed to go on a date with me. But, again, wanting to show off, I told her I had a “Vette,” Not a Chevette. For those who may not know, Vette is slang for Corvette. She was very impressed that I drove a Vette and the date was solidified.

I remember passing her in the halls smiling and thinking “Wow, how in the world did I get so lucky?” I was too naïve to even realize that she was more interested in material things and the car that I drove than me.

I don’t know how it happened. She either saw me driving my Chevette in the parking lot or someone told her that I did not have a Corvette. But within about a day she canceled the date and never talked with me again. I was devastated, embarrassed and mortified. But that didn’t last as I learned a hard lesson about being honest and proud of who I was, regardless of my appearance or the car I drove. As I think about it now, I don’t even remember her name.

But you know what I do remember? That car! The many good times I had in that car with my friends and the freedom that it gave me to do what I wanted to do at any given moment.

I drove that car through my sophomore year in college and only had to give it up when I was involved in an accident (not my fault) and the car was totaled. I am sad to say that I can’t find any pictures of that car other than the very clear picture in my memory. In case you’re curious, here is a picture of a 1982 Chevette versus a 1982 Corvette. I’m sure you can tell the difference! 😊 😊 😊

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

Over my last several blog posts I have been talking about my experiences on TikTok and applying what I’ve learned in the Viral Video Formula that was taught to me. This formula has proven to be very successful for those who follow it and those that persist with the process.

As a quick reminder here is the formula:

1. The Hook: The first step is to immediately capture your audience’s interest with something engaging or unexpected. Whether it’s a powerful opening statement, a surprising fact, or a visually striking moment, the goal is to stop viewers from scrolling past and make them curious to see more. Without this compelling hook, your audience will simply move on to something else.
2. The Buildup: Once you have their attention, it’s time to keep them engaged by building anticipation or creating an emotional connection. This is where storytelling, relatable moments, or suspenseful pacing come into play. You’re guiding the viewer deeper into the experience, maintaining their curiosity, and encouraging them to stay invested in what’s coming next.
3. The Delivery: This is the payoff—the moment when you deliver the main message, solution, or value of your content. It’s clear, impactful, and directly addresses the viewer’s needs or interests. This step solidifies why they stayed, ensuring your message resonates and leaves a lasting impression.
4. The Call to Action (CTA): The final step is to guide your audience toward the desired next action. Whether you want them to like, share, subscribe, click a link, or make a purchase, your CTA needs to be clear, direct, and motivating. This ensures the viewer knows exactly what to do next, maximizing the impact of your content and achieving your goal.

When I first started my experience in creating short video content, I had no idea about following a formula or that there was even a formula to follow. I just pushed record on my smart phone and talked and thought I was going to be the next TikTok superstar.  Yes, I was about to be the next hot, new influencer and viral sensation.

That was far from the truth. As I look at those early videos I shake my head and laugh. Now, as I look at my current videos, I still shake my head and laugh. I’m laughing for different reasons now. Before I was laughing because I looked silly and clueless. Now I’m laughing because while I look silly, I have a I have a purpose and am following a process. I am laughing because of how much fun I am having.

As I practice, the process is getting easier to follow. I don’t know if my videos are getting any better, but I am feeling more comfortable as I create content and place on this platform. I have no doubt that as I continue to produce videos and have the courage to show them on this platform, I will get even better which will lead to success.

My first videos were like my first car. I was so proud of them and I continue to be proud of my bravery and courage to get on TikTok as it truly is out of my comfort zone. They were rough and they were raw but they were all mine. Like my first car, they gave me the freedom to express myself in a new and different way. But then I started to learn. I started to take care to follow a plan and a formula just like I was taking care of my first car.

However, as I started to watch other people’s videos to get ideas about styles and content, I started to feel bad and felt that my presence behind my smart phone was lacking. I wasn’t as good as others. I wasn’t getting the following like others. I wasn’t polished and sleek. In other words, I felt bad that I wasn’t a Corvette.

And then a friend and colleague of mine, Sarah, told me that one of my videos made her laugh and kept her engaged. It was a silly video about my wife and I going to a professional wrestling match with my older son. It didn’t get a lot of views, but I followed the formula and it was actually fun to make.

After encouragement from my wife as well as others, I realized that I may not have Corvette type content right now, but my Chevette gets me to where I want to be.

I have been coached many times before not to compare myself to others and this really isn’t about me wanting to be like others. It’s about me being comfortable with my own way of doing the things and taking the correct steps that I know will make me become successful.

I need to be patient. I need to work the process and follow the formula. I need to practice. I need to trust that I’m going to get to where I need and want to be in the right time. And, I need to have fun.

Right now I’m having a lot of fun creating content and hopefully it produces the results that I want in due time. A little piece of me still wishes I had that Chevette. But more than wishing I still had that car, I am glad for the experiences that I had with that one-of-a-kind Vette 😊. It taught me how to be content and it taught me that freedom is a good thing. That is what my online business will give me – FREEDOM!

What about you? Are you dabbling in the world of video content? If so, are you following a formula and sticking to a plan to provide you with success? I’d love to hear your thoughts and learn from you.

I may not have a Vette, but I do have something a lot more valuable and that is experience mixed with a little bit of wisdom… plus, I have a pretty cool Jeep Wrangler now! See you on the road!

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” – C.S. Lewis

“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

 And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

What kind of car does a Jedi drive? A Toy-Yoda!

What’s a car’s least favorite meal? Traffic jam!

BONUS JOKE

What do you call an old car that still works? A classic… just like my jokes!

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

 

**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more.  And please continue following my blog.  My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.