pr30 challenge.

30 days. 30 videos. Be authentic. Create relentlessly.

This is a challenge created by Zach Pogrob to help you figure out what you should create, get you started on creating video content, and provide constraints to rapidly get better.

About the Challenge

Excerpts about the challenge from Zach —

Rules/What It Is

1. Post 1 video per day, for 30 days.

You can post on any platform (YouTube, IG, TikTok, Twitter) though most in PR30 focused on YouTube, which I recommend. 5-20 minute videos. Then, you can cut up clips for short-form on IG, TikTok, Twitter, etc. But minimum requirement is a short-form video on any platform, at least 1 minute.

2. Press record. Tell the truth. Document your thoughts, your mission, anything.

You don’t need fancy edits, or a fancy camera. Just press record, and talk about what you care about. Document your ideas. Your life. Building your company. Anything you want.

I recommend thinking of it like a ‘video journal.’ There’s no strict guidelines on what your videos should look like. It can be a sit down talking video, a vlog, anything. All that matters is posting something.

3. Upload before you go to sleep. Anyone who fails will be removed from the official challenge/private group. (You can obviously continue on your own.)

Why This Challenge Exists

Two reasons:

1. I believe authentic creators, that feel like real humans, will be the only ones that matter.

2. Having a daily constraint- forces you to show up, create something, and shows you much you’re truly capable of. Achieving that ‘daily win’ transfers beyond the challenge, and makes you realize how much you can actually do in a single day.

My Experience

Ok so, I underestimated this challenge…

I’ve record 180+ podcasts, 100+ TikTok videos, and am fresh off the 30 day writing challenge… this should be easy!

I was wrong.

I drastically — drastically — underestimated the amount of time it took to take a video from start to finish.

From record (or even finding a quiet place to record), to downloading to editing to writing a caption to FINALLY posting…

Every. Day.

Like it took me a solid 10 days just to find a good rhythm and learn the editing tools, just so this wasn’t a complete slog.

But truthfully…

Knowing how challenging this would be, I probably wouldn’t have done it.

Shoot, I probably shouldn’t have done it…

Here lies my main issue with this challenge…

Priorities.

Nothing to do with the challenge itself, as it is a great tool.

But, underestimating the amount of time it took, meant I started taking time and focus from the shit I really needed to get done.

It felt like a side quest, distracting me from my main quest.

So, that’s the main thing I wish I thought more before going in.

The amount of time it takes.

I don’t mean this as an excuse. As you can make the time. Like I wanted to quit multiple times, yet didn’t because I told myself I would finish. But for me, it wasn’t the right skill I needed to be working on.

Right thing, wrong time.

So, great learning lesson on priorities.

On top of that, forcing myself to do this right after the 30 writing challenge, truly helped me understand my creative process better.

Like if you’ve ever wondered what medium is best for you (writing, video, etc.), back to back 30 day challenges is incredible.

I realized immediately, writing I could take and expand ideas faster. More clearly. And enjoy the process more.

Video I struggled more with. Which makes sense as you record in real time and have more to consider — tone, pausing, presence.

Now I’ve seen people where video is their best primary platform…

But this taught me I am not one of those people!

If I first write and expand ideas THEN turn them into videos, my content is better and I enjoy the process more.

But it’s something you gotta figure out for yourself.

So overall…

I feel more comfortable on camera, I understand the YouTube space a little more now, I got out of my comfort zone, learned more about my creative process and how I need to set priorities.

I definitely recommend this challenge.

My Videos

1. the wrong question holding back good marketing. // pr30 day 1

2. cheat code to learning (lessons from investing $22k in the s&me500) // pr30 day 2

3. i underestimated pr30. // pr30 day 3

4. the "busy" plaque // pr30 day 4

5. don't break the chain (what i learned the last 516 days) // pr30 day 5

6. 20x the effort = 1000x the result // pr30 day 6

7. 3 writing techniques that make your marketing better. // pr 30 day 7

8. pr30 week one. // pr30 day 8

9. my 'about me' page sucked. (sales page vs about me) // pr30 day 9

10. too much inspiration. (overwhelm to clarity) // pr30 day 10

11. Quote from Billy Oppenheimer and Ryan Holiday — Six at 6 on Sunday Newsletter // pr30 day 11

12. marketing is a game of efficiency. // pr30 day 12

13. world building. // pr30 day 13

14. camera is your best friend. // pr30 day 14

15. 8 steps of editing ('about me' page) // pr30 day 15

16. entrepreneur culture and sleep. (what i hate) // pr 30 day 16

17. 5 books for better marketing. // pr30 day 17

18. on delusion. (a case for lying to yourself) // pr30 day 18

19. systems theory for marketing. (funnels are dead) // pr30 day 19

20. never ‘fall off’ (key to momentum) // pr30 day 20

21. 7 mental models to you should know. // pr30 day21

22. small habits for maintaining momentum. // pr30 day 22

23. winners quit. // pr30 day23

24. priorities. // pr30 day24

25. Quote from James Clear // pr30 day 25

26. Quote from Seneca, Moral Letters // pr30 day 26

27. Quote from Brancusi // pr30 day 27

28. on walking. (a requirement for entrepreneurs and creatives) // pr30 day 28

29. inefficiencies scale. (thoughts against optimization) // pr30 day 29

30. pr30 day 30