From Camera Shy to YouTube Star: Fanny Comota’s Journey to 10K Subscribers

Welcome, dear listeners to the speaking flow

podcast where we share unique experiences to help you build

your effective communication and leadership. Today, we have Fanny

Comota. She's an editor, and she Hi, Bonnie Glad you're here.

She's the editor in chief of living originally living richly

on a budget. Yes. And she's also the author of two ebooks eat

gluten free on a budget and also eat organic on a budget, and

she's a YouTuber. So she's doing a lot of content creation, and

bringing finance education to you. And so I'm so glad you're

here. And so let's just jump right in Fanny, I'm so curious,

how did you get into this whole world anyways of budgeting,

finance, and I love the concept of living richly on a budget,

and then bringing that content to your listeners to the

audience.

Um, I've been, like blogging since like, 2006.

So it's like, a long time. And then I went through like, after

I was a wedding videographer first and then I was blogging

the same time and and I I just started to work in. I was

working in some marketing firms, and then I got kept getting laid

off. And I was like, Oh, I'm, I need to somehow survive, like,

because I was like, newly married and I'm like, Okay,

we're like living on one income and income we're gonna get

through. And so I started a blog, living within a budget.

And just because I went to learn how to save money and how to pay

off debt, and back then it's like, everyone was just like,

only like, certain voices out there as it's just like Dave

Ramsey, and Suze Orman. But just like, What about, there's only

like, one way to budget back then. I was like, What about

like, I want to create something more fun, like, I created like a

more colourful, like budgeting worksheet, like a whole binder.

And then I also did like a step by step system, because it was

like everyone has like budget worksheets, or like back then it

was just like Excel or something. But there was black

and white. So I created something more colourful, and

then also a guide to go along with because back then there's

no really like a step by step guide that was together with

some worksheets. So I started doing that. And then and then I

started doing YouTube, like in 2020 12. And back then I never,

I never wanted to be on camera, I have a degree in broadcasting.

And I always enjoyed being behind the camera. I didn't want

to be in front because I was very shy, I wasn't very

confident. And I just decided to try because I wanted to create

some videos, I think before I wanted to do a cooking kind of

video thing. And I tried to work with someone else, but they just

wanted me to like create all the content and they get to like all

the attention like and I'm like, No, I don't do that. I'm like,

why am I coming with the recipes, and then you're gonna

cook and it's gonna look like you did it yourself. And it's

like, oh, like, that's not fair. So I was like, Okay, I have to

do it, then I have to be the face. And so I started the first

video was doing sugar free Chai recipe. Back then I was going

through like food allergy, so I had to make everything from

scratch. So had to relearn how to cook from scratch. Uh huh.

That was allergic to a bunch of things. So I had to control

everything. So I started creating that video and I didn't

have a tripod. And back then that the technology was

different because your phone couldn't hold that much video. I

don't know, if you remember back then 2011 2012. It's like you

could film like a minute or so and then your your cartridge for

your phone is folder ready? Or people started doing it on their

computer or laptop instead? Because he is better anyway,

like, well.

So I want to break this down. Because you're saying

all this rich information. I just, I'm so inspired because

going back to when you were just trying to carve a niche for

yourself and trying to figure out who am i What is this voice?

What am How am I going to stand out in terms of like you said

nobody had this the sheets on a budget are you like that

parallels to a lot of the leaders that our audience

members when they're still trying to figure out your niche,

figure out your expertise and because before you even speak

right before you even express yourself, you want to always be

mindful about like who am I? What is my niche or what is the

what do I want to be known for? And so you ask, did you ask

yourself some questions at the time? What is everybody else

doing? What are some of those questions that help you create

your niche? Did you look around and say nobody else is doing

this? I should do this?

Well, I think it's like I didn't really know I was

doing well. In a couponing blog, I'm being honest, I didn't know

it's exhausting me for being blocked. So I started doing

that. And then also just like, I just just tried different things

until I don't like something that worked.

So okay, so then that's one of the key sometimes

we don't know, at least you just, it sounds like you just

kept on doing things.

I just kept trying different things. And even the

video like it took years to like, figure out that that

recipes was working for me. Like the first couple of videos was

really bad. I didn't know what I was saying. I was just like

rambling on and on. And there wasn't a guide back then, like

2012 and 2013. No, not many people are doing YouTube. So

it's not like you knew what to do. You're kind of like

stumbling. So I would watch my videos on like, Oh, I didn't

like how I did this and that. But after a certain amount of

time of practice, then I started having a flow to it. And then,

like speaking flow,

what was the thing that you didn't like about your

videos? Like, what did you avoid about? Did you not like the way

you look?

mannerisms? I just like, oh, I don't like how I

look and blah, blah, blah. And then after practising and

Nocturne doing so many times, just Yeah, anymore. I was like,

whatever, I put it out. If it flops it flops, I'm just

practising and even, it's actually good if you have a

small following, because it's like, oh, no one saw my video

anyway, because I'm just practising. And if it went bad,

like whatever I practice, and then next one becomes a little

bit better. And then until I hit like, one, I did one and 2016

were like, I just had my son, I was so tired, but I was like I

Instant Pot just came out on like, I want to show people how

to use Instant Pot. There's not many videos out there right now.

Right? So I just started filming, I did selfie mode on my

phone. I didn't have makeup on and have a tripod, it wasn't

polish, it was just like, I didn't know what's gonna stay. I

just started picking it up, I start filming yourself, here's

how to use it in some pot. And then I really stood on Black

Friday, and it like started picking up and I'm like, Oh my

gosh. But thing was like the video was like, really grainy.

It was like, Really, I shot it in the wrong setting. But didn't

matter because I almost deleted it. And then I was like, oh,

everyone's watching it. So I was like, Okay, this one's picking

up and now has a million views. And it's the content. It doesn't

matter. Like I didn't have makeup. I didn't know saying,

you know, like people connected to it because the content was

good. Like it just showed them how to use Instant Pot. So yeah,

and you're being real, like it was a

I think there's a part of it that people like

about that about just being you authentic you and not stage. And

I mean, it just is also authentic.

I think so it just it wasn't like I was trying to

get the content.

You got to do both. Yeah. So it wasn't Yeah, it was

like good content plus you being you.

Yes. So I was like, Wow, this one is powerful.

Like YouTube is powerful. Like, I just didn't. I didn't I was

just blown away by I knew I always knew that video was

powerful. I fell in love with it. When I was like 15. I

started like learning about in high school and I start having

some classes at school. And I'm like, Oh, this is so

interesting. And I remember even when I went to college people

were like, Why are you to study video regularly. People didn't

understand Paul's like, I know, it's a powerful medium, because

it's like, it impacts people like you. You're demonstrating

something, and then people like can see how you're doing it. And

then it's like you're showing them in person. It's like

something so powerful now like, it's so big. It's like

everything is video, like every platform has video.

And 10,000

1000 subscribers, it took a long time to build.

And that's a big milestone. I'm happy for us a lot of trying

over and over again. Almost, I almost gave up. It's like I

almost gave up so many times. It's like oh, never reach it.

I'm so close to it. I was like forget it. Like I give up and

when I almost gave up that's when it like hit.

Yeah. How many times like you over the so how

many years? Has it been

2012. So more than 10 years, more than 10 years? So

yeah, how many times you wanted to give up? You think a lot of

times, I was like what am I doing on YouTube was like, look

at all these people doing so much better than you know, like,

you kind of compare yourself or like, whatever, I have my own

path. And I have kids like I'm taking care of kids and trying

to do this at the same time when I want to have time. So yeah, I

was like, I'm not gonna I can't do that thing where people like

oh to every week, I can't do it. It's like so hard. It is. But I

think I'm happy with the progress.

how much how many how many videos you do? A week

or a month?

I don't know. I'm not on a consistent basis where

I took a little break because I was trying to figure out my

niche again. And the whole niche thing. Sometimes it's like, do I

need to be in a niche I'm like in cooking and like saving

money. But I feel like I can't put that constraint on myself.

It's like I have to just try different things and see what

works

Hmm, like you said, that's what you did. That's how

you got successful in the first place, right? You're just

trying, sometimes we don't know what we're going to do. And but

then it's when you keep trying, you start to, you won't be able

to figure it out. If you don't try. There's nothing to figure

out because we're avoiding

it. You just have to.

Yeah, take just be confident enough to take a chance in being

like, I'm trying and even if it doesn't work out, I mean, if it

doesn't, like, have the success that I think I wanted to have,

it's still fine. Because I'm still like, practising, it's

still gonna get me to another level. Yeah. What do you so what

are you thinking about your videos and your YouTube channel?

The next phase? Are you trying to carve out another

niche or involving?

Yeah, I'm thinking about more like, going into,

like teaching people how to do videos more. And I'm thinking

about that kind of niche. Because I feel like there's not

a lot of people doing that, like teaching people how to film and

edit.

So do you film and all your videos?

I do.

Oh, God, I don't estimate it. So I film it myself.

Yeah, and then have you been able to make some money

and living off of it?

I did. And then but I think during the pandemic,

everything changed. Because like how the ad income advertisers

kind of pulled out from

Google. So I know, like YouTube, like the income drops a lot. So

it's like up and down as an online entrepreneur, like I was

making, like enough to pay rent before and then it goes up and

down. So yeah, kind of like you had to keep adjusting.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Entrepreneurship. And that's

what it's about, right? I don't. I mean, even when you walk into

a retail store, Don't you notice, sometimes there's nobody

there. And then all of a sudden one person goes in, and then all

the other people go in into the retail store at the same time?

Have you ever noticed that phenomenon? Everybody comes

together? And then they all leave? Like, oh, yeah, yeah, me

because my parents used to own a restaurant, and all the

customers would come at the same time, and then they all leave

retail like that to the same thing with entrepreneurship,

you're gonna have these ups and downs and ups and downs. And,

and so it's more of a matter of when you go up, you don't come

so down. Trying to trying to keep the downward. You're gonna

go up and down. Like, there's no way out of it. Yeah. But the key

is, when we come down with our finances, trying not to go so

far, low in the finances before it goes back that, just know

that your finances will go up. You will you you will evolve you

if you don't, when you don't stop, right, you'll evolve your

you'll get it, you know, so just continue to try and you'll go

back up. Yeah, with financing.

A lot of people like pivoting like after 10

years to do something else.

So yeah, yeah. I mean, yeah. When you're putting

out content, when you're putting out any information, if you're

bored with it, it's not gonna work.

You got to be true to yourself, right? True to the passion of

your content true to the passion of what you're bringing to the

world. And that's true for when we speak when we wonder whether

we're doing video or whether we're doing a presentation.

Yeah, dig deep, dig deep into your passion and finding out

like, so the fuel because your your energy is actually

contagious. When you're happy delivering your content, that's

what draws people in. People happiness is contagious. Also

sadness. If you're grumpy and irritated. You can see that in

your content and maybe on YouTube is actually catchy.

That's fine. Right? It's, it depends, like, you know what

your brand is? And so, so yeah, if you're feeling a little bit

yeah, like you want to change, go find that you've done it

before. You've done it before in terms of carving out the niche

that makes you happy and mix and also puts out great content. And

so that's what people want to hear and love.

Yeah, so take them take a little break to figure

out like when I'm which direction is going to know.

But also maybe the video maybe helping people on

video?

Yeah, I'm very passionate about video and video

production. i

Yeah. Yeah,

I haven't ever taught before and, ya know,

and then when you're talking about it, just

now I can hear it. You're like it's powerful. Video is powerful

is so key getting you know, because people get to see you.

They get to feel, and they almost feel like they may know

you. Yeah, they feel like they know you. Yeah, yeah.

And you think I want I want to say on your

podcast is like, I started like not wanting to be on video and

now I am on YouTube. And now I have 10,000 subscribers and it's

like, yeah, that can be you too. Like, it's like, you have to get

over the fear and you have to just keep trying and you're

gonna fall it's not gonna be perfect right away. You're not

gonna get viral like the first video. It's like, you have to

keep trying and as you keep trying, everything builds up to

like You build more confidence. Yeah. And there's like more of a

flow. And I feel like now I know like, what I'm going to say and

how it's going to be and how my shots are going to be. And it's

easier as you keep going, keep going. And then it helped me. I

think, being on YouTube, just give me more confidence and just

speaking in general, like, because it's like, oh, not

afraid to do YouTube, like, whatever. Like I read speak in

front of camera. puberty, hear me and I still see my daughter.

Like, she watched me like so many times. And then when she

did a video, and she was very smooth, I was like, Whoa, I was

like, okay, she was like watching me like she she can

that gets practice. Wow. Like, she's doing well. Like she could

speak in front of camera too. And like, it was like, just

shocked. I was like, the kids are watching you, you know?

Yeah. Yeah, they're watching. Yeah, that's so cool.

I'm so glad that you had her your your her role model. Yeah,

for that. It'll help build her confidence too. Yeah. Yeah. To

get herself out there. Well, I'm so thank you so much for sharing

your inspirational story. What would you share to someone or

say to someone, if they are afraid to start their videos?

I think just go for it. If it's like a nudge

that you keep feeling like I don't want to be on YouTube. I'm

feeling like I know, like people want it. And then it's like,

they don't ever try because they're scared. Right? Just the

thing is, the technology is here you have the phone, there's a

lot of editing programmes out. It's not like back then where

it's so difficult. Like were 20 years ago, you had to buy $1,000

camera, you had to get expensive computer and it was so hard to

get a video out. Now, it's like you have no excuse. It's just

like your fear, you have to get over the fear. And just start

practising filming yourself, start talking to it. And just

post it like so what, like, you know what, no one's gonna see it

in the first, you know, when you first posted and I was gonna see

it anyway. It's like, it's, you're just practising and over

time, you're gonna build an audience, you're gonna build a

connection, you're gonna hear from people talking to you like,

oh, that video was so great. You know, like, I get comments, or

like, that video really helped me and I'm like, Oh, really,

it's like, it's like, okay, I have an impact or impact when

you're doing video. You're connecting with them, you're

helping them and it's like, they're hearing your voice, your

voice matters. I think what I learned from this whole thing is

like, My voice matters. Like before, I felt like, I didn't

have a confidence because it was like, Oh, why do people want to

hear from me, but then it's like, oh, I have a unique

perspective. Also, there's not a lot of Asian people in the

online space. Right? Like, it's like, when I'm in I was like,

going to summit like, last month. I was like, only Asian

person in there. Like, a couple years ago, and I was like, one

of three Asian women. Like, there's not a lot of us. So it's

like, there needs to be more, more of our voices out there. So

go for it. Just try it doesn't like so what if it doesn't, you

know, like, you don't know what to try. Don't like have to

regret later when you're old. And you're like, I wish I did

it. You know, just go for it doesn't matter.

Right? I love that. Thank you. And you have a you

have a planner, right?

Yeah. Yeah, I have a YouTube planner on my blog as

well. You can check it out. And we'll put it into the show

notes. So then also my budgeting Made Easy worksheet and guide.

Yeah, so helpful. Yeah.

Thank you, Fanny. Thank you. That was really

helpful and inspiration. I love your unique perspective and how

you've overcome it. It's actually very, it's because you

did it. And when you can do it and you're sharing this

experience. I hope that people are also inspired by you and

motivated to take action, especially if they have that

nudge to start their videos. Yeah. Thank you so much. Oh,

thank you so much. And reach out to Fannie if you actually want

some more support with YouTube or budgeting and, and food and cooking.

So thank you, Fanny. Take care, everyone. Until next time

listeners. It's good to see you and be with you.

All right. Bye.