Behind The Stream: 12 Years Later

This week Mainstream turned 12 years old.

So… as one does… I went back and watched some of our old videos.

One of my favorites was a FAQ series we filmed back in 2017.

Watching it was a bit mind-blowing.

That version of me had been in business for only three years, had no kids (I have three now), and had worked with maybe 30 clients. Today we’ve worked with nearly 200 organizations and produced more than 2,000 videos.

A lot has changed since then.

Instagram Stories were brand new. LinkedIn video had just launched. TikTok, Reels, and Shorts didn’t even exist yet.

But what surprised me most wasn’t how much had changed. It was how much stayed the same.

The advice I was giving in those videos is almost exactly the same advice we give clients today. The hair is different. The delivery is less confident. There are a lot more kids to raise.

But the message still holds up!

That’s the thing about a good video message. If it’s built around something true, it can last a really long time.

Maybe that’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the last 12 years.

Platforms change. Trends change. Algorithms change. AI goes bonkers. But a good message on video can last forever.

Check out the video series here.

Thanks to everyone who has been part of the last 12 years. I’m excited to see what the next chapter looks like.