What I learned from Fishing with Oh Dad!
Can I stay true to myself and still build something that resonates?
As a creative entrepreneur, I’ve felt the pressure to play the quick game — the clickbait headlines, the polished images, the trendy tactics.
I’ve felt the sting of constant comparison: scrolling through social media, and watching others blow up overnight with gimmicks that never align with the work I dream of creating. It’s frustrating and tempting all at once.
You’ve probably asked yourself the same questions I have:
Is being authentic enough?
Do I have to compromise my values to be seen?
Can I stay true to myself and still build something meaningful?
Deep down, you know the answer. You didn’t start this journey to blend into the noise. You started because you had something real to share.
But let’s be honest — this tension is exhausting. Staying true to your values while watching surface-level content dominate can make you question whether you’re cut out for this in the first place.
I’ve been there. But recently, a story on Threads reminded me that there is another way — a way to connect with your audience that doesn’t require you to compromise your values.
It started with a post by Nicky Saunders whose reflections on content creation challenged me to rethink everything.
The Story of “Fishing with Oh Dad!”
Nicky shared a heartwarming event about Bill, better known online as Fishing with “Oh Dad!” (cool name for an old man).
For four years, Bill poured his heart into his YouTube channel, uploading over 440 videos. His content was simple and honest — just him, his fishing adventures, and snippets of his life. No flashy edits, no clickbait titles — just pure passion.
Despite his dedication, his videos rarely broke a few hundred views. Bill wasn’t chasing trends or gaming the algorithm. He just kept going, fueled by his love for fishing and sharing that love with his small but loyal audience.
About one year in, life threw Bill a curveball. He fell off a 10-foot roof and broke both wrists, seven ribs, his breastbone, and a thoracic vertebrae. It was a close call. In his words, “I came very close to going home to be with my Lord and Savior.”
But for some magical reason, Bill survived. And guess what, he returned to the thing he loved most — fishing and creating videos.
After four years of creating and sharing, his channel somehow made it to a little over 1,000 subscribers.
And then, everything changed.
KindPenguin’s Drama
Out of the blue, a TikTok account called KindPenguins (known for spreading joy and positivity), stumbled upon Bill’s channel.
They felt moved by what Bill had been up to and admired his dedication. So they created a compilation video that told his story — from his love for fishing to his battle with illness and eventual recovery. That video resonated deeply with viewers and has gone on to garner 75 million views. As a byproduct, it catapulted Bill’s YouTube channel from 1,327 subscribers to over 200 thousand in under 24 hours. And now, 1.55 million by the end of 2024.
But no! It wasn’t clickbaity drama or controversy that brought Bill to the spotlight. Nor was it his dedication alone. It was storytelling — genuine, heartfelt storytelling.
Nicky’s Perspective on Drama and Chaos
Nicky’s post wasn’t just about Bill’s success; it reflected on the broader themes of drama and chaos in content creation.
She pointed out that many creators feel pressured to manufacture drama or controversy to gain attention, often at the expense of authenticity or value.
At that point, it felt like she was calling me out.
She argued that this focus on shock value had eroded the essence of meaningful creation and called on creators to remember the power of real stories — stories like Bill’s that captured hearts not because they were sensational but because they were genuine.
Redefining Drama and Chaos
Reading Nicky’s post, I couldn’t help but reflect on the concepts of drama and chaos. And so, a rather interesting thought came to mind.
I told Nicky:
“…It’s interesting that you tied this to drama and chaos for creatives. I think creators often get these concepts all wrong when they use someone else’s definition to measure what these mean for them.
For example: ‘Drama and chaos are all bad and no good.’
But that’s not how it works. Because all of life is drama and chaos.
As a matter of fact, we’re attracted to it. And so, it is up to creatives to choose how they see these events of nature. The difference here (besides Bill’s dedication and persistence, of course) is that Kind Penguins understands these concepts. And so they dramatized Oh Dad’s story (including that chaotic accident) in a way that filled people up instead of diminishing them. Movies do it all the time.
If anything, another vital lesson creatives can learn from this story is how invaluable drama and chaos are to guide their ideas and stories to the right audience.”
What Creators Get Wrong About Drama and Chaos
Here’s the thing: when people hear the word “drama,” their minds often jump to negativity — gossip, scandals, or sensationalism (myself included).
In the same way, chaos is viewed as something to be avoided — a disruption, a mess. But the truth is, drama and chaos are inherent parts of life. They’re not inherently good or bad; they just are.
The challenge for creators is to harness these forces thoughtfully. Instead of manufacturing controversy or chaos for the sake of clicks, we can look out for the natural drama in our stories — the emotional core that connects us to our audience.
This is exactly what Kind Penguins did with Bill’s story.
Why Kind Penguins Got It Right
Authenticity: They didn’t exploit Bill’s struggles or fabricate a narrative. They simply highlighted the genuine highs and lows of his journey.
Emotional Resonance: By focusing on universal themes like perseverance, passion, and recovery, they created a story that touched people deeply.
Value Addition: Their storytelling uplifted both Bill and the audience, creating a positive ripple effect.
This approach is a masterclass in using drama and chaos — not to manipulate, but to connect and uplift.
The Lesson for Creators
In today’s digital world, attention is the currency that fuels everything else.
And so as creators, marketers, or anyone trying to share an idea, we can’t ignore the importance of capturing attention.
Drama and chaos, when used ethically and thoughtfully, are powerful tools for grabbing that attention.
However, the key is to use them to serve a deeper purpose.
Ask yourself:
What is the emotional core of my story?
How can I present it in a way that uplifts and resonates?
Am I adding value to my audience, or simply seeking clicks?
NOW, What Next?
Bill’s story is just the beginning.
Over the next four weeks, I’ll be diving deeper into the art of storytelling and how my digital consultancy (and other creative entrepreneurs) can use drama and chaos to not only capture attention but also create meaningful connections and drive conversions.
We’ll explore:
The psychology behind why drama captures attention.
How to identify the natural drama in your own stories.
Practical techniques for dramatizing your ideas without compromising authenticity.
The ethical considerations of using drama and chaos in storytelling.
If this is something you’d like to explore too, join in let’s see what we can build together.
I’m excited to take this journey with you.