In video production, there’s a story we tell ourselves.

It’s about the kid with the gimbal.

He’s young. He’s undercutting you. He’s shooting flashy content with basic gear and charging a fraction of your rate. And somehow, he’s getting work.

It’s frustrating. Even threatening.

But the real issue isn’t the kid.
It’s the story you wrap around him.

What story are you telling?

In creative industries like video production, mindset matters.
And the stories you tell yourself quietly shape the way you market, sell, and show up.

If your story sounds like this:

“Clients don’t get it”
“Competitors are ruining the market”
“The industry’s not what it used to be”

Then it’s only a matter of time before that story starts shaping your reality.

It shifts your focus away from what you can influence.
And steers you toward fear, blame, and eventually bitterness.

Bitterness is the real enemy

Fear of being left behind. Fear of losing relevance. Fear that maybe you’re not evolving fast enough.

If you don’t catch it early, that fear turns into bitterness.
Bitterness toward clients who "don’t value quality"
Toward the industry
Toward younger competitors who are, in truth, just starting their own journey. The way you once did

And that bitterness shows up everywhere.
In your creativity. In your messaging. In your energy on sales calls. And you start to lose your confidence.

But fear can also be useful

Fear is a signal. A sign that there’s something to pay attention to. Something you can grow from.

And that kid with the gimbal?
He might actually be your best teacher.

He’s forcing you to do the work:

Clarify your positioning
Refine your offer
Double down on your value

You can use him as a reason to withdraw.
Or as a reason to evolve.

This is where Extreme Ownership comes in

As Jocko Willink teaches:
You don’t control the competition.
You control your response.

If the market shifts, you adapt.
If clients don’t see your value, you educate.
If competitors undercut you, you don’t lower your standards. You raise the bar.

The kid with the gimbal doesn’t define your value.
You do.

Change the story

The most powerful tool in your business isn’t your camera.
It’s the story you tell yourself.

If the current one is no longer serving you, you can change it.

You can write a better story.

One where competition pushes you to improve.
Where disruption sharpens your edge.
Where your leadership becomes the difference.

Your story is your ceiling, or it’s your fuel.

Which one are you choosing?

Want more?

This post is based on Episode 1 of The Business of Video Production: Short Cuts — a weekly express-format podcast that delivers one powerful idea to take into your weekend.

🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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The Kid with the Gimbal, and What He Can Teach Us