How I went from "I can't do this" to 50M views (my real story)

Hey there,

If you're a CEO, founder, entrepreneur, coach, or expert…

Here's the uncomfortable truth:

In today's world, Social Media isn't optional anymore.

But figuring out how to grow - really grow -on your own?

That part can feel brutal.

So let me share a story I don't often tell.

Eight years ago, one of my videos crossed 50 million views.

Before it became the biggest news story in Malaysia.

Before governments were forced to respond.

Before policies actually changed because of it.

It was an exposé of the company Nestlé and how it was branding a drink called Milo that was essentially 40% sugar as a health drink for kids in Asia and Australia.

The video went viral and actually became the biggest news story in my home country of Malaysia.

The problem was that Nestle is the biggest company in the Malaysian stock exchange and the biggest advertiser in Malaysia, and boy, did I get in trouble. But that's another story.

Here's the part that surprises most people: Before that video went viral, I wasn't even on social media.

I was 40. I felt awkward. Too old. Not charismatic enough. No "creator look." No viral voice.

I genuinely thought: This just isn't my game.

So, how did I certainly get a video with 50 million views?

Well, a few months before that video, I happened to sit down for an interview with Jay Shetty, who was speaking at a Mindvalley event in Sardinia.

Jay was already one of the biggest creators on the planet.

And I asked him, honestly:

"Jay… how can I do this? I don't have your voice. Your hair. Your charisma. Will this even work for me?"

He looked at me—very monk-like—and said:

"That's all BS. Just try."

So I did.

(Confession: Jay didn't really say BS, he's too monk-like for that. I'm paraphrasing what he really said, which is essentially that my doubts were in effect imaginary)

My first posts? A few likes. Nothing special.

But instead of quitting, I got curious.

I started studying what worked. Finding my voice. Clarifying what I stood for.

Three months later, everything changed. A video exposing Nestlé went viral with 50M+ views.

I quoted a New York Times article. Appealed directly to the people of Malaysia. Asked one simple question. The internet did the rest.

For seven days, it dominated national news. Nestlé lost its health stars in Australia and New Zealand.

And I learned something that changed everything for me:

I wasn't too old. I wasn't untalented. I just hadn't learned the system yet.

So I went deep.

I studied algorithms. Tested storytelling structures. Analyzed comments, retention, engagement, every signal.

And that's when the real realization hit:

It's not about talent. It's about tactics.

Today, between Mindvalley and my personal channels, we've built an audience of 20M+ people.

Not because I became a "perfect creator." But because we learned:

How powerful stories are structured.
How algorithms actually work (not what gurus guess).
Why virality follows formulas not 'luck'.
How AI lets you create 10× faster saving hours of your time.
Why consistency comes from systems, not willpower.

And here's what I know for sure now: If you're a founder, entrepreneur, coach, or expert, your voice matters.

Your ideas deserve reach. Your mission deserves visibility. And when you understand how social media really works today…

You can influence industries. Movements. Even governments.

Just like that one video did for me.

That's why, for 3 days from Jan 9–11, I'm bringing together the best minds in social media on the planet to help you scale your brand LIVE on Zoom for FREE.

Mindvalley Social Media Summit 2026

In partnership with the 1 Billion Followers Summit

Live from Dubai · Free Virtual Access Worldwide

Get Your Free Spot

This isn't about trends or hacks. It's about what actually works in 2026.

You'll learn directly from:

The strategists behind billion-view content
Creators who sparked global movements
AI pioneers reshaping content creation
Entrepreneurs who turned audiences into real revenue

Here's a quick glimpse of what we'll cover: