@therichardlin
Instagram · Vlog
@therichardlin I hope my story can comfort others in knowing that they don’t need to have life figured out Although my life was perfect on paper I struggled with my career and didn’t know what to do with my life To anyone who feels similarly, just keep going forward and trying to improve your life You will eventually find something that you love :) #computerscience #career #lost #chinese #dreams
Performance
Video #24117 · Vlog
[01]
The creator narrates his personal journey from following a traditional, parent-approved path in computer science to experiencing severe corporate burnout at a six-figure job. He details his struggles with depression and failed side hustles before discovering his passion for content creation, ultimately quitting his job to pursue it full-time and finding true happiness.
[02]
[03]
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1.6M56.1×Emotional call quitting corporate job@therichardlin · Vulnerable Monologue
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1.2MTells origin story through vlog@yohnmav · Origin Story
2.3M13.7×Content creation changed creator's life@raitryna · Ask an Expert[04]
[05]
What stops the scroll in the first 3 seconds
Title hook · 35%
I had everything
Verbal hook · 50%
I had everything a nice Chinese boy was supposed to be happy with.
Visual hook · 15%
A dynamic montage of high-achieving life moments (like graduation or a nice lifestyle) that visually contrasts with the spoken narrative of internal unhappiness, creating immediate pattern interruption.
[06]
Steal this for your own video
I had everything a was supposed to be happy with — , — and I was miserable.
[07]
The promise the opener makes, and how the video pays it back
Hook
Juxtapose external markers of extreme success with profound internal dissatisfaction to create immediate narrative dissonance.
Payoff
Deliver the vindication by showing the positive emotional and practical results of the leap, ending with an invitation to join the ongoing journey.
[08]
The structural pattern this video runs on
Framework
The False Peak Escape Narrative
Establish a socially idealized but personally unfulfilling baseline, introduce a catalyst for change, document the messy transition, and conclude with a risky but rewarding leap to true fulfillment.
The Origin of Compromise
Explain the external pressures and flawed logic that led to choosing the unfulfilling path in the first place.
The Reality Check
Illustrate the painful day-to-day reality of living the 'successful' but misaligned life.
The Ghost of Future Past
Introduce a specific inciting incident—a stark realization of a bleak future if no action is taken.
The Trial and Error Phase
Show a rapid succession of failed attempts to pivot, building empathy and demonstrating effort.
The Spark of Passion
Introduce the discovery of a new pursuit that finally satisfies internal cravings, contrasting with previous failures.
The Leap of Faith
Document the decisive, risky action taken to pursue the passion full-time, highlighting external skepticism.
I hope my story can comfort others in knowing that they don’t need to have life figured out Although my life was perfect on paper I struggled with my career and didn’t know what to do with my life To anyone who feels similarly, just keep going forward and trying to improve your life You will eventually find something that you love :) #computerscience #career #lost #chinese #dreams
title · beginning
I had everything
informational · beginning
Top engineering degree
informational · beginning
6 figure job
contextual · beginning
I had no hope for my future
contextual · middle
I hated coding
contextual · middle
I got rejected
contextual · middle
I tried reselling tickets
contextual · middle
I tried blogging
contextual · middle
I started making short videos
contextual · end
I quit my job
informational · end
content creation full time
call-to-action · end
follow along
I had everything a nice Chinese boy was supposed to be happy with. Top engineering degree, 6 figure job, even a supportive friend group. But on the inside, I had no hope for my future. In high school, my parents wanted me to become a doctor or lawyer, but I didn't wanna go to grad school, so I chose to study computer science. I'm gonna get so rich, I thought. But after freshman year, the only thing I was certain of was how much I hated coding. I tried switching my major to business. I got rejected and had no choice but to push through. I somehow landed a 6 figure job in New York City. I convinced myself, once I graduate, the money will make it worth it. But I was struggling to stay awake during meetings and hated staring at those endless lines of code. Then one day, I noticed how the light had left my 50 year old no worker's eyes. I suddenly realized, I'm gonna end up just like him if I stay here. So I tried reselling tickets better lost hundreds of dollars. I tried blogging better bad no readers. Finally, I started making short videos about my life. And for the first time since high school, a craving in my brain was being satisfied. It was the first thing on my mind when I woke up and the last thing before sleeping. So I quit my job to pursue content creation full time. At that point, I had only earned a thousand thousand dollars online. My parents thought I was absolutely insane. But four months later, it's the best decision I've ever made. I'm sustaining myself and excited to wake up every single day. So follow along if you wanna see me chase my dreams.