Listen in as former Army Paratrooper Greg Wong relates how he combined his passion for video games and airsoft into a thriving personal brand.

Arwin and Greg have been friends for a number of years. Both got into YouTube during the “golden age” of airsoft content creators on the video-sharing platform. The two swap stories and hard-hitting experiences that helped them to mature as social media influencers.

Known as spartan117gw on Instagram and YouTube, Greg shares his best practices for navigating the world of social media through the lens of an airsoft enthusiast, hardcore gamer, “carsplayer”, and occasional Hollywood actor.

Episode Timeline:

• [00:00] Intro
• [01:20] Meet Greg Wong
• [03:59] A brief history of airsoft YouTubers
• [11:17] How Greg contributes to various Hollywood productions with his airsoft expertise
• [14:00] Juggling multiple passions
• [21:40] Greg’s foray into the acting world
• [24:11] The importance of expanding—and keeping in touch with—your network
• [28:55] Your responsibility as an influencer
• [30:41] Dealing with haters
• [34:02] Greg’s advice for aspiring social media influencers
• [38:02] Keep YouTube burnout at bay by diversifying your revenue streams
• [42:48] How to stay motivated as a content creator
• [45:01] Arwin and Greg’s early years together as airsoft YouTubers
• [53:01] What advice would Greg give to his past self?
• [56:39] What would Greg like his future self to tell him?
• [59:46] Greg’s closing remarks
• [1:03:16] Outro

Standout Quotes

• “Don’t get into [YouTube] looking to get sponsorships. Do it because you love it. Build a brand and create content that people like, and all that stuff will naturally fall into place. So many people like to jump the gun, like, ‘I have a 100 followers. Sponsor me.’ That’s not how it works. The key for everybody is return on investment.” ~Greg Wong [43:00]
• “Look to add value to someone’s life. Don’t [become an influencer] because you want to add value to your own life.” ~Arwin [43:48]
• “We live in an interesting time. While we’re really lucky to be living in this day and age, we still shouldn’t take what’s available to us for granted because things can go south overnight. The COVID-19 pandemic is demonstrating this. Gun rights and basic necessities? It’s only now that people really appreciate their necessity. Don’t prepare for when the birds are singing and the sun’s out; prepare for when shit hits the fan.” ~Greg Wong [59:46]