Atlanta serves as the current backdrop for Tayo Aina, the celebrated content creator and entrepreneur who has established himself as a "superstar" after traveling across over forty countries around the world. Friends attest that having Tayo in one’s life ensures success, underscoring his rigorous discipline and drive. A typical day for Tayo begins not with filmmaking, but with faith, as he starts by reading his Bible using the U version app, noting with pride his 201-day streak. His commitment to personal fitness is equally pragmatic; given that he travels to some of the “craziest places” where gyms are rare, he maintains his physique by using his body weight for exercises like push-ups and leg lunges.
His approach to business is structured and intense, tracking his many ideas and tasks daily through Google Keep. Tayo embraces a simple, practical aesthetic, preferring to wear mostly black or white because his busy filming schedule makes the daily decision of what to wear a "problem," simplifying his life. He acknowledges the real-world value of appearances, recognizing that "how you are dressed is how you be addressed," leading to better treatment and respect. This success is physically marked by a Cartier watch, which he purchased to celebrate crossing one million YouTube subscribers, signifying his entry into the world of luxury timepieces, with a Rolex Day-Date next on his list. Even his hairstyle is practical; he maintains a bald look because a "scarcity of hair" combined with his frequent creative intensity causes his head to "get very hot," and removing the hair allows water to cool him down easily.
Tayo is not just a content creator, but a "full businessman" dedicated to having "multiple streets" to the market, evidenced by his successful Airbnb business in Lagos. His journey to international success was hard-won, starting in Lagos, Nigeria, where he grew up and attended university. Before he found his calling, he attempted various ventures, including running an event company and even a student restaurant named "Mr. Macaroni," which eventually failed because he "couldn't cook". The real transition began when he signed up to become an Uber driver in Lagos for nearly a year, an experience during which he literally learned how to drive.
It was during his time driving that curiosity prompted him to capture photographs of the buildings he saw around Lagos. This curiosity expanded into making videos. He initially filmed for clients, but feeling constrained by others' creative directions, he realized he could not build the brand he wanted and shifted his focus to his own passion: travel. His defining moment came with a video shot across Lagos—his first to hit a million views—proving audience interest, although he earned only about $100 initially due to copyright issues. Today, filming in the US can yield around $10,000 for a million views, starkly contrasting with the $1,500 to $2,000 typically earned from Nigerian-focused content. This seven-year journey was navigated through trial and error due to a lack of mentors who looked like him, inspiring his current mission to empower others through his YouTube Creator Academy, which has trained over 1,500 students.
Despite his global travel, he cites balancing work and personal life as a "constant struggle," noting that his job is what others do to relax. Therefore, his true form of "chill" is simply being home, especially in Portugal, away from the demands of travel. He remains intensely focused, keeping "blinders on" to avoid professional and personal distractions, emphasizing the necessity of staying on goal. Ultimately, Tayo reveals that the version of himself he is chasing is the one he dreamed of in secondary school: achieving freedom—the ability to conquer any country, build businesses across the world, and live life while remaining close to God. His core advice to aspiring creators reflects this journey: fall in love with making videos, make as many as possible, and film things you are truly passionate about.
