Vishen LakhianiFounder of Mindvalley | NYT Bestselling Author | Transforming Lives Globally

The biggest mistake creators make is thinking they exist for the algorithm

16 Jan 2026 · 1 min

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1:03

Brendan Kane (via a YouTube appearance uploaded by Vishen Lakhiani) argues that algorithms depend on human attention and that creators should focus on storytelling and retention. He summarizes the core insight as “storytelling plus retention equals success,” using examples (like Stranger Things) to show that compelling stories hold attention and therefore drive algorithmic promotion.

Chapters

The amazing thing that people don't realize about the algorithms is they need us. We are the fuel that runs them. This is not Netflix or Disney where they're investing billions of dollars in original content. We are the fuel that runs them. So over 15,000 hours of research, we came away with this key hook point insight, and that is storytelling plus retention equals success. So what do I mean by that? Well, if we think about stories like Stranger Things just finished. How many people watch Stranger Things? Okay, so what happens with stories? Any movie or TV show, you start it, and if it's a great story, what do you want? You want to see what happens at the end? It holds your attention. And that is what storytelling plays to what the algorithms want. Because when people start a great story, they finish it. What is that? It's retention. It's holding the audience's attention so that they will push your content longer.