# How to Build an Industrial Automation YouTube Channel with Tim Wilborne

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2023-01-17
- Length: 48m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Tim Wilborne, founder of TW Controls, explains how his accidental YouTube channel grew to 50,000 subscribers by providing free PLC training and troubleshooting videos to industrial technicians. He details the company's evolution from a garage startup to a family-run business, highlighting the challenges of cash flow, project failures, and the decision to pivot from sales-driven content to curiosity-driven education. Wilborne also discusses the mental toll of online negativity, his strategy for managing 'haters' through humor and boundary-setting, and his advice for creators to focus on community building rather than monetization metrics.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne#t=0) Introduction: Tim Wilborne and TW Controls
- [4:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne#t=283) TW Controls Background and Early History
- [11:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne#t=683) Accidental YouTube Growth and Content Strategy
- [19:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne#t=1193) Family Business Dynamics and Work-Life Balance
- [28:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne#t=1722) Dealing with Online Hate and Burnout
- [35:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne#t=2150) Advice for Creators and Community Building

## Topics

- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- TW Controls (company)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Momentum Coffee (other)
- Allen Bradley (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Training the Technician of the Future](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-08-30-training-the-technician-of-the-future) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [ICYMI... HIBT Lab! Babish Culinary Universe: Andrew Rea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-12-01-icymi-hibt-lab-babish-culinary-universe-andrew-rea) (How I Built This)
- [CrunchLabs: Mark Rober](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-04-15-crunchlabs-mark-rober) (How I Built This)
- [HIBT Lab! Babish Culinary Universe: Andrew Rea](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-08-18-hibt-lab-babish-culinary-universe-andrew-rea) (How I Built This)
- [Episode 099: Out of your control.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-12-02-episode-099-out-of-your-control) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-01-17-how-to-build-an-industrial-automation-youtube-channel-with-tim-wilborne. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Manufacturing Happy Hour.