---
title: "Overcoming a No"
date: "2026-10-21"
description: "How to push past a No"
draft: false
---

Casey Neistat released a video yesterday called [Saying NO to Mr Beast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzksAB7oVxY). The video documents a failed shoot from 2022 that took place in Africa. Casey Neistat and Jimmy Donaldson flew into South Africa to quarantine before heading down to Antarctica for a video. Jimmy organised mountaineering teams both a lead team and an accompanying team to help with the project — over 20 people helping with the shoot. Due to the pandemic, the entire expedition required that no-one was ill with the Coronavirus. Unfortunately, on the last day, someone on the lead team tested positive. Health and safety had to call off the shoot.

Casey Neistat at this point in retelling the story focuses Jimmy's reaction. Casey observed that instead of the feelings one would expect from something unfortunate happening to them, Jimmy was instead entirely focused on pivoting the production to another shoot, another avenue to succeed.

This lead the production to change tack the following morning, instead of an Antarctic video, the crew would be shooting a video on wildcats with Jimmy and Logan in a cage.
This too, fails. Not because of anything controllable, but because of Jimmy's preexisting health condition that experienced a flare up. There was no way to salvage the production at that point.

Casey argues in the video that this perseverance in the face of adversity is intrinsic to Jimmy's success. That the ability to push through a no, is what made not only Jimmy but the wider Mr Beast franchise successful.

I do appreciate the story Casey puts forward within the video. It speaks to the entrepreneurial spirit, that hard work and determination are what separates someone from their goals and aspirations.

It feels a bit one note as well. If Jimmy was in another industry, would the same personality and actions be successful? Would you want your doctor to be pushing continuously? How does Jimmy bring his crew along for the ride? How does he build trust in this spirit? Casey doesn't answer these questions except for that Jimmy selects for individuals that are similarly motivated to join his enterprise.