That was the case when I decided I wanted to be a travel video journalist. It's not a job you ever see on Craigslist or Monster.com. It's not a job that comes with a job description or projected path or even a desk.
But I, like the the other successful entrepreneurs gathered here had this in common: a very open-minded, passion-driven, risk-taking type personality willing to take a shot at having it all.
When my former ad school professor, Brett Robbs, invited me to speak in the Making "IT" Happen session during the first ever Cultural Caffeine series at CU Boulder, I was flattered. The only problem, I haven't made "IT" yet, or have I? I began to think about the idea.
As we celebrated Brett's retirement and new direction, we studied the career pathways of my fellow entrepreneurial CU grads. I sat among many talented creatives, each offering honest advice to curious students, ready to graduate into the big pond. Welcome to the 'real world'.
What did we find out?
Well, if anyone had recorded those moments, they could have written a book. We covered a lot of ground. I was pleased to look into the crowd and notice an attentive group, filled with many nodding heads and occasional scribbles in notebooks. Even I, found myself taking notes. We talked about taking risks. Sometimes you do have to say no to the promising job and move to Korea and teach English or go to Costa Rica and go surfing for a year. Those character building life experiences can be far more valuable than a year of work on your resume. We talked about priorities. Do you want to have a job and have a life outside of your job? Do you want your job to be your passion? Do you want to have a family? A nice house? A new car? Do you want to be creative? Do you want to own your own business? If so, you probably don't want to own your own business. :P No matter how you answer these questions, the paths you choose will have consequences. You have to live with those consequences. So choose wisely, and you will be rewarded. :) We talked about money. Sometimes you get big paychecks, and sometimes you don't see a cent. What's really important to you? We talked about making mistakes. Sometimes, we mess up. And sometimes, that's the best thing that could have ever happened.
These are not the things you learn at in a typical class. But here in the ad program at CU, we were all drinking the Kool-Aid. Somehow, over the decades of like-experiences we all had in the J-School, it was clear there was a consistency in our thinking. Our minds were exercising in a good way, different than you would learn in more linear programs, but a wonderful representation of the process to become a more active, more passionate, more well rounded person. Good stuff, good stuff indeed.
A few things I did not share, but I will share now:
1. Be persistent. Be present. Never quit.
2. Do what you love. Be it traveling, filmmaking, or snowboarding, like me, if you find something you love to do, you'll never work a day in your life. Money will come.
3. Make a plan. Screw the plan. Sometimes you have to throw your plans out the window.
4. Reach for the stars. Follow the shiny things. Elusive moments will appear, and when they do, grab hold of them at every opportunity. It may not make sense. But in time, those stars will form a beautiful constellation, and it will all make sense. Your path may not be a straight line. Embrace that.
5. Build alliance with people you admire, people who are smarter than you. They will inspire you, and teach you and challenge you to become the best you can be. Make friends with your peers, the people you can trust and can share questions with and confide in, people you can grow with. These will be the people who will join you at the top. Get to know the people who admire you, those who follow your footsteps, those who look up to you. These will be the people you can help along the way. They will be forever grateful for your gift, and they will give you the humility when remembering how far you've come.
Thanks, Brett, for encouraging us to observe the world--my observation journal was a fun opportunity to step back and spy on life. Thanks, Brett, for daring us to think differently, to appreciate the good and bad ideas, get beyond those first level thoughts, and push ourselves to dig deep. Thanks, Brett, for bringing lots of color into our day to day lives, reminding us to be different, be yourself, just as you did with your undeniably fashionable ties! Thanks, Brett. Best of luck in your new direction, we hope we can return the favor and inspire you during this next chapter of your life!
