We are living in an incredible time. We are living in a time when you can determine and control your future as never before. This is especially true for those pursuing nontraditional career fields. In fact, despite there being more people than ever pursuing television, film, music, and art careers, for example, it’s actually easier now than it was just five years ago to achieve, well, fame and fortune.
Today you can post a video on TikTok of you decorating your apartment bathroom on a Wednesday and by Tuesday of that next week have 900,000 views. Next, you post a video of your kitchen makeover and you get another 1.2 million views. Then you post your next project and 800,000 people watch. Within one month, you have Lowe’s and Home Depot reaching out.
Now, remember, no one cared whether you had a design degree or years of experience. The work speaks for itself.
By the way, this is a real-life example. There are thousands of such stories. Here’s an example that’s closer to home.
Tabitha Brown, who was deemed “America’s Mom” by Good Morning America, played a teacher in my nephew Sean’s music video. She was a struggling actress like millions of others who played the wait and see game. Audition and wait. Wait and audition.
Sometime later, in 2016, she did a Samsung commercial and I saw something. So, I posted on Facebook that October that she was next. This is the actual Facebook post.
Take note of two items. First, the date. Second, the only comment. It’s funny now, but it tells you how long ago it was by her emoji. Apple hadn’t released diverse emojis yet.
What did I see? Why was I so confident that she would blow up? Simply put, she had a story. She needed to awaken the entrepreneur inside and tell that story.
Anyway, Tabitha, on her own accord, began taking action. She started posting videos about her health journey, her story, on Facebook. She got a few hundred views. Then, the hundreds turned into thousands. The thousands turned into hundreds of thousands. And, the hundreds of thousands turned into millions of views.
She eventually posted on TikTok and her already growing following, exploded.
A plethora of opportunities came her way. Deals with Wholefoods, McCormick’s seasoning, Calm app, and many more flooded in. They still are. She is doing extremely well. In fact, she recently retired her husband from the LAPD.
This is what happens when you awaken the entrepreneur inside and tell your story. This is what happens when you stop waiting for others to give you permission to be great. And that’s the point, right?
Stop asking for permission and waiting for approval or instructions. Take action. Tell your story. Specifically, in this case, post about your joureny. Post what you want to eventually do.
If you want a career in decor, post videos of you doing decor.
If you want a career in comedy, post videos of you doing comedy.
If you want to act, post videos of you acting.
If you want a career as an artist, post videos of you creating art.
If you want to produce records, post videos of you producing a song.
If you want your own talk show, post videos of you interviewing people and discussing issues.
Now, you have to be good at what you do. Oh, the universe will tell you whether you are good or not, really fast. But, don’t quit, if this is what you really want to do. Keep posting and getting better. Keep sharing your story.
See, had Tabitha Brown and other influencers continued to play the ask and wait game, they would have never realized uncommon success.
She didn’t ask for permission to start posting about her health journey. Don’t wait to tell your story.
Chris Do, a popular designer turned educator, didn’t ask for permission to tell his story. He started a YouTube channel and has become the go-to person for the business of creativity.
Henni Da business didn’t ask for permission to share his music business journey. He shared stories about placing beats and and his move to iOS music production. He didn’t ask for permission to post. He just did it. He just did it. He now has big sponsors and is a recognized expert in mobile music production – especially iOS.
There are hundreds who didn’t ask for permission to post their decor and remodeling videos. Many now have a waiting list a year long.
Don’t ask. Don’t wait. Just get it done. Share your story. You’d be surprised of the number of people who want to hear it.
Dwayne K. Sutton