On February 12th of 2018 I released my first book: The YouTuber Journey. The YouTuber Journey is about heeding the creative calling that most people ignore throughout their life. We are told to follow a cookie cutter life plan and to strive for the best, but ultimately when we arrive at our destination we feel empty. However, perhaps that plan wasn’t really meant for us. It surely wasn’t for me, and the adventure that took place after this realization was truly life changing.
This book is the book that I wish I had when I first started creating on YouTube. It outlines what embarking on a creative journey on YouTube entails. From convincing yourself to take the plunge, to overcoming the obstacles you face along the way. I cover the entire process and mindset of pursing YouTube as a career path. You’ll find insight on video production, YouTube optimization, branching out to conventions/brand deals/merchandise, the mentality of creating, finding your specialty, and so much more.
I grew up believing in a cookie-cutter life path that consisted of getting good grades, going to college, getting a job that I would stay at until I retire, and during that process owning a house. Thinking that far into the future as a child is simply daunting. It’s why no one can ever answer the question, “what do you want to do when you grow up,” at the end of high school. We haven’t gone out and experienced anything yet. We haven’t learned from our failures in life to know what we are meant to do. So when we are presented with that plan, we just sort of agree and keep it in the back of our mind. That life plan is laid out to us as a form of guidance, but it is up to us to figure out what we will ultimately do with our lives. It certainly isn’t for everyone, and I realized that after I had gone through almost the entirety of it.
If you’re like me, you’ve dabbled with the idea of pursuing YouTube yourself. Whether you’re in high school, college, or even at your job—it may be a thought that has crossed your mind. If you did pursue it, what would you do? Gaming? Arts and crafts? Vlogging about your life? You might not even know what you want to do yet! And that’s fine. There isn’t a wrong answer. In this book, I’ll be covering the creative journey, crafting it into a compass that will take you any direction you decide. It’ll all be broken down, each narrative a degree on the dial leading you through the journey, helping you navigate your thoughts as you begin to create. If you’re feeling nervous or afraid of starting, know you’re not alone. Every creator you look up to was staring at a blank screen at some point, trying to figure out what to do. No one is confident when starting anything new, so just know even I felt the same things you’ll be feeling. However, taking the first step is critical. Nothing can begin without it. You’ll never know what could have happened unless you let that creativity shine.
That’s why I wrote this book for the next generation of content creators.
It’s for you.
If you’ve ever thought about being a YouTuber, please consider watching this video. If you feel that same spark that I felt, then you know you are being called to do more than what you are now. This book will help you get there, and I hope you will consider chasing your dreams!