Dear kid, You Got This In The Bag.

Ever since I worked on some of these recent Oscar winning films I have been inundated with kids fresh out of college hitting me up for work or just advice. I love this because in each one of them I see myself at 22 years old, hungry and ready to do whatever it takes. I genuinely go out of my way with each and every one of them to help however I can. I recently attempted to help a student named Vanian in Chicago with huge potential but one who is close to giving up. The issue I see with kids in their 20’s is when they invariably see no huge “top of the world” success, they get quickly discouraged and begin to doubt everything, including their skills and life choices. This is where kids need the MOST encouragement.

Here’s his email to me, one I’ve seen dozens of times in the last few months:

Hey Josh!

It’s _____, ____’s son. I have heard a lot about you!

I just recently graduated from the University of Michigan back in May, mainly focusing on Graphic Design and Photography. All great things, however, as of now, it’s becoming terribly difficult to find that starting job. It seems like I’ve been doing so many applications and really having no luck.

Alongside a stable position, I wanted to pursue/build up my creative practice in the music industry, and have it be freelance for bands/artists or labels (which my work falls a bit into that category already). 

I’m reaching out seeking guidance and wondering if you have any suggestions for someone like me trying to get their foot in the door. Do you have any recommendations on what I should be focusing on to portfolio? Did you jump straight into freelancingwhen you started?

Thanks so much for your time,

___________

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Here’s what I said to him. I post it here in hopes it helps someone else one day. It’s everything that helps me get through the day and I’ve watched this little speech I’ve curated help others turn their life around and refocus on that which brings them true joy!

Hi there ______, hope all’s well. Your dad is a hero of mine 🙂 Lots of great times together when we were YOUR age!!

So get this, I am starting a business partnership with 6 time academy award nominated sound production mixer and CAS lifetime achievement winner Tod Maitland. He is as big as they get and I had someone in your shoes and your exact age ask me about six months ago (when he was at the bottom of the barrel and desperate too) to ask Tod what’s the answer to this exact quandary. His answer was brilliant so allow me to copy and paste it here. It helped that kid immensely and now he’s killing it too, btw. He followed this format and is living his dream when six months ago, he couldn’t even get a job at a Disney store in the mall.

This is from Tod:

“There ARE no internships anymore.
Unions don’t allow it in most industries anymore and even if you can find one, it’s mostly a revolving door of work abuse, unpaid floor scrubbing and no job in the end, nor will they won’t put you on insurance. You’ll never get in by just asking to be there. You have to prove you belong with product.

The ONLY way is to hook up with other students you know/knew and use all your talents collectively to make something special and then show the world. And once the first one is done, do the next one. And then the next one. And never quit. Tell people you are working in the field you want until you become the thing you are doing. It WILL work. Practice and repetition are the only way. Then the next one. And the next one. And never give up until your network yields fruit. If you were truly meant for greatness, it will come but this is the only way.

The only way to make it is to raise the capital somehow to create products and show the world what you got. Without something in your outstretched hand to SHOW, you’re just a man with an empty hand looking for a handout. The industry ignores men looking for a handout entirely. You’ll end up quitting, doing something you hate, get married and just grind yourself into a grave at 60.

Do not succumb to the “but I need a job in the meantime” thought or you’ll never do it. Now is the only window in life where you have the opportunity to go all in and just go for it. Soon, adulthood will usurp your time and energy and responsibility will force you out. NOW is your open window. Only now. Your one shot. So what do you really want to do? And do you have the work ethic to reach out and grab it? OR NOT? Most people don’t have what it takes to stick with it and never give up. Ask yourself, do you? Because it’s hard. And it feels like it’ll never happen, everyday, worse and worse. Until one day…. IT DOES. And then maybe it falls apart and you have to start again. That’s called life. It may take years but success belongs to the men who don’t quit. It is said that the only time you truly fail is when you QUIT. Everyone around you will quit and go back home. You can’t. Keep creating, keep shooting, keep networking, keep experimenting, keep putting on galleries and shows and collaborating. Never stop.

Network with your fellow students and make a team if need be. Showcase your work wherever you can and then plan the next one until you get the attention of someone who hires you and refers you word of mouth and your business WILL exponentially grow. Rinse and repeat, that’s the creative industry. Try, learn (trial by fire IE: fail, learn, grow, wipe off the dust and try again). This is the story of every great man.

There are no shortcuts nor helping hands outside of the two in your own pockets. God can’t steer a car that ain’t moving. Be real, are you really moving and shakin? Or just begging?”

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Hope this helps Vinian, I know it’s heavy handed but it’s real life. I got my butt handed to me in NYC, ended up homeless with TB under a bush for months but decided to either die or succeed. 2 months after the bush life (lol) i was sleeping in Jimi Hendrix’s bed in his old apartment and called it home. 

Sometimes we don’t know what the heck to do anymore and like a weak child, we cry out to God to fix our problems, wondering why we are not successful. But God is there to protect you, not to GIVE you success. The entire word is God saying, to whom much is given, much is required. Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. Do not beg god for a bridge to cross a river, build a boat. You have two hands. Time to get up and build brother. YOU ARE CAPABLE but no one will do this work for you. Read this email again from the beginning and then read it a third time. And most importantly, I will say this: You are %1000 capable brother! No one is more capable at doing what you do, the way you do it, THAN YOU.

I have a video about all this HERE. Watch it! Hope this helps brother! 

Take care and reach out anytime – JML