(02-03-2014 12:51 PM)MrJurgens Wrote: (02-03-2014 01:56 AM)xcriteria Wrote: I spent quite a while when I was younger (early 20's in particular) wondering why my parents weren't more supportive of my ideas and goals, about transforming education, and making money in ways beyond traditional jobs. For the most part, they just didn't understand it.
Same. I tried getting then to learn how homeschooling online works, but they just refused to listen. They just kept telling me that I have to go to school "like everybody else".
Ahh, I did the same thing when I was 13-14, and got that response. But then, after I dropped out, got a GED, and did some college, I was unhappy with college, too... and said, there must be some better way to do things. Same general response from my parents. So, I quit, and (fortunately) found a job that worked out well for a couple years, at a web software startup. But, I hit points during that where, once again, I felt like that wasn't my main calling... and eventually I started realizing a lot of interests beyond computers... psychology, neuroscience, songwriting, brainstorming, changing education, all kinds of things.
But, once again, by then in my early 20's, I thought maybe my parents would back up my ideas of doing things differently. Didn't work out. But... despite disappointment and surprise that they still didn't get any of this, I realized I then had to go my own way.
The problem was, I really didn't know what to do... or how to connect with people (despite lots of ideas.)
In fact, I think it was during that time that I first encountered School Survival, but it was more just a placeholder in my mind, at that time, proof that others were out there who felt the way I did... but I didn't know about the forums, and it was a few more years before I finally found them and started posting here.
(02-03-2014 12:51 PM)MrJurgens Wrote: (02-03-2014 01:56 AM)xcriteria Wrote: And, despite my basic intention to just say "fine" and move on and make all these things happen, I didn't know how to proceed with that, who to connect with, or how to decide what to do. Part of me kept wondering why my parents couldn't be more supportive and play more of an active role in helping me out (not just financially or with housing, but even with collaboration.)
But, in the end, they just weren't the people for that. And the big life quest I've had since, in retrospect, has been finding a broader network of people to discuss ideas with, learn from, work for and/or with, and collaborate with.
This is basically the same situation I'm stuck in now. I just, for the most part, assume that this is how my parents will act because they were not trustful at all when I wanted to stop going to regular public school and wanted the online homeschooling alternative.
To make matters worse, I don't think my dad was ever supportive in my gaming hobby. Sometimes he'd have somewhat of an attitude when I asked him to get my a game that I wanted. Not only that, when I did ask him it was less than occasionally. I had friends that had lots more video games than I did, so I wasn't asking him to buy me dozens of new video games every few months; however, I wish I did have that opportunity of getting more than I bargained for.
It just makes it that much harder to even approach them about it. When my mom tells me about some place hiring (or if my dad lets my mom know to tell me), I just shrug it off. I don't want that discussion because I feel like they most likely won't understand and support me. They didn't when it came to the online homeschooling alternative, and if they're not that much understanding of my gaming hobby I think they'll just react the same way.
I remember a few months ago when my mom bothered me about this career center not that far from where I live, but again I just shrugged it off. These things I'd like to do are very easy for me to do on my own, and most of them do involve the internet so it makes it that much easier.
I think that however misguided they may be, your parents are trying to help you out on the same journey to independence that you're looking for. And I know that feeling well. The question is then how to just make it happen without having to deal with their suggestions.
(02-03-2014 12:51 PM)MrJurgens Wrote: (02-03-2014 01:56 AM)xcriteria Wrote: Through JF, I found Emily Wapnick, who is also promoting people pursuing passions, but specifically people who have many passions and interests. I think you fall in this category, as do I and many of us on SS. The issue is, there tend not to be pre-defined "jobs" out there that encompass all (or even several) of our interests. And, others (like family) often don't understand anything beyond "getting a job," and in practice it can be a challenge to make money in other ways.
I agree. It'll be hard to make money with what I want to do, but I'm passionate about it that I'll make it work. I do know that I will have to spend quite a good amount of money to start getting it back. I want to be professional in the stuff I want to do.
I think you may be able to spend less than you have in mind. These days, quite amazing technology is pretty cheap... even when it comes to professional quality. Far cheaper than things used to be.
What kind of equipment do you have in mind?
It might take some research to figure that out, but maybe identify a couple of levels, from what you have now, on up to a dream setup.
A basic webcam and a computer are all that's needed to start with a lot of these things. Collaboration is also a great way to get access to equipment and facilities... as well has having the opportunity to learn from working alongside others. (That's what I'm doing... and it'd be awesome to do so on a bit larger scale, leading to something that can be a college alternative but provide some of the same benefits.)
(02-03-2014 12:51 PM)MrJurgens Wrote: (02-03-2014 01:56 AM)xcriteria Wrote: Emily blogs and gives talks about this challenge, and you might find some useful things on her blog, Puttylike (In fact, the most recent post there, a guest post, is quite applicable to your situation: What Happens When Those Closest to Us Don’t Accept What We Do?)
I'll read it sometime, thanks.
Lol, yes, info-overload.
(02-03-2014 12:51 PM)MrJurgens Wrote: (02-03-2014 01:56 AM)xcriteria Wrote: MrJurgens Wrote:In general, I'd like to help these people become better gamers. Outside of that, I'd also help those who want to be pro cosplayers, competitive gamers, etc.
How do you see yourself doing that? YouTube videos/tutorials, advice, articles, consulting, etc?
Obviously a lot of other people have tutorials, walkthroughs, and so on for various games, but do you know of anyone else marketing themselves as helping people being better pro gamers and cosplayers in general?
I can imagine that could be something people might pay for, but is it an existing "thing" people are already paying for (like college, voice acting training, or something like that)?
A combination of things. Firstly using YouTube and creating videos and giving advice to my followers, but I'd also like to consult to my fans as well – and go as far as to do it in person. Maybe make a little mentorship program because I'd love to connect with the people who follow me who share my same interests.
That sounds like a plan. Even workshops or something like that would fit in with that plan. Definitely, a key to success is building up communication with your audience/clients/followers/community, and growing it.
This guy
Ronnie Bincer comes to mind as someone who's doing this successfully. His focus is on helping people learn to use Google Hangouts effectively, and he's got a whole business set up around doing that (coaching/consulting and a paid subscription area), as well as offering a bunch of advice, videos, and hangouts for free on G+ and his
YouTube Channel.
Looking at how others are managing these unusual career paths is one way to get a sense of what to do, and it might even be useful for demonstrating to others that there are ways to "make it" without just following a pre-set path. I've been scouring the web for examples, and I've found a lot of them...
Pamela Slim is another who writes and coaches people on how to
Escape from Cubicle Nation. I'm fortunately not in a cubicle, but I'm still trying to figure out the "monetize my dreams" side of this myself.
(02-03-2014 12:51 PM)MrJurgens Wrote: I guess there's a mixed bag because I know for sure you wouldn't go to college for something like machinima or competitive gaming, but for things like voice acting and animation you could. I'd just like to make it easier for the fan-base that I'd have and take it to a different level.
I'd say there's some general knowledge and experiences you could get out of college (or, perhaps more likely, a more flexible college alternative.)
Voice acting seems like something you'd best learn through some kind of courses, coaching, and/or self-study and practice, probably not a college program. A friend of mine looked into this some. What programs have you come across?
Animation, likewise could be learned outside of college, though you could certainly pursue a degree. I'd say it's worth distinguishing between how you'll actually learn and practice the skills, vs. going to college to get a degree. A lot of time (and money) ends up getting wasted in many college programs, if your main goal is the learning and doing, because most are structured around credits for graduation and getting that piece of paper.
(If you want to credential, that may be worth it, but if you're going to demonstrate your ability and find work based on networking, publicity, and having a portfolio or "body of work," the main question is how you'd actually learn these skills.)
I'm trying to figure out how to put together a college alternative program where I help people find and use the many resources out there for learning (which could even include college classes, but only where they make sense.) I have in mind both in-person and online forms. I'm still figuring out how I can best provide value for people, but I know there are so many resources out there that are a lot cheaper than just jumping into college.
(Others are already putting together college alternatives, like
Mycelium and
MOOC Campus, part of Black Mountain SOLE.)
For animation and related skills, CreativeLive and Lynda.com are definitely worth checking out. CreativeLive has free ongoing broadcasts, but buying the courses to watch anytime costs some money. It's definitely less (often much less) than you'd pay for college classes. (They have a super-discounted Adobe
Creative Cloud bundle that includes some After Effects courses, for example.)
Lynda.com has a huge number of video courses on many subjects, with a monthly subscription model. And, of course, there are a lot of free videos and tutorials on YouTube and so on.
Film Riot has a lot of free special effects, editing, and filming tutorials, for example.
Beyond that, it can be useful to participate in a community. I think several people in SS are interested in learning animation... maybe that could lead to some kind of co-learning?