Creative Threads. Jon Barnes

      Loyola University Maryland

      4501 N. Charles Street

      Baltimore, MD 21210

      410.617.5265 • 410.617.2198 (fax)

      www.ApprenticeHouse.com

      [email protected]

      To the creatives. You know who you are. You’re driven by a ferocious hunger to dream, believe, and create. You live by your own rules and find unspeakable joy in bringing something out of nothing. This book is dedicated to you, the creative, whether student, artist, professional, or tinkerer.

      Keep creating.

      To my family. They accept my weirdness and have always supported the crazy things I’ve wanted to do. Pursuing new creative ventures with my wife and making Lego movies or racing cars with my kids is the best and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Love you guys.

      Contents

       Introduction: Why you should read this book 1

       Cars, cars, cars 5

       I’m going to college! 11

       Tips and advice for young creatives 19

       I’m going to college again?! 23

       How to get an internship 33

       I’m in ministry? 43

       How to think about your “personal brand” 51

       I’m starting my own business?! 61

       How to start your side gig overnight 67

       I’m going to work at a law firm?! 75

       Let’s talk about you 83

       I’m a YouTube celebrity? 91

       How to get things done 101

       I’m going to work at an ad agency?! 105

       How to give a great presentation 123

       I’m going to write a book?! 133

       It’s your time now 139

       About the Author 143

Introduction: Why you should read this book

      So, what are you going to do with your life?

      What, you don’t know? You don’t have it all figured out? You haven’t developed your 50-year plan and mapped out how your life goals connect to your college major? Why not?

      Of course you don’t have it figured out. You don’t have a life plan because determining what’s going to happen half a century from now is just, well... crazy. Look, I get it. Everyone wants you to have it figured out. Your parents are bugging you to pick a major. Your friends’ parents are asking you what you’re going to “do after you graduate?” (Seriously? Go to the beach!)

      Their questions are well intentioned; they’re just asking. And more people who have crossed over into full on adulthood really desire to support you with whatever you choose.

      But what if you don’t know what to choose?

      It’s a valid question. What if you just flat-out have no idea what to major in? Or what you’re going to do after college? Or whether or not you’re going to fast track to some specific graduate program or study abroad or take advanced classes or, or, or....

      Whew. Pause.

      Let me share a little secret with you. You don’t have to know. You don’t have to have it figured out. You don’t have to develop a life plan and have it printed on a 3-foot high parchment scroll (or neck tattoo). And you most certainly don’t have to know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether or not you want to fast track to some graduate program. You know how I know this? Because no one really knows. And those that think they do, no matter how confident, often take some of the wildest professional and educational road trips you can imagine and end up doing things they never even considered.

      So take a breath. Get excited for your future. Release some of that pent up mental pressure and stop worrying about choosing the wrong thing. In this book I’m going to share my story with you, a story that involves fast cars, fake unicorns, fuzzy toilet seats, risk, reward, and finding my calling. I’m going to tell you my story because if I made it through my crazy background and had a blast in the process, then so can you.

      So sit back, strap in, forget about figuring out your entire life for a few moments and enjoy the read. I hope through my story you’ll find the freedom to confidently write your own.

      — Jon Barnes