We Became Full-Time TikTokers

... Is it too late to turn back?

Well howdy, merchants!

As you can see, OUT WEST has taken quite the rebrand because, well - welcome to SEASON 2: We got to land! But it’s different than expected.

Us three captains have become full-time TikTokers… what does that mean? Captain McMahon, take it away.

Ah, I missed you guys. Did you achieve all your goals whilst we were gone? Well - I didn't.

As the title suggests, I'd consider myself a full-time TikToker nowadays. Not from the hours I put in, but the percentage of my brain it occupies. You see, I'm still not in a place where I can work on my own personal projects seven days a week. I still gotta put food on the table, and client work achieves that.

In fact, I'd say my freelance work takes up the majority of my time - but if a tipsy uncle asks me what I do at a family gathering - I'd say I make little TikTok videos for a living. 

How about we all come up with a 10-week objective? By the end of season two, I hope to sway my balance of personal/client responsibilities over to my side. I suggest you come up with something too, and let us know below. Or hey - if you're in a similar position, join me.

For too long I've been handing out my time willy-nilly for nitty-gritty projects I'm not invested in. It's time to see the bigger picture and be the main character in my own story. I've been noticing that the past few months I've been at a crossroads. The conventional path up the client-driven ladder, or to gamble on myself, and see what happens. 

To me, there's great confidence from saying you only work for yourself. That's a real flex. Let's get there together. 

This is going to be an exciting season. Things are about to get real. 

What I Consumed:  I rewatched The Meyerowitz Stories on Netflix. Dude, this film’s a masterpiece. A masterclass in scene transitions and dialogue writing. Adam Sandler shines, too.

What’s up explorers - we missed ya! Glad to be back in the saddle (yee-haw).

If I told eight-year-old me “you’re going to be a full-time TikTokker when you grow up,” his response would be “...a what?” Maybe not so coincidentally, if I told present-day me that same thing, my response would still be… “huh?”

Confusing, baffling, perplexing. Three words I’d use to describe my career.

Even though I still have a “typical” 9-5, I am a full-time TikToker - I tell stories on a small clothing business TikTok, as well as my own personal page. I’ve been doing both for over a year and a half now, creating pretty much every single day. Despite this, I’m still in the dark as to how this whole TikTok thing works. In being promoted to my role of “head social media content creator” at work, and the role of “all-encompassing short-form media production company” in my personal life, I was sure that with just a little consistency, I’d be able to say “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Sure, I can make videos in my sleep. But most days, the direction and trajectory of my career remains fairly unknown - where am I leading myself through making these videos? Where am I leading others?

That, however, is the beauty. Every day is a tornado of reckless creation, aimlessly grasping for something concrete as I try new things out of my comfort zone.

I’m taking part in Danny’s challenge too. In 10 weeks’ time, I’ll make it a point to define a clear trajectory, and what I truly desire to be in the world. 

What I Consumed: A little non-sequitur - I watched The Speed Cubers on Netflix. A documentary about a friendship between two of the best speedcubers in the world. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good story about community and friendship, grab a blanket (and some tissues).

OUT WEST FAMILY! Missed you.

We started on Jan 4 of this year and ten logs later, it’s March 28th. It’s absurd how fast time is flying. This got me thinking about this journey as a creator as a whole…

Last year on this day, I was living in a 10x14 fraternity bedroom, as a junior in college, and still thought I was going to be a project manager at an automobile company in Detroit. Holy shit.

Even three months ago, when we started Out West, I still lived in my parent’s house. Now… I live in an apartment in New York City with another creator.

Time moves four times as fast for a creator. That’s the beauty and the curse of being in this industry. You get the coolest opportunities but if you start to fall behind, the train keeps chugging.

Daniel, I love the idea of a 10-week goal. A goal that this entire community of creatives can hold us accountable to. A goal that keeps our seats on this train.

My goal – Truly start my long-form presence on YouTube. No subscriber goal, no view goal, rather a consistency goal. One video a week. (I know I said that last season but this time I have assistance! I am part of creator now and living with Dylan Lemay, so no excuses lol).

So excited for this sprint up ahead.

What I Consumed: Lately, my shorts have been a mix of these three incredible creators, Ryan Trahan, Airrack, and… Daniel McMahon. Love this formula - I think this is a shorts hack.

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Merchants, we have quite the journey up ahead, so join us. The only thing separating you from your goals is time, work, and sacrifice. Let quarter two of 2022 be the one to build that momentum, and best of all, let’s do it together.

What is your goal for the next 10-week sprint? Tell us in the comments what you wish for and as always, we respond to EVERY comment.

Welcome to SEASON 2 of the OUT WEST CHRONICLES. We’re glad you’re here :)