I Spent 1,600 Hours Typing Other Writers' Books

Van - Love the channel. "Your life's purpose might not be your career" is life-changing advice if it hits the right person at the right time.

25 is a pretty harsh cut off. I'm 28 I've only just gotten started doing 3D animation which led me back to creating movies, I shot my first short film in 2013 & I'm planning on making another in February 2023 as a proof of concept for my first feature film. I just think people might get discouraged by the idea of being too old

I was 33 when I re-committed to a career in film. Quit my decent adult job at a hospital to uber on weekends and photograph/film weddings. Im 37 and got hired to work on my first feature as a 1st ac. Best decision I ever made.

I think I would disagree with the 25 year rule, I think you should always be searching, plenty of people have "broken out" well after 40. That said, I do agree with the spirit of the advice that you should definitely put that hunt on the back-burner while you focus on the career aspect of things.

Consider a truly good thing: Breakfast of champions took around three years to write from what I can find. You spent three months retyping, tracing and mounting it. Multiple years pass and your work reaches 425,000 people in 17 minutes and 24 seconds, accompanied by crucial and relevant wisdom on the creative process and act of finding one's place in the world. Assume 5% of viewers respond in a meaningful way and take this lesson into practice in their lives; 21,250 people, average age of 25 years leaving and average of 50 remaining years... You turned three months of your time into 1,062,500 years of life that is a graph-able point better than it would be otherwise. Compound this with the other dozens of past projects you share on your channel, and it should become clear. None of your work was ever a failure. It always was a life's purpose, just maybe not your life.

Congrats Van. I enjoy your channel. As a 43-year-old Australian, I'm not sure how to process your comment about 'Decide by 25". I still don't think I've decided or found the Thing that I'm good at and can get paid for. I can't remember where I heard it, but it's just as important to work out what you're NOT as it is to what you ARE!!

I appreciate how honest and sincere and true this video is. My experience: I chose a career in illustration because I had spent so much time and attention on drawing that by the time I was in my twenties I wasn't qualified to do anything else. The choice was: try and make this art thing really work, or be a janitor. EVERY time I have strayed away from art I have failed. 20+ years later it's working for me. Feast or famine, yes, but I LOVE doing this.

Recently got to come back to my retail job (Yes retail) after 5 years after a traumatic brain injury and I realize why I love my job so much. I feel like my purpose is simply to help people, the joy and gratification I get after helping with even the smallest things is amazing. I'm really glad this is the first video I chose to watch after falling in love with the pencil short.

I'm so glad that you're here for us to enjoy your life's purpose. Thank you for the work that you do.

OMG "...then your life's purpose might not be your career". So powerful and perspective changing. Thank You so much for share this.

The art is never a failure. I'm glad you still have it because it is such a beautiful piece to see, read and enjoy. It is exactly where it is supposed to be. With you. Also thanks for keeping me sane in a world of absolute boring sameness. You inspired me to reconnect with the thing I forgot I have. Much love from South Africa. X

There's so much value in these short videos you create. Informative, interesting and thought provoking. Thank you!

Hey Van, I'm glad you came to that realization because I enjoy your profoundly creative videos. They're inspiring, informative, & entertaining. Love the music too. Keep'em coming & we'll be watching.

I feel like you nailed the title and thumbnail on this one. Draws you in quite well. Appreciated the message in this one and 17 mins felt like 5, thanks for your videos Van

Such a GREAT post from a GREAT channel and a GREAT guy. Thank you Van! ❤

Super insightful advice! Really appreciate life coaching video’s like this!

I really needed this today. Humbling conversations put things into perspective.

I knew who I was and my path/calling whatever you want to call it by the time I was 4 or 6, 7 something like that but a narcissistic presence pushed me off the trail and onto others. None of it was a waste, all of it had a purpose, but it pushed me off the career path so to speak, causing me to miss that 25 year old mark. If when I 'came to' I believed that my opportunity for career was over because I was too old, I would be in a very bad place right now. I appreciate your perspective and see where you are coming from with it but I am happy that I don't believe it myself. : ) Thank you for your beautiful work Van.

Really appreciate you opening up about your own struggles and journey through this. You're helping a great deal number of us.

thanks for this video and happy you found this gig to do! Love the videos and channel.