My new office

It was at the beginning of April this year that I had the idea to finally change the scenery during the time I was working. Since starting my company it has always been a dream of mine to have my own office.

In May of this year, I finally got to the point where I was ready to move out of my home office and was able to make the financial commitment of renting a space. 

While viewing a few places in Biel, I coincidentally met a guy who was looking for a space very similar to what I was looking for. We started chatting and he mentioned that he was viewing a different space in Brügg later that week and asked if I was interested in coming along. 

We were both pretty amazed by the office in the Biella building in Brügg and surprised it was well within our budget. On the spot, we decided that we wanted to rent the office together and put in an offer the same week. 

Shortly after, we got the approval and were told we could move in starting June. Standing in my office for the first time after knowing it was mine was a feeling I’ll never forget. It was a moment of reflection and appreciation for all the people who have helped me get to where I am today. 

We’ve now fully furnished the office and just like in the vision I had, feels like a second home. Which isn’t always a good thing, since I hardly want to leave the office in the evening and often leads to working in to the night. Nevertheless, I’m proud to have my own space with my company name on the wall and an office I love to work in.

Film Producing - Week 19.4.21

Have you ever noticed the list of producers at the start of a movie or during the credits? I’d be surprised if you haven’t since they’re normally listed right after the director. So, if they’re ranked so high up they must be important. But what do they really do?

Before I started learning more about the filmmaking world, I didn’t know either. However here’s a quick explanation: A producer is the person in charge of organizing and coordinating everything needed for a film production. Sounds like a lot of work right? You’re right, it is.

I’m currently directing and producing a music video for a friend of mine and his band and have since developed a lot of respect for big-budget Hollywood producers. 

We’re still in the middle of shooting but we’ve been able to collect a modest budget of 1500.- to shoot the project across three days, currently have a six-week deadline to deliver the video and have around 10-15 people involved. It can be a lot of fun to have the responsibility of bringing an entire project to life. It also makes it easier when you have talented and great people involved but it can also be very stressful work.

Not only do you have to make sure that everybody shows up on the right days, at the right time, at the right location but you have to make sure there’s catering, bathrooms available, access to parking, the list goes on. And that goes for every shoot day.

Now if that sounds like enough work already, here’s a little comparison: Christopher Nolan’s latest film ‘Tenet’ came out this year. In the movie, they crash a real-size Boeing 747 into a Hangar at an active airport and the scene takes up maybe two minutes of the movie. You get the picture.

My new way of learning - Masterclass (Free Guest Pass)

Having made the decision of leaving school to pursue this path, everything I do comes very new to me and I constantly have to adapt and learn new things to push my career forward. I love it that way. Rather than studying for years only to be able to use that knowledge in the real world once I graduate, I’m in a constant cycle of learning, executing what I’ve learned and back to learning again. It’s amazing to, in fact, visually see the improvement with each client video I work on.

However, since I’m not in school I need to find new ways to gather that knowledge in order to become better at what I do. Up until now, I’ve always used Youtube to learn new things but that’s changed. I still use Youtube for quick tips and tricks but for learning from the experts in the industry my go-to platform has become Masterclass. I’m amazed by how many celebrities and professionals Masterclass have been able to create a class with, some of which have never presented any sort of online-class before.

Not only have I learned more about the world of filmmaking and video but also about business and how to approach new clients, job offers and honestly how to make my business more successful in general. These are a few classes I’m currently watching or have already completed:

Martin Scorsese - Filmmaking

Chris Voss - The Art of Negotiation

Hans Zimmer - Film Scoring

Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein - Advertising

Garry Kasparov - Chess

Gordon Ramsey - Cooking

Phil Ivey - Poker 

Daniel Pink - Sales and Persuasion

I’m usually quite skeptical when it comes to online classes and lessons but I’m truly fascinated by what Masterclass has been able to pull off. The video quality, storytelling and attention to detail of every class are unlike any other online course I’ve seen before. You could almost think they’re paying me to say this but in fact, it’s the opposite, I’m paying them. What a world.

I currently have three guest passes, so if you’re interested in any Masterclass, feel free to reach out to watch it!

Update: Unfortunately, all guest passes have been given away.

What’s next? - Week 15.3.21

Having been self-employed for close to a year now, I’ve learned a few things about this business and I have a feeling those things will never change. One of those things is constantly asking yourself: “What’s next?”. I’ve learned that client jobs and work will never be equally distributed, I mean C’mon, that would be a dream come true. Sometimes I have weeks where I’m so swamped with work that I hardly get the chance to catch a breath but on the other hand I also have weeks where I’m just waiting for the next inquiry to come in.

The first time I felt stuck and wasn’t sure what my new job was going to be, I panicked. I started wondering if what I was doing was even worth it and if I should start finding other options in case this didn’t work out. The second time, the exact same thing. However, right when I was sure nothing was going to work out, the next job inquiry came in. 

This week the same thing happened. After finishing the Wabion Livestream, I checked my calendar and realized I had no jobs planned for the next three weeks. However, instead of panicking like I usually would, I decided that this time I’m just going to sit back and let things take their natural course. That’s exactly what happened, because this week several inquiries came in and so the journey continues.

My week - 08.03.2021

This week I finally had some time to sit back a bit and focus on a few projects I started once upon a time but have neglected since. The project I’m currently working on bringing to life is a commercial, which a friend and I want to film in the Swiss Alps from inside a Cessna with a private pilot. I’ve been in contact with the pilot for months and discussed the idea, however at some point the project died down and made its way to the backburner.

After several months, I thought enough is enough and got in touch with a close friend of mine, who also happens to be a filmmaker, and asked if he wants to help me with the project. We’ve since sent out a few pitches to different brands for potentially creating a commercial for them and up until now, the feedback has been surprisingly good. As of now, we have a call scheduled with the first brand at the end of March and were busy putting together a mood board and storyboard this week.

My week - 01.03.2021

What a week. It was one of those weeks where you put your head down on Monday and by the time you get the chance to look up, it’s Friday already. Which I guess in some ways is a good thing.

It was definitely a stressful week, from organizing the whole Livestream for Wabion to editing until 2 am that night in order to publish the Livestream the next day. I thought after Wednesday, I’d have a moment to regenerate but since I needed to complete that job as well as deliver on another deadline, It just kept going until Friday. As fun as it was, I'm glad to now have a moment to lay back.

Now that I have a moment to look back at the week that just passed, I realize I took my work to a new level. From producing my first Livestream to completing my highest paying job yet. I rarely acknowledge or even realize these types of things when I’m in the moment but being able to see it in hindsight gives me the confidence and energy to keep pushing and always strive for the next level. 

What’s holding you back?

What’s holding you back? What’s holding you back from doing the thing you love? Why do so many of us feel like we’re stuck doing something we don’t enjoy?

I had a meeting today that really inspired me and sparked the idea for this blog.

I realized that the last time I blogged was in February and I’ve started to miss it, so now I’m back.

Anyway, During that meeting, we briefly talked about someone who has a stable job but it turns out they aren’t doing the thing they’re passionate about. The only thing I could think was “Why?” This person already knew what they loved to do but they weren’t doing it because, well, quote: “that’s just the way it is.” 

I really started to think about what truly holds us back from doing the things we love and immediately started writing this blog.

There’s an endless list of excuses why we can’t but I believe it’s all bullshit. Why we tell ourselves we can’t do certain things, I don’t know, but I do know it’s possible to overcome it. Of course there are situations where it’s not as easy, but do you really want to spend your entire life consciously knowing what you want to be doing but feel like you can’t?

It’s always interesting to talk to people who are in that situation, because once you start to dig beneath the surface and ask questions, you realize it’s all just fear we create in our own heads. We would rather stay quiet, curled up in our comfort zones, living a life just like the rest than stand out and do something spectacular that’s worth sharing and talking about.

I’ve however met plenty of people who are the exact opposite. People who clearly love what they do and are right where they should be. Somehow you can just feel when someone loves what they do, you can see it in their eyes. And It feels great to be around those types of people. They just have a different perspective on life. 

So, If you feel like you’re stuck in something you don’t enjoy or feel like you would rather be doing something else, ask yourself: “What’s really holding me back?”. Because once you ignore all the excuses, you start to find some pretty cool shit. 

Take a moment

We’re constantly rushing through life as if it were a race. 

We feel that if we ever stop doing, we’re missing out on the next opportunity. 

We go to the same office or the same school every day and see the same things.

But do we really?

Have you ever taken a moment to just take in what’s around you and consciously embrace the things you see each and every day?

I want you to take a moment and look at what’s around you. 

Take a moment to notice the things you never have before.

Take nothing for granted.

Stay grateful.

I want you to realize that tomorrow isn’t promised. This is my gentle reminder to be thankful for what you have today.

What Keeps Me Going

My podcast downloads have been declining with each episode I release.

My first few podcasts got about 200-300 downloads. Now it’s 30-50. 

My latest episode reached 10 downloads in the first few days. At first glance, it can be discouraging to see that an episode got as many downloads as hours that went into creating it. 

But I always come back to realize that I’m not in it for the stats. I’m in it for something bigger. Something more meaningful. It’s not numbers that keep me going but the problem I want to solve.

Of course, I want to reach as many people as possible, but I believe that through staying consistent, it will grow eventually. 

But to those of you, who have been a part of the journey since the beginning, thank you.

Often times, I think back to stories of actors, musicians, etc. who spent countless hours pursuing their craft and receiving no recognition and attention before seeing any signs of success. They showed up every day regardless of how many people were watching, to do the thing they loved most. 

So, I would love to hear from you, what keeps you going?

Share your thoughts with me here: tavi@dropoutjourney.com

The Plan

It’s become official. The journey continues.

I recently spoke with my parents and mentors about what I’ll be doing this summer and the decision has been made: The Dropout Journey will continue for a second year.

It’s already been an incredible journey and I can’t wait to see where it will go in the future. Already several people have told me how inspiring they find my journey as well as my blog and podcast and how it’s motivated them to start new projects themselves. It’s an incredible feeling to hear stories like that. 

I’m writing a business plan in these next four months and aim to start generating revenue within the next six months. Until now, I have been financing this project entirely with my personal savings. I am glad I have been self-sufficient, but now I need your support for the next half year.

I hope that by continuing this project I can prove that it's possible to pursue a different path and I hope to encourage others to go after their own dreams and ideas. 

So, why support me?

By supporting me, you are helping me make the second phase of this project possible. I need your help to cover podcast equipment, travel and hosting costs as well as help make new projects possible. Not only will you support my journey, but you will also support the cause of encouraging others to go after their dreams and give them the courage to try something extraordinary. 

How much?
With 20 francs a month you will be mentioned at the end of each podcast episode as well as on my website. If you have another way of supporting in mind, I’d love to discuss it with you.

Your support means a lot to me and will make so much possible. If you resonate with my message and want to help, let’s talk:

Email: tavi@dropoutjourney.com

Text/Call: +41 79 886 22 46

Thank you for believing in me.

The podcast is changing

I’ve been wanting to make some changes to the podcast and I’ve finally decided what those changes will be.

Weekly Episodes

Starting this Thursday, I’ll be publishing an episode every week. 

It’s quite a challenge,  but I really want to try this and see where it goes.

Video Version

I’ve decided to start producing a video version of future podcast episodes. I’m currently planning and preparing everything and hope to start posting on Youtube within a few weeks. Stay tuned!

New Intro and Intro Music

Since launching The Dropout Journey my perspective has evolved. That’s why I’m recording a new intro for the beginning of future episodes that aligns more with what my goals and visions are now. With a new intro voice-over, I felt like changing the intro song to start using my own music and have chosen a track I produced myself. Until now, I’ve been using a track from a friend of mine, which you can check out here. Thanks to Thierry for letting me use his music for the first ten episodes!

New Titles

The podcast has become more focused on topics rather than individual people’s journeys and I felt it was appropriate to name the titles after the topics and ideas we discuss in that episode.

Thanks for reading and for being a part of the journey!

Embrace uncertainty

This past year I’ve experienced a lot of uncertainty, confusion and insecurity. And it all came down to one thing: the fact that I didn’t know what was next. 

I tried so hard to have everything figured out and got anxious if I didn’t know the solution to every problem that came my way. I hated the fact that I didn’t have that ‘one and only thing’ that I could pursue and become great at because there was so much I liked. I didn’t want to be tied down to one thing only. 

I’ve since come to realize that there’s beauty in uncertainty. There’s beauty in not knowing what’s next. By embracing uncertainty and believing it will turn out ok (which it almost always will), you can truly live in the moment and be present. 

It’s ok to not know what’s next.

It’s ok to be uncertain. 

Behave like a child

Think back to when you were a little kid. 

Back to when we spent our days playing and going on adventures. No fear, no responsibilities.

As children, we’re curious about everything and even if we don’t realize it, we’re constantly eager to learn more. We’re not afraid to ask what something means and we’re not afraid of trying new things. We just do it.

Yet, somewhere along the way we stop asking questions, we stop trying new things and we start trying to fit in with the rest. We don’t want to look dumb by admitting that we don’t know the answer and we give up our dreams out of fear of what people will think if it fails.

But why do we lose that curiosity and eagerness to always keep learning and creating? 

Why do we give up our dreams and settle for mediocrity? 

Imagine what could be possible if you behaved like a child again.

Changes are Coming

Since deciding that I will continue The Dropout Journey, I’ve realized that I want to make some changes. Here’s what to expect in the near future:

Podcast

I recently had the idea of shifting the focus of the podcast a bit. Up to this point, my interviews have been focused on my guests’ lives and journeys. While I’ve definitely enjoyed learning more about these people, I want to talk more about individual topics. Topics that can provide value and knowledge to help people find what makes them happy and encourage them to go after that. 

I still plan on bringing inspiring entrepreneurs and creators on to the show but I also want to interview more youth and experts in certain fields to get first-hand perspectives on specific topics. 

Blog / Newsletter

I’ve challenged myself to publish a blog post every week from here on out. I haven’t been blogging for very long, but I’ve found a love for writing and I definitely plan on staying consistent with publishing. I will also start sending my blog posts out as a newsletter, so If you want to be notified every time I publish a new blog, sign up here. 

Video

I’ve recently thought about creating Youtube and IGTV videos of the podcast interviews as well as videos of just me talking about certain topics. I’m not yet sure how I want to do this but I’m working on the idea and hope to start creating videos within the next few months. 

Money

As I mentioned in my last blog, I plan to figure out how I can start generating revenue from The Dropout Journey. I’ve recently contacted a few people and asked for sponsoring until I can generate a steady income. My goal was to raise 200 francs a month until July. I’m extremely happy to say that I ended up reaching 350 francs a month for the next six months. I’m very grateful to everyone who is sponsoring me and I will thank them on my website soon. 

Also, I’ve recently been thinking a lot about how I will be earning money after those six months. Here are a few ideas I have:

• Podcast production: These past few months I’ve learned a lot about podcast recording, editing, etc. and I want to offer those skills to others. I’ve been thinking about finding a few clients I can produce podcasts for. I see a lot of potential in podcasts as a marketing tool and I believe more brands will use them in the future. 

• Social Media Management: I’ve recently started helping someone build their brand’s social media presence. I really enjoy envisioning a brand’s potential and having the freedom to execute my ideas. I hope to build even more brands’ online presence and produce more content in the near future.

• Patreon / Podcast sponsors: My biggest goal is to build a large enough podcast listening, that I can earn a somewhat steady income either through Patrons or offering sponsorship slots in podcast episodes. I don’t have a large following yet but I hope I’m able to achieve that at some point. 

Why do we go to school?

Why do we go to school?

After coming home from an event last Saturday, I saw a poster that really got me thinking.

The poster read: “Can you detect trends before they go mainstream? Become a social media manager with a Bachelor’s in Communications.”

My immediate thought was, “Why would I have to study for that?”

I started thinking and found that if I wanted to become a social media manager, I would take a very different approach.

I would first start researching past and current trends and figure out what content has been successful. Then I would start contacting small businesses in my area and offer to manage their social media for free for a limited time. After a few months, I would most likely have acquired the needed knowledge to start charging my clients. I would then start reaching out to bigger brands and work my way up from there. 

Why go to school to get a Bachelor’s degree only to start doing what I could do from day one without it?

Now, let’s say your degree takes four years. While you may have gathered a lot of knowledge in that time, you’re still starting from zero after you graduate. 

What if you used those four years to start creating more content, finding clients and building your reputation? 

Just take a moment and imagine what you could achieve in that time. 

So, what value does school bring to you? Are you only there for the diploma? Is it for the structure? The security? 

Why do we go to school?

The Interviewees

The Interviewees

I get asked quite often about my project and one of the most common questions I receive is: “So, who are the people you interview?”

It took me a while to answer this question but I’ve since come up with a general answer:

I interview people who have deviated from the standard path to create something of their own.

Some people think all my interviewees are dropouts but that isn’t the case. In fact, up until this point, none of them are. What they all have in common, though, is that they all left the standard and secure route in order to create something on their own. Whether that’s starting their own business or becoming self-employed, they all have left the “normal” path and have paved their own way.

I’ve learned that most of the people I’ve interviewed never started their own project or business for the money but instead did it either for the freedom or they were driven by purpose.

A few left their jobs to have the time and freedom to work when they wanted and with whom they wanted. But a select few left out of drive to create something meaningful. They had an idea that needed to be executed, a vision they needed to do something about. 

Those are the stories that truly inspire me.

Why leave a secure five to six-figure income job to start your own thing? Why take that risk? What fueled them enough to leave that all behind?

That’s what I want to know.

And that’s what I hope to find more of. 

Wait, what’s my Why?

What’s my why?

I’ve asked myself this countless times.

What motivates me to get up in the morning? Why did I start this project in the first place?

Yesterday, I met with my godfather and mentor, Martin Albisetti, to talk about the podcast and blog and during our conversation, he asked me exactly that question: “What’s your why?”

At first, I felt overwhelmed. It had been a while since I’d thought about it and it took a bit of time before it became clear to me again.

What I’ve realized though, is that my why all comes down to a problem I want to solve:

I see way too many people who aren’t happy or aren’t fulfilled in their jobs and way too many young people who are choosing careers they won’t necessarily enjoy. 

And I truly believe it’s because so many of us make decisions for the sake of others. We choose the path others want for us, not the path we truly want. We don’t have the courage to stand out and out and do something extraordinary, out of fear and insecurity of failure and what others will think. 

So we forget about our own ideas and dreams and choose a path that has already been traveled. And we end up being unhappy because we’re living a life that isn’t really ours.

I want to change that. I want to help and encourage people to pursue those ideas. I want to guide people on their own unique path, not someone else’s. 

Do I know how? Not yet, but I’m taking this time to dig deeper into understanding what steps the people who are living their dream took and what happened to the ones who gave them up.

And I’m in the process of finding methods that can truly initiate change and make an impact. 

I’m still on my own journey and I have a lot to learn, but I’m getting there. 

Where it all started

Since I launched The Dropout Journey podcast, many people have told me they want to hear more about my own journey in starting this project and what the process has been like.

That’s what inspired The Dropout Journey blog, where I’ll be writing about my ideas, thoughts and, well, personal life.

Anyway, this is post number one.

The idea of The Dropout Journey came to me at the beginning of this year, during the period when I started to ask myself what I wanted to do after 9th grade.

I had already tried out several new schools and had even been offered an apprenticeship. But I didn’t want to go to any of those schools and ended up declining the apprenticeship. I can’t explain the reason for it. I just always felt like there was something missing. My gut told me things I didn’t yet comprehend.

The idea of this project, though, had been on my mind for a long time, but I wasn’t ready to accept it. I was stuck with fear of what the people close to me would think; out of fear that I wouldn’t be successful. 

Yet, every time I thought of it, I knew this is what I wanted to do, but I was still nervous to express it. 

A few months later, my dad and I met at a cafe to discuss my decision on what path to take after 9th grade. We had been talking for 30 minutes before I felt ready to pitch the idea I had kept secret for so long but the moment I tried to speak, I started shaking.

Yet, I knew there was no better time than now. I managed to present my idea with a plan I had created for the coming year. The only response I got was “no”, followed by probably the most uncomfortable minute of silence I’ve ever experienced. 

That’s where it all started.

That “no” led to me losing all motivation I had to start this project and I fell into a depression. Days went by but, all of a sudden, that depression turned into motivation and I knew I just had to change my parents’ minds. 

It took months of many conversations before my parents were willing to give me a year’s time to test this project.

I know how hard that decision was for them and I want to end this post by thanking them. I’m eternally grateful for them letting me pursue this and I don’t take their trust for granted.

I love you, Mom. I love you, Dad.

Thanks for reading! 

Tavi