One positive thing the pandemic brought us was remote work and what we gained by working from home and not having to commute, we lost in human connection. This week I attended two digital focused events IRL. So let’s dive in.

The Industry Shift put me in front of an audience of creators and industry pros. I was asked to share my story — how I went from reality TV producer to dad content creator in my 40s. This is my story and journey I was able to share with former colleagues, those looking to make a career pivot and those in the creator economy.

February 24, 2020 was the last day I walked onto a TV set and at the time I had no clue that would be the last time walking onto a TV set. I had worked my way up from PA to EP in just under a decade and I figured once I got to the top, I would stay there as long as I wanted. Because I loved being a TV producer from the identity I had created to the actual work. I first moved to Hollywood in 2002 with the dreams of working in this industry in some way and here I was, working in it at one of the highest levels and I truly loved it.

The industry would be hit by the pandemic and then the writers strike and it would never be the same again. For me the mistake I made was thinking my TV producing skills would translate to other industries and I could easily find a job. But once I wrapped my last show on October of 2024 and hit the job market, I was wrong. I couldn’t find a job, so here I was in my mid 40’s married with 2 kids, no job and frankly not sure what to do.

So being the reality TV producer I was, turned to my own reality which was being a dad and the chaos of parenting. I turned that chaos into a content career. In just under two years we went from $0 to $10K a month in brand deals.

I was able to share this journey and what I have done to get here. The ability to take digital and make it human is what makes sharing my story in person more impactful and meaningful for those in attendance.

As you start on your new career pivot or creator journey, having a good website is key. There are some great resources with the growth of AI that can help, so I suggest you check out Readdy.ai.

I just started to deep dive into and follow Colin and Samir. They’ve been two of the most honest voices about what it actually means to build something as a creator — the grind, the strategy, the craft. So when I got the chance to attend Press Publish LA, I didn’t think twice. They are on the forefront of what creators are doing, but the reason I wanted to attend is to hear where the creator economy is going.

Walking into a room with 500+ creators, I expected panels and networking. What I didn't expect was how deeply the theme of human connection would hit me. Luckily I didn’t have to keep my face buried in my phone to take notes thanks to Gemini.

My biggest takeaway: Access. I remember coming from traditional media when I was trying to get my SAG card. For those that don’t know, getting your SAG card is a Catch 22, the only way to get your SAG card is to work on a SAG TV show or film, but the only way to work on a SAG TV show or film is to be SAG. Hmmm so how do you do it, most of the time it’s about who you know or as I like to call it gatekeeping.

Colin and Samir and Press Publish proved we don’t need gatekeepers anymore to be successful and thrive in the creator economy.

We live in a world drowning in digital and social content. AI can generate it. Algorithms can distribute it. Schedulers can post it at the perfect time. And everywhere you look, people are face down in their phones.

But none of that can replace the moment a human connects with another human. Eye contact. A real story. A shared laugh. The stuff that happens when two or more people are in the same room.

In a digital-first world, showing up in person is becoming a superpower. Not a nice-to-have. A differentiator. Colin and Samir proved that and so did The Industry Shift. At the end of this month, we are going to see two more powerhouse in person events, Cannes Lions and VidCon. I am excited to see how these events differ from years past and the importance of in person events. And this year, I will be speaking at VidCon, so if you are going to attend, make sure to come by and say hello.

Three things to try this week:

If this one hit, forward it to someone who's been sleeping on their own experience. Or reply and tell me what your "old skill" is — and I can help you use that to your advantage.

Keep creating,

Devin the Dad Former TV Producer. Current Chaos Coordinator.

P.S. —Know a parent who's sitting on a skill they think the world has passed by? Forward this to them. It might be exactly what they need to hear today.

P.P.S. — If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you want more of this every week, [subscribe here]. No spam. No fluff. Just a dad trying to figure it out — and taking you along for the ride. 🎬