Evan CarmichaelSpeaker / Author / Introvert

Stop LISTENING to Others | Follow YOUR Dream

10 Mar 2014 · 1 min

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1:03

In this motivational monologue, the speaker shares his personal journey of choosing film school despite strong opposition from his father, peers, teachers, and cultural expectations. He explains that following his genuine passion for filmmaking, even when it seemed impractical and unlikely to lead to a career, was essential to his fulfillment. He warns against conforming to external pressures—family business expectations, conventional majors, or societal norms—and urges listeners to listen to their inner voice and pursue what truly excites them, emphasizing that ignoring one's passion leads to an unpleasant, unfulfilled life.

Chapters

I was lucky enough to find my passion. I realized that I was following something I really cared about, something I loved, something I was passionate about, and I kept following that passion. Had I done what my father had wished me to do, which is to go into the office equipment business with him, which I knew I wasn't gonna do, I knew I hated that, my life would have been unpleasant. You know, when I went to film school, everybody said, well, you're nuts. What are you going to film school for? Nobody from a film school had ever gotten a job in the film business. Just had never happened. So you were just doomed to be a ticket taker at Disneyland. So there was like, why would you do that? You know, why don't you take a major that you can actually get a job at? But once I fell in love with it, there was no going back, even though I had absolutely no chance of making it in the film business. So I think it's very important not to do what your peers think you should do, not do what your parents think you should do, or your teachers, or even your culture thinks, but do what's inside you.