What's Next?

Now that I near the end of my trip this is the most common question I’m asked. Friends, family, fans, and strangers I talk to at the gas station are all asking this question when they hear about my adventure. I wish I could say what’s next after The Hometown Invasion Tour is over (of course things like speaking engagements, press, essays, and a book will all be coming as well). But I have some ideas and I would love to hear your ideas.

Grad school
Since I first started thinking about college in high school, I was always tickled by the idea of being Professor Bugsy. A doctoral degree has always been in my mind. I have always wanted to push myself as far as I can go. As far as I’m concerned there is no reason not to go for a PhD. And after giving worlds of dedication and sacrifice to this trip, I feel I know what the dedication towards a PhD would take. My one concern is that I would get my PhD and then move to Colorado to be a snowboard bum while I bag groceries to pay the bills and my degrees just collect dust. In addition to grad school, I am also heavily considering an advertising portfolio school to polish my skills.

The 8 to 5 job
Truth is… I’m in debt, complete financial ruins, and it’s going to be a little scary after this trip to get resituated. A good paying 8 to 5 job might be necessary for a while. Sometimes I joke with myself that I want to go back and do all the jobs I never did: bag boy, waiter, ice cream parlor, etc. My parents probably don’t want to hear that though. On a more serious note I consider applying to advertising agencies in Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, or Seattle. I would like to try living in a big city for a while and see how I like it. Advertising would be the way to go.

More trips.
You all knew this was coming. I would do The Hometown Invasion Tour: Round II starting tomorrow (ok maybe after a couple months) if the opportunity (a.k.a. funding) is there. But this isn’t the end of my ideas. I have plenty of ideas for trips that include multiple people, incorporate different things I haven’t done before, international travel, and even similar projects that are much more qualitative and focus on a small area for longer periods of time. Maybe I can get my own TV show. Who knows. The road truly is wide open, the ideas are endless. After all, I believe I have found my niche. This truly is what I want to do with my life. It has been an amazing experience in dozens of ways and I would be a fool to turn down more opportunities of the sort.

Photography and web design
My skills in both photography and web design have grown tremendously in the last year. These are two passions of mine where I feel a lot of potential. That potential isn’t necessarily due to my skill, but to my relentless passion for both and longing for creativity. I see both of these fields as limitless. There are many ways to incorporate these into what I do. No matter what I do in my future, professionally or as a hobby, these are two things that will stick with me. It would be great to start a photography and web design business out of my own place to see if I can make a nickel at it. I would love to be my own boss. In terms of other work on my own I would like to start a promotions and advertising business.

To those of who have asked me “What’s next?” please forgive me for not answering and just referring you to this blog. But as you can see this would be a lot to answer five times a day. And by no means is my future limited to just the potential of these. There are many more ideas!

And if you have any advice or suggestions please spill your thoughts!