Today I read someone’s LinkedIn post, and I found it incredibly disheartening.

It talked about people starting up with shingles like “career coach” without any past experience.

Right now, I have been working on taking a side business I have done on a very small scale and off and on since 2000 to the next level. This was because for most of those years, I also had a full time position that was already promised the majority of my time. The last two, I spent in graduate school.

Now, I need to figure out how to take my experience and years in the industry and rise above the noise.

So, for those of you struggling to get above the noise… I see and hear you.

There’s no silver bullet, no quick fixes.

But we can talk about navigating this together.

In the world of television writing, “spec scripts” count for a lot. They are sample calling cards that show you not only that you can write, but capture the feel and pacing of a show. However, they are not used to land you a position on the show they are about but similar shows.

They prove you understand how it all works.

Many people create these works in isolation, and some may be lucky to have friends who understand the business enough to give valuable feedback that can improve a script both as a creative and sales piece. Others may simply have people who just give them feedback if the story is great.

So, if you need someone who can give a creative and business look at a script, I do run a creative consulting business that includes being able to provide services like that, let me know. However, the script business has evolved enough – in animation in particular – that outside of the core basics, I won’t comment much on formatting since each production company has developed varied nuances particularly with the advent of CG animation.

This makes me think of the people I have worked with over the years, and even people who have reported to me or been my interns at jobs over the years. A couple have become executive producers at major entertainment companies. One became a senior development director in the video game space.

However, the one that moves me most is seeing things come full circle. In 2001, I would be hired as a Production Coordinator on the short lived second season of INVADER ZIM. That prior employment would open recommendations and doors to later become involved with Neopets when Viacom owned it, where I spent almost three years and had a number of interns in that time. One of them came over from the animated film space and looked to increase his range of knowledge. Years later, after going to work in television animation primarily, this particular intern ended up working on the Nickelodeon/Netflix move INVADER ZIM: ENTER THE FLORPUS.

It means a lot to me investing my time with people in hopes that they will go and grow and have great opportunities. I would definitely rank it as a top thing that has made being in this creative business worth it for me. It serves as one of the things that gives me hope.

My interest professionally in the field began with writing spec premises, and ultimately scripts. Through people willing to be my mentors, I built my foundation. Now my hope is to continue to pay it forward.