My Future Goals & Challenges

Written by Theo Crowther

My Goals, Objectives & Challenges:

Intentional Direction:

Media - Further Education, Business & Entrepreneurship (Next 1-5 years):

My top business media goals include:

  • Study a 'Media' - or 'Creative Media Production' - BTEC Level 3 Extended course, ideally at Brockenhurst College
  • UX Design & Usability Consulting: to reach my first 20 clients for my company Polar Bear Pages (web page building service).
  • Crispy T-Shirt designs: to have uploaded to 2-4 different t-shirt sales platforms, 500 unique t-shirt designs.
  • Crispy T-Shirt designs: using design programs Figma and ProCreate, to have designed 10 complex/sophisticated t-shirt designs, and have uploaded them to 2-4 different t-shirt sales platforms, one being RedBubble.
  • Logo designs: to keep practising my Logo design creation skills, with a view to selling some logos.

Personal Interest - Other Skills, Awards & Certifications (Next 2 years):

My top priority 'personal interest' and skills development goals include:

  • Completing my Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.
  • Completing my current course of driving lessons, and passing the tests to acquire my driving license.
  • Cookery & Global Cuisine: to learn new dishes, especially Mexican and Japanese meals, and to learn more about 'Paleo' eating.

Sport & Fitness (Ongoing):

  • Japanese Jujitsu - Currently Greenbelt; will continue to work through belts to Blackbelt, at my weekly lessons.

  • Weight lifiting: - 3X a week. To progress more seriously through weight-lifting and muscle mass building, for short but focused workouts at my local gym.

Music (Ongoing):

  • Electric guitar: to master my first five songs.

  • Music Video Production: to research this field further, and to continue learning about themed music videos, especially other 'Concept Albums', by watching and analysing music videos and educational analyses.

Other Media & Creative (Ongoing):

To develop my exposure to, and skills in, creative media production and related fields, including:

  • Podcast Creation: to experiment further with podcast creation, discussing and educating listeners on the theme park sector, to include theming and design concepts, coaster manufacturers and industry news, engineering methods and profit-related decision making. If my podcasting skills improve sufficiently, I will look into publishing a regular podcast.

  • Theme Park Social Group / Society, for young adults: to look into the feasibility of launching the first UK Theme Park Society, for young adults aged 18 - 25, to bring theme park enthusiasts together by organising theme park social outings every 3-4 months. To launch this group across multiple social media platforms, including all planning, theming, communications and event management.

  • Manga: to continue exploring Manga creation, using pencil and perhaps design software, and to improve my Manga drawing and design skills.

Travel (Next 6 years):

To travel to:

  • New Zealand - to spend time with my New Zealand family members, to explore my father's homeland, culture, landscapes and experience more 'adrenalin junkie' activities.

  • Japan - to explore Japanese cuisine, along with the country's history, culture, theme parks and Tokyo's technology scene, all of which have fascinated me for years.

  • USA - to immerse myself in the American theme park scene, and cuisine.

Challenges & Considerations:

Prioritisation and future focus: I will need to narrow-down my direction with regards to my goals to work in a media-related field. I am currently most drawn to the UX Design sector / Usability Consulting, the Film and Movie Industry and the Music Video Production profession.

Whilst I am more clear regarding the opportunity within the UX Design sector, and already have some experience and many certifications in this field, I would like to especially further explore and research the Film industry and the Music Video Production industry.

I am aware that I have many interests that I am passionate about, and multiple personal goals; I expect I will therefore have to focus carefully on working on my top objectives, to make sure they are reached successfully. As a result, I will probably have to be patient about reaching all of the objectives I have set myself! I am aware that it is dedicated focus that brings the best results.

Finally, after studying for a Media Level 3 Extended BTEC qualification, I will have to make a career decision regarding whether to (a) continue studying Media (or specialise in one of its sub-sectors) at University, or to (b) gain immediate experience in a Media-related field through freelancing or apprenticeship. One of the top factors in this decision will be the likely Return on Investment (ROI) for either route. Firstly, I will need to find out whether the specialist field I decide to move into requires me to have a degree. Secondly, I will have to seek help with calculating the financial ROI of pursuing a degree, factoring in the long-term cost of student loan + interest repayments versus the likely lifelong returns I would make by having a degree, or not having a degree.

© Theo Crowther