Keeping Your Passion While You're Unemployed

Being let go from Nestle was a challenge for me.  It was a hard time for me personally (with various health and family challenges at the time), but also I was extremely disappointed that I wasn't able to continue in that position...which truth be told was not the best fit for me from a 'level' standpoint.  

To give you a brief synopsis...I had worked about as far as I could in the banking industry.  I was the most senior analyst (Analyst Level 3) and I was one step before Manager.  When I took the job at Nestle (in CPG, a completely different industry) I came in at a very high level manager position...too high I think...which caused me a bit of career whiplash (i.e. I think it would have been more beneficial for me to have come into CPG as an analyst so I could have learned the ropes better).  As an aside, it was one of the reasons I was let go...Nestle and I both agreed that I did not have enough experience to be able to perform optimally in that specific position.

This left me wondering what to do once I became unemployed.  I was able to take care of my personal and family challenges during that time, which was good.  While in the position, I did very well at the analytics projects I was asked to do.  I was able to continue to explore my passion for marketing and consumer behavior analytics.  I also discovered in the role that I had a skill at negotiating with 3rd party vendors and helping to onboard them to an organization.  

I also really enjoyed working in CPG.  I learned an immense amount in the 2 1/2 years with Nestle (and something I'll be grateful to them for).  Besides learning basic metrics used to measure consumer products in the marketplace, I also learned how to do time series modeling and how to incorporate digital media measurement into my analysis and predictive modeling.  I was also able to attend a seminar in California on creating digital content with Buzzfeed.
  
And I have since learned two valuable lessons, that have helped guide me through these different waters that I am in (and I'd like to talk a bit about each)...

1. Take the Best From What You Learned in your Last Job and Do Something With It

2. Don't Give Up On What You Enjoy


Take the Best From What You Learned in your Last Job and Do Something With It

I knew leaving Nestle that I still had a passion for Analytics and Marketing.  I also knew I still had a passion for learning about consumer behavior and applying analytics to it to improve performance over time.  Further, I really enjoyed the new aspects of what I learned in the CPG Marketing space, particularly with digital and online content creation.

And I was doing something in my spare time while unemployed by myself or with friends that I've been doing all my life and am good at...namely gaming (whether online, on a computer, or socially with friends).  I even wrote a lengthy article while unemployed that I plan to publish which looks at probability and Magic the Gathering deck creation (once I figure out how to get it off a hard drive of mine that died - or I will just rewrite it).

So, I decided to marry this spare time activity to things I learned in my last job...I began to create online content for gaming and stream my own digital gaming online.  And I know what you might be thinking...but please hear me out.  I think it's easy to think that I am just finding an excuse to 'play games in my spare time', but I don't see it as this at all.  In fact, my overall goal with this is to have enough followers with this entertainment product I am creating so that I can actually make money at it (which many actually do).  Further, I am building a network with other online content creators through cross-promotion activities (for example) as I build it out.  I have done amateur acting in the past...so this has been a way to explore that again also.  And, I have invested money into capital that I use to make my product better, like video and audio equipment, props, wardrobe, and lighting.  Truth me told, it's really like a side business where I can pour my knowledge and passion into it to drive it.

If I had to make a list of the things I've done (from a business perspective) in this venture (and incorporated into it as I've rolled it out), it is as follows...

• Audience targeting for digital content (through paid promotions)
• Analysis of Facebook and YouTube metrics to improve content and increase engagement
• Networking and information sharing with other online digital content creators for sharing of best practices (and to obtain technical advice)
• Use of a variety of platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to promote consistent messaging)
• Writing, blocking, performance, visual, photography/photo-shoots, sound, and lighting tech work
• Creating a unique product that is different than others out there, so I can remain competitive
• Cross promotion of other consumer packaged goods during my streams (i.e. snacks, beverages, skin care products)

In this treatment of it as a side business with a goal to drive engagement and profitability...I've been able to have some great experiences with it.  Some highlights so far have been...

• I was able to do two photo shoots in West Virginia (for Bethesda's Fallout 76) to enhance and drive interest in the other content I also created.
• I have been engaged in watching how others do their online streaming and have done work on cross-promotion with other streamers and content creators.
• I have taken a class on Google Analytics, which I plan to incorporate into improving the effectiveness of my various online presences.
• I have attended and learned things at Conventions where people with like interests exist.  At one of these conventions, for example, I took a couple classes with a voice actor who discussed the technical aspects of improving sound quality (and I purchased some sound equipment to help with this).
• I've been able to consistently have a loyal group of consumers that has not changed too much over time (which is a big accomplishment in this space) with the efforts I have been incorporating.
• I have had people come back to me and tell me my content is very good and they look forward to seeing it again.
• I have noticed increased engagement over time as I've done analysis and made improvements to my product and what I present.

Don't Give Up On What You Enjoy 

And I'm still learning...and that's ok!  I think it's important to realize...and as many of you know as statistical modelers and analysts...no model or analysis is perfect and will always have errors.  It is something I have certainly come to realize as I've done this venture.  I have definitely had my share of frustrations (mostly with technical challenges and not being as organized at times like I'd want to be).  But what's important is that I haven't given up on what I'm passionate about....analytics, understanding and adjusting to consumer behavior, and being engaged with a product (gaming in this example) that people can relate to and enjoy.