How to be successful.

What do you want to be when you grow up? It seems like a harmless question, but is it causing us to put too much value on our career path? What if instead we asked: How do you want to live when you grow up? Success shouldn't be based on how much money you make, but rather, if you're living your life in a way that's full of what you value.

MUSIC:
'Another Day' by Dabin, Inukshuk, Nevve
'Where Were You' by Evolv
'Fine' by Kasbo, Shallou, Cody Lovaas

#redefiningsuccess #minimalism #nosmallcreator

[ratttrapartistry]

I agree so much here!
I was working a 40 hour a week job with more money than I knew what to do with and I quit in November to be a full time photographer. I feel success is what happiness brings. I have money to pay my bills, get food, and have a little fun but nothing after that. I mean a savings of course. But I never realized that I brought success into my life when I stopped striving for everyone else and was striving for myself. I never imagined being a photographer I only ever imagined doing things that brought me the BIG BUCKS (doctor, vet, nurse, etc.) For the first time in my life I can say I truly feel successful!

[dylansavoie]

“How do you want to live when you grow up” I love it so much!!👌🏼

[lauravilmaa]

You're videos are inspiring and visually beautiful, that's why I watch :)

[feliciafullwood]

Jake!!!! Damn. The drone shots in this were UNREALLL! I love watching your videos because you can tell how passionate you are about creating and what you're doing and literally every video is so inspiring! You had what some people would consider a horrible situation and turned it into a positive one!


I completely agree 100% with what you’re saying about success too. When I started freelancing I learned how to live my life with less instead of just trying to take more. No amount of money I made ever made me feel “successful” the most rewarding thing so far has been talking to the people I’ve inspired / the friendships I've made along the way. I felt the most “successful” when I know I’m actually making an impact, not when I got the biggest check.


Keep killing it Jake, once I get better at video and start getting more consistent we have to do a collab!!! 🤘🏼

[ilukiswir]

Some how you inspired me.. love the idea travel in van .. But main thing is you are Real - you don’t try to fit in like lots of youtbers.. good work Mate !
Btw - your video travel far far away - I watch you Poland 🇵🇱 Peace ✌️

[PatMcAbery]

This may sound a little corny, but it looks like the other commenters will agree with me. You have an unusual positive and real energy and I really enjoy how you cut your projects. You are showing how you can make great visuals without a lot of fancy gear, and while you aren't trying to show off I can tell that you are very intelligent and understand the technical and artistic sides of the art form. I certainly hope you are successful, however you define it. Leaving your engineering job must have been scary, but it doesn't look like you are starving to death! Personally I am lucky enough to have a career that lots of people dream to have, and I get to produce videos on the side, so best of both worlds for me. If you return to Oregon I'd love to colab, don't know how, but something is possible! Keep on keeping on, looking forward to what's next for you!

[ClarityOffGrid]

Your videos are really refreshing. Your question really rings true for me, because I've spent my life asking that question. So when I had two sons I asked them what kind of lifestyle they wanted. I wanted them to think about the kind of life they wanted rather than a "major". I wanted them to understand that if they wanted to continue to live in our remote mountain town of Durango, that they may need to explore more entrepreneurial paths - like photography, or remote work. 10 years ago, I left my engineering practice in Seattle to move back to my hometown of Durango to build an off-grid home and lifestyle. We now have an off-grid van we travel in from our off-grid home base. Last spring I started our YouTube Channel - Clarity Off-Grid because we find clarity in our lives by living closer to Nature and wanted to share that with others. I'm new to photography and film making, but I finally found work that brings absolute joy to my life - combining the technical aspects of photography and editing while pushing my creativity. A balance I never found in my engineering career. So - this may be a year late and a dollar short - but we'd love to collaborate with you in some way.

[michaeldoesvideo]

You can feel the passion in your videos...someone who feels trapped by bills and money issues...you give good insight on what success can truly be that’s not defined by material things

[charlestucket]

Jake, this video is beyond stellar and something the world needs more of. There’s something about your production and presence that makes your channel valuable and inspirational. Saying that I’m a big fan is an understatement! Keep up the good work bro! Here for this! 🙌🏼🙋🏻‍♂️

[bethx]

I watch your videos because they are so captivating sometimes. There's no waffling, everything is so real and its inspiring to me. It's inspiring how you have curved your own path and not followed societies expectations of getting a well paid 9-5 job and wasting away in an office - you are out there, seeing the world and I wish from the bottom of my heart I'll get to do the same one day.

[silenthuman]

Jake Frew is changing the perspective.

[oliverenglish]

Keep making videos for yourself. Don't pay any mind to what other people want to see. I came here thinking I knew what I wanted to watch when I clicked on your video, but you offered a fresh and unique perspective on just about everything you touched on, and your cinematics are phenomenal. I'll keep watching what you put out. I hope they're all as "you" as your videos so far have been.

[ikhali]

Hey Jake! I rewatch your videos millions of times and they never fail to inspire! I used to dream to make videos like you but i stopped well bcos, career. But thanks to you, kind of trying to get back on track! YOU ROCK AND KEEP ROCKING 🤟🏼

[me.my.son.and.i]

I'm watching your videos because not only do they inspire me to 'create more' we consider youtube), but they're so thought provoking and I love that. Your style and approach instigates thought and re-evaluation and I think that's important.

I am also a firm believer in the ethos of 'how do you want to live your life', which is how I approach the future thinking with my own son. Everyone around me (friends, all define their success by whether they own a house (or even paying a mortgage on one as opposed to renting). For not remotely interested in getting on the property ladder. I will be saving until I can afford some alternative living, that I can purchase outright rather than signing my life away to a bank and fixing roots down by one home. Whether that be a boat, a container home somewhere, a tiny house on not sure yet.

I think more so in the last couple of years than ever before, I've realised what's important in life and the way i want to live my life, as well as how to get there. For me, my focus is now on experiences and memories!

[marcyvillegas]

This is literally saving me from this pandemic. Redefining things like being successful is truly an eye opener. It helps me to change my perspective and be excited of this life we have.

[SteveWaldrop]

People watch your videos because of you, your stories, and how you present them. I stumbled on your channel while researching van builds for inspiration for my own motovan, but then found myself subscribing and watching a video about how to shoot the best B-roll footage a few moments after. I had no interest in shooting B-roll footage. If I'm being honest, I don't think I could have defined the term properly before the video. I'm not looking to become a videographer, but now, after that video, I feel compelled to figure it out. That's a true measure of a successful influencer (and I mean that in the true sense of the word, not what it has become through Instagram, etc). If random people are picking up cameras to create their own content and tell their own stories after watching your videos, then that is success. Keep an eye out for my own YouTube channel! Ha! maybe...

There are a lot of amazing videos out there and I sometimes have to be careful to not get caught up in a YouTube black hole. There's just so much great content available and it can be really easy to get sucked in. While your videos have beautiful shots with incredible music, editing, etc, I think the magic formula is you and your stories. There is something extremely genuine about how you speak and carry yourself in your videos that doesn't seem to be very common. Hard to articulate really. Someone just has to watch and they'll get it. Or read the comments. These comments are incredible. Nothing like what is normally found on YouTube. Authenticity is such a rare thing in this world of likes and follows. The comments are a clear indicator of just how many others see it as well. Maybe that's another success story :)

I recall a moment in a video you did for the van build when laying the subfloor down. Your dad (I assume it was your dad) says 'nice job Jake' and it really caught my attention. People need to be told that they did a nice job when they have done so, and It needs to come from those who's approval you need most. I never had a dad around as a kid. No brothers or sisters. I had a loving mom though and I've always been grateful for that. That video, at that moment, made me want to be a better dad to my own kids. I work hard to provide for them all of the amazing things and experiences that I never had, which is great, but I need to be more intentional about letting them know when they have done a 'nice job'.

Be sure to tell your dad that Steve thinks he did a nice job as well Jake!

[TheJazzyG]

Bud, you must have wonderful parents to have passed on that much wisdom at your age.
My Dad used to say ‘If you want something in this life and you don’t get it.... then you just didn’t want it enough! I think you’re the epitome of that...you got your degree and said ‘Nope... not for me’ and then (with amazing support from your parents) you started this new life.
You’re an inspiration to young people and old people, like me, can just watch and applaud.
Thank you Jake.

[loveatfirsthike]

Ultimately I was intrigued by van life as I am aspiring to do just that. so Initially you were a part of my research.
I was surprised at what I heard.
I really like that you have a very minimal and easily attainable entry into this way of life and more importantly that you’re completely genuine and non-flashy. I feel like there is a huge hunger for content that is truly genuine and you are a Great example of this. Your content is simple, honest and inspiring to someone that’s looking for that kind of change in their life.
Being introverted I question my ability to do videos about my life and if anyone would be interested, But watching your videos releases my fear and gives me a greater understanding of how possible it can be.
Basically people love stories especially when based on real life. Life is is ever flowing, evolving and changing so their is always plenty to share. Your someone that I feel I can relate and down to earth. It’s much more relatable and I feel like that’s also part of your appeal. Another part of your success is your positive attitude and the way you look at life. Sometimes it just takes one person to remind you that you really don’t need much to be happy and that being creative is one of the most rewarding things that you can do in this life.
Thanks for sharing your experience.

[BhawinJagad]

This guy is highly highly underrated - I am super hooked to this channel and must have watched more than 10 videos at a stretch - You have a superfan, my friend.

[loveAntoinette]

Jake, I wholeheartedly love, admire, and appreciate your honesty, the rawness, the vulnerability, and the warm energy you exude with all your videos. I think it's what drawn me to your IG posts/videos from when I first started following you (two years now? I can't even remember). Sometimes it feels like you're a friend I've known for years, like someone I can just call up when I visit Colorado again, or someone who could just crash my couch here in NYC haha! I like how you define your own success, and 100% agree that every person has their own definition of it. I have always shied away from the "normal" idea of success - the house, fancy cars/clothes/shoes; that culture of excessive material consumption, I never cared for it. If I can travel to at least three new countries a year, I call that success. If my patients and their families are happy, that's another success, and every day as I am learning to be more compassionate and communicate and express my feelings better, then that's another success. Thank you for always entertaining us with your awesome videos!