009 - The “Multifaceted Multiverse.”

I have a lot of passions — and I’m tapping into each one. Is that bad?

The saying goes, "Jack of all trades, master of none.” As a creative individual who was always doing different things, growing up, people used to refer to me as a “Jack of All Trades,” and I hated it. Did they mean it negatively…nah (at least I don’t think so), but I truly used to fear this expression because I didn’t want to be that person who dabbled in everything but never mastered anything. But, as I get older, I am learning to embrace it, because YEAH, I’m good at so many things!

Life is way too short to only do one thing forever. Especially as a creative. I feel like it’s important — necessary, even — to have different outlets to express ourselves. I've had the privilege of diving into many creative lanes, but I’d be lying if I said I never stop and think, “Wait… is this a good thing?” Even in my career working in entertainment, although my ultimate goal is to write and produce for Television, I dabble in everything. I write, produce, edit, act, direct, and even manage here and there and even then, there are so many different versions of me.

There’s Austun the Producer — the one who loves building stories, writing characters, and bringing scripted worlds to life.
There’s Austun the Content Creator — the one who edits, acts in, and produces social content.
Then there’s Austun the Designer — who stays up at 2 a.m. tweaking graphics and logos.
There’s also Austun the Musician — who writes and produces songs, sings, and is now learning how to DJ

And even with all these different parts of the “Austun Reid World,” I still want to do more. I’ve got scripts and storylines I want to bring to life and see on TV. There’s YouTube content I want to shoot and finally put out. I want to write and produce an EP. I just bought a controller and I’m teaching myself how to DJ. And honestly, there’s still so much more I want to learn. While I’m doing all these things, I do feel fulfilled, but I also want to keep growing and pushing myself. It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, I feel like I have my hands in so many pots that sometimes I don’t only feel burned out, but I sometimes question if I’m really locking in on my “purpose.” But on the other hand, I’m expanding creatively and building a brand that feels real, layered, and fully me.

Being homeschooled from 4th grade through freshman year of high school, I’ve never really struggled with confidence. My parents always supported my creative side. They made me believe that anything I wanted to do, I could do and that belief has followed me into my adult life as well. Also, I never really saw myself doing the same thing in life forever, and I think for me it’s important to expand your horizons and learn new things, and that’s exactly what I am pushing myself to do on the daily. I have a vision for myself and this brand I’m building, and within this brand, I wear a lot of hats. One day I might drop an album, the next day I might release a book. Then you’ll catch me starring in a movie, the following day launching a clothing line — and who knows, you might even randomly see me on stage doing stand-up. But is that a bad thing? Is there a danger in being too diverse or too interested in so many different things?

If it is, I don’t think it should be.

I like challenging myself. I like stretching my creativity. So if I’m even slightly interested in something, I’m going to explore it. I’ve always had this mindset of, “If they can do it, why can’t I?”

Now although I am very confident in my creativity, I am also very self-aware and know my limits, but that’s never stopped me from trying. I believe in pushing yourself. Whether it works out or not, at least I tried. That’s what matters to me. Lately, though, I’ve been learning that just because I’m good at something doesn’t mean I have to monetize it. Some things are okay to just be for me. A hobby. A passion project. Something that feeds my soul but doesn’t pay my bills, and that’s okay…but I’ll be real: as a creator who does use creativity to pay bills, the line gets murky sometimes. Take music, for example. I grew up singing in church, choir, praise team, solos, the whole nine. I love music. I respect it deeply. And as someone who genuinely appreciates singing, writing, and producing music, I ended up diving into music production and talent management for a few months. And truthfully? I was GREAT at it. I still help book talent, hop in the studio, and assist with vocal production when I can. But just because I’m good at it doesn’t mean I have to turn it into a full-time career. Sometimes it’s just something I enjoy — a way to stretch myself creatively and tap into a different side of who I am.

So, yeah — I’m a “Jack of All Trades.” But maybe the real flex is being able to hold space for all of the versions of myself.

And maybe, just maybe… that’s the point. I don’t think creativity is supposed to be boxed in. And I don’t think passion is meant to be linear. The truth is, I’m still figuring it all out — but every new thing I try adds to this big picture I’m building. Some days it’s chaotic. Some days it clicks. But it’s mine. And I’m proud of that.

Anyway, tell me what you think…until then, to keep up with all things Aus, follow me on all platforms @austunreid. Thank you so much for reading this AusThought I really appreciate it!!