The Unconventional Path to Internet Fame: How @Ethan.Uncurated Turned Creativity into a Full-Time Career
Ethan Tran, a 23-year-old digital artist, has found success by embracing his unique style and taking a leap into full-time internet fame.
In a world where many aspire to achieve online stardom, Ethan Tran, known as @Ethan.Uncurated, has managed to turn his creative passion into a full-time career. With a degree in business and competing job offers at top ad agencies, Tran could have followed a more conventional path to success. However, his decision to share his visually captivating and thought-provoking videos on social media has led him down a different road—one that has multiplied his audience by ten in just a year. This article explores Tran’s journey and the investments he made to excel in the digital age.
Starter Kit Investment 1: Finding your voice
Tran began uploading videos to TikTok as a fun hobby after long days at his job in advertising. His videos covered a range of topics, from artistic inspiration to videography tips. It wasn’t until he posted his first “uncurated thoughts” video, a visually stunning micro-film accompanied by introspective musings, that his following started to grow significantly. These videos resonated with people on TikTok, but it was when he started uploading them to Instagram Reels that his audience skyrocketed. Tran’s unique style, born out of years of experimenting with different mediums, helped him stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
Starter Kit Investment 2: Budgeting for your own excellence
As a visual creative, Tran invests in high-tech gadgets and stylistic accents to ensure his content captures his unique aesthetic. From a green screen effect to a 26-megapixel mirrorless film camera, Tran’s gear enables him to create visually stunning videos. He also emphasizes the importance of audio quality, investing in a wireless microphone to enhance the viewer’s experience. While these purchases may seem costly, Tran utilizes My Chase Plan, a feature offered to Chase cardmembers, to pay for them over time in equal monthly payments. This allows him to manage his finances while investing in tools that enhance his creative process.
Starter Kit Investment 3: Being unafraid to deviate from “The Plan”
Tran initially followed the conventional path, majoring in business at a prestigious university and securing a job at a top ad agency. However, he continued to pursue his passion for photography and filmmaking on the side. As his videos gained traction on social media and brand partnership offers started rolling in, Tran made the bold decision to leave his job and pursue his creative career full-time. While it was a leap of faith, he found inspiration in the advertising industry and continues to draw on its cultural relevance and humor in his work. With the flexibility of being self-employed, Tran now has the freedom to invest in travel, which fuels his creativity and provides him with new content opportunities.
Starter Kit Investment 4: Making stuff, even if it’s bad
Tran believes that to be a successful content creator, one must be a master of all trades. He emphasizes the importance of not striving for perfection but instead allowing oneself to play around with ideas and create freely. Tran’s videos often touch on the pressure of artistic perfectionism and encourage his audience to embrace imperfection. As a content creator, he understands the need for prolific output to keep his audience engaged. By posting regularly, he accepts that not every piece will be perfect but believes that the process of creating is what truly matters.
Conclusion: Ethan Tran’s journey from a business school graduate to a full-time internet famous creator showcases the power of embracing one’s unique style and taking calculated risks. By investing in his creative process, both financially and artistically, Tran has managed to build a dedicated fan base and turn his passion into a thriving career. His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring content creators, reminding them that success can be found by staying true to oneself and being unafraid to deviate from the conventional path.