The Big IDEA: Comic Books + Chips + Some Old Man Wisdom = Professional Storyteller

By Anton D. Johnson II, Intern, The Big IDEA Internship

Since I was a little kid, I’ve been a fan of stories. Spider-Man comics and salt and vinegar chips filled my afternoons. I’m a sucker for fiction, but I have an extreme appreciation for real-life stories too. I’ve learned so many valuable life lessons through the stories my father shared with me. Storytelling has always been a big part of my life, even when I didn’t know it.

Want to hear a funny story? Years ago, my family and I went out for lunch. Once we sat down at the restaurant, an older man approached our table and asked if he could speak to us. He turned directly to me and said:

“I noticed you come into the restaurant and I just feel like I need to tell you how I feel. I don’t know what it is, but I have a feeling that you’ll impact the lives of hundreds of people one day.” Then he left.

It wasn’t something that I devoted my life to, but it’s pretty cool that almost 10 years later I’m in a position where I can (hopefully) inspire people to strive to be great.

As I begin my journey as a professional storyteller, I have specific goals I’d like to accomplish from the Big IDEA Internship:

I’d like to showcase some of the professional talent my demographic has to offer to the world.

One of the reasons I applied to this position is because of how honest it is. There has been and still is an overlooking of people of color in the marketing industry. During my time with the program, I’m hoping that my colleagues and I can make a difference in the current scene.

Personally, I’m hoping that this program will make me and my colleagues more well-rounded professionals in the industry.

Being a recent graduate, I think I still have some gaps to close between being a student and a professional. By working with the star-studded rosters of Oyster, Covalent and Garrison Hughes (Anyone got room for one more? 😉), I feel I’ll be putting myself in the best position to succeed afterwards.

I would love for my story with this program to inspire others my age to strive for what they want.

I think that a lot of people in my demographic find themselves confined to the thoughts and ideas of a close-minded society. I’m hoping that my story helps to inspire other young professionals to keep striving for success, it’ll start to find you eventually.

I’d love for my story and work to inspire the people around me to step out of their comfort zone every so often.

One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was accepting a position I had no prior experience with. That experience started me on the path that led me here today. I think it’d be a pretty special thing if this position served as the catalyst our industry needs.

While working with Oyster, Covalent and Garrison Hughes over the next few months, I’m really hoping to make some professional connections that may play a part in my life down the line.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” We’ve all heard it before. By creating and developing meaningful connections, I feel I’ll be giving myself the best chance to find success in three months.