How a Creative Gift From My Parents Changed My Career
I’ve been struggling during the pandemic. After graduating from college in 2019, I received an incredible job offer due to the lockdown. I felt completely lost, even though I thought I had everything figured out. With us all stuck at home for months, hiding my inner tension from my family was impossible.
Luckily, my parents understood this even better than I did. That year, they gave me a gift that pulled me out of that hole, reignited my passion for creativity, and launched me on a journey that led to my current career as a professional video creator and producer. That gift was a Cricut Explore , and this device literally changed my life.
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What is the Cricut Explore?
For those of you who don’t know, Cricut Explore machines allow you to design and cut a variety of materials, such as vinyl, cardstock, iron-on transfers, and even leather, creating custom patterns that you can use for t-shirts, hats, or any other DIY project you can imagine.
The Cricut Explore line, which works with over 100 materials, allows you to create almost anything on demand, easily and affordably. Saving money was crucial for me, as I had virtually no money but plenty of free time to learn. Because the Cricut Explore works via Bluetooth or USB, I was able to create custom projects at customer request, using specialized materials and designs that would normally take weeks or months to complete.
Cricut played a key role in my creative process. It led to the creation of XtarBoy Apparel, my custom clothing company, which ultimately supported me throughout the pandemic. I made custom t-shirts for yoga studios, limited-edition apparel and merch for micro-influencers, and even landed my first sponsorship deal with a San Diego racing team.
Cricut also introduced me to an important business mentor in my life. While trying to launch XtarBoy, I quietly took a job at a local car tint shop in San Diego, and the owner liked what I was working on. He ordered branded merch and team gear and was one of the biggest supporters of my side project when I was almost losing faith. He even set aside a corner for Cricut so I could print things for clients when I had them, and let me use the shop as a showcase for all my projects. Later, when my mom released her first book series, the giving circle came full circle, and I was able to help her with promotion and marketing by making branded merch for the book.
Gifts can have lasting value
Sometimes we take gifts for granted. We expect it to be the latest gadget, the latest collaborative project, or the most expensive item to be considered a “good gift.” But for me, the most valuable gift wasn’t the Cricut itself, but the opportunities and experiences it gave me to create, take risks, and challenge myself in new and exciting ways. And, at its core, that’s what a heartfelt holiday is all about.