We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chris Kane a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Chris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my first children’s book entitled Guided by Grace. The book started as a gift for my youngest niece Annastasia but evolved into something more impactful. I’ve always believed the education and guidance for our youth has been inadequate specifically in regards to mental and emotional health. Guided by Grace serves as a tool to help our youth navigate some of the pitfalls of growing up. As I shared the idea with my inner circle, the scope adjusted to serve as many as possible. This is my greatest work to date, no questions about it. I am confident any parent would find value for their child.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
First and foremost my name is Chris Kane and I’m a creator. This has manifested most tangibly in comedy and writing but extends to business as well. I have been a consistent comic and host for the past 10 years and recently published my first children’s book on Amazon entitled Guided by Grace. My mind has always defaulted to creation and new ideas. I started writing my first TV show in middle school as an emotional outlet. I began designing comedy merchandise in high school soon thereafter.
My goal has always been to create content that empowered people or made them happy (i.e comedy). Despite my creative leanings, my personality has always been more low key and communal. Everyone in the creative space has an ego, but what sets me apart is my goal is to serve my audience. I see no value in high achievement if it only benefits me.
My personal brand is to provide the best in all my efforts. I want the audience to have a great show experience. I want the digital content to be stimulating and helpful. I want the merchandise to be cool and uplifting. Everything leads back to the people. If I can help them have a better experience, I believe the same will be reciprocated.
I’m most proud of the fearlessness of the work. Many projects and ideas have not met expectations. That part of the process always leaves a lesson and informs future endeavors. It’s easy to be discouraged, but if you have the fortitude to push through I believe you will.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
The journey of a creative is unusual to say the least. The best way to describe the work/reward might be a version of the Pareto Principle commonly known as the 80/20 Rule. In creativity I beleive the ratio is more skewed. I would say 90% of what you do is either unknown or doesn’t net visible “results”. Only 10% works out according to plan. As you continue on the journey the numbers may inch closer to the 80/20 but the lessons are the same. Most of the work you do will never be seen or appreciated by the public. Only you will know the progress you’re making and the resiliency you’re building. If your goal is high levels of results and fame, the journey is far from linear. My goal isn’t to paint a bleak picture but to prepare you for the realities.
On a lighter note, the 10% is really rewarding and gratifying. Seeing a vision in your mind and actually creating it builds you for your next project. Depending on the creation, it could last lifetimes and change the course of your lineage. The beauty of the journey is, you have to stay on it to know where it ends.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal in writing Children’s books is to provide a resource to help the youth when their support systems break down. Anyone who has watched the world has seen the meteoric rise in mental disorders/distress/angst in the last 15 years. As an adult we have better ways to cope. My belief is the seeds of discontent actually start as a child but are unspoken and thus untreated. My mission is to find a better way to have the discussions so we can find solutions. No problem unaddressed just goes away. It festers, marinates and eventually manifests as a much worse situation. If we can equip and reach our youth earlier, maybe we can start being better adjusted adults. The Guided by Grace series of books will tackle a myriad of issues not unique to being a child, but a person. My goal is to have them on school book lists across the country so kids in all socioeconomic circumstances will have access to them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://a.co/d/2MyNQ1i
- Instagram: @chriskaneproductions
- Facebook: Chris Kane
- Linkedin: Chris Kane
Image Credits
@ohthatsally