Hello, Creatives!  It’s not often I post about me on here, but today I feel compelled to.  I’m honestly thankful for pretty much everything in life right now.

I’ll keep it brief.

So my name’s Jay, for those who don’t know me.  I’m the guy who runs 99% Perspiration – the podcasts (both editing and hosting), the Facebook network, the Twitter, and this very blog.  It’s a lot of work, and I love it.  But it’s a third “job”, and it seldom gets the attention it deserves.

Today, I graded presentations by my first year students at the University of Sunderland.  On Tuesdays, I lead a class called “Starting Your Media Career” – and as their academic tutor, I get to know most of my students’ aspirations very closely.  Days like this excite me.  They’re all media students – a mix of TV, radio, journalism, photography and fashion.  And in just over two years’ time, they’ll be setting out into the world of work and pursuing their own careers.  But here I am; at their induction, watching them enthuse about the creative careers they’re fighting for.  (This is they, pictured below.)

Me?  Ask me in my first year at university, 5 years ago, whether I’d be teaching, you’d probably get a raised eyebrow and a shrug.  I never expected it, put it that way.  I wanted to make audio; my dream being featured on the lofty wavelength of BBC Radio 4.  (A dream I’ve partially completed – well, if you count background audio recordings in someone else’s project.  One day, one day.)  I wanted (and still want to) travel the world, release my own novel, and fall spectacularly in love like Amelie in my favourite movie Amelie.

Teaching is now my central focus of my part-time jobs; I love it.  Being able to shape young minds, if you mind the cliche, is amazing.  There are times I get a buzz from the room that no theatre performance could compete against.  Five times a week, I’m in a room with people who are passionate about working in the media, who are taking steps to make that possibility a reality.

And that’s why I adore creating the 99% Perspiration Podcast.  If the advice from these creative people on our podcast, featured on our blogs, in our Facebook network, can help shape you creatively, give you focus, give you motivation…  Then it’s all worth it.

I promised I’d keep it brief, didn’t I?  Oops.

It’s been one of those “on a high” all day kind of days.

So, as well as marking students’ presentations, today I…

Witnessed the birth of a new news show on Spark FM. This week, “Wear Here” was guested by two senior lecturers at the university/big names in journalism; former Sky journalist Jenny Wotherspoon & and former BBC Manager Andrew Glover.

Attended ArtWorks-U’s Artists’ Networking & Lunch at the National Glass Centre in Sunderland.  Great people.

Recorded with local freelance writer Mark Grainger, who’ll be featured on an upcoming 99% Perspiration podcast episode…

Supplied voiceover for a friend’s “sizzle tape”.  Dreadful title, get ready…  “There’s Gnome Place Like Home”.  Ha!  Credit to Hannah Colley here for the terrible pun.

And met with the lovely Rosario Rivas Leal who runs Purple Kyloe, who’ll be creating video signature for 99% Perspiration’s upcoming video content.  (She’s in the middle, below.)

But for now, I’m going to leave you with a teaser.  A cliffhanger, if you will.

We are growing.

Over the past few days, after a fair few creative meetings (some over cider) and introductions, 99% Perspiration is to become one of a few…  As part of our new podcast network.  #TBA

More to follow.  So, so much more to follow!

And, as always,
Stay productive, stay awesome!

Jay Sykes
Executive Producer, 99% Perspiration