Connor Franta - Note to Self

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also by connor franta

A Work in Progress

Connor Franta is an award-winning internet personality, New York Times bestselling author, dedicated LGBTQ + philanthropist, and entrepreneur with millions of followers across his social media platforms. His first work of nonfiction, A Work in Progress , was a New York Times bestseller and the Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Best Memoir & Autobiography (2015). He is the founder of the lifestyle brand, Common Culture, which offers superior clothing, premium coffee, and a variety of undiscovered musical talent under Heard Well, the first label powered by social tastemakers. To learn more, visit ConnorFrantaBooks.com and @ConnorFranta on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.

Ah, yes, this is the time when I get to thank all the wonderful people who helped make this book possible, in some way. Heres a list filled to the brim with love and adoration:

To my editors, Steve and Jhanteigh: Thank you for sticking with me all the long way from book one through book two. From the stressful midnight texts to the encouraging midday calls, you two make my author life an honest pleasure. Youve become the greatest of friends along the way and Im grateful to have found you.

To Judith, Ariele, Jackie, Albert, Dana, and everyone else at Keywords: This project only saw the light of day because of each and every one of you. Your hard work, care, and stunning ambition means the world to me, and I am beyond appreciative to have worked with this team, not once, but twice.

To Sam and Cory: Thank you both for your work on the visuals, inside and out of this book. They, specifically, were held near and dear to my heart and wouldnt look half as pretty without your touch and input.

To my agent/friend/part-time therapist, Andrew: Weve been friends and working together for nearly four years now and, although very close at times, have somehow managed not to strangle each other. I attribute so much of my success to the endless hours you put into me and my career and am oh-so-grateful to have you in my life. Youre a total boss and I love you.

To my attorney, Ryan; my book agent, Cait; and my publicists, Chelsea and Doni: From the contracts to the projects to the interviews that follow, you are all simply wonderful at what you do and I couldnt be happier to have you on my team.

To my family, Mom, Dad, Dustin, Nicola, and Brandon: Thank you for being, for the most part, the only consistent aspects of my life. I can count on all of you for absolutely anything at any time, and that is beyond comforting. You keep me centered, remind me to be good, cheer me up, and make me laugh. Not a day goes by that I do not appreciate all of you for that. Im a lucky one. Love you with all my heart.

And finally, to you, the readers: You are as deeply important as all the others. You make what I do possible and give a seasoning of meaning to all the work I put out in this world. Thank you for not only reading the book but taking in its words and searching for your own meaning amongst these pages. That brings indescribable happiness to mealong with the lengthy list of other things you do to support me on a daily basis. I am beyond grateful to have been gifted with that support. I appreciate all that you do for me and would not be where I am without you. So, thank you.

Check out Connor Franta's New York Times bestselling memoir A Work in Progress !

In this intimate memoir of life beyond the camera, YouTube star Connor Franta shares the lessons he has learned on his journey from small-town boy to Internet sensationso far.

A Work in Progress

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I m a private person, ironically. Ironic because Im in the business of public disclosure, and Im part of a generation that shares everything. Aside from my daily social posts that allow glimpses into my life, I tend to keep my thoughts, opinions, and words to myselfrelatively speaking. Now, if you get me around the few people I trust, Ill say just about anything that comes to mind. Anything. So dont try me. Ill let my mind spill its contents like a cup with no lid, whether those contents are applicable to the moment or not. Ill dish it all.

On the flip side, where the general public is concerned, I often remain silent. I like to think of myself as a listeneran observer. I enjoy absorbing information and analyzing my surroundings, even down to the color of the shoes the girl across the room is wearing (mustard). Its more by choice than habit. I derive a strange thrill from noticing the details of my surroundings, and I always have.

But theres also a dark underpinning to my silence. Sometimes, I cant decide if what Im thinking is what others want to know. Do people really care that some strange girl across the room is wearing mustard-colored shoes? Im putting my money on the answer being no . If I voice my thoughts, will it disturb the atmosphere? Upset the dynamics of the present moment? Is my input even worth sharing?

I think I think too much (as will become clear in the pages ahead), but thats who I am, and thats what Im here to share: my perspective, intimate musings, odd observations, intense moments, and the interior dialogue I reserve for only myself and a select few. This book is filled with short essays. Observations. Poems. Thoughts. Feelings. Ups. Downs. And the in-betweens. Id like to think of this book as a scrapbook of my mind. A collection of small vulnerabilities. A harmony of notes to self.

Growing up and discovering independence brings with it the realization that this world is not all cotton candy and giggles. When we let go of our security blanketsparents, siblings, childhood home, and familiar surroundingsand stand on our own two feetbeing accountable, minimizing negative consequences, and navigating lifes everyday challenges on our ownthe more we see societys true colors, and the more we become aware of what really goes on behind seemingly perfect but staged scenes: the social masks we all wear, the brave fronts we put up, and the curated personas that dont align with who we truly are.

Im saying this from a place of dramatic privilege, and I dont mean to come across like I have it hard, or have all the answers. But Im speaking from a plethora of experiences that, while particular to me, might be relevant to you as well. Ive managed to fake it this far and, somehow, Ive been able to make it work.

Im a twenty-four-year-old man, and in my six years of adulthood, Ive experienced some of the highest highs this world has to offer. Ive traveled to more than a dozen countries in the past two years, become the CEO of three individual companies, made an incredible living, met some of the most amazing people I believe this world has to offer, and accidentally fallen head over heels in love along the way. Each experience, and accompanying learning curve, has shaped me into the person I am today, opening my eyes and altering my point of view in ways I never thought possible. But not every day is a good day.