Going where others are not. I loved this conversation with Joey Cofone. 

Joey was born and raised just outside of New York City. Growing up he could see the tops of the Empire State Building and other skyscrapers from his bedroom window. As a youngster he voraciously consumed two things: Books and Mac & Cheese. With spoon in one hand and book in the other, Joey simultaneously tended to stomach and mind.

Eventually it was his love of books that inspired him to study Literature at Seton Hall University. He spent four years probing the minds of the greatest writers who had touched pen to paper, and along the way he picked up a passion for philosophy that had for years unknowingly fuelled his obsession with reading and art.

After four years of studying literature—consuming other people's work—Joey was itching to create some of his own. During this time he had been exploring drawing, psychology, and communication.

While doodling on his apartment walls one evening he realized (with the help of a friend) that he loved to make pictures. The very next day he applied to be an Illustration major at the School of Visual Arts in NYC, and a month later he moved to the city that he had stared at for so long from his bedroom window.

Considering the four years' worth of credits he had, his first semester was light on humanities classes. He took the opportunity to indulge in his curiosity for letters (it always relates back to the books!) and took a typography class. Needless to say, by the end of the semester Joey's phenomenal teacher had convinced him that Graphic Design allowed him to communicate in the manner he had been searching for.

Fast forward to today and Joey is working in New York City, every day walking between the buildings he had seen out his window for years.

He is the CEO of Baron Fig and the Author of Laws Of Creativity.

I can't wait for you to hear him this week on my podcast. Find out more about Joey at Joeycofone.com