How do you go from a high school dropout at 18 to signing deals with Penguin and Scholastic? For Kern Carter, it wasn't an overnight success—it was a 15-year game of strategy and perseverance.
Kern shares the raw reality of becoming a father at 18, losing his scholarship, and having to leave home to support his family. He describes the loneliness of that setback and the immense pressure to provide, which ultimately fueled his drive to finish his education and pursue his dream of writing.
This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of patience and grit. Kern reveals the life-changing advice a professor gave him about the "15-year journey" to becoming a professional author and how he treated his art like a business to survive. Discover how he sold 15,000 books without a massive social media following by leveraging community and strategy.
In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover:
* Kern's rock bottom: Dropping out of high school at 18 to become a father.
* How he regained his education and a basketball scholarship against the odds.
* The critical advice: Why it takes 15 years to truly "make it" as an author.
* How Kern used copywriting and entrepreneurship to fund his dream.
* The strategy behind selling 15,000 books without being viral on social media.
* The importance of honesty: "Figure out who you are and what you want to do".
* Why exposure (Penguin/Scholastic) matters just as much as talent.
* Kern's ultimate definition of success: Being the best writer in the world.
This episode is for aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, and anyone who feels like their current setbacks have disqualified them from their childhood dreams.
Connect With Kern Carter:
* Website: https://www.kerncarter.com/
* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerncarter/
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerncarter/
Support the Show:
* Fuel the FailCraft Mission: https://iferia.nestuge.com/supportme
* Subscribe and leave a review!
* Share this episode if it resonated!
Want to Be a Guest on FailCraft?
* Reach out to Ezekiel on PodMatch
* PodMatch Host Profile: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/failcraft
Chapters:
00:00 Hook: The Reality of Becoming a Teen Father
01:12 Introduction: Kern Carter's 15-Year Journey
01:44 The Setback: Dropping Out at 18 to Raise a Child
03:44 Perseverance: Regaining a Basketball Scholarship
05:15 The "15-Year Rule": Advice from a Professor
09:05 The Entrepreneurial Author: Treating Art as a Business
11:45 How to Sell 15,000 Books Without Viral Fame
15:03 Advice for Those Who Feel Their Dream is Over
17:17 Kern's Definition of True Success: Being the Best
18:14 How to Connect with Kern