How Shawn Mendes changed my life
- Callan Wong
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 10
I used to chase celebrities…
Standing in rain-soaked lines just to breathe the same air as someone from TV.
Spending my minimum wage paycheck on merch and concert tickets.
Waiting hours for a 3-second interaction with someone who'd forget me before I even left the room.
I've met that guy from The Flash (yeah, that one)...
Almost got body-checked by the Aquaman dude…
Collected autographs like they were going to pay my rent.
One day I received a notification on my phone…
"Yo, Shawn Mendes is in town, let's go meet him..."
"He'll be as big as Justin Bieber one day"
So there I was…
Another day.
Another line.
Another celebrity.
Standing in the rain outside some radio station, waiting for a glimpse of this skinny kid with wavy brown hair.
The usual scene played out…
Screaming fans,
Marriage proposals,
Tears of joy,
Instagram stories in the making…
Then he walked up to me.
"Would you like an autograph?"
And something clicked...
What the hell was I doing?
Here I was, a grown adult, waiting in the rain to get a signature from a teenager who'd already achieved more than I had.
For what?
To show my friends how "cool" I was?
To get some likes on social media?
To feel like I was part of something bigger?
I looked him in the eye and said...
"No thanks, but I wish you all the success…"
Then I walked away…
Haven't chased a celebrity since.
Because here's what I realized:
While I was collecting autographs, they were building empires.
While I was waiting in lines, they were signing deals.
While I was being a "fan," they were becoming legends.
Stop idolizing.
Start building.
Be your own celebrity.
- Callan
P.S. Ready to build your own empire?
Let's talk about copy that turns your audience into customers, not just fans.
Hit me up for a free consultation.
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