The other day, I was interviewed by OWC Radio to talk about Apple products, photography and trucks. It was a lot of fun, and a little bit different to be the guy answering the questions, and the result was about 45 minutes of solid back and forth. If you’re interested in giving it a listen, check it out here:
When I first started Whipps Industries, I knew that my wife was pregnant and that I had a few months to plan for the impending birth. We’ve spent the past few months purchasing all of the little things that you need for a newborn, and I’ve been planning out my schedule so that I can have a little bit of time to spend with the little one. I promised myself a while back that on January 17th I’d have all of my major photography done so that just in case something happened, I’d be able to drop everything and take the wife to the hospital. For the most part, that’s exactly how it’s been working out, but recently I came across some really cool opportunities that I just couldn’t pass up.
For example, tomorrow I’m interviewing a technological giant for one of the publications I work for, and I’m very excited about the opportunity. I’ve also interviewed a professional skateboarder and a MMA fighter in the past few days, and I may even be able to talk to some other major starts in the coming week. All that work is due this Friday – right in line with my personal deadlines – but that’s not the end of it.
Next week I’ll be covering a major event here in Scottsdale for another book, and I’ve been tasked with shooting a cover at the same time. This is a huge honor for me, and although I’ve shot covers before, it’s never something that I take lightly. I’m already planning out locations, ideas and other concepts, just trying to get everything perfect for the shoot.
The following week is fairly mild, but I do have a shoot on January 29th, doing a tech for another book . It’s about learning how to TIG weld, a skill which I’ve always wanted to have, and now I can learn from the masters. It’s going to be a fun shoot to be sure.
The next few weeks are going to fly by, and I know that come February 7th, when my child is due, it’s all going to change. My drive to succeed has been pretty high the past few months, but come that day in February, I’ll have another reason to take my game to another level. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next few months.
A few months ago, I made the decision to quit my day job and start a business as a full time writer and photographer. It took me years to make this choice, and it wasn’t done in any haste. Sure, I had some signs that things with my company at the time were getting shaky, but I really enjoyed the people I worked with and I knew that I wanted to stay there to gain more experience. When it seemed like there was no other option, and that every sign was pointing me out, I finally pulled the trigger. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
But it wasn’t easy. My wife had been laid off two times in the past year at that point, and she was 6 months pregnant with our first child. Entering a career of financial instability was a little risky, and I wasn’t as confident as I could’ve been starting off on day one. My wife however, was very supporting, and she really got me ready to go, pumping me up along the way.
A month later, she was laid off for the third time. Our world went into chaos, and I started to consider going back to the workforce. Instead, I found some additional outlets, bumped up some of my workload, and today we’re on track, with no issues to think of. It’s given my wife time to decorate the baby room, as well as provide some back-end support for Whipps Industries. It’s been a very positive experience.
Today I found out that my old job is dissolving its main office, the one where I had worked for 18 months. Had I not put in my notice on that day in September, I’d be sitting here with an 8-month pregnant wife, trying to figure out how to sell our home and move to another state, all while going through birth. And if we didn’t decide to do that, we’d be forced to resign come April.
My wife and I have had a trying few years, and for a while there, it seemed like nothing could go our way. That decision in September turned out to be one of the best things we could have ever done and gives us both hope for the future.
Here’s to good luck.
