My name is Rob, and I’m just beginning.
There’s this guy. We’ll call him Frank. Frank makes YouTube videos that make us laugh. He’s put out real gems like Sad Cat and Sad Dog Diaries. Frank also inspired me in a way that my words cannot express.
When I’m feeling down, or overwhelmed, or lazy, or that the work that I’m doing is not worth it, I watch this video. And you should too.
For quite some time, my life didn’t really have a direction. Since high school I’ve worked in IT, tried my hand at a Mechanical Engineering degree, worked as a mechanic, and a parts guy, and a Census Supervisor. I received a bachelors degree in criminal justice that I’m incredibly grateful for, and that I’m not using.
Somewhere in that series of happenings, I got a camera. Like with anything else I’m even moderately interested in, I dove in head first. Off the deep end. I scoured the internet - reading websites, and forums, and looking at photographs. I devoured everything I could about photographic theory and practical application.
I didn’t get bored either. There’s always something new to learn and to perfect. A new technique, or a new advancement in technology to play with.
Since my college graduation, I’ve worked crap jobs - place holders in my pursuit to find my place in the law enforcement and investigations community. 3 years into my search, working as a parts guy at the local Porsche dealership, I decided something needed to change.
My life was stagnant. I got up. I went to work. I sold oil filters. I pulled tires. I checked the same websites everyday for job openings in my field. I got bored. Of course, I had things in my life that made me happy: My friends, my family, my girlfriend at the time, my hobbies. I just had no sense of accomplishment, nothing to satisfy my cheese monster.
I don’t remember the exact day it happened, but I realized I did have something that gave me the sense of accomplishment I was after. My camera. I was making some extra money shooting high school sports and events around my hometown for an online publication. I loved it. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had “working”.
The decision was made. I was to be a business owner and photographer by age 30. I made it, but just by the skin of my teeth. I sacrificed a lot - working 50 hours a week at a day job I hated, and 30-40 hours a week trying to get my business off the ground. I lost a lot of sleep. I neglected the people I love. They called me crazy for working so damn much, and applauded my determination.
So, here I am. Just beginning. I’m not yet successful, and yet not failing. I’m between 0 and 1. I’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of me, and a lot of rewards on the way there. Let’s start this shit up.