Why did I get Started?

It is no secret that running a business is not for the weak and weary. Many seasoned business owners have often said it is important to remember why you started. Which I have found to be true in my short tenure as a CEO. So what was my catalyst for opening a business: I was in pain. About a year ago I found myself having a quarter life crisis. My personal life was a mess, I was unhappy at work and I was becoming someone that “I” didn’t even like anymore. I wasn’t sleeping, I was always irritated and constantly depressed. The turning point came one day when I was driving home from work. I was so tired from not sleeping, that I briefly fell asleep at the wheel and damaged my car so badly that I couldn't even drive it for a few days. That’s when I knew I was in trouble. Coincidently, a few weeks later my little sister came in town to visit me (mainly because she wanted to go to six flags lol). I’m one of those people that tends to “self-manage” my pain. But I was so distraught I ended up completely venting to her. I truly believe that little sisters are God’s greatest creation; as they are built in best friends, protectors and live entertainment. Although it didn’t happen overnight, after that conversation a change began to happen with me.

I decided that of instead of remaining bitter, I was going to get better. However, I also understood that my present environment could not support that. So I left. I left my house, my job, and my friends and moved to the other side of the country to California and started over. Throughout my entire life whenever I would go on vacation specifically near water, there was always something very healing about that to me. Nature in my opinion was God’s method of restoring me. So traveling seem like most logical step to take. As I began to visit these oceans, mountains, and desserts I began to take pictures and post them on Instagram. At the time I only had about 200 followers. One day one of the bigger travel blogs had an opening to do a feature for a guest photographer. I entered one of my pictures just knowing they would say no…. well to my surprise, they said yes! This huge blog with hundreds of thousands of followers, picked me with my 200. The picture received the most “likes” that day. I was floored. That is really where it started for me. I got so excited I started taking photography way more seriously and my following began to increase. All of a sudden all these business ideas began to come in my head. It took several months for me to see the vision clearly. However once I did, I wasted no time in working toward bringing my dreams to reality.

Meditation Mount: Ojai, California

One of the biggest sources of stress in my life was my job. If I had to describe myself, I am definitely an over achiever. I have been in my field for 8 years and I have literally did EVERTHING but become a director. After accomplishing so much, so early I felt stuck. But all of a sudden it was as if God showed me this whole new life I could have. One that I would have never imagined. And it all happened when I let go. Moving to the other side of the country to start a new job was a step of faith to say the least. But just as the biblical parable has shown us, Peter had no idea he could walk on water until he got out of the boat. My decision to start a new career on the other side of the country was me getting out of the boat. Starting my business has been a method for me to turn my pain in to power. This year has shown me that rocky roads can lead to beautiful destinations. Despite the adversity…… I will Reign

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Red Rock: Las Vegas, Nevada