Exploring the complex identity challenges.

Today's interview was an interesting experience. There were many ideas discussed that I had not really thought much about before today. Maybe my world-view is somewhat limited but I don't think that necessarily minimizes my perspective of complex identity challenges. I am a human, after all. I have learned a thing or two about identity through my own experiences... especially today. Ha.

Almost enough prep for this one.

I didn't quite bring all the gear I should have but we'll make due just fine. I have everything setup and ready to go(outside of a few small technical details) and look forward to my first experience as the "A Shooter" tomorrow. I need to perform as well as possible but I do feel up for the task. Plus I'm actually getting to sleep at a decent time for once! Pillowboom!

Artistic progress.

It is a strange, generally indiscernible process. But I think I could have noticed a glimpse of it today after reviewing the initial fruit of our labors. I know that every sample of one's art is a genuinely unique experience for said artist, which similarly reflects the fickle reliability in assessing observed improvements, but it does tend to feel somehow qualified in this case. Repeatability will be its true test of quality. And that's assuming I actually finish this project in pace with its currently higher-than-usual standard. Ha. Oh, how easy it is to get ahead of myself!

No more days of preparation remain.

Now, only a couple hours in the morning are available if I wake up and get going when planned. It is yet another moment of truth... a test of vision and perspective. I look forward to the challenge!

Never enough prep time.

Or maybe there's always enough prep time combined with learning from mistakes. It usually gets kind of a bad rap but only because of the pain of it, I'd say. It seems universally acceptable to learn in pretty much any situation... I just prefer to prep more and avoid them whenever possible.

The fun challenge of shooting professional sports.

I have never had the opportunity to do so until tonight. Sure, it wasn't top level professional but minor league is still professional and the guys out there on the soccer field were definitely professional-level athletes. It was fun to watch, incredibly challenging to shoot, and a great learning experience all balled into one. I hope I get another opportunity to shoot sports again in the future. Higher level would be even more exciting, I expect.

Working non-stop forever.

Which is basically the truth. Even when you're not getting paid to be doing things for an employer or client you still have the work of living to participate in. Sure, it doesn't always mean that strenuous effort is occurring but if you aren't paying attention and thoughtfully navigating the mundane and more relaxing moments in life you might end up paying for it later with an increase in the other types of work. So, really, you can decide to take a break from the work of life... but be careful that you don't let it crash into the stuff that makes relaxing possible. A yin and yang of sorts, I suppose.

Meetings all day.

In a variety of locations. They all mostly felt productive, even. And very exciting things are closer than the horizon(as some of them are right around the corner) and I think we will really get some kind of ball rolling in the right way soon. Where the ball rolls to might be a little vague but I expect grand things no matter the direction. Positivity abounds!

Late nights and long days.

Which is probably the standard rotation for anybody earnestly trying to build a business. I have thorough interest in creating success for everybody involved, though, so the sacrifice does have at least some merit. I know I should try to be more wary of my sleeping habits, too, as they really do have a profound impact on the general quality of life... beyond the obvious effect they have on the general quality of my work. I guess tonight is a step(more of a micro step) in the right direction since I usually go to sleep later. Ha.

Work and play and work.

Not every day should go in this order. Mostly, ending on the play part would probably be ideal. But, when things gotta get done they gotta get done!.. even after the play part. Perhaps the work being somewhat equal to the play is how it all works the best anyway. Ha. Maybe I'm just a cheater.

Lengthy process of fine-tuning.

Even though I worked on pretty much just one thing all day long I would hardly make the statement that one full day of work on anything qualifies as "lengthy"... but it can certainly feel that way. And I suppose it's all relative anyway, since working all day on lighting one, single set doesn't normally take a full day for the setups I usually work with. This is one I really want to get right, however, so I don't mind the extra time that could have been spent in other ways. Polishing this product should definitely pay for itself in the long run.

The mountain of work before me.

And the pile just keeps getting higher... and I am not complaining at all! Sure, I feel a bit behind the ball at the moment but I think we'll be able to keep it together and pull of some solid stunts along the way. The next few weeks will definitely be on the tougher side of things in almost every facet. Toughun!

Still many long days ahead.

Work keeps moving and even feels like it might be speeding up a bit. The next few weeks ahead definitely look like a blur when I conceive the events expected to happen in my mind. And if it doesn't toughen me up I'll be quite disappointed. The work is good AND the work is challenging and I certainly feel like a lucky fool in the mix a good portion of the time.

Physically drained.

I didn't realize it until I got out of the car after coming back from work... but my body sure felt heavier than normal once I did. I guess mostly being on my feet for pretty much the entirety of the day really took it out of me. It is a good feeling. Not just physically but emotionally, as well. Knowing work was the source give a decent sense of accomplishment. One of the very lucky side-benefits of my job that I don't usually give much credit to, I suppose.

Super production.

We have two shoots happening tomorrow, partially simultaneously, and both of them are a decent amount different than just about any of the projects we have done before. One is the actual production of a local television show in a studio and the other is a live event for the city of Renton that we are recording for future promotional material. We have assembled two separate teams to handle them both and I think we will turn out some excellent product for both clients involved. Should be a fun day, indeed!

Building a business.

If you want a business to succeed you better dedicate a good dose of effort specifically aimed at the goal of creating something valuable. We have been quite lucky to become connected to a great deal of value already established... but there is no such thing as laurels or rest in this game. They aren't our laurels anyway. We gotta build our own collaborative set for sure. And who needs rest, anyway? Rest is for the sane.

Building a commercial.

I don't think it's a super secret thing that I've long thought commercial work could be fun. They are a different kind of storytelling art that happen to incorporate an incredible number of disciplines that I thoroughly enjoy. And the more I work on them(which hasn't been very much, mind you) the more I grow to appreciate them. Selling one or two strong ideas, narratively or otherwise, packaged up in a succinct, thought-provoking manner capped off with a simple, sometimes sublime call to action is definitely a challenge. I recently read a quote that somewhat reflects a quality of commercials that I have truly grown to appreciate. Written in an apology letter to a friend, the great Abraham Lincoln - "I'm sorry I could not have written a shorter letter, but I didn't have the time." Essentially, only put into it what is necessary and clearly communicates what needs communicating. My tendency is to wax thoroughly which is sometimes unnecessary. I would much prefer to operate as simply and efficiently as possible... such is a goal in my life I am working very hard to achieve.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed.

But perhaps since I don't feel incapable of the tasks before me I am just feeling whelmed... or maybe pressed. The weight of responsibility certainly is a much heavier dose than I am accustomed to but I do somehow feel like a capable fit, if even because I might be the only person capable for this exact fit, anyway. Not to share a point of pride or braggadocious sentiment... I am simply expressing my confidence in navigating the challenges I have willingly stepped into. And now it will continue with a solid dose of sleep regeneration and comfortable dream bliss... or something like that. Ha.

Just about going insane with the creativity.

Which is an exciting and challenging position to attempt to exploit. We have a great deal of work to put together in a very short period of time and I believe we can nail it if we focus and pull our efforts together effectively. Time to press through it with confidence and purpose!

An entire day of meetings.

I was literally in meetings or driving between them 100% of the time from 10am to 8pm today. I had to eat my lunch during the third meeting I had just to actually eat anything at all. They were all very productive, sometimes inspiring, even occasionally tense, and for a day that would otherwise seem like a very boring experience I found it quite enjoyable. So... today I met... the beginning of a future I look forward to.

Work domination.

Though, not in a negative way as the word "domination" might typically imply. I just realized that I have been posting so much about work lately that it could very easily seem like it is dominating my life. This would actually be a correct assumption but I wouldn't say it is actually a negative thing right now. It is more of an opportunity than a negative influence on my life. I enjoy my work and generally expect it to have a positive impact on my future, inside and outside of the work realm. Perhaps a consistent string of posts mostly centered around one or two things could get a little dry(which I am sure is probably how this whole blog generally reads in the first place. ha) so I will definitely try to be mindful about diversifying my approach to the topics I elaborate on... which is just a good exercise in creativity anyway. And, despite my generally dry approach to my blog keeping, every instance of writing is an opportunity to improve my creativity in some way or another.

Still bursting with anticipation.

Like a wincing balloon, just itchin' to float away from those silly little kids. I can hold it together, though, since we never know really how things are going to go down. The potential is massive. My brain tells me the bursting will definitely be worth it!

One-man production.

Which isn't technically correct, since somebody else took care of the audio, but for everything else I was the one responsible. I don't say this to point out my capability, rather, to point out my lack of capability to really do what I would have preferred seeing done. My line of work is exceptionally team-oriented if you want to do it at the highest level. And the highest level is definitely where I'd prefer to hang my hat.

The excitement of learning something new.

Whenever there is a new area of tech to explore, most especially when it's related to my favored field of choice, I am not only somewhat surprised(having explored the field with some enthusiasm for many years already) but am exceptionally stoked to increase my knowledge of it in a new direction at all. Thus is my current situation and enjoyment. So much to learn and run forward with! So much to do with it as well!

Unlimited potential.

We met with some very promising clients today. And, in another way, we met with more than 400 additional clients at the same time. This was because the main clients we met with were representatives of the Renton Chamber of Commerce and they seemed quite excited about the prospect of teaming up with us to represent the entire membership of the chamber as a value-added service we could provide them. How exciting! The breadth and depth of our possible business connections boggles the mind when considering even just a few of the things we can provide this business community. Ensure reliable quality service and it almost seems impossible to fail.

A new era begins every day.

A new type of hyperbole? Ha. I think there's a new era in some sort of meaningful way somewhere every day, anyway.  Today might have been my day... I don't know. Time reveals the truth of all things in one way or another, I suppose. And if this post seems a bit more cryptic than open that would just be my disinclination to include a bunch of narrow-topic jargon in my writing whenever possible. The broad strokes of calling it a new era should suffice. And I look forward to seeing where it leads.

The cancer shot across the bow.

It isn't entirely clear that Pops is devoid of any further cancer stuff elsewhere in his body but at least the chunk they found will be extracted from him tomorrow. Cancer is a nasty one, that, and it definitely could be much worse than it seemingly is going to be. It sort of feels like a dodged bullet if it goes as quickly and simply as it is planned to. It kind of felt that way with my brother, too. So, with a bit of trepidation, we push on forward through the coming days and weeks. Then, once the memory of its potential intensity drains away, and the news of reported fitness arrives(or the lack of reported danger), we resume our blissfully ignorant march into the future. And I doubt Pops would have it any other way.

Cruising into the lull.

When work slows down it usually sounds like a totally negative thing. I am somewhat looking forward to the break, though, as it is often a useful period of rest and recharging. Not just the physical elements but the mental ones too... which are probably more important anyway. Plus, trials. It's always good to be tested to learn how to endure that which isn't easy. Build character. Motivate ones efforts in every important way. Shed the useless and focus on the important.

The people that know me best.

It is such a liberating feeling to chat with my oldest, closest friends of my childhood. I wouldn't say I consciously behave in some different way around the people more current in my life but it almost always feels like some form of discovery is happening with the people who haven't known me for so long. This is a normal facet of life since nobody, new or old, has really been there for the entirety of my life... the feeling of connection to my deep past just has a pleasant feeling that comes in no other way I can think of. I am truly lucky to have such people in my life. And a simple sentence, such as that last one feebly attempts, falls incredibly short of expressing my gratitude for said people. They are truly my character's foundation.