Back To Work

BACK TO WORK!

The inevitable is finally happening: I’m returning to corporate America full-time employment. I fell victim to a round of layoffs at my last full-time corporate gig back on April 3^rd, 2018, which means I’ve been unemployed for nine months. But saying that statement “I’ve been unemployed for nine months” makes it sound as if I haven’t done any work in all that time, which is untrue. Actually it’s quite the opposite. I worked extremely hard during all that time. Looking for new full-time work is tedious and exhausting and boring – which can also definitely be true of an actual full-time job itself!

I am no stranger to the throes of unemployment. I’ve had the dubious honor of being laid off from a job not only in my 20s, but then again in my 30s. Basically, I get laid off once a decade just to keep things interesting. But unemployment was different this time around. Unlike in my 20s and 30s, I had a focus: my photography.

These past nine months have been filled with emotional and physical highs and lows, but now, looking back on 2018, all I can see is the joy I had being able to be a full-time photographer for the first time in my life. It was the first time I’ve ever been happy doing a job that I can honestly say I love. I’m sure that might sound strange to some people who live their passion on a daily basis, but I have never had that before.

I remember back in grade school we used to have art class every Wednesday. And though I can’t really remember much about what types of projects we used to do during art class, I do remember that it was the ONE time during the week that I was completely engrossed in what I was doing at school. It was the one time where I felt like I was actually doing something I was not only good at, but that I also ENJOYED doing.

And that’s how these past nine months have felt. Like art class. EVERY DAY. I have never felt more alive and more passionate about something I was doing than I have with the photo gigs I’ve had. Some were paid and some were just portfolio building. Some produced good photos and some produced AMAZING photos. But each one reminded me of my worth. That I am great at doing something. That I am an artist.

But a guy needs to pay rent and bills and eat and unfortunately photography isn’t supporting me, so back to corporate America I go. Which is perfectly fine. I have always met wonderful people and had good experiences at previous jobs. I assume similar stories are bound to happen in this next chapter as well.

Photography isn’t going away. It’s just moving back to “art class once a week” status. For now…

Here’s a look back at some of the many people I had the privilege to work with during my sabbatical from corporate America. It was a ton of flexing, jumping and posing. And a lot of fun too. :)