Career sustainability questions while flying back to Minneapolis!
travel·@kommienezuspadt·
0.000 HBDCareer sustainability questions while flying back to Minneapolis!
<html> <p>Yet another mid-flight writing session, Steemit. Currently flying over Denver on my way back to Minneapolis. I’ve been on the road and to the other side of the world for over two weeks now. My fear of flying engages my most manic thoughts, which isn’t great for alleviating my anxiety, but as a silver lining, my thoughts are sharp. I recently wrote about my hierarchy of needs promotion, and how the financial freedom I experience in 2017, unlocked a wealth of introspective thought. Add to that the manic state of a terrifying flying experience [...they all are for me], and this is where I distill the big questions, and possible answers to my life, and where I fit in the world.</p> <p>https://i.imgur.com/4I2j3kv.jpg</p> <p>I arrived in Los Angeles yesterday, slept a few hours, then met up with my long time friend @thomaskuntzart at Henri’s diner in Topanga Canyon. Every time I’m in LA, I have to make time to see him. @thomaskuntzart is a brilliant artist, engineer and sculptor and is one of those friends, who’s gifts and company, recharge my creative batteries for weeks! We always get excited about the projects we can’t be working on, vent about the ones we have to work on, and this particular diner session, realistically faced the question of how sustainable our careers really are. I’m already feeling the fatigue, and @thomaskuntzart is about 10 years older than me.</p> <p>One of the scariest things about entering the freelance/DIY career market is that you’re performing without a net. There isn’t much margin for crucial mistakes or miscalculations. From 2010 to roughly 2017, I felt like I couldn’t miss. Every decision seemed to bare fruit. In 2012, I took a monumental risk booking my first trip to LA, clueless to how significant those first shoots would be in my life. With that came a sizable following on tradition social media platforms, and then in 2016, thanks to @mada, I discovered Steemit. There was growth, opportunity and meaningful reward for the art I created. I felt my work, time and content were valued.</p> <p>@thomaskuntzart said to me last night, “...you have to realize that life is an ocean, and you need to hold on during the waves.” If that’s true, 2012 - 2017 were certainly the rise and crest of that wave. These last two years have been a traumatic and painful decent. $0.20 STEEM is like a kick in the teeth every morning unless you have fiat to buy. I don’t. I taking shoots across the world and barely covering my house, car and utilities. Instagram is where I make most of my money through bookings, and even now, with changes to the algorithm, my posts and travel notices are going unseen. It feels like being kicked while I’m down, or could there be more to it?</p> <p>When I moved to Minneapolis in 2010, I had a small savings of about $3500. I figured I’d take a few weeks to get on my feet, find a job in the psychiatric field and do exactly what I was doing in Scranton for the previous 7 years. I had the experience and two degrees with a minor in psych. How hard could it be? As it turns out, getting any job in 2011, the aftermath of the global financial recession, was pretty fucking hard. My savings dwindled and it only then that I started walking in to local businesses and pitching myself as a freelance artist, illustration, graphic designer, web designer, video editor, photographer and any other position that paid.</p> <p>That necessity is when my freelance career began. Surprisingly, I was hired for small jobs here and there. After a few months, I was just grateful I’d been able to pay all of my bills on my art alone. After a year, it began taking shape that maybe this was a real thing. I wouldn’t have taken that step unless I had to. That is what I’m reminding myself of now, as alt coins wither, Instagram is changing it’s business model and visibility. So here I am, wondering if this is the end of an unbelievable chapter of my life and perhaps, the beginning of another. The thought of that at almost 40 is scary, but I’m tired. I’ve accomplished more than I could have imagined. Would it be so bad?</p> <p>I want to do comics. That’s not surprising to most of you that follow my blog, but to my following on Instagram, it probably is. Everyone knows I draw, but most aren’t aware that comics, writing and story telling are what I truly feel I want meant to do in this world. The “how” to make that happen, especially while being buried under 50 photography clients, is the real challenge. Maybe it was the 14 hour flight back from Melbourne, but I’ve concluded that I need to make it happen. @fundition, and other crowdfunding platforms seem to have the most promise, but it’s time. @ghostfish and I are almost 40. It’s time for bold moves if we want that future for ourselves.</p> <p>Alright. That’s about enough for this installment of Lars’ pensive career thoughts from the road. I’m shooting with @ryanashley immediately following my arrival in Minneapolis, then driving with @vermillionfox and @guthrie to Symco, WI for a Dark Pinup book signing. By the end of the weekend, we should be back in Minneapolis and I can try my best to enjoy 10 days home before flying back to Los Angeles for a La Femme En Noir look book shoot with @michelinepitt. Thanks for giving me a therapy platform. For more photography, art, illustration and the sorties behind the work, follow me here @kommienezuspadt!</p> </html>
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