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What’s up, Reader? It’s ya boy Eli.Long time, no see. Sorry I haven’t been in touch. I’ve been very busy on this entrepreneurial journey and things have changed… a lot. Newsletter RebrandFirst, when you subscribed to the newsletter, it was called “The Zephyr Letters”. Now, I’m going to call it “The Shot List”. I’m going to start creating more content centered around photography and my personal philosophies that helped me leave a 9-5 and work on my own terms. Taking the LeapI took a wild shot in the dark last year when I left my position in clinical research to try to build my own business. The year before, I made $10,000 from my photography services – working only 5 hours a week. I only made $35,000 that year from my W-2 position – working 40 hours per week. Hmm… I hadn’t had a raise in 3 years and I was buried in debt. (I still am in debt, but climbing out on my own). I decided to jump ship and take a chance with my camera. Luckily, I had spent a good amount of time building complementary skills around photography. Becoming a Content CreatorI didn’t want to just be another photographer – I wanted to be more of a content creator and general asset wherever I went. As someone who grew up on the Internet, I’ve been able to see how the ability to create quality content can unlock levels of personal and financial freedom history had never seen before. To tell the truth, I’ve always wanted to be a content creator. Even if it was on a small scale – an addition to a main profession. The Counseling DetourPursuing a master’s education in Mental Health Counseling was something I wanted to do for several reasons. One of those reasons was it would allow me the credibility to write and create content online. No one on the Internet would listen to a random guy’s ideas about life and navigating personal struggle. But if I was a licensed counselor… That was the rationale. I had a vision of having a small practice of my own and devoting time to writing and sharing online, earning revenue from digital products and consulting opportunities arisen from building an audience. But it never happened. I dropped out of school. Spending my whole life in academia had burnt me out – plus I had figured out how to learn things quickly and efficiently on the Internet. Between YouTube and real-world experience, school had become more of a chore – even a joke in some cases. I may never have obtained a graduate degree, but I can confidently say I’ve learned more in the past 2 years on my own than I ever did in nearly a decade as a college student. Skill Stacking SuccessMy plan of stacking skills around photography paid off – I landed some very cool opportunities. Since last November, I’ve been working regularly with the Oxford Performing Arts Center Marketing department. Many people think I’m just a photographer there – not true. Over the last 6 months at the theater I’ve:
Non-Traditional PathI don’t have a marketing degree. I don’t have a photography degree. I have a degree in exercise science. But this is what I do nowadays. What to ExpectIf you’re interested in how I got to this point in my life – stick around. This newsletter will be aimed at helping fellow photographers, creators, and entrepreneurs expand their talent stack, perspective, and hopefully income. I’m attempting to build a life where I love my work. It seems to be working. I want to help you do the same. Expect:
Thanks for sticking around, P.S. If you don’t think you’ll get value out of these newsletters, please consider unsubscribing. We’re still homies even if it doesn’t help you out anymore. See you again next week. TOOLS I LIKEWebsite Builder (WordPress Plugin): Hosting Service: Productivity App: Creator Email Marketing: WHERE TO FIND ME
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What I’ve Learned from a Year of Full-Time Photography
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