Back to the Beginning, with a New Rhythm
Two years ago, I was burnt out at my day job and chasing something more. I didn’t know exactly what I was after—I just knew I needed to build something. So I turned to what I had: a shop, a couple of square-body Chevrolet trucks, and an iPhone. I started filming the work I was doing on my trucks, editing clips into little videos for a YouTube channel I was trying to get off the ground. That’s where it all began.
Before long, video production became more than a hobby. It became an obsession. I stopped working on the trucks altogether and started chasing video jobs like my life depended on it. I cut my teeth on local sports and small business promos, then moved on to a one-man short film and some rodeo shoots with Shad Mayfield. One thing led to another—a music video shoot in Florida, then a three-part public television documentary on public art in Amarillo.
In the middle of that documentary production, something unexpected happened: I got promoted at work. Suddenly, I didn’t have to burn all my vacation time chasing freelance gigs. I wasn’t feeling burnt out anymore. I still loved video production, but I didn’t need to make it my career.
It’s been eight months since I stepped into that new role. I wrapped the documentary ten weeks ago. The dust has settled on everything—and for the first time in a long time, I had no idea what to do next.
For two months, I’ve sat in the silence trying to figure it out. I felt like I should keep pushing for paid jobs—because that’s what I had been doing. That’s what growth looked like, right? But the clarity finally came this past week. I looked at my life—my incredible wife, our two beautiful daughters, a job I enjoy, and a creative outlet I still love. The question wasn’t “How do I keep the hustle alive?” It was: “How do I fit this passion into the full, good life I already have?”
The answer was simple: go back to where it all started.
I walked into my shop. Cleaned it up. Charged the battery on my 1989 Suburban. Picked up my camera, and shot a video. Edited it. Released it. All in one day. It felt amazing.
This wasn’t about chasing a paycheck. It was about telling a story. Doing work that keeps my hands busy and my mind engaged. Taking all the skills and gear I’ve gathered over the past two years and pointing them at the project trucks that have been patiently waiting for me. No deadlines. No pressure. Just storytelling on my terms—a rhythm that fits the life I’ve built.
That rhythm brought me back to my YouTube channel too—a platform with over 7,000 subscribers I built before the documentary took over my life. For nine months, I was quiet online, holding everything back until the public release. But now, I’m free to create and share in real time again. No more perfection paralysis. No more endless revisions. Just living in the moment—working, shooting, editing, and releasing while the inspiration is fresh.
This Friday, I have the day off. I’ll be back in the shop working on the ‘89 Suburban turned crew cab pickup—one of the projects I’ve invested so much time, energy, and money into. But more than that, I’ll be capturing it. Telling its story. Sharing it with the world. Not because I have to—but because I get to.
So here’s to finding my rhythm again. To chasing dreams and ending up right where I started—but with a new perspective. I’m back, but I’m better. And now I can tell this story with the production quality and storytelling depth it truly deserves.
If you want to follow the journey, check out the latest video and subscribe to the channel here: https://youtu.be/XXqS506FIDM?si=RkBfAsTf6ZWG-797
