So it’s been almost 7 years since I lost my job…
I want to share a bit about my job loss and the new beginnings I’ve experienced as a result: For 4 years I showed up to work as a housing and credit counselor for a non-profit agency in Downtown Philadelphia. I spent my days educating clients on how to save money, first-time home-buyers education as well as foreclosure prevention. I LOVED what I did it was very fulfilling except when it wasn’t.
One day I walked into my office and was told that my position was eliminated and I no longer had a job! My first thought was why could you not have told me that last night at 5 pm I could have stayed home (really that was the first thought that went through my head) I paid for parking at that time because I drove into work since I had to drop the kids at daycare once less expense would have been great! That morning I also got a ticket for talking on my cell phone, I was trying to call my office to inform them I might be late because of construction and a cop pulled me over, UGH!
I return home tell Fred I lost my job his response, go back to school and start your business..say what now?! You heard me he said to start my business and go back to school. So I did.
I thought I would start with a few lighting classes but I was wrong I needed to follow the curriculum set forth by the college, I figured OK, why not. A class here a class there, I’d be a student until I got a job and the photography would be side hustle for a while. It never worked out like that. I ended up as a freelancer at Main Line Today, I earned an internship at The Philadelphia Daily News additionally I’ve been published in with The World Meeting of Families and a lot of other local outlets. I have an impressive resume if I say so myself. From Mayors and Senators to World famous Chefs and Doctors I’ve photographed them all. I don’t brag and I don’t drop names. My client list is very private and protected. I’m respected. I love what I do and I know that this is only possible because I got fired one day 7 years ago. I didn’t sit around and moan and groan over what I would do next, did I worry hell yeah, I still do, but I take action every day to build my business and work on making it grow and being a better photographer.
Today, I want to ask you, how do you change your circumstances? What do you do when faced with adversity? How do you level up?
