The Lesson

Some contracts take time.

When you’re pitching five-figure or six-figure annual agreements, you’re not selling a project. You’re asking someone to commit to you for a year.

That’s different.

I sent an annual proposal back in November to a company I’ve already worked numerous events for;

– No response in December
– Followed up in January
– Still quiet
– It’s February now and… I finally got a response.

One company said yes and the other that was 2x the amount said “At this time, this is not something we are interested in”

This week reminded me that bigger deals move slower. Relationship equity matters. A “No at this time”, doesn’t mean no forever. Maybe they will check in mid-year or I could present another offering 2 years down the line.

I was reminded patience is part of scale.

The Week

Holding My Ground

A client and I couldn’t agree on a price that worked. They didn’t disrespect my worth, it just wasn’t a fit. They soon went another direction.

Sometimes that’s the best thing that can happen is you stay firm on your price. A few days later they actually came back later asking for a rush delivery. We worked through the details and made it happen.

Another project didn’t land clean.

I worked on a trailer with a tight deadline, and the client didn’t give feedback in time.

So we had to move on our own discretion:

– we adjusted elements without direction
– tried to protect the deadline
– made the best calls we could with what we had

In the end, the project got passed to another editor since the deadline passed, and I was no longer available to make adjustments when they called due to being on set for a few days.

That’s part of it. You can’t control every outcome.

Travel

I’m writing this while traveling on a plane to Orlando, then I’m driving to Daytona. Daytona 500 NASCAR weekend!

People don’t talk about what travel feels like when you have kids.

Last year I made a rule:

If it’s drivable, the family comes.
Michigan. Ohio. Chicago. Even Virginia.

It’s not just “bringing them along.”

It’s:
– keeping balance
– keeping the marriage close
– letting my girls grow up understanding what we do
– giving them real exposure to creativity + work + lifestyle

This Florida trip was solo due to distance and a few other logistics.

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Conversations That Matter

One thing I’m grateful for is having a wife who is a forward thinker.

We’ve been having the kind of conversations you should be able to have with your spouse:

– growth opportunities beyond work
– staying connected
– education for our children
– what kind of world they’re growing up in

We talked about the kids’ digital footprint, pros and cons.

The reality is: the digital footprint is already out there in some form. And with AI, you can generate future versions of people from childhood photos. That’s a wild thing to even have to consider.

So the conversation isn’t “post them vs don’t post them.”

It’s more like:

– what’s intentional?
– what’s necessary?
– what serves the moment vs what serves the brand?
– how do we protect their innocence without living paranoid?

We don’t want to pretend our kids don’t exist. We just don’t want the brand to rely on their cuteness, even though… they are cute. haha

Land (5+ Acres)

We also talked about why we want 5+ acres in the future.

Not for aesthetics, for utility and legacy.

– growing fruit
– vegetables
– teaching the girls how to build, plant, sustain
– having space that isn’t dependent on systems we don’t control

The older I get, the more I understand: ownership isn’t just money.

Ownership is also resources, space and having options.

AI Is Inevitable (So I’m Adapting)

As a business owner, I understand AI is inevitable and I don’t want to avoid it at all.

I’m actively adapting:

– note-taking tools
– visual effects for media production
– developing ideas more efficiently
– lightly dabbling in software development
– learning how to integrate it into workflow without losing the art

The world is moving. My business has to move with it.

But…

I also want separation when the camera is off because the mind can’t live in the constant motion of the digital world. It’s like being on a treadmill that never stops; always moving, never arriving.

So my goal isn’t to reject technology. My goal is to control the relationship with it. Adapt when it’s time to build. Detach when it’s time to breathe.

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What’s Next

– Easy week ahead. 1 Post project, no shoots, a few meetings. I will be giving more time to family if the schedule remains light.

Gene

After Hours 🌒

Why Bigger Money Moves Slower