I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer. Here on the West Coast, it’s been hot hot hot – like 102F – which is almost 40C! 

As a Canadian, my brain still works on celsius, but I now know what a hot day is in fahrenheit! 🥵 

Around this time 8 years ago, I had also started dreaming of starting an online business that would give me the freedom to work anywhere in the world. 

I was making plans to eventually marry my love (my husband now) and felt a pull to move away from the film industry. The place where I had built a nearly 2-decade career as a Production Coordinator in the film industry. 

While my friends and the outside world swooned about how glamorous it must be to work with celebrities and the Real Housewives, I felt creatively stuck. I was resenting all the long hours that left little time and space for my own passions. 

Over the years, that idea from my kitchen table grew into a multi-fix-figure business that would generate over $200k annually before I decided to pull the plug. 

Well, I didn’t quite pull the plug. 

Because that would imply it was a swift decision, and that it was NOT.

I wrestled with doubt and resistance for months around what people would think, and whether I was really making the right decision. 

I quietly worked behind the scenes with private clients, produced a few videos – but stayed quiet on social media. I knew I needed the time alone to process and reflect.

Sharing has never been second-nature to me, and instead of spraying social media with my messy musings, I enjoyed visiting family back in Vancouver, BC,  grew vegetables in my garden, and quietly dreamed into what would come next …

Despite “living the laptop lifestyle”, I felt like I was making compromises with other aspects of my life. Days upon days alone, constantly coming up with new content and offers, and feeling like I could never make the kind impact I knew I could make through online programs – soon became compromises that I was unwilling to make.

While everyone else wants to work remotely from home, I was DYING to be back with people – I had missed this the MOST out of my time as a business owner. 

What was the point of making all this money if I would just blow it on shit from Amazon because I was so fucking bored with life?

At one time, I would’ve done “whatever it took” to take my business to the next level. Now, I’ve learned to respect MYSELF more than just the dream, so I focus on what fuels and nourishes me. 

There was something much bigger in my heart that wanted to come to life, but I first had to make space for it.

And when I finally did, things fell quickly into place.

My interests were taking on a much wider scope to grow production here. I didn’t know where this would take me, but my gut knew this was something I needed to do.

Instead of writing social media posts, I followed my nudges and started reading up on the history and current climate of film production companies and filming in Oregon.

I reconnected with producers, co-workers, and old friends in the film industry to spark my old community and learned how the Vancouver, BC film industry grew so big, and started to build a mental catalogue of resources required to bring and manage bigger projects locally here.

Here’s the thing: Portland has a teeny-tiny media market compared to Vancouver.

It doesn’t have the city infrastructure to support an entourage of 18-wheelers, honey-wagons (that’s industry-speak for porto-potties), and a 100-person crew parked for a multi-day shoot – but … 

Instead, Oregon and Portland surrounding areas boasts LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

We also have waterfalls, beaches, majestic rock-walls, and rolling hills that look like Mars. Many of which I’ve been lucky to visit myself on hiking or camping trips with my drone.

I was being pulled back towards production. For the first time in a long time, I felt excited about something again, and my intuition was telling me that I needed to gear up for something.

Then, four weeks ago …

… Out of the blue, the owner and creative director of Portland’s biggest media company reached out to me with an offer I couldn’t pass up. We had connected years ago, and they had grown so quickly, they needed senior level help. So they offered me a Senior Producer position to spearhead upcoming projects and partner in taking the Portland film industry to the next level.

Without hesitation, I said yes! Immediately, I began prep for an upcoming gala livestream for one of Portland’s largest non-profits.

We also recently just wrapped a commercial for a solar panel company that will soon be released online and possibly broadcast TV!

I was part of a buzzing production team again which energized me. After often feeling foggy from working alone from home, the social interactions of being on set and bringing a project together made me feel on-fire. 🔥

For a long time, I wondered what my next steps would be, and the more I’ve been following my innate skill set and interests, the more I’m shown my next steps. 

And if you find yourself feeling pulled away from something – it’s okay to let that go.

There are good things waiting for you around the corner, but you need to make space in your life for fresh things to flow in. Often, there’s a shift in mindset and perspective too – instead of resisting, be curious and explore what that’s about. Even negative feelings provide information for you.

I told my husband the other day, “I feel right at home with them. For years, it was ‘me n the boys’ with camera gear. I feel like I’m in my element.”

Yesterday, the production company offered me to stay long term. I think you can tell from the smile in my picture above what my response was. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present.🎉

As you read this today, it’s my birthday, and a rebirth-day. 🎂 I can’t wait to share the next chapter with you.

x

Emmy