Letting Go Is Leveling Up

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Now, on to the show....

The Way Through

I tend to go into most major life transitions kicking and screaming.

Don’t ask me why, that’s just how I’ve always been.

Then, inevitably, once I’m on the other side, I realize… Ah, this is actually better.

It’s hard to let go of a version of yourself that’s been built up over years.

The mindsets you cling to may not even be fully your own. They can be inherited from your environment. They feel like protection, like heavy armor. But that armor comes at a cost.

It weighs you down, slowing your progress to a crawl.

Growing up and through my 20’s, no one ever told me I could do more than just “have a job”. A steady paycheck and health benefits…THAT was “success”.

Later, when I started freelancing in film, I was constantly told that to be successful, I needed to define my role or no one would take me seriously.

So, I picked a lane because everyone told me, “this is how it’s done”

In a lot of ways, I feel as though my personal growth and development have always been a bit stunted and can attribute a good chunk of that to spending years trying to fit into pre-defined molds even when something wasn’t working.

I just brushed it of because I thought that’s what ambition was…pushing forward no matter the cost.

Recently, I’ve discovered a book called “The Obstacle is The Way” by Ryan Holiday and it’s given definition to the idea that the challenges you face are actually what will level you up in life.

“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.” - Ryan Holiday

That’s exactly where I’m at.

The Path So Far

I’ve wanted to be part of making movies since high school. Originally, I thought I’d compose film scores but eventually, I found my way behind the camera instead.

I’ve always had big creative ambitions. I still do.

As I’ve mentioned before, cinematography has been my livelihood for just over a decade. It’s funded my life and paid the bills. It’s taken me on some wild adventures and when times are good, it’s super lucrative.

In fact, when I was just starting out, if you had asked me what success looked like, it probably would’ve looked a lot like what I’m doing right now.

I was riding the wave and not asking questions.

When Covid hit, life accelerated very quickly into an entirely new chapter.

In two short years, my (now) wife and I left the city, bought a house upstate, got married AND had a kid.

Suddenly, the unpredictable nature of production and life on set didn’t vibe the way it used to. It clashed with the day-to-day of family life and wanting to be present.

I also started expanding my professional horizons and realized there’s a big part of me that craves building something sustainable that I can call my own.

There’s a hard truth here:

Just because something aligns with your ambition doesn’t mean it aligns with your life.

Now I find myself wrestling with staying true to my creative roots and building a life on my own terms.

The film industry has a clear roadmap: hustle, network, work on bigger sets, join the union, land projects that impress gatekeepers. If you're lucky, it turns into something sustainable.

NEWS FLASH: I’m not 25 anymore. I don’t want to spend the next ten years chasing validation in an industry that’s unsure what to do with middle-age, mid-career creatives who don’t neatly fit in a box.

However, I’ve also spent 20 years building a skill set across film, music, audio and storytelling. That doesn’t just disappear. It can be repurposed and reinvented. At least I think it can.

It’s scary. It’s uncertain. It feels like an obstacle.

But maybe it’s also the way forward.

The Truth Is, I Don’t Know

You might be expecting this to wrap up with some witty insight, a clean resolution, or something that ties all this up in a nice, neat bow.

The truth is, I don’t have it figured out. And maybe that’s the point.

Nobody really knows what they’re doing. ESPECIALLY the people who (overconfidently) act like they do.

Most people only become “experts” in hindsight, after years of trial and error, piecing things together and falling flat on their face.

What I do know is this:

Recognizing what DOESN’T work for you is far more important than having all the answers or a clear vision.

That’s where the path reveals itself.

The way forward becomes clearer as you start finding your way even when you can’t see two steps in front of you.

The hardest part (for me anyway) is letting go of old mindsets and frameworks and accepting a healthy dose of the unknown.

I’ll figure it out. I always have. So will you.

Because the obstacle is the way.

What obstacle are you facing right now that's actually pointing you toward your next big move? I'd love to hear from you.

🔥 Hot Takes

📖 The Obstacle Is The Way - Clearly at the crux of this week's newsletter. If you are interested in learning more about Stoic philosophy with a modern twist, I highly recommend you check this out.

🎸 Brothers AM Pedal - More guitar stuff! Chase Bliss make some amazing guitar pedals. This one is a recreation of a classic (and hard to come by) overdrive pedal made by Analogman. Nerd out as needed.

🤖 Perplexity.ai - I've been experimenting with Perplexity off recommendation and it's and interesting take on internet search. Definitely worth a look if you're wanting to get some deeper answers to your queries.

How we can do more together

When you’re ready, here’s how I can help:

🎙️ My Podcast: My free podcast, No Set Path, unpacks life as a creative entrepreneur through unfiltered conversations and personal stories.

☎️ Discovery Call: I help creatives and entrepreneurs build their authority and expertise online by looking and sounding their best. It’s all in how you show up. If that sounds like you, let’s talk and see if we might be a good fit to work together.

Have a great week.

✌🏻Drew

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P.P.S. If something here resonated with you, please reply. I'd love to hear what's on your mind.

Reader,

Before we dive in, the best way for this newsletter to grow is by sharing it. If you get something out of these emails, please consider sharing it with a friend or two. It would mean a lot.

Now, on to the show....

The Way Through

I tend to go into most major life transitions kicking and screaming.

Don’t ask me why, that’s just how I’ve always been.

Then, inevitably, once I’m on the other side, I realize… Ah, this is actually better.

It’s hard to let go of a version of yourself that’s been built up over years.

The mindsets you cling to may not even be fully your own. They can be inherited from your environment. They feel like protection, like heavy armor. But that armor comes at a cost.

It weighs you down, slowing your progress to a crawl.

Growing up and through my 20’s, no one ever told me I could do more than just “have a job”. A steady paycheck and health benefits…THAT was “success”.

Later, when I started freelancing in film, I was constantly told that to be successful, I needed to define my role or no one would take me seriously.

So, I picked a lane because everyone told me, “this is how it’s done”

I just brushed it of because I thought that’s what ambition was…pushing forward no matter the cost.

“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.” - Ryan Holiday

That’s exactly where I’m at.

The Path So Far

I’ve wanted to be part of making movies since high school. Originally, I thought I’d compose film scores but eventually, I found my way behind the camera instead.

I’ve always had big creative ambitions. I still do.

In fact, when I was just starting out, if you had asked me what success looked like, it probably would’ve looked a lot like what I’m doing right now.

I was riding the wave and not asking questions.

When Covid hit, life accelerated very quickly into an entirely new chapter.

In two short years, my (now) wife and I left the city, bought a house upstate, got married AND had a kid.

Suddenly, the unpredictable nature of production and life on set didn’t vibe the way it used to. It clashed with the day-to-day of family life and wanting to be present.

I also started expanding my professional horizons and realized there’s a big part of me that craves building something sustainable that I can call my own.

There’s a hard truth here:

Just because something aligns with your ambition doesn’t mean it aligns with your life.

Now I find myself wrestling with staying true to my creative roots and building a life on my own terms.

The film industry has a clear roadmap: hustle, network, climb onto bigger sets, join the union, land projects that impress gatekeepers. If you're lucky, it turns into something sustainable.

However, I’ve also spent 20 years building a skill set across film, music, audio and storytelling. That doesn’t just disappear. It can be repurposed and reinvented. At least I think it can.

It’s scary. It’s uncertain. It feels like an obstacle.

But maybe it’s also the way forward.

The Truth Is, I Don’t Know

You might be expecting this to wrap with some witty insight, a clean resolution, or something that ties all this up in a nice, neat bow.

The truth is, I don’t have it figured out. And maybe that’s the point.

Nobody really knows what they’re doing. ESPECIALLY the people who (overconfidently) act like they do.

Most people only become “experts” in hindsight, after years of trial and error, piecing things together and falling flat on their face.

What I do know is this:

Recognizing what DOESN’T work for you is far more important than having all the answers or a clear vision.

That’s where the path reveals itself.

The way forward becomes clearer as you start finding your way even when you can’t see two steps in front of you.

The hardest part (for me anyway) is letting go of old mindsets and frameworks and accepting a healthy dose of the unknown.

I’ll figure it out. I always have. So will you.

Because the obstacle is the way.

What obstacle are you facing right now that's actually pointing you toward your next big move? I'd love to hear from you.

🔥 Hot Takes

📖 The Obstacle Is The Way - Clearly at the crux of this week's newsletter. If you are interested in learning more about Stoic philosophy with a modern twist, I highly recommend you check this out.

🎸 Brothers AM Pedal - More guitar stuff! Chase Bliss make some amazing guitar pedals. This one is a recreation of a classic (and hard to come by) overdrive pedal made by Analogman. Nerd out as needed.

🤖 Perplexity.ai - I've been experimenting with Perplexity off recommendation and it's and interesting take on internet search. Definitely worth a look if you're wanting to get some deeper answers to your queries.