A creative trapped in a tech career

Throughout most of my working career I’ve been a creative trapped in a tech role. I love technology, and I’m even good at it sometimes. But I fell into it by accident over a decade ago and rode that train as far as it could go. We take what life gives us sometimes. 

Life in IT was a good challenge and I progressed quickly. I made lots of money. But once I got near the top of my field as a systems engineer, I knew it was over. I wasn’t spending enough time with my kids and my career didn’t feel like me. So I saved up a bunch of money and quit to be a stay-at home-dad for a year, and maybe figure out a new direction.  

About halfway through this self driven sabbatical I started making short videos with my kids. Creating videos was always a hobby of mine, even before they could be shared online, but the simplicity of it had changed. The phone could do it all now, and well. So I ran with it and pumped out a dozen videos before the money ran out. 

My previous boss eventually contacted with a job opportunity to work for a little company called Coinbase. Even though my friends suggested I avoid working for a company with only 300 people, in a sketchy industry, something about it felt right about it and I took the job. I fell in love with crypto tech and drank the Coinbase Kool-Aid. I ran classes at work to teach others how it all works. I created a crytocurrency called Sploinker. I became a senior engineer and mentored dozens of other engineers. But I eventually hit another wall. 

As much as I loved Coinbase, its mission, and the leadership, the work wasn’t in line with who I was and what I wanted out of life. I’m visually creative, imaginative, and independent. I wanted to create my own thing. But instead I was hanging on. 

And then one fine COVID day I woke up to a Tweet from the CEO saying he let go of 30% of the company. I tried logging into my work laptop. Locked out. Laid off. Never a chance to say goodbye. But I get it. And I was fine with it. This was my out, right? 

I took the summer to unwind and spend time with my family but I knew I didn’t have long before it was back to work. I created a few videos and got in the best shape of my life. Life was good. Several interviews came and went but nothing matched up well. Ultimately I wanted an in-person job instead of working remotely. We had just moved to Bend, OR a year prior and I wanted to get plugged in. 

Eventually I landed an IT job a the local ski resort. The salary was half of what I was used to but the idea of skiing and snowboarding and being outside intrigued me. It was also the second largest employer in my region. I’d get to know tons of new folks. I committed to two full seasons regardless of how difficult it would be. It was some of the best times of my working life. I put in nearly 100 days of skiing and snowboarding every season and the variety of work was satisfying. Even so, I had to work most weekends and was missing my family. I had to stop coaching my sons sports teams. Life was passing me by.  So at the end of the second season I put in my notice.

I spent this summer with my family and geared up to follow my dream of starting my own video production and media company. Apparently there’s an 80% chance I’ll fail. I don’t care. There’s a 100% chance I’ll regret not trying. All my cards are on the table now. I’ve invested my time and money into the tools of the trade. I registered Tychill Media as a business. I created a Youtube channel and website. I posted my first video, and no one watched it. I’ll post 20 more and no one will watch those either. It doesn’t matter. It’s for the love of craft. Eventually the right opportunity and the right time will kick things off. It might be a year from now. Maybe two. But it will happen. I can feel it. I’m a flower about to blossom. Because I’m now a creative trapped in a creative world.