Creative Jeremy Cowart shares his journey as a celebrity portraiture and humanitarian photographer, why failure is necessary, and how empathy encourages us to create for others in need. Practice: Create For Others
The 10000 MINUTES Podcast is a weekly deep dive into the adventures and struggles of living out our daily lives WITH Jesus, not for Him. Also, we like to laugh. A lot. Maybe too much.. Ok, maybe too much.
Episode Summary:
Creative Jeremy Cowart shares his journey as a celebrity portraiture and humanitarian photographer, why failure is necessary, and how empathy encourages us to create for others in need.
Practice: Create For Others
If you’ve found this or another practice helpful, let us know at mail@10000minutes.com and we might include your story in a future episode!
Show Notes:
Jeremy Cowart’s Website: https://cowart.io
Block Queens NFTS: https://www.blockqueens.io
Gatlinburg Drone Photos: https://time.com/drone-photos-gatlinburg/
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Because when something bad happens, like the, the, the immediate response is, raise money, which we need rebuild, which we need, like all the obvious things we need. We also need new ideas. And so very few are thinking of how do I create a new solution? And that's where I love to, in my own little, tiny, tiny little way. Like, do something as an artist to, to help and love people.
Well, everybody, this is Tim Timmons with the Yeah. He's strong. Hey guys. 10,000 Minute podcast. We've got Chris Cleveland. Yo, with really dumb things to say today. So far we've got a more Denise
Knowledge.
Hi. Um, we had actually great content, uh, in a conversation with Jeremy Cower. The Jeremy Cower. Yes.
The one and only probably
Creative. Brilliant.
Uh, yeah, he's amazing. Mm-hmm.
Professional.
Awesome. Human.
A D D A D. Professionally. A
D d. Yeah, that's right. I think
He said that. And I was like, wow. Seen and known
That's okay. It's, it really was great.
Can't emphasize it enough. Can't
I can't emphasize it
Enough. It is. And we talked a lot about failure. Yes.
What does it look like to fail?
Yeah. And, uh, and I think, I mean, he kind of framed it in a way, like, I just fail a lot and keep going. Mm-hmm. Which is really interesting. And he
Does. Yeah. I mean, I've, I've watched him for years kind of pushing something, nail it, and then be done with it. Fail
It. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. It was almost a part of the creative process. Yeah. Like you just had an acceptance of, part of it is sitting with the idea, part of it is experiencing failure with the idea, but all of it in the end is something I always wanna do. That's part of who I am
Failing or the art.
Just the ups and downs of creating. Yeah. Because he, he said that he's the most happiest Right. He right now in this season. Yeah. And yet you could look back in his life and think, but wasn't this the best part of your season? That was the most successful.
That was part is the next, is the best season for him. Season. Yeah. Like over and and
Over. Yeah. He's a fa he's a fascinating human. Yeah. Um, really enjoys. So I think you'll like this podcast with Jeremy Coward. Hey, if you guys want to sign up for our 10,000 minute text messages, text 10 K one zero K to 5, 5, 6, 7. You're
Doing amazing.
Eight oh
Sign language 10k
To 5, 5, 6, 7, 8. Um, and we'll send you two free text messages a week that are just encouragements. Mm-hmm.
Like Sure.
Subscribe, like, share, subscribe. Don't
Miss an episode.
Don't miss an episode. Hayden, would you also do a comment? That would be really great. Not a bad comment. Just good comments.
Okay. So check this out. Well, welcome to the 10,000 podcast.
Nice.
There's no better start than that.
Uh,
Segue segues. Yeah. They're, they're kill today. Well, my name's Tim Timmons. Uh, I'm one of your hosts. We got Chris Cleveland. Yo. And we've got a MOIs. Hello. That's Moy. We go, she goes by Moy. I love
It. Joy. But with an M.
Oh, I hate that you have to say that. Oh,
I don't mind it. Really? Yeah. I'm okay with that. It's no cost.
I know, but at some point you just have to say something so many times. Mm-hmm.
It doesn't drain me. Oh. Not like, because I think people are, when they get it right after I explain it. Yeah. I think they were intentionally like they were listening to me. Mm-hmm.
It's Moy, but it's
Okay. No, this Mo And then we've got Jeremy Coward over
Here. I'm here. I'm here.
Here.
Present. Present. Hot
And present.
So hot.
Uh,
Please. Um, it is hot actually right now. Very. But you might be listening to this during the winter season and you might be happy about this. Yes. But it's, it's hot as,
It's as hot as it gets actually.
It's like cuss words right now. Yes.
South is brutal right now. Yeah.
Yeah. Um, Jeremy.
Yep.
You, uh, do a million things in
Life professionally. A, d d
Is that what you say?
Ooh. Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
For hold. For the better and the worse.
I mean, cuz we're, we were just talking about earlier of like all the things that you're into mm-hmm.
Dumb things
That I'm, no, but you have a million, uh, plates. Is that how you see life that you have a million plates in, you're spinning them all? Or do you see them like, you've got app plate and your're. They're a bunch of different pieces of food
On 'em. I'm trying to, trying to narrow. I don't want a lot of plates. I don't pride myself in that. It just tends to be where I naturally go. Mm-hmm.
But you've have a million plates.
I have had three, of course. My career. Yeah.
Because I mean, let's just start naming some of them just for fun.
Started out as a, as a photographer.
Started out as a painter. Painter is what I said. Then I was a graphic designer, graphic
Designer center.
Said then I was a web designer, web designer third, then I was a photographer.
That's what I said. Fourth. You started out as a pH photographer.
Right. That is definitely what you said. Okay.
So you, you had all that stuff was your intro. Yeah. And
Then, and then app developer, nonprofit, founder. Yes. Hotelier, um, illustrator at times. Painter again. Yeah. There's been been, there's some I'm forgetting in there. But yeah. Now NFTs and, uh, sit on different boards of organizations and yeah. Just Ed d
Uh, they all do in different ways. Different times. Um, as long as I'm feel like I'm being creative, you know mm-hmm. I'm happy when I'm creating. So as long as I'm getting to do my thing, uh, I'm, they gimme life. Yeah. Yeah.
Because it
Almost, I'd say right now, I'm, I'm the happiest I've ever been creatively.
Mm-hmm. Ooh. What's that look like?
Uh, just kid to make art now. Uh, which is who I've always been. Like when I say I started as a painter, I was very wise as a 18 year old cuz that's what I wanted to do then. And it's what I want to do now. And now I get to do that. So yeah.
It's so reflective that even just that, that history that you just gave is so reflective of what you do. I mean, everything I watch from you is so crazy creative, but it's using all those elements.
Yeah. I am grateful I've taken all those detours. Cuz now they all definitely weigh in, uh, into the equation. Like, had I just stuck with painting, I never would've, you know, learned computers and all things Photoshop and everything else that comes along with it. So.
Well, if you need any help,
Oh. Uh, I'm here to
Just offer, I dunno if you've noticed our setup around here. Yeah. It's
Filter setup.
Anyways. Just on the computer if you need me. Yeah. All
Painting
Work
Or ever heard of Zoom, we know how to use that. Yeah.
Microsoft Paint. I here is a
Thing. Oh, throwback.
Is that a throwback?
Dang. Well, it's been around for a while, right? A bit. Yeah. That's it. I don't even back. Also Mario Paint. You wanna play that?
No.
Ok. I lost the crowd. I lost the crowd. Let's go back.
So a gamer.
Nice.
Okay. Yes. She Professional game. Let's go.
Let's Sponsors. Sponsors. You had sponsors.
Yeah. Okay's. Just rumors, lies. Gaslighting. That's our theme for today.
Figure out how to be
Creative.
Um, so I I part of it is like, there are, we're trying to help people to walk with Jesus in the 10,000 minutes of a week. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Gosh. That inspire me. Um,
And how do you find inspiration?
Uh, I think Chuck Close said inspiration is everywhere and I couldn't more Hmm. I found myself easily inspired. Um, it could be my children, it could be a movie that I watch. Could be music that I hear. Uh, it's usually other artists that are inspiring me. Just, you know, browsing social media. I've got a lot of colleagues that inspire me. Um, you know, I really am easily inspired. There's a lot to be inspired by. So I don't find it hard to who.
Okay. So, so talk about being easily inspired. Cuz I don't know if, I don't know if that's a normal practice. Has that just been something you've, it just comes natural to you? Or is that a practice that you've done?
Uh, it's a good question. Never thought about it. Um, I guess it's natural. Like I just, I enjoy life and I find, uh, like I said, inspiration is, is all around. Um, literally every day I've found myself somehow getting inspired. I don't intentionally do that. I just, by my nature, I'm generally involved in my field and I'm talking to the artist more now today than ever before. I'm more involved in other artist communities than ever before. So I'm constantly seeing what other artists are doing and that's feeding into what I'm doing and, uh, inspiring me. In fact, right now, the projects I'm working on are, I see clear lines drawn from what I'm doing now to other artists that are currently right now inspiring me. So
How cool is
That? Yeah, it's super cool. And hopefully I'm inspiring other artists, so. Yeah.
Well, hmm. You're inspiring me to
Yeah.
Yeah. We don't even like I know. Yeah. Nor do I. It's crazy.
What's up,
Got 'em. Which one was that? Falls Creek. Falls Creek. Creek. It's in like
Rural Oklahoma. Rural.
You got me. I not been
To that one. That was his goal. The goal is to
Stu me. Mm-hmm.
Church, we're done. This has been such a good time. Know anytime we can stop, done
Cheer. Yeah. Yeah. Church every Sunday, Wednesdays, Sunday night, the whole day. Um, so yeah. How was, how was that the kid? Um, it's, what was the question?
Who, no, I, I'm just curious about your Jesus story, like Yeah. Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
So why? Yeah.
Uh, I just think the, um,
Why for you?
For me, because I feel like the church is more of a laughing stock than ever before. I'm like, it, it feels like every year kids worse or worse or worse. Yeah. Um, and I have so many friends leaving the church for good. There's so burn and jaded by Christians and, um, and so yeah. It gets harder and harder to, to live out our faith and, you know, be an example. Uh, I find year over year for sure.
Okay. I'd like to dig into that. Yeah. I mean, just you're an art community that is, um, part of art is declaring things or it's, it's, uh, it's provoking. Mm-hmm.
A little bit. Yeah. There's some artists, I heard a, uh, Stephen Presfield quo recently. They're really freed me. Um, he said half of artists are expressing themselves and the other half is are discovering themselves. Hmm. And that was amazing to me because I've always felt this odd pressure that maybe my art isn't good, cuz I, I don't express my inner feelings and faith and thoughts like Scott the painter, you know Scott? Yeah.
You got him on here. Yeah. That
Guy literally is, you know Yeah. Expressing his faith through his art. Yeah. That is not me. Yeah. I don't, I don't do that. Not because I don't want to, but, um, I am, when I create art, I am truly discovering what's inside. And when it comes out, I feel like I'm observing it just as the viewer is. Mm-hmm.
And I'm a huge fan of his, deeply, deeply admire his ability to express himself. But that's just not what I do. Um, but my, I feel like my faith comes through my, when I'm through my ideas, more so than my art. My art is one thing. My ideas, for example, like, I founded a non-profit called Help Portrait, which was truly like living out the gospel without a Christian label. Yes. Without the church attached. And anyway, and that was a, an accidental movement. I started, so this was like 2008, and I gathered together a bunch of local photographers and I said, what if we do portraits for people in need here, Nashville? And so we did one event, real small event, like 60 people, I think eight photographers, real intimate. And it was cool, it was great. But so many people after that was like, Hey, if you ever do that again, let me be a part.
And so I was like, well, more people wanna do this. Maybe a lot more people want to do this. And so at that time, this is like dating myself ourselves. Like, I use this thing called a blog, remember this mm-hmm.
But we also feed them and bring clothes and bring, uh, gifts for the kids. Cuz this Christmas and it is truly, in fact it's so, like the gospel that wants to make an email, maybe one of the most meaningful emails I've ever received, this guy said, Jeremy, I didn't help Portrait again this year. I'm a huge fan of help portrait and I'm an atheist. And he said, congrats to you for creating something that is so clearly the gospel without calling it Christian. Yeah. He's like, cuz I know what you're doing. I see, I see it, but I, I'm not a believer, but I applaud you for getting me so, you know, involved in something that is so clearly the gospel. Um, and that's how I like to think of, I like to apply that thinking to other things cuz I've never been a fan of like, calling something Christian or, you know mm-hmm.
Even like attaching the church to it. And so, um, why just all the labels and as soon as the church is attached, I mean, even my own friends just like, Nope, I'm out
So I've done a lot of, um, creative work during times of need. So tornado tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, uh,
Like, no, how can I use photography to actually like help? And so for example, like when the earthquake or when the wildfire state Gatlinburg, you know, a lot of storytellers went down there, gas with drones and taking pictures of the devastation. Um, interview people, you know, news. All the news stations were down there. But I was like, I was literally sitting in church listening to Darren, but not listening
Um, but in the midst of that, a white mattress, it was this dark white mattress with the homeowners laying on the mattress and just seeing the, the humanity and all the devastation, um, just literally had that like vision in my head. And so I was like, all right,
It's creative empathy.
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Bizarre. I was actually just thinking about, I remember a few years ago, a mutual friend of ours actually talked about how everybody's creative, which I didn't think that I was like, oh, just creatives are creative. Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
In almost any field.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I mean, it's much like working out like, you know, uh, forming muscles. Like you gotta just keep failing. I think the majority of culture is just afraid to fail. Um, even my own kids right now, I'm like, good lord, just go try for the soccer team. Mm-hmm.
It still happening?
Oh yeah. Yeah. Very
Much. Explain that really quick. Is that, what's the most bizarre idea? Not, not the failure, but just the idea?
Hmm. Yeah. Uh, or explain the failure. Gosh, it's been 10 years now. I had a, I had an idea back when like, you know, social good now was like everywhere, but 10 years ago it was not, it was like Tom shoes. Yep. That was kind of about it. Yeah. You know, uh, charity Water was in its early days, but that was just a traditional, like, nonprofit that wasn't really social good. Anyway, I had this idea for a hotel chain to be a social good hotel where everything in the building connected to a cause or people in need or a and it would be called the purpose. And all these really, really specific ideas on how to make it happen. Um,
How much?
Uh, first time we didn't meet our goals, we made $0, took about massive failure. Wow. But it succeeded in its, uh, publicity. Yeah. And, and blew up kind of, everybody wanted it to work. And so we relaunched that and immediately raised about 650 grand, which sounds like a ton of money, but when you're trying to build 150 million hotel, that's like pennies, you know? Yeah. But that was still enough to like, kind of get the wheels spending and start with renderings and designers and all that stuff. Um, and so anyway, it's a long story as to what all has happened since 2016, but Yeah. Has more life right now than it's ever had, um mm-hmm.
Kick me a little harder? Yeah. Straight. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. And it's been a very, very public, uh, but
Yeah. Right. It was so public.
But I keep just doing other stuff and, um, while that's happening in the background. And anyway, it's a long way of saying like, I just, um, I don't know. I, I just, you Yeah. I just keep learning and I realize that nobody remembers our, our failures. They remember what actually works. And in the meantime, so many creatives are just paralyzed in that state of what if it doesn't work? You know, what would they think? Uh, mm-hmm.
You always known that? Or is that something that you've had to actually grow into?
You've had to grow into it, but, uh, I liken it until like, literally when we were little, going into the haunted house. Like, I always remember like loving the moment of, you know, I remember have a memory of like, youth group doing the ropes course, and there was like 200 kids, they said, who wanted to go first? I was the only person that raised my hand to go up and walk on the rope. And I, I was startled. I was like, why doesn't anybody else want to do that first? Mm-hmm.
Hmm. Well it turns out beautiful things.
Mm-hmm.
Okay. So then how, how can we help people fail? Well,
I mean, I don't know that we can just got, just keep encouraging, you know, how
Have you, what, what has been helpful, I mean, you kind of just said it, but what has been helpful for you? What are like habits or things that have helped you in failing? Well, like when these things happen, how much of your identity is wrapped up? I guess that's probably where failure really comes from. Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Or maybe add to that, how did community help you through your failures? So-called failures?
Yeah. Thinking through the specific examples. Um,
Or do you just not care? Is it like,
Hmm. I mean, yeah.
Do you have the ability to kind of go, i, I care some and sometimes it hits me, but for the most part I'm like, right. I'm, I'm doing fine.
I mean, of course I care. Like, it always, I mean, it always hurts your ego a little bit. I don't want to sit here and say, ah, just don't care. Uh, of course I do, but also just realize what I've been saying. Like, I'm just gonna go and do the next thing and something will work. Um, and a lot of this too is just the pressure of having to make a living. Yeah. You know, like the, I think there's a beauty to be, you know, I've got a mortgage and four kids and Yeah. All these bills to pay in a studio and assistant and, you know, expenses are a really great thing for creatives, you know, because like, crap, I can't just sit around and Yeah. And so a lot of it is just forced reinvention. Yeah. You know, craps that didn't work, that made $0 or I went into debt and uh, you know, lost money.
And so like, I gotta reinvent and do the next thing. And so, um, yeah. I just, but over time, what y'all are saying at the beginning of this interview, wow, dream you're such a innovator and play spinner. And, and I'm like, no, I'm not really. I just keep failing. But, uh, tell me if you just start doing things, that's how people see you. It's just a doer. Yeah. It looks impressive. Almost even when you fail. Um, you just keep going and throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. And I feel like that's what I just keep doing.
So do you not feel like your identity is, has been wrapped into this thing? Like when these things fail, it doesn't seem like your identity is that wrapped into the thing? It's more in what you do,
I guess. Yeah. I don't think my identity's wrapped too much. I, I mean maybe at times, um,
How much, that's rare. Fyi Hmm.
Right. I think when someone tries to create and it doesn't go well, then the fear of not creating anything good starts to blossom, I think. Yeah. So it's interesting that you have this view of well, time to create something else. Yeah. When many people are like, maybe I'm not creative, maybe
You know what it is. I think we have a superpower as creatives, um, in that if you have ideas that is your superpower. And so I know that I'll have more ideas, not as, not from an ego standpoint, just like, this is
How you're made.
I've had 20 years of ideas mm-hmm.
We've got a few ideas we want to throw at you.
Yeah. It's hard. I mean I've spent the last 15 or so years like creating for clients, you know, doing commercial photo shoots and uh Yeah. Trying to make a living that way, um,
So that you can do other things.
Yeah. Yes. Trying to do other things and I've never liked client work to be honest. I can do it, but it's not where my passion is. Um, that's why I'm so happy in the house cuz I don't have any clients and I just get to make art
So Tay Tay, yeah. She
Hasn't called. Yeah, she hasn't called. Um, she has no what do, who I am. Um, you know, and so, uh, there's,
But you shot Chris Tomlin.
That's true.
I don't wanna say it too
Loud, but she had toured with Chris Oman for
Three months around mic drop
That was actually fun. Then I toured with Britney Spears home from Tomlin to Britney. No, that's true story. Love
It. Love it. Do you have any good stories? Of
Course, yeah. I'm Brittany. Do you? Well,
It's for another time I guess.
Yeah. Yeah.
That was, I literally got called to tour with Britney as someone tour with Tomlin. That was such a crazy mental shift.
Yeah. 2008 two. And the economy was dead and as a wild, a wild time. Wow. Yeah. Wow. Tom and Tour was amazing, I have to say. Yeah. It was a blast.
Is that the last time you toured with
Yeah, Brittany was the last time I toured and we'll never do that again. Yeah, yeah.
A different kind of life.
Yeah, for
Sure. Um, what are habits that you bring into your daily? You said just being aware of things around you. What about habits that you've kind of put in your daily life?
Man, I always wanted to have such a good answer. Smart answer for that one. Um, I feel like when you have four kids, you're kind of flying by the seat of your pants and your family life kind of controls your daily habits. Yeah. But generally, um, you know, getting the kids out and off to school in the mornings get to work by 9:00 AM or so. Um, you know, I'm pretty traditional hours going around five. Um, just try to crank. I mean honestly, um, I know this chick close quote, he said, uh, inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up at nine and get to work
So good. You know,
Um, that's kind of what it has to be. And so now it's kind of cool because I don't have any clients anymore. Yeah. I mean, it really is up to me to, um, just be my boss being my work. And so I just follow the, the muus wherever the ideas go, um, is where, is what directs my habits and my, um, timeline and my calendar. And it's just like, literally I feel like I'm retired. Like I'm having so much fun right now. Like when I'm retired, if that ever happens, I'll still be doing what I'm doing right now. Like, I'm literally just, it's beautiful making art right now for whoever out there. Yeah. Finds it interesting. Yeah. And the craziest thing about NFTs is I don't have to print it or ship it or make, it's like, it's just all, I make it digitally and I mint it and someone buys it and I move on to the next creation.
Yeah.
It's like literally a dream. An artist dream come true.
Trying to think of a way to explain NFTs to anybody online
On Fungible Token. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So that pretty much sums it up.
Oh gosh.
Freaking Yeah.
Never freaking time. I was, yeah. Sorry.
It's
Funny. And throw me off.
It's funny you're saying that just this morning I was working from home and thinking to myself like clearly I'm so grateful that I have a studio that is not at home. Like I have to drive to where I have a studio at the factory. Yeah. And so, yeah. Cuz when I'm at home, the harder than kids is my wife. Like, oh, can you run into Target real quick? Yeah. Like, because I'm there, she thinks I'm available and I'm just not. And same with her. She's working too. And so she's like, no I can't. I'm, she has a much better no to me than I do her
Gives you like a second in your car to Yeah. Say a few bad words and then kind into heart.
Mm-hmm.
How are you, uh, combining your creativity with empathy now? Like in the space where you are now, where you feel like semi-retired making things for the NFT space. Yeah. Where does empathy come in
There from you? It's funny, I had a major realization just recently on that front cuz I did a, I tried to do NFT fundraiser. Um, it's when the last earthquake hit Haiti, I was gonna sell my previous Haiti photos as NFTs to give to the current earthquake situation. And crickets did not work. And what I realized in that moment is I'm like, oh, I see what's happening. I have to make people care about me before they care about what I care about. And which in reality that's self-indulgence and greed. But it's also true. Yeah. Like there's endless examples of that. Like we care about what Bono cares about cuz we love Bono. Uh, Carlos Whitaker in town is a perfect example. Everybody loves Carlos. Yeah. Like he just, his engagement is like 90%. Like when he posts something, everybody watches it. Um, and it's because we love Carlos.
Yeah. Um, and so whether he's helping the man in the airport or helping the birds on his porch porch, right. Everybody's all through love Carlos. And so I realized a few months ago, I was like, I have to build an A thing in this space. I gotta build my own, I hate the word brand or platforms, but whatever that thing is, I have to build it. And so I'm working to do that and thankfully it's actually working pretty well. Um, but then I can start doing these crazy fundraising cuz I do have the ideas, but I have a much better understanding now of timing and pace and, and just when is the right moment to do that. Mm-hmm.
When we do post about a, a need mm-hmm.
Been able to separate ego and failure. How are you separating it in like brand building and success? How do you keep from like inflating yourself in those ways? Because I know like, like the day we had Carlos in here, it was really interesting. He does it really well, but I just remembered seeing him like, like he was, I don't know how many stories he did when he was sitting here and I literally said, dude, how are you doing this? Yeah. Because I can't, because I can't separate my ego from it. Like, I feel like I'm just self-serving all day. Even if there's a good out like, outcome from it. Mm-hmm.
I think I know what you're asking. Yeah. Like, I don't really like my work most of the time.
Being a musician and releasing music
Yeah. I
Guess that is the plight of an artist.
I think so. Yeah. But it's healthy and I'm just literally, I love what I'm gonna do next. Then as soon as I do it, I'm like, cool. That's done on to the next thing.
So I think follow up question is like, cuz I feel the same way. Like as you're building a brand, how do you tell yourself this is worth doing? When one, you don't think the work maybe is valuable that you've done. Is it like, I know the end goal here or the next thing needs this, so I'm gonna build this thing? Or what is that in you?
I think I'm just driven by the ideas. Like constantly driven by the ideas, like the muse, the ideas. And if the idea is killer and it excites me, then I go do it. And then another one will come and erase that one. And like every day that I have an ongoing list, whether it's Evernote or like my laptop desktop, but just always kind of overviewing the ideas and whatever gives me the most life. I go, I go chase, which mm-hmm.
You that that's my problem too? I'm amazing at shipping, but horrible and it's staying committed like mm-hmm.
Has that hurt
You? Oh yeah. Yeah. Big time.
You learn from that?
So many ideas. I wish I had stayed committed to. Yeah. Um, like Alliance for example. Alliance says another one of the careers I forgot to mention, but just as a educator. Yeah. It's a university. Oh that's right. Alliance. A whole like online course to teach people photography and it blew up and was amazingly successful. Uh, most successful thing I've ever done. And then, uh, shut it down.
Because you were, you kinda lost excitement for it.
Yeah. There was no excitement for it whatsoever. I hated seeing the stupid Facebook ads on my face on it. Like they made me too, they made me threaten now. Me too. I know. I feel like I wanted to throw up a little bit. Um, yeah. Like, Hey come learn my Photoshop.
It's so was that the ad? But there are so many people that that would be so helpful
For Yeah, for sure. I mean it made almost a million dollars year one. Year two is done. I just shut it down. Yeah. Like I can't, I don't care how much money it makes, I'm done.
Is that, is that something that you needed somebody else to come in and run the thing and do all the stuff for you? Would that have worked
Or, and I did have that help, uh, for sure. Um, but even still I was the face of it and
Fun. You are such
A gift. Yeah. Thanks. But that's one of the things like, okay, I, I should have kept doing that. Um, because like I knew a lot of my colleagues have done the same thing. They kept theirs going and they sold it to bigger platforms for insane amounts of money. I'm like, yeah, I could have done that
Is there anything that you learned from that? Like as you're just observing as a curious observer holding your life and this issue? Cause I'm, this is actually a very personal issue to me. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. In the future? I think it's truly just trying to force myself like to stay interested because when I send a d d truly I just keep bouncing from idea to idea. Yeah. And I just gotta, like even with the hotel, I'm like having to like try to pray and train myself, okay, this is a good idea for long term. I'm gonna have to say figure out how to stay engaged. Um, and it's just so hard for me to do. Yeah. Um, so it's always the next thing, um, that that steals my attention. So I don't know. I don't know. It's just a matter of trying order to stay focused I guess. But thankfully this new space I'm in the NFT space, it is finally like does feel like home. Yeah. Feels like what I've been searching for for many, many years. Cuz I no longer am wondering from totally different idea to idea and at least now it's all in the same ecosystem. Right. And it's just making art and Right. It's what I love doing. I literally feel it feels like I'm home. Yeah. It's awesome. So my future will be this web three NFT thing and ode, both of the, both of those will be my be my future. Mm-hmm.
Struggle with that so much
But it feels, but again, I guess it goes back to that question like how do you find permission to know I don't wanna be present here anymore. Like I did this and I was present for it, but now I feel not present even if I still did it. Like I'm kind of done with it because there's, I think in your book you mentioned, uh, there's a part where you were graphic designing, I think mm-hmm.
Yeah. I think yeah, just it comes on to a number of factors. But back to what you said, like you didn't get anything out of it because I don't have an answer. Yeah. There is no answer. Right. Like, I don't know how I get better at this. Um, but yeah, I mean the biggest thing that's helped in all these ideas obviously is the people you attach to the ideas and you find people to partner with and help you, you know, on the business side or the, like I always, um, call my current, uh, partner. My, he's the peanut butter and I'm the jelly. And uh, you gotta find that that person, um, he is literally the opposite of me in every possible way. Yeah. Um, and you gotta find those people who can, and there guys like him will say, I love getting behind visionaries and doing the, the boring stuff.
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Right. Um, anyway. Yeah. I think, I think teams getting the right people and hopefully they help you, they stay involved and they stay and you're able to, like I know Blake, the founder of Tom's, like he spends most of his time out on a boat reading and getting inspired and mm-hmm.
I, there is, there is comfort in just watching how you've done this and you just keep going. Yeah. I It's really beautiful. And it seem, it sounds like it's just kind of natural for you. You're like, well, all right, well, next thing, let's go. Next thing. And Oh, it's really, yeah.
It's truly due to a lot of failure. I like the last two or three years, especially during the pandemic, like you li mini creatives, I lost my ability to make a living, like during the pandemic. Yep. Nobody's doing photo shoots. Can't travel and speak anymore. Like, all right. Mm-hmm.
I mean, I'm hearing your wife's name more than I'm hearing yours right now by people up from out of town. Yeah. She, she's, and they're like, oh yeah, I'm dealing with her with real estate, estate. I mean's like, that's amazing. That's how many people. She's like, that's so
Awesome. She's killing, she's, I'm so proud of her. Um, yeah, it's a, that's a long story, but yeah. She, I'm so, so proud of her.
So if you guys need real estate or art Yeah. Go to the coward house. There you go. Apparently
She's so good at it and she hasn't done an ounce of marketing or social media, like Yeah. Right. It's literally word of mouth. Yeah. Um, anyway, and that's been beautiful too, just the way we've carried each other, because when things dried up for me, naturally, she wasn't even doing it because things dried up. Just, she had been called to start doing real estate and it blew up. And then things have now gone well for me, NFTs, and now she's scaling back a little bit to focus on being a mom. And, um, just been really beautiful. How that's kind of, we're like a seesaw. Yeah. Financially. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hmm. Pretty cool.
Um, thank you.
Yeah.
We've got 10,000 thoughts right now for you. All right. Um, we've all been taking notes, um, on things you can work on. Okay.
10,000 notes
Only. Want you to stick one of these ideas out. Yeah.
See how it plays
Out. First one. Um, no, just kidding. Um, so these are just like, quick answer. Sure. You know, take a sip and get ready. Yeah. That's kind of what these are. Uh, so currently listening to reading, watching,
Gosh, just watch Stranger Things. Love Top Gun. Yeah.
Uh, the original or the next,
Listening to lots of Twitter spaces every day. Geeky people talking about NFTs. Mostly what I listening to right now.
Okay. Strong. Yeah. Uh, last place you visited, where
Did I Oh, Minneapolis vCAN.
Yep. What's that dude?
VCAN. Gary V. Gary
V Baby. Sorry. Yes. We didn't talk
About that. Yeah. I was shooting portraits of all the speakers.
Uh, something you're bad at, Lord, help us.
Oh man. So many things bad at walking right now. I can't walk to save my life.
Just,
It's a whole different podcast. Have a neurological disease. Yeah. A affects my walking. Mm-hmm. So yeah, I'm pretty bad at walking in all sports. I'm bad at now. But Now
Your hands or No?
What's that?
Does it mess with your hands?
Uh, I can feel up arms too, a little bit. Mm-hmm.
How's that been on your soul?
Uh, heavy for sure. Um, yeah. I mean, it's not fatal. I'm not gonna die from it. Yeah. But could be in a wheelchair one day. Um, but at the same time I'm like, whatever. It's just like, keep going. And I don't think about a lot of people who have like,
You gonna model your, uh, approach to life and Yeah. And sell that as an nft
Man. That's pretty freaking, well, like most people who have it, it becomes their identity. Like, they go, they go on, like they start podcast and they, they're, it just becomes their whole thing. Where to me it's like just one small part of my life, you know, the, um, I do try to take really good care of myself for the most part. I certainly eat very clean, which helps. Um, I was exercising very consistently. I'm not currently, we both,
We both used to work out at, at this place called D one. Yeah. Together. But we're both old and
Like, please D three now. Oh, it's please. D
D zero for tens.
Yeah. I went twice last week. You did? But it's so humbling cuz nobody there knows what I'm dealing with, so Man. Like a poor guy over there. He can't even do the like one leg stretch
Which is that whole thing.
Everything to
Get on the rower. Yeah.
You know? Exactly. It'd be solid.
Yeah. I mean that place is crazy. I mean, it's
Intense.
Every cheerleader from every football team in America, every football player in America,
Us. Yeah.
Strengths.
Oh, so dumb. Um, something that doesn't live up to the
Hype. Man, I'm so bad at these. Quick, quick answer. Improv. Yeah. Uh, bored Apes
A lot of NFTs don't live up to the height, but some do. Uh, moon Birds. Those are my, those are the ones those are gonna
Google it. Yeah. Like no Almond Joy. Do you like almond joy?
Almond joy is definitely don't live up.
I, that's just, that's I think it feels like universal. There might be eight people in the world that like this. I
Don't even understand how they're still around.
I know they're not great.
I guess speaking of pet peeve, pet peeves, other than I'm enjoys
I hate hitting my head on things. Huh? I go into like Hulk mode when I hit bump my head. Yep. I don't know why I'm
With
You. I get pissed.
Oh my gosh.
Like, hit my head on the car door or car hood. Oh my. How often do you hit your head? A lot, I guess.
Really? Okay. Is that because we wore glasses? Because honestly, I've hit them. You hit your
Head a lot.
Yeah. I don't wanna talk about it, but Yeah. I feel like this is just our little conversation.
You stand up on the airplane and you bump your I'm just, I don't remember the
Last time. Bonked my
Nogging. I hit my freaking head. Yeah. But my head bleeds like, you got hair?
No, I, I'm like you. I'm just Are you with that hat? Yeah. Little bald. Gosh. There we go. You're hot.
Uh, okay. Uh, role model growing up.
Oh, Michael Jordan. Yeah, for sure. Big Jordan fan.
Uh, something that currently has your attention.
Uh, NFTs, duh. Um, what else? Hey, uh, all things Web three is my world right now. So Web
Three. Mm-hmm.
You'll get there. Totally
Yeah.
Uh, web three is just all things NFTs, metaverse, crypto. Right. All this stuff.
Um, okay. P r l everybody go. P rl
Quickest. L
Waiting for you. Oh, people. People really loving. You know why? People
Really
Loving Oh, that is so nice.
People really loving. They just aren't enough for those. It's
So true.
Know. I knew it. I started perfect. I knew it. You
Can't get away from it.
People are really licking,
People are really licking
You know what?
So
Gosh, this game could go on forever.
Just in my brain. Uh, thank you for being with us.
Thanks for Thank you. Appreciate you. Appreciate y'all.
See you at D nine.
Yeah, totally.
Please. In about four years.
Mm-hmm.
Well, I feel better about my life.
Oh, that's nice. That wasn't hard,
I dunno what that means. That's so stupid. That is so stupid. Uh, well, thanks you guys for listening or watching whatever you did. Um, remember, would you like, subscribe and share share and comments? Are there more and comment? Yeah. Maybe we wanna hear. Yeah, we would love to hear from you. So if you wanna go on the socials, um, the Instagrams, the Twitter, the Facebook, the mm-hmm.