Biz Biv Dev Debrief
October 1st, 2005
Wow.
Thanks for all the comments and email. So very encouraging and helpful. I may still do t-shirts for this site, but I think in order to be compelling or interesting, they will need more concept time. And ladies sizes.
I love all the photo comments, and I’ll be spending the next little bit researching options, vendors, etc. What’s so valuable to me about all the feedback is that I can now clearly see where I need to put my energy. I realize that not everyone is going to be digging on every photo or photo collection. As a photographer, I’m going to shoot and sell things I’m into. I know it’s a crowded market, but I believe I have something to offer that is unique. Hopefully others see some value in the work and are compelled to buy it. And if they aren’t, at least I’ve enjoyed creating and sharing some work.
Once the picture is taken is just the beginning for me. The rest happens in front of a computer, and usually it’s the more time consuming part of the exercise. If image editing software didn’t exist, I’d be jonesing darkroom gear and bankrupting us with processing costs, paper, chemicals and film. That we live in an age where I can at least attempt this seems at once sweet and horrifying. I’ve already lived too long not going for it.
I don’t expect this to take off to a point that I’m in a 12′ x 12′ clear plastic cube with fog or smoke, great lighting and high velocity fans blowing thousands of $20 US dollar bills while I lay wearing tanning glasses and atmospheric techno playing, basking in the light and money. I’m just looking to do something I love. The rest will follow.
In the short term, it should be obvious that my very fine lady’s site will be the bacon bringer homer, although I might be allowed to do the frying up in a pan. I’m also trying to be more involved with Leta. I’m trying to live the dream, man. LIVE IT. That’s not going to be perfect, and I’ll try to document the days here, and I suppose there is some value in that. I’m still going to freelance and try to contribute, but the master plan is to wake up and be excited to face the day. And write up more whores.
One of the questions that is often asked of bloggers is “why do you do this?” I believe the answer for me is that my whole life, I’ve been involved in some kind of creative endeavor that is shared publicly. Publishing myself online isn’t an exercise in narcissism at all. It’s about doing something and sharing it; putting it out there. I love that aspect of creation and always have. Whether it’s been onstage in a play, with a band, on a pirate cable comedy show that maybe 30 people watched, in print or online, it’s the doing and the sharing that is what makes creating so rewarding. It’s somehow woven into my DNA. I don’t want to stop creating. Ever.
I’m still in awe that so many people would feel compelled to comment and I can’t thank you enough for being willing to share your opinions. You are awesome. o
October 1st, 2005 at 2:00 pm
Just as many of your other readers, and now you have, I have also left corporate America.
I am happy to hear that you are still pursuing freelance work, mostly because that is what I do. I am a full-time medical editor, but I also get paid to blog for Blogging Baby, which is sweet in and of itself. I don’t do that gig for the money– I do it because I get paid to write my content.
I am the sole support for myself and three kids, and I am living proof that you can do this. I’ve been doing it since April, wouldn’t trade it for the world.
October 1st, 2005 at 2:26 pm
i’m very much enjoying the frequent and full-of-content updates. yay for quitting shitty jobs.
October 1st, 2005 at 3:13 pm
I’m not generally a fan of the money-making aspect of blogging, since more often than not, I would never pay for those bloggers’ opinions. But as often as I can here and over at Dooce, I click on your links just to throw a few bucks your way because I find what you’re both doing with your lives inspiring.
And on the advice front, I say anyone can make funny teeshirts but you have really beautiful photographs and the act of making them your (at least partial) livelihood will inspire you to take even better ones. So I say, take pictures and sell them.
October 1st, 2005 at 3:32 pm
Live the dream man! Do it! I love the idea behind the photos, and will be interested to see how you get on. Incidently, much of your work seems to follow on from Lomography (http://www.lomography.com) of which I am a bit of a fan. I gotta say, I like the tee-shirts but I, probably wouldn’t buy one.
BTW I am also thinking about quitting the ‘rat-race’ in favour of other projects so I will be watching your progress with interest.
October 1st, 2005 at 4:17 pm
I admire your attitude about the whole thing (and Heather’s, of course). How lucky is Leta?
And I really do believe your photos would sell. You got me hooked with that “Haunted Beaufort” series.
Best of luck, man.
October 1st, 2005 at 4:20 pm
Back at ‘ya!
October 1st, 2005 at 4:21 pm
Thank you for putting into words to how I feel about blogging. When people ask me why I do it, I kind of shrug and say it is good exercise for writers, which it is, but you have pin pointed it. I will be quoting you soon I am sure.
October 1st, 2005 at 4:23 pm
Shine on, you crazy diamond!
I’m a dog trainer and I run a petsitting business. I can’t tell you how enjoyable it is to take 6 dog hikes everyday. When I look back at the time I’ve wasted working in an office doing something not at all suited to me, I want to kick myself. I’m not doing anything remotely close to what I went to school for and I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.
You rock.
October 1st, 2005 at 4:26 pm
“I don’t expect this to take off to a point that I’m in a 12′ x 12′ clear plastic cube with fog or smoke, great lighting and high velocity fans blowing thousands of $20 US dollar bills while I lay wearing tanning glasses and atmospheric techno playing, basking in the light and money.”
FUNNY!
October 1st, 2005 at 5:29 pm
Well, I may have to change where your and dooce’s websites are listed in my “Favorites” in explorer. They are currently under the folder “Parenting” (which I’m sure I’ve told you before). I’ll have to consider revising at least yours to ….. “DreamFollowing”???
Go for it man.
October 1st, 2005 at 7:13 pm
Rock on. You are a true inspiration…!!!
October 1st, 2005 at 7:27 pm
“Biz Dev Debrief” not Biv Dev Debrief ;p
If you were female, I’d be saying You Go Girl! I cannot wait to see your photos ready for sale, as they have inspired me to try digital techniques and more.
Leta and Heather are very lucky girls.
October 1st, 2005 at 7:47 pm
Bell Biv Devoe? Biz Dev Devoe? I’m trying over here, people.
October 1st, 2005 at 7:54 pm
You don’t give your own site and writing enough credit Jon. Heather is fab, but your take on the world, and obsessive Mac issues have (to which I can relate) have kept me coming back for years now. Don’t sell yourself short, man.
October 1st, 2005 at 7:56 pm
okay, so i’m now a long time reader, 2nd time commenter. but, as i move to the south here in the next couple of months to start a life with my girlfriend, we are thinking of apartment art.
so you have 3 months
and i’ll promise you some puchases…
good luck in your endevours, i know i’ll be starting the great job “what to do” search soon, so here’s to the best for both of us.
October 1st, 2005 at 8:13 pm
Jon, both you and your lovely wife rock VERY much. It’s very fun and exciting to see the both of you taking off in this direction. Rest assured that your site/publications/quirky comments really do form part of the fabric of many of our days.
I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavous. Should be an interesting ride to read about.
Salut!
October 1st, 2005 at 9:12 pm
in case it matters, here’s where *i* personally would spend my money in the blurbodoocery endeavors (let’s cut straight to the chase): (1) i would buy more than one of dooce’s books, if she’d write one, (2) i’d buy your book, if you’d write one, (3) i’d buy one or more of your t-shirts, if it was in cool colors and if i knew what the heck the verbiage meant!, and (4) did i mention that i’d buy dooce’s book(s)?! that’s about all i’m personally interested in, in case you’re taking a poll or something. hugs!
October 1st, 2005 at 9:21 pm
Didn’t read any above comments, so ignore me if this has been said before.
I would totally pay for a Jon Armstrong T-shirt. With a picture of Jon Armstrong on it. Don’t let that creep you out too much, I’m not a stalker. (Sure, that’s what they all say.)
I’m married with four kids and sometimes you just want to wear Jon Armstrong on your torso. Or maybe on the sleeve? Like a Jon Armstrong Memorial Tattoo. With birds and palm trees maybe?
Ok, I’m scaring myself now.
October 1st, 2005 at 9:34 pm
…now you know.
Oh, I got you brother.
October 1st, 2005 at 10:12 pm
“It’s somehow woven into my DNA. I don’t want to stop creating. Ever.”
Now that’s something I can definitely relate to. I start getting really hard to live with (I’m told) if I don’t get the chance to get creative on a daily basis. It’s why I blog. It’s why I code. It’s why I design, etc.
Being the creative individual that I am is very much a defining part of me and I worked hard for years to get a good education, so I could build a good career doing it.
Then I had a kid and the thought of leaving her for 40+hrs a week while I worked left me with a horrible case of nightmares and anxiety. I’ve been freelancing ever since, and slowly building my own company.
It hasn’t been easy. At times, it has felt downright impossible, but it’s happening and each day it gets a little better and a little easier, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s allowed me so much precious time with my daughter and has given me a great deal of creative freedom that I likely wouldn’t have found elsewhere.
I sincerely hope you’re able to achieve the same thing: Happiness doing what you love to do and the freedom to spend quality time with your family and to be there to watch your child grow and learn - things we should all strive for and should all be entitled to.
Good luck to you, sir!
October 1st, 2005 at 10:23 pm
I would buy stuff, but I have to be perfectly honest….I don’t quite cut into the middle income tax bracket and for me things have to be kind of cheap. Your books, (the his and hers set) I would pay a pretty penny for. Even though I have to admit I would probably not be able to follow half of the technical jargon. Ok I wouldn’t be able to follow any of the jargon past the third sentence but I would buy it none the less.
I would love campy, “earthy” stuff from you guys…as far as clothing….like looks like it was made in your basement at 3 am after a bottle of bourbon, but really wasn’t. Does that make sense?
Did I spell jargon right?
October 1st, 2005 at 11:18 pm
I’m a long-time lurker, (as well as Heather’s), and just wanted to de-lurk, and say congratulations. We’ve been where you are, and out the other side.
I left the corporate world (high tech public relations in Silicon Valley — I cringe thinking about it now), a few months after I had my first daughter. I’m now happily self-employed as a photographer. I cannot tell you how amazing and fulfilling it is/has been, getting to have the career I longed for. The thought of EVER returning to that corporate, miserable atmosphere, and not getting to be creative is horrifying to me now. Not to mention the sheer joy of being with my girls and my husband, a graphic designer who incidentally left an agency last year that was as-miserable-and-soul-shriveling-as-yours-sounds, and is now swamped with his own company, picking and choosing the design jobs he wants. Wow, holy disjointed sentences Batman! I hope that quasi-made sense.
The actual leaving of both of our jobs was nerve-wracking and crazy, (no steady paycheck? paying for our own health insurance?!) and defenitely an ajustment for both of us, but it has all been so worth it. We both have our own ‘companies’ and carve out time to be with each other when we want, get to spend loads of time with our girls, and have jobs and a life that we couldn’t even fathom before we took the plunge.
All that to say, having taken the leap, I’m happy for you all, having been in a similar experience, and knowing what great rewards we reaped by finally having the cojones to quit the steady paycheck, and go for it. And you’re both uber talented in multitudinous ways, so I feel fairly confident you guys will be great.
October 2nd, 2005 at 12:40 am
Been a long time reader of dooce. At first I badmouthed the ads. WTF is this?! Lately though, I click on one of those things every time I visit, and in a small way I feel good for contributing. What would you possibly do without that 13 cents of weekly income I send you way? You’d starve in the streets. Philanthropy bithches. Thats right. Philanthropy. Oh and, weddings. Thats where your steady photography income can, ..come. From.
October 2nd, 2005 at 3:47 am
Havinf read through all the comments for the last 2 posts (boy that took up some precious time) I was intrigued by the differing opinions.
Almost all of it was sound advice that had clearly been thought through thoroughly. There are those who don’t think that making money off of this type of concept is viable/acceptable but that is true for most creative processes. There are always people who feel that the creative process should be shared but that monetary compensation somehow demeans it. These are either people with the luxury of alternate income or those who have no problem with living on bread and water when times are tough.
Blogging, like most things, can either be a hobby (as it is in my case) or it can be a career choice. Its all in the content. Clearly I (and from the comments) many other people, appreciate those who have the ability to turn something that is a hobby for most, into a successful, interesting and intriguing career prospect. Perhaps this is why we are eager to be supportive to those who get it right.
No matter what is said, Leto will grow up all the richer for having both parents present and happy, surely the true value of life lies in having our children appreciate the possibilities and risks that are taken to find happiness.
I both envy and admire both you and Dooce for your abilities and your willingness to step into the unknown. I suspect that envy is the underlying emotion behind any negative feedback that you may receive.
Sure some things may work, other’s might not even make it off the idea block, but the fact that you’re going for it means that you’re a far braver person than I.
Rooting for you all the way!!
Alley
October 2nd, 2005 at 5:56 am
Listen, I know your last job wasn’t a particularly good one (although I believe some of your problems were self-inflicted), but does that really mean you have to give up work altogether? Could you not maybe get another job? Something part-time even?