DigitalFish Media

It always amazes how God works out the timing of things. Short version for all you skimmers: Less than a week after I wrote my last post, I started a new media company with Alan Gower called DigitalFish Media. Now, as Inigo Montoya said, "Let me 'splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up."

Alan and I have both been offering media services for a couple of years around Midland. Video services, website development, marketing, etc. We've been dabbling in this and that. Through a series of events, Alan found himself looking for a new job. He kept running into the same old corporate HR department run around... and he had just finished reading the book 48 Days to the Work You Love.

That book is gonna get someone in trouble someday.

If you've read any of my previous posts, you know I am not entirely at ease with my new job. I would love to be able to do what I enjoy for a living. Alan was in the same boat, but his boat is sinking faster since he is currently out of a job. We both have the talent for this kind of thing. He has the marketing degree and the personality to go out and shake the bushes. So, we began this new company. I will continue to work my regular job (for now) during the day. Weeknights and weekends I'll help support Alan in the work load of DigitalFish Media.

It's all very new and we are still putting our business plan together. He spent the last week at Camp Opportunity as videographer. We are already contracted as the official media company of Midland Christian Football. We'll be filming all the games this year. Many things are coming together quickly. I'll let you know more soon.

In the mean time, if you or your company needs a web presence or someone to freshen up your old, stale site, let us know. We offer many other services as well. For more information (or at least as much as we know right now), visit our website at DigitalFishMedia.com.

48 Days

I recently read a book called 48 Days to the Work You Love. I loved the premise of the book. One of the things it stressed was the concept of not relying on one job. Why not create several income streams based on the things you enjoy and the things you do well. Then you could work for yourself. If there's a problem, fire yourself and try something else.

Something like that would be another step of faith, but many others have taken this path. Jerome Williams come to mind immediately, and those of you who know him would agree. So I began thinking about what combined income streams I could pull off, do well, and honor God by doing it?

Here's what I've come up with:

1. Booking Agent - I've had a lot of experience dealing with groups and events. I know what's expected and what it takes. Might I be able to contract several groups and do my own booking thing?

2. Event Videographer - I'm already doing some of this. Last year I did all the video for Midland Christian's elementary school programs, and then sold the videos of the event to the families. It was a no-brainer kind of thing. Could I expand to other schools and events as well?

3. Wedding Videographer - I have one wedding under my belt and another coming up. I already have the equipment that I bought for the event stuff. And there's always a market for weddings.

4. Website Design - I've done many sites for many people. All of them free to this point. Maybe I could contact the small businesses out there who have no web presence, or a bad one. I can do it quick and cheap and nice.

5. Arranging and songwriting - Long term income. But I definitely have experience.

6. Worship Leading - Why not make myself available for worship leading at special events for other churches and organizations?

I need some wisdom. You're reading this. What do you think? Please leave a comment or drop me an email. I'd love to get some input. There is wisdom in the council of many, especially if the many happen to be tuned into God's frequency.

Oh, and happy Independence Day.

Tough Day

As days go, this is a tough one. And it's only 3:16.

I've been dealing with some job-threatening persecution at work. That's another story and it's been going for several weeks now. Needless to say, it's caused some stress knowing I may loose my job again, all because I'm a Christian.

This morning, I was downtown taking care of some business. As I was pulling out of the street parking, I was rear-end by a Grand Cherokee. Never heard brakes squeal. I didn't see him and he didn't see me. The collision threw me back through my parking space and up onto the curb. My car is messed up pretty bad in the back, but it is driveable. I am ok, but I think I'll need some serious chiro work. My neck feels pretty messed up.

Three hours later, my wife had a wreck. She rear-ended a new Chevy Tahoe. The Tahoe literally didn't even have a scratch. Sherri's car was totaled. Austin was with her and was able to call her attention to the stopped car just in time for her to slow down a little, but it was a pretty hard smack. They are both ok, but Sherri's chest hurts pretty bad from the air bag. She sits very close to the steering wheel and there wasn't much space for the bag to do its thing.

So we went from two cars to one car with a hole in the back in the space of three hours. Thankfully, Ashley is away at camp. As long as they don't call and say she broke her arm, I think we're safe for the rest of the day. We're not leaving the house. No one is walking upstairs or they might fall. No one is showering for fear of falling and breaking something. We're not going to cook lest we burn down the house.

Ok, maybe not quite that much. But thanks be to God we're all well...