With Thanksgiving

In light of the Thanksgiving holiday (sorry if you’re reading this in July), I thought I’d take a moment to express some gratitude. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be an awards acceptance speech where I thank every one of my elementary school teachers, my parents, and my hamster. While it is true that I’m grateful for all of them (except the hamster… I don’t have a hamster), this gratitude post will be a sincere expression of thanks for all of the things that have made Guided Productions a reality.

I'm Thankful For... Inexpensive Technology

First on this list of blessings, is the recent advancement in technology, and how it has drastically lowered the barrier to entry for videographers and online business owners. The gear that we have access to in 2025 is incredible for the price, and that’s not even including the outrageous capabilities of our cell phones! Not to date myself, but I remember when a phone was connected to a wall and used for one purpose… talking! Now you can shoot cinematic 4k video in log format, and save it to an internal hard drive that dwarfs that of the Apollo space shuttles, or upload it wirelessly to the cloud in minutes! What!? Nowadays, your phone seems to be used for anything but talking!

It’s not just gear either. The tools needed to edit video at a high level are so affordable (free in some cases!) and you have a library to choose from. I’m so thankful that I get to choose the software that best fits with the way my brain is wired and that I can run my entire business off of one dashboard. Before the internet, you would have to quit your job, withdraw your savings, and risk it all to start a business. Now you can make a couple of clicks in your PJs and create value for people all over the world! Incredible!

I'm Thankful For... Unlimited Resources for Education

Another area I am exceedingly grateful for is education. As mentioned before, I did not go to film school, and instead got my degree in Sales and Business Marketing. This meant I had to learn film and video production on the go and for the longest time, I thought this was a hindrance. That I couldn’t possibly teach production principles without a film degree, but I’ve found there is another camp that struggles here too - the creatives who aren’t sure how to start a business.

I’ve since come to realize that there is a neverending pool of educational resources about any topic you could ever wish to learn, and most of it is 100% free. The best part is that I can pick and choose which topics I want to learn at the time that I need to learn them, so I’m not wasting my time on things I don’t need to know yet. I’m excited to be a small part of the ocean of educational resources on the topics of video production and business, and I’m so grateful for those who have done the same and helped me along the way. 

Pro tip: If you are seeking a mentor, either in business or in a particular subject matter, pick one or two of your favorites and stick with them. If it’s me for video production, outstanding! I’m thrilled to have you as a student! But if there is someone else that resonates with you more, by all means follow the person that will get you the results you’re looking for. The challenge with having so much content available on the internet, is that you can quickly find conflicting information making it challenging to take action. Perhaps a good problem to have!

I'm Thankful For... YOU!

Most importantly, I am overwhelmingly grateful for you. For allowing me a few minutes of your valuable time each week, for your interest, feedback and questions. Guided Productions does not exist without your support and every day that I get to build a little more content is the realization of a dream I had many years ago. It has been so fun to see this evolve each month and I am even more excited about what’s to come in the new year. All of which has you at the center, making it all happen. Thank you for your kindness, your curiosity, and of course, your creativity. Keep learning, keep producing, and keep impacting the world in the way only you can.

I’d also like to give a public shoutout to my wife, Sarah. You have listened to my wild ideas for over 15 years, and encouraged me every step of the way. From a cross-country move to escape the snow, to starting a new business, and best of all, growing our family. Thank you for your unconditional love, your graceful patience, and your adventurous spirit. And to our kids - thank you for challenging me to be better everyday, and for showing me all the amazing little things I'm so quick to overlook. We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all.

What About You?

Friend, what are you thankful for this season? Did you get a new job, or quit a bad one? Did you film or edit your very first video from scratch? Did you welcome a new baby into the world? If you feel so bold, send an email to [email protected] with something you’re grateful for, I would love to know!

This time of year brings about mixed emotions for many of us, some good, some bad. If I can leave you with one thing, it’s that you were intricately designed by an intelligent creator who put you here to serve a unique and special purpose. Your story matters more than you know and I hope you experience the blessing of seeing just how powerful your impact is to this world. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And as always my friend, go create something amazing.