Today is a milestone
- Chris Bryant
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
Precisely a decade ago, it was “ACTION!” on my full time career creating video content for my clients. Time flies when you’re having fun and shooting video.
Ten years ago today (March 19th, 2015 at 5:01pm EST to be precise) I went full time with Empire Studios and let go of the security of a 9-5.
At the time, I was working for a great relocation company and enjoying what I did and the people who I got to work with and for, but my video business had been growing steadily since its founding in late 2005. By late 2014, I was spending every waking hour (and honestly some hours I should have been sleeping) working on my business.
I would wake up early, edit videos, work on project logistics, then bring my laptop to work and edit more on my lunch break. After a long day I'd come home and edit more into the wee hours of the night.
Yes, I drank copious amounts of coffee during this time.
Then, an opportunity came up that forced me to either quit my 9-5 and take it (with little work lined up for afterwards), or turn down the big project in order to keep my stable job. I’d be flying down to Orlando for a week for a massive trade show to produce over a dozen videos, many of which were to be fully edited and online the same day. It would be the very definition of “fast-paced,” with zero time for me to be able to check my 9-5’s emails remotely or take meetings.
This client had been working with me for a few years making standalone video content, but this was the largest single project I’d have taken on to date, and I had to make a choice.
After long talks with my better half, one large pros and cons list, remembering the advice of several key mentors, and running numerous budgets it was decided: I’d give my notice and sign the contract for the Orlando project. To say it was nerve-wracking would be a tremendous understatement, since like I mentioned before, there were really no big projects lined up after the big project. Things in the works, sure, but I’d be surprised if there had been even one that was officially green-lit with a signed contract.
So at 5:00pm, I logged off my computer for the last time and headed to the parking lot. I had a 6:10am flight out of Bradley International airport the next morning, and still had to finish packing my gear after going to an amazing farewell get-together at a local restaurant with my awesome co-workers who had become good friends.
When I got in my car, I had a carefully curated playlist ready on my iPhone, ready to play as I exited the parking lot.
I took a deep breath, turned the key in the ignition, and hit play. Michael Bublé’s signature swoon came through the car speakers:
Birds flying high,
you know how I feel
Sun in the sky,
You know how I feel…
It was “Feeling Good,” and boy was I.
Of course in addition to “holy cow, WHAT did I just do?!” nervous.
I remember thinking where I’d be in ten years, if I would still be going with my video company, or if it didn’t work out and I needed to go back to a corporation.
Well, past Chris, I’ve got some good news for you: you made it a decade, with zero signs of slowing down. Even a global pandemic only gave you a short reprieve before closing it out with another record year. And while it was shaky at first, it was totally worth it. Every single year has had revenue growth with more projects completed, and even bigger things are on the horizon. You’ve worked with – and continue to work with – the best clients in the world, and the crew you’ve assembled are a light-hearted, hard-working group who never disappoint.
Next December will be 20 years in business, so I’m looking forward to that milestone. Until then, I am forever grateful to all of my amazing clients for the trust they place in me and my team to produce quality content for their companies.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I (and we) wouldn’t be here without you.
-Chris
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