Really appreciate the shoutout! Here’s my story

I was in the fiat mines too. For about 1.5 years I coached cybersecurity teams, helping them collaborate across the globe. I appreciated the work, but I knew early on that a laptop-bound career wasn't for me. I wanted to be out in the world, seeing the fruits of my labour

So I made a pact with myself, every Sunday for a year was dedicated for me. No agenda, just permission to be curious. I tried different art forms, toyed with business ideas, let my mind wander without restriction. That's when I got deep into film photography. I'd walk the streets of my city, hyper-aware of every detail around me, shooting and developing rolls. I was fascinated with stained glass windows, there are so many where I live, and told myself one day I'd like try it out, take a workshop

Two years ago I moved to Texas for a work secondment, consulting for a large oil company. New city, not many friends, a lot of time alone, which honestly suited me. I knew the job wasn't a true reflection of who I was, so I leaned into that solitude. I looked back at my self across my life, what I naturally enjoyed doing if I had the choice, because I think that's where you find yourself in your purest form. I kept my Sunday commitment, but this time I was on YouTube, falling down rabbit holes of artisans around the world creating incredible work. I found a stained glass artist and that was it. Watched everything they made, learned the process inside out, started sketching my own designs in my spare time

When I came home, I started building. Small pieces at first, just getting familiar with the craft. I had enough saved to step back from work for a while, which I needed. Working in Oil & Gas had taken a lot out of me and I lost sight of myself for a moment. I took a sabbatical from work, started creating more, I put my work out into the local community, and the project inquiries haven't stopped since

A big misconception about finding your passion is that some people just get lucky. To me, that couldn't be further from the truth. It takes intention, time, patience, and humility. If your sole focus is making money on the side, I don't think you'll find it. But if your focus is play, exploration, and genuine curiosity, then that's a different story entirely

Thanks for reading!