10/28/2026
90 Days Later — Finding Balance and Knowing Your Worth ❤️
Hello everyone!
This is a personal post about my career, family, and what I've learned about finding balance in life.
For 15 years, I dedicated a large part of my life to one company. I started in an entry-level position and worked my way up to Lead Engineer. The company invested in me, helped me grow, and gave me opportunities I'll forever be grateful for.
In return, I gave my loyalty, dedication, and countless hours of hard work. But looking back, I realize that some of those hours weren't just mine. They belonged to my family, too.
Outside of work, photography has always been my passion. I've always been the "lets take a photo" guy.
Between long workdays, weekends, phone calls/texts, my wife, daughter, four dogs, house projects, and everything else, finding time for photography wasn't always easy.
Then came a turning point in my career.
I experienced a situation that made me question my future with the company and what I was sacrificing to remain there.
I spent 15 years proving my value. It took one moment of disrespect from leadership to remind me that knowing my worth was more important than proving it.
It was emotional. I went home that day and cried. And I'm not ashamed to admit that. When you've invested so much of your life into something, realizing it may be time to move on isn't easy.
The previous year alone, I worked 255 hours of overtime. That's time I could have spent making memories with my family and friends.
I realized something important.
Loyalty and dedication matter, but so do respect, peace of mind, and knowing your worth.
I decided to take a chance and pursue a new opportunity.
Fast forward, I took a month off to get myself together and heal from a shoulder injury.
Approximately 90 days since, and I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I've made!
I LOVE my new job! I'm surrounded by great people, continuing to grow professionally, and finally experiencing a healthier work-life balance.
And here's the best part.
Since making that decision, my photography business has grown tremendously. I finally have more time to invest in something I love.
More time for my wife, my daughter, my family, and myself.
I don't regret my previous 15 years. Those experiences helped shape who I am today, and I'll always be thankful for the people who helped me along the way.
Good leadership inspires people to stay.
Poor leadership gives them a reason to leave.
I've learned that you can appreciate where you came from without feeling obligated to stay there forever.
Moral of the story...
Know your worth. Don't settle for unhappiness. Don't spend your entire life working so hard that you forget to enjoy the things and people you love.
Change can be scary, uncomfortable, and emotional. But sometimes it's exactly what you need.
Success isn't always about a title, a paycheck, or how many hours you work.
Sometimes success is simply having the time to enjoy the life you've worked so hard to build.
Family comes first.
Family. Comes. First. ❤️
P.s.
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