Do you remember MySpace Tom? If you’re below a certain age, you probably have no idea who MySpace Tom is. MySpace Tom is Tom Anderson, the founder of MySpace. He was born in 1970, co-founded MySpace in 2003, and sold MySpace to News Corp in 2005 for $580M. He stuck around for 4 years post-acquisition, leaving MySpace/New Corp in 2009. From there, he became an advisor of sorts for a few years.
All of this seems logical if you consider what happens to startup founders in the social media, technology, and advertising verticals. For example, Kevin Sytrom was born in 1983, founded Instagram in 2010, sold it to Facebook for $1B in 2012, stayed for a few years, left in 2018, and then dabbled in advising.
So what happened to Tom post-2009? He became a travel photographer. Yes, I’m serious. I would encourage you to read this article from Architectural Digest about his photography. Tom wasn’t born with the photography bug. His experience at the 2011 Burning Man Festival sent him down this career pivot. And yes, it’s a career pivot. Granted, Tom had the benefit of his portion of the $580M providing a safety net. But, to do something you’ve never done before, but you’re interested in, is risky - no matter how sizable the safety net.
I grew up always wanting to be a photographer. I wanted to work for National Geographic Magazine and travel across the globe taking photos that made people yearn to travel. I dabbled in the early 2000s with wedding and portrait photography. I was good at it. I was thorough. I planned. I listened. I researched. Also, I was way ahead of the curve in bringing a simpler financial model to the table and shooting primarily with digital cameras. But, I found very little joy in photographing people and weddings. The lack of joy was a combination of:
I wasn’t great with or comfortable providing creative/art direction
It felt like “work”, and yeah it was a “job”, I didn’t want something I loved to feel like work
Getting to meet other photographers has been one of my favorite pastimes. And, getting to watch them work (even at weddings) is incredibly instructive. I learn from talking and watching. One of the most impactful conversations I’ve ever had was with Jim Krantz, an Omaha-based photographer who was the go-to photographer for Leo Burnett on Marlboro and other Philip Morris brands. He said he works a few months out of the year on lengthy, demanding, difficult projects so that he could spend the rest of the year doing what he wants. He traveled, took on passion projects, donated time, etc. What a balance!
Career pivots are scary. I remember transitioning into my first client-side job and moving to Omaha, NE. That was in 2001. More recently, I was nervous to leave the warm confines of Digital Marketing to join UnitedHealthcare in a Communications role. If you can CHOOSE to pivot, instead of being forced to pivot, all the better. I often coach people to make career choices when there is NO fire on the other side of the door. Make them when there’s no urgency, when you can think straight, and when you have the time to make a smart decision.
So, will I leave my job and become a photographer? No. But, maybe when I retire?