The Ghost of Who You Could’ve Been: Overcoming Self-Doubt, Imposter Syndrome & Leveling Up
We all imagine a stronger, healthier, more confident version of ourselves—the one who’s disciplined, successful, grounded. They exist just a few steps ahead of us, reaching out, waiting. But every time we choose comfort over growth, that version begins to fade. That’s the ghost of who you could’ve been. On a recent hike with Steph, I shared how imposter syndrome has followed me through every chapter of my life—from my wild twenties, to retail management, and now as a self-employed creative chasing this camper van dream. I’ve realized that every time I level up, the old me fights back with self-doubt, trying to pull me down. That’s not weakness—it’s fear of outgrowing who I used to be. But every rep, every risk, every uncomfortable step forward is a way to silence that fear and inch closer to the life you’re meant to live. Don’t let your future self disappear. Show up today—because the ghost of your potential only haunts the people who never take the leap.
Trying to figure things out when you don’t even know the first step? Yeah—we remember that feeling. If you just need to pick someone’s brain or talk it through, we’re all ears and more than happy to help.
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Imagine for a second the best version of yourself—the one you secretly hope to become. They’re in shape, confident, present. They move through life with purpose and peace. They’re healthy, successful, full of charisma—not because life was easy, but because they didn’t stop showing up.
Now imagine that version of you standing just a few steps ahead, hand reaching out, waiting for you to close the gap.
But instead of moving toward them, you hesitate. You take the easier route. You skip the workout, scroll instead of study, say "maybe tomorrow" one more time. Slowly, that future self begins to fade. Not with anger—but with heartbreak. They reach out for you, but their hand starts disappearing.
And then comes the silence. The one where you know you’re ghosting your own potential.
On a recent hike with Steph, I shared something I’ve carried for most of my adult life: imposter syndrome. It’s followed me through every chapter—my twenties lost in nightlife, then grinding my way up from a seasonal sales position to becoming a store manager, and now, self-employed and chasing this crazy dream of living out of a camper van with our dogs and camera gear.
Even now, as we're finally connecting the last dots to turn this vision into reality, I sometimes feel like I don’t belong here. Like it’s all going to blow up in my face someday.
But the more I’ve sat with it, the more I’ve realized—it's not that I don’t belong. It’s that my old self is scared. The version of me that was comfortable staying small doesn’t want to be left behind. So he whispers doubts. He tells me I’m not ready. He tries to sabotage the progress because he knows once I level up, there’s no going back.
And that’s the battle.
Every step forward is a fight to let go of who you were in order to become who you're meant to be. It’s not easy. But every day you show up, every rep, every risk, every quiet decision to keep going—it brings you closer to the version of you that’s still waiting, still reaching, still believing in you.
So don’t let them disappear. Grab their hand. And become the ghost that lived.
What would your future self thank you for doing today? Comment below or share this with someone who needs to hear it.
Four Years Into the Unknown: A Personal Story of Growth, Setbacks, and Self-Reflection
Four years ago, we left our stable jobs chasing a dream we couldn’t fully define—but felt in our bones. What followed was a rollercoaster of uncertainty, financial hits, caregiving, and growth we never saw coming. We weren’t ready then—and maybe that’s the point. Through setbacks, debt, late-night deliveries, and full-time caregiving, we learned how to slow down, get present, and finally become the kind of people who can live that dream. This isn’t just a story about photography or going off-grid. It’s about self-reflection, personal evolution, and trusting the process—especially when it’s uncomfortable. If you’re in the middle of your own pivot, we hope this helps you feel a little less alone.
Four years ago, my wife Stephanie and I made a decision that changed everything. We walked away from comfortable, steady paychecks to chase something we couldn’t quite explain—but deeply believed in. We wanted freedom, creativity, time together, and the space to build something on our own terms.
What we didn’t realize back then was how much the journey would test us—and grow us.
Whether you’re planning a shoot, dreaming up a creative project, or just want to chat—we’re all ears. Let’s build something beautiful together, one memory at a time.
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Before the Fall
We were still working our 9–5s when COVID hit.
I had just been promoted to Store Manager at a luxury clothing store in Palm Springs. Stephanie was working the front desk at her parents’ small photography business. When the pandemic swept in and everything shut down, we were both furloughed.
Those first few months were filled with uncertainty and unemployment checks. Like many, we felt displaced—grateful for the pause, but unsure what would come next.
When we were called back into work, we walked into a completely different world.
Policies were changing daily. I found myself managing a business while trying to enforce new health mandates I had no experience with. Stephanie was doing the same on her end. It felt like we were just surviving. And that’s when we had to ask ourselves: Is this really the life we want to go back to?
The answer was no. So we left.
We stepped away from the familiar and into the unknown.
The First Year Was the Hardest
What we didn’t realize was how quickly things could unravel.
I had invested everything we had left into crypto—believing, like many others, that it was the golden ticket. And for a moment, in late 2021, it looked like I was right. But when the market crashed, so did our safety net. Our portfolio dropped by 90%.
My inner voice was screaming at me to sell what we had left. But we stayed strong—diamond hands, as some people say. We pivoted. We leveraged what credit we had, took on a lot of debt to hold us through the winter, and waited for things to turn around.
And eventually—they did.
But in between, we weren’t just sitting around hoping. We knew we had to develop better habits. So we got to work. We focused on what we could control—our health, our mindset, our communication. We started learning new skills online. We built ourselves up quietly, brick by brick, while the world around us still felt unsure.
Although we had to put our dreams on pause again, I’m actually glad we did—because we weren’t ready to live our dream with the version of ourselves we were back then.
We were spending more than we generated.
Living like we still had a steady paycheck every two weeks.
You only get from the universe what you put into it—and we hadn’t put in the work yet.
So if you're asking yourself, “Am I ready?”—I think you already know the answer.
Only you know how much work you’ve put in to get where you are, and where you want to be in the next one to three years. One of my favorite quotes is from Jocko Willink. He says:
“Didn’t get what you wanted? Good.”
I can hear him now:
“Oh, you didn’t get to chase your dream? Good. Now you can save more, build more, and be better—so when you do chase that dream, you’re ready.”
That’s stuck with me.
Trust in the process.
Trust the person you’re becoming.
Doing Whatever It Took
We started delivering food through Uber Eats and DoorDash. I became a full-time caregiver for my mom, who’s in the late stages of Parkinson’s and now completely immobile. Steph and I tag-team her care—meals, cleaning, bathing, whatever’s needed.
It wasn’t the life we imagined. But it gave us something unexpected: perspective.
Caregiving shifted how we see the world—and how we move through it.
It made us slow down.
It made us more present.
It helped me become less reactive.
I smile more now, despite what the world throws at us.
That season of service reminded us what actually matters. It showed us how strong we could be, even when things felt uncertain. It helped us take a step back, so we could eventually move forward.
We stopped pretending we had it all figured out and started doing what we had to do.
We developed better habits—financially, emotionally, and creatively. We lived leaner. We got sharper. And through it all, we kept pouring into Last Minute Photoshoot, the business that’s now become our heartbeat.
We kept learning. We kept dreaming. We kept showing up.
Now: On the Road to Something More
Four years later, we’re finally preparing to do what we set out to do from the beginning.
By the end of this year, we’ll be living on the road with our pups—traveling the coast, shooting the life around us, and running our business wherever we go. We’ve spent years putting everything on pause to care for family. And while it’s hard to pass that responsibility to someone else, we’ve realized this simple truth:
Life doesn’t wait.
And if we don’t take the leap now, we may never.
If You’re Still in the Middle of It…
If you’re in that blurry space—wondering if you messed it all up, if it’s too late, if the dream is slipping away—just know: we’ve been there.
Some days, we’re still there.
But here’s what we’ve learned:
Growth doesn’t happen in comfort.
Change doesn’t come without struggle.
And you don’t have to have all the answers to move forward.
We’re still figuring things out. But we’re doing it with intention, with love, and with faith in the life we’re building—one mile, one lesson, and one photo at a time.
Let’s Connect—For Real
If you’re in the thick of it right now—trying to figure things out, questioning your timing, wondering if it’s too late—we see you.
And if you just need an ear… we’re here.
If you’re working through your own leap of faith and want to connect, collaborate, or just share your story—we’re all ears.
Reach out to us.
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We’ll respond with love and kindness—always.
Let’s lift each other up.
Because no one gets through this alone.