Going Beyond
Going Beyond: From Half-Ass to All-In
What does it mean to go beyond? Beyond your work, beyond what you do? I used to be the guy who half-assed everything—work, friendships, eating habits, even going to church. I’d show up, but my mind wasn’t fully there. My stepfather used to drill into me: “Don’t half-ass it.” He knew what it meant because he’d been there, and for a long time, so was I. But something changed. A tough breakup flipped a switch in me, pushing me toward striving for more, for perfection. It became an obsession, but in a way, it pushed me to enhance my clarity, my thoughts, and my actions because it stopped being about just me.
The Power of Going the Extra Mile
I remember working at a creative company as an assistant to a photographer. Their workspace was a mess—equipment scattered everywhere, the process slow and inefficient. I watched this person take three days to photograph and clean up less than ten shoes. It drove me crazy. I saw how much better and faster things could be, so when the photographer was out sick, I took the opportunity. I cleaned up the entire space, reorganized everything, and made it easier for them to do their job. It wasn’t just about the task; it was about anticipating needs—thinking ahead like a doctor needing a scalpel, always ready for the next step.
Taking Over: Turning Effort into Opportunity
That effort paid off. I had the chance to start shooting photos, and I ended up taking the photographer’s job because I systematized the process. I could shoot over 30 photos in just a few hours, clean up the next day, and keep refining the process the day after that. We were pumping out more content than ever, which helped the company grow. But despite proving my value, I was barely getting a raise—from $10 an hour to $11. When they refused to pay me more, I walked away. I knew my worth, and I wasn’t about to half-ass my work for someone who didn’t see it.
Learning Not to Half-Ass in My Own Business
This mindset carried over into my own business. One of my first clients had me editing for over 13 hours a day with no clear style or system in place. I didn’t know about batching content or building a personal brand back then, but I was good at what I was hired for—capturing authenticity, shooting fast, and creating content that told a genuine story. I put in the work, even at the cost of my own health. And while it wasn’t sustainable, it paid off. That client referred me to others, and slowly, my reputation grew.
The Lesson: Don’t Settle for Half-Hearted Effort
Going beyond isn’t just about doing your job; it’s about seeing what’s possible when you push harder, think ahead, and refuse to settle. It’s about creating value, not just for yourself, but for others. And while it’s easy to fall into half-assing when no one’s watching, the real impact comes from going all in—even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s not immediately rewarded. Because the payoff isn’t just in money; it’s in knowing you’re building something real, something worth every bit of effort.
