Working in Video Production During COVID
If you are new here, my name is Jacob and I am a videographer out of Orlando, Florida working for Your Brand Voice – a digital marketing company.
Working in COVID has been intense, at times necessary and others scary.
I remember when it first hit back in March of 2020, my position/hours were not very secure. Fortunately, for my family and I, April would be the hardest month. I lost some 20-40 hours of work which is nothing compared to everyone who immediately got laid off. I’m grateful my boss maintained a level head and chose to carry us through the storm. I know it was tough for him and all of our clients to do so but we hustled and here we are.
What is more incredible, I was able to purchase my first home with my wife Katie. We didn’t really share it with too many friends because we felt like it wasn’t a good time to share. Maybe we should have, it’s definitely nice to see some light and hope out there. I know, seeing my friends share their wins at a time like this means everything.
Hope. A powerful notion at times like these. Hope for your Church to open back up. Hope for your job security, hope for a new opportunity. I think we all had a serious amount of hope in the world. I’d be unjust if I didn’t share my hope in the Lord. I can truly say that he has used Katie and I as a vessel for hope during this time. We’ve been blessed with good health, great opportunities, amazing people who care about us and we have done our best to reflect these gifts on to our nearby friends who need a little lift.
I don’t know how much I have discovered about myself during this time, I think that the lessons learned during covid will permeate for years and generations to come. I have been grateful for the generation who has weathered worse and the wisdom they have shared.
On the more shallow side of working during COVID, I have done my best to save money and invest it wisely. I surprised myself by how much I kept wanting to grow in the middle of a pandemic. Those closest to me did their best to bestow patience on me and remind me of my humility. I respect them and know they are right. All we have is today, tomorrow is never guaranteed, so why am I vesting so much in the production of tomorrow? I think when we are living in the moment, we are at our best, we are right where God wants us and where he can do the most with us. So, that’s a self-reminder.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t thank the people who lent an extra hand over the last year. You know who you are. Whether you personally helped Katie and I or you extended a helping hand to someone else, thank you.
What’s next:
Working on the house, getting it in order. Taking care of the now.
Excited and hopeful for general opportunities. Work is picking up and we have a few unique jobs on the horizon; they keep things lively and going.
I’m hopeful for the world and the continued spinning of it.
I love my job and I hope that I continue to grow as a storyteller. The video camera has become a third hand for me, a significant tool of monetary means in my life. I think about my dad and how he left his tools to me in his will and remind myself to be a man of my tools. Know them, take care of them and help others with them. That was the man he was and the man I strive to be.
Speaking of SEAL/s, Marcus has called a couple times. We both wonder why; why God puts me on his mind and why I miss the calls or answer them. Neither of us know, but I know that my family and the generations that follow will love knowing he called.
My family and I are blessed. We have a home of our own, we have a dog (who ran in the street and almost got hit yesterday ><). We have a wonderful circle of family and friends who we still get to see and visit with. God continues to provide and the sky is blue.
Thank you.