Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chis Sein. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Chis, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I credit my work ethic to my mom and my brother, two of the most inspiring figures in my life. My mom raised our family of six on her own while managing businesses. I still run almost everything I do by her because I trust her instinct completely.
My brother has also been a significant role model for me. His maturity, business acumen, and commitment to his family set a standard I admire.
I don’t think I’ve struggled with getting work done, but focusing was always difficult for me. I’ve always found it hard to engage deeply with things I’m not passionate about. But when I’m truly interested in something, I notice that my performance naturally excels. This tendency showed itself throughout school and has carried into my professional life.
That said, I’ve learned that life often requires us to tackle things we don’t necessarily enjoy. I believe that balancing passion with discipline is key to growth, and I try to approach every task, whether I love it or not, with a mindset of gratitude.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m currently studying film at New York University, pursuing my dream of becoming a cinematographer. Cinematography has been my passion since I was 16, and it’s a career path I’ve been dedicated to ever since.
Less than two years ago, I started sharing my journey on social media, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to build a combined following of 170k followers on Instagram and TikTok. I’m endlessly grateful for the support I’ve received—it’s been a journey. It gave me a platform to share my love for cinematography and provide helpful filmmaking tips.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to take content creation to the next level in 2025. My goal is to build a community where I can share what I’m learning in school, on set, and through my DP experiences. I want to create resources that makes it easier for beginners to navigate the journey of becoming a DP—offering actionable advice and insights to help them get started and grow.
Stay tuned for the videos I’ll be sharing over the next few months—there’s a lot of exciting content coming your way, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with all of you!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Practice
My journey began with simple sunset walks with my iPhone 7 Plus. Every day, I’d head out to observe the way light interacts with the world—how it falls on trees, illuminates faces, and adds texture to the environment. For the past seven years, I’ve continued these walks, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. Exploring new neighborhoods and observing light not only ignited my passion for photography but also laid the foundation for my ability to compose images and shape light in my work today. Over time, this evolved into cinematography.
I’ve found that practicing your craft in a way that’s enjoyable can lead to exponential progress. When you make it a daily habit, the results can be transformative.
Mentors
Finding mentors—whether in person or online—has been one of the most impactful steps in my growth. There’s so much to learn from those who’ve already walked the path you’re on. Early on, I turned to Gary Vee and Chris Do as virtual mentors. During my two-hour daily commute, I would listen to their podcasts and take notes.
Gary Vee taught me the value of patience and the importance of pursuing my passion, while Chris Do helped me understand the technical and strategic aspects of running a creative business. Their insights shaped my mindset and skills, and I believe that having mentors can give anyone a significant advantage.
Time Management
Time management is a skill I wish I had learned earlier. For a long time, I chased the “perfect morning routine” that’s glorified online, but I eventually realized it wasn’t necessary. Instead, I’ve been training myself to work efficiently in any situation—whether it’s during a commute, sitting on the floor, or even an hour in bed before starting the day.
The key isn’t about having an ideal setup; it’s about maximizing the time you have and working when it’s uncomfortable/inconvenient. (Seeking discomfort) That said, I do have one exception—I never work while eating. Food is my time to relax, usually with some YouTube.
At the end of the day we all have the same 17 waking hours in a day. It’s how we use those hours that makes the difference. By focusing on what truly matters, staying adaptable, and prioritizing efficiency over perfection, I’ve been able to make the most of my time.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins was probably the book that pushed my mind and body. One thing I learned from it was the 40% rule. It goes ““When you think that you are done, you’re only 40% in to what your body’s capable of doing. That’s just the limits that we put on ourselves.”
Another thing I learned was the 1% rule. “when something gets 1% better every day for a year, it becomes 37x better.”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisseinn/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Chrissein
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisseinn
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
