We were lucky to catch up with Christopher Rice recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Christopher, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
I spoke with a friend and was sharing my story of being a part-time caretaker for my mother. Once a month, I drive back home and take my mother to her treatment appointments in Birmingham. I have been doing that for the last two years, and it brings me joy to be able to do this for my mother. My friend told me, “You don’t show your struggles.” For me, not being there for my mother isn’t an option. Post-surgery, I remember many early mornings making us breakfast, helping her put on her clothes, feeding her the daily medication while trying to work a remote video editing job from home. Looking back on those days, I wonder how I managed everything. The power of the mind can empower us even when the body is ready to shut down. I don’t know where my resilience comes from, but we all have that ability. If you find a way to channel that energy, there is nothing you can’t do. Seeing my mother’s health improve empowered me; my journey helped build this resilience inside me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a creative individual who works locally in the Georgia area. My prominent income as an independent business owner is media production. I film and edit high-quality marketing videos for clients seeking to grow their businesses. Throughout my years, my goal was to live comfortably working in my media field. As time passed, I realized I was no longer getting fulfilled, only doing just that. Life’s beauty is watching yourself evolve and pivoting towards a fulfilling space. This leads me to my life mission: to use my creativity from my original content to generate a fulfilling space. I have a Patreon channel under the name: “Creative Chris.” I write poetry and voice record an audible experience showcasing the art. I’m writing a script for an audible series I plan to release next year. I aim to use my writing ability to generate audiences that appreciate my artistry.
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?
I think the first thing I would encourage someone to do is develop a resilient mindset. Even if you pivot, that’s okay. “You will always lose if you never try.” Fall in love with the process; building something from the ground up takes time. Looking back, it took me ten-plus years to build a network to confidently work independently. With doing that, it took a lot of sacrifices financially. Please keep learning new skills to stay relevant in your industry and be open to learning. You will be surprised how things come back full circle.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
Currently, video production is overly saturated with other talented people. Unfortunately, the job market reflects just that. I have seen many freelance positions receive hundreds more applications than usual. Seeing that, it’s a discouraging feeling, as if you are a fish in a pond with other potential candidates seeking employment. I also noticed companies are seeking individuals who work in the social media space. They are not seeking to curate traditional video content but, more so, engaging videos for social. I also reached a point in my career where I am done convincing jobs why I can complete specific assignments with my experience. Instead, I focus that energy on building my audience and allowing them to seek fulfillment in what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hicreativechris.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hicreativechris/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-rice-5845ab37/?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile_pic
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/HiCreativeChris
Image Credits
Chris Rice
