We were lucky to catch up with Ryan Ward Bethke recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ryan Ward, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
As long as I can remember, there was no better feeling than making someone happy as a direct result of my actions. I have always been an artist: ever since I could hold a crayon. When my classmates would circle around my desk to watch me draw during a rained out recess, I knew then at an early age that I had a unique gift. But it wasn’t until later in my life that I came to realize that I could actually make a career out of making people happy using my artistic talents. Designing, photographing, and filming out of college for the government and a corporation allowed me to build the work ethic I would need to ultimately fulfill my purpose. Getting laid off from both of those jobs was the best thing that ever happened to me. Becoming an entrepreneur allowed me to stop trying to impress upper management, who ultimately only really cared about the bottom line, and allowed me to focus on what really fulfilled me: making people happy with my artwork. Being able to make a career out of it to feed my family only solidified it as my true purpose in life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Ryan Ward Bethke. I fulfill the creative needs of businesses and individuals through my company, RWB Multimedia, through photography, videography, aerial drone, and graphic design. Although I am well seasoned in various industries, the majority of my business is within the world of endurance sport: marathons, half marathons, triathlons, fun runs, etc. My early years in the corporate world introduced me to this industry. But it wasn’t until I began to work for myself that I truly appreciated what opportunity I had in front of me. Everyone who participates in road races has their own story: from professional athletes to everyday age groupers. It brings me great joy to capture these moments in time for these athletes; to solidify their moment in history. In my early years, I was drawn to wedding photography/cinematography due to the fact that there was never a sad face in the crowd. The same goes for road races. Everyone is in it together. Thousands of smiles and good vibes. And the fact that I become a part of these races, engaging with the athletes, only makes it that much better. I become the cheerleader out on course that no one would expect. This ultimately reflects in my work. Rarely do you see runners smiling at any point in time during the race. But you wouldn’t know it from looking at my final product.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I always felt that being creative and artistic came naturally to me. But it wasn’t until the early years of my career that I learned how to make a living from it. Working for myself is hands down the best situation for me at this stage of my career. I learned that the road to true success and happiness for artists in the corporate world is a pipe dream. However, it was those early years working for a corporation that gave me the tools I needed to succeed as an entrepreneur. Working with an amazing group of young go-getters was the best thing for me in my early 20’s. The company culture I was apart of was second to none. I learned how to grind and churn out great work in an instant. I built relationships that I will have for the rest of my life. When we were all laid off after a large acquisition, everyone went their separate ways, in different industries. But what remained was the bond we had formed. Due to my network and referral base, I have never had to spend a dime on marketing myself or my business. My advice to someone early in their journey would be to get that job at a big office space or firm, comprised of a wide range of professionals in various departments. I was an art major, so this was my business school. Learning the ins and outs of how my future clients operate was critical to my current success, even though I didn’t know it at the time. To be a successful creative business person, you must know business, in and out. No school compares to real world experience.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
The industry of capturing endurance sport is an extremely challenging and stressful one. I’ve learned this industry is not for everyone. At the same time, it is highly rewarding and fulfilling. The business relationships I have acquired over the years has brought me to the point that I now need help in fulfilling my clients needs and expectations. As much as I would love to cover every race put in front of me, the reality is I am only one man and there are only so many days in a year. Not to mention a wife and 4 year old son that miss me terribly when I’m on the road. The reality is, I personally cannot cover the amount of events my clients want me to. I was lucky enough to come into contact with a young, up and coming videographer that reminds me of myself in my early years. He is passionate about this industry and loves the grind. When I give him constructive criticism, he absorbs and appreciates it. He recognizes where I have been and what he can learn from me. At the same time, I love passing my knowledge and wisdom to him and watching him grow as a professional. We both benefit from each others success. We are a great team, but our team can be bigger. If you enjoyed reading about my journey and are intrigued to learn about the opportunities I have available that might suit your creative skill sets, you can find me at instagram.com/rwbmultimedia or email me at rwbmultimedia@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: Vimeo.com/rwbmultimedia
- Instagram: instagram.com/rwbmultimedia
