Jul 23, 2019
Since we've recently gained so many
new listeners, we wanted to throw it back to one of our favorite
episodes!
I love this conversation with Pye! It
was such a raw and in-depth conversation about the illusion of
stability, the origin of most people’s fears, and the importance of
developing a learning mindset.
What is so fascinating about Pye’s
journey is not just that he jumped from being a CPA to becoming a
founder of an award-winning, multi-million dollar photography
studio, it’s that he did that without having a passion for or
knowing the first thing about photography.
Like most of us, Pye started going
down the traditional path. He became a CPA and worked for Ernst
& Young before realizing that he did not like what he was
doing. He quit, along with his two best friends Justin and Chris,
in order to start a tech startup. When the funding for their
startup fell through, the friends took on web development clients.
One of their clients needed photographs taken and Pye assured them
that they had a photography department that could take care of
it!
What I love about his story is that
most people would not only shirk at taking on a task that they
don’t know how to do but also avoid a “creative” profession that
they are not skilled in. Pye, realizing that photography was a
skill that could be acquired, looked at entering the wedding
photography industry as a business and not a passion.
That eye towards business has led
Pye, and his partners, to create Lin and Jirsa Photography, a
boutique Southern California wedding and portrait photography
studio composed of an incredible creative team of 50 people that
shoots over 300 weddings each year, with nearly 1,000 yearly client
commissions. He is also a founder and partner in SLR Lounge, a
premium educational community geared towards providing
photographers with real-world shoot education with nearly a million
monthly readers.
What You’ll Learn in this Episode:
- My experience with launching this podcast! Specifically, how
taking a risk in my own life led me to realize the opportunity in
doing so.
- The breaking point that led Pye to quit his job and take a risk
on himself
- How failed attempts at funding projects and business ventures
became opportunities for exploration, self-discovery, and
ultimately, success
- How he created a multi-million dollar business in photography
with a positive “learning mindset”
- Why Pye has a “passionate dislike” of the word “stable” and the
illusion it creates
- Where Pye believes most fear comes from and why it limits your
opportunities and potential
- How developing a “Learning Mindset” allowed Pye to turn
quitting and “failing” into growth, opportunity, and success
Upcoming Events:
Resources from the Show:
Where to find Pye Jirsa:
If you were inspired by this episode of “Lessons from a
Quitter” with Pye Jirsa, I know you will find inspiration in other
lessons from quitters
on my website. Enjoy listening!