If I had to start my creative career over today, I would move differently.

If I had to start my creative career over today, I would move differently.

When I began, I was obsessed with the work.
Long hours. Endless edits. Chasing the perfect frame. Unreal angles. Uncommon gimbal moves.

I believed that if the story were strong enough, it would speak for itself. Sometimes it did. Many times, it didn’t.

What I didn’t understand early enough was this:
Being talented is not the same as being visible. And being visible is not the same as being strategic.

If I were starting again in 2026:
I would share the process, not just the polished result.

Back then, I only showed finished films. Now I know people connect to the journey, which involves the doubts, the revisions, the thinking behind the choices.

I would study distribution as seriously as I studied cinematography. You know, attention is not automatic; it’s designed.

I would choose one lane and own it fully.
Instead of trying to prove I could do everything, I would focus on being known for something specific, documentary filmmaking.

I would track performance without letting it define my worth. Data is feedback, not identity.

And most importantly, I would build community earlier. Some of my biggest growth did not come from equipment upgrades, but from conversations, collaborations, and honest feedback.

The truth is, I don’t regret the slow seasons.
They build depth and mould me into a better version of myself. They build resilience. They build perspective on basically everything.

But if I were starting again today, I would combine craft with clarity from day one.

For anyone building quietly right now, keep going.
Just don’t forget to let people see what you’re building.

If you had to start over today, what would you change?

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