When you run your own business, calling in sick simply is not an option. In a slightly raspier and shorter episode of Reflections, I am dealing with a severe case of the man cold and talking about the reality of pushing through when you are the boss.

The client does not know your head is pounding. They just want the stunning final product they hired you to deliver. Tune in for a quick reflection on the grit, professionalism, and quiet pride it takes to keep the business running when all you really want is a warm blanket and some sympathy.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

Saying "No" is the hardest skill to learn when you work for yourself. When you leave the structure of a normal career, you lose the safety net, and suddenly turning down work feels like turning away your own survival.

In Episode 12 of Reflections, we are unpacking the life changing shift I call the Intentional No. For the first five years of our business, my inner perfectionist and people pleaser drove me to say "yes" to everything. It led me straight into the "Seven Day Trap," where I was working from 6 AM to midnight and becoming a ghost at my own desk. I was providing for my family's future, but I was completely absent from their present.

Tune in to hear how I stopped being a machine that never powered down and finally stepped back into the role of Director of my own life. Discover how saying "No" to the wrong project is exactly what allows you to say "Yes" to your weekend, your family, and your own peace of mind.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

Chris pulls back the curtain on the "Storage Wars" of the digital age.

From the 2011 "Tape Apocalypse" that crippled the broadcast industry to the modern anxiety of a "Disk Full" notification, explore the sacred backup workflows and mindset shifts required to protect irreplaceable stories.

Whether managing high-end client data or personal family memories, discover what it takes to move from being a content creator to a true history keeper.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

After 2,000 push-ups for the CMHA, Chris reflects on the reality of being a "tough it out" provider while finally learning to maintain his own mental health.

Between running a creative business and managing the constant "mental noise" of a 24/7 brain, Chris shares a raw look at why stepping away from the editing desk is the only way to keep the system running for the people who matter most.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

Explore the reality of the creative grind and the "Many Hats" required to operate a creative business.

Chris pulls back the curtain on the invisible 90% of the work, from troubleshooting RAID servers to navigating the wilderness of digital marketing.

This reflection is a look at the relentless juggling act of an entrepreneur and the importance of respecting the business of the craft so the craft can survive.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

Explore the profound responsibility of being a witness for the natural world and the importance of sharing its wonders with those who cannot see it firsthand.

Chris explores the concept of "The Visual Bridge", the foundational mission of Footprints in Nature to capture immersive visuals of the wild for those who may feel it is out of reach. It is a reminder that when we bring the wild home, we are sharing a true connection.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

Discover the "Seven Bucks" mentality and how to build greatness through grit, persistence, and hard work. A reflection on legacy, from the Calgary skyline to the pockets of the inspired.

Inspiration isn’t always found on a mountain peak. Sometimes, it is found in your pocket. Chris shares the significance of the seven dollars he has carried for nearly a decade, drawing parallels between Dwayne Johnson’s Calgary departure and his father’s architectural legacy. Join Chris as he reflects on his own unfolding vision for the natural world and encourages you to find your own anchor for the tough days.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

Learn how to master your tools to overcome "tech-anxiety" and move from being a technical operator to a true witness for the natural world.

Technical noise is the static that clutters our vision or the friction that stalls our best work. In this reflection, Chris explores "The Weight of Readiness," the intentional labour of mastering our tools, whether it is cameras for wildlife and sports or professional file systems, so they finally become invisible. Discover how putting in the work early allows you to stop being an operator and start living in the moment.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

If you start right now, where could you be in five years? Explore the power of the "long play" in creative business and the commitment required to move past the fear of the unknown.

In this reflection, Chris explores the importance of simply starting in both creative entrepreneurship and nature photography. It is a reflection on the belief that personal fulfilment is the only metric of success that truly matters. Because the five year goal cannot be reached without passing the one day mark.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.

Exploring the commitment required to track the Canadian Lynx and the "near miss" experiences that define the life of a wildlife photographer.

The Canadian Lynx is the ghost of the northern forest and the animal that sits at the very top of Chris' bucket list. In this reflection, Chris explores the near miss experiences that every wildlife photographer knows all too well. It is a reflection on the commitment required to witness something that refuses to be scheduled and the belief that the wait is just part of the work that must happen before the magic finally unfolds. Because out here, timing is everything.

Connect with the Journey: See the visuals and learn more about the philosophy behind the lens at footprintsinnature.ca.