Before starting Artisan Optic, I spent an entire year filming a documentary for a not-for-profit organization in California. I approached them with what many considered at the time to be a ludicrous idea. I was going to walk more than 2,000 miles from Mexico to Canada for the sake of wilderness conservation. We’d use the story to raise money for their cause. What surprised many is that it actually worked. Together, we raised thousands of dollars that went toward the preservation of one of the most beautiful ranges in the world: the Sierra Nevada. This is when I fully realized the value my camera can bring to an organization.

I knew that little material good would come from a transcontinental bike ride. That’s not why I rode a bicycle from my home in Southern Florida more than 3,000 miles to the Pacific Ocean. I just wanted to inspire someone. Anyone, really. So, I set off alone in a generally westward direction for months. Once again, carrying my camera along with me. That’s when I learned what is required to take a vision and make it real.

Working as an international adventure guide posed many challenges. For one, I oftentimes didn’t speak the language of the countries in which I would be scheduled to work. Occasionally, I would arrive in the country only days or even hours before my guests. Working in this role taught me how vital it is to be calm and adaptable, even in the most chaotic of circumstances.

As an avid waterman growing up, I was drawn to the idea of being a sailor. After dedicating years to study and training, I obtained an unlimited license that allowed me to operate the largest ships in the world without restrictions. For a time, I spent my days driving these massive examples of human engineering to the far corners of the planet. This is where I learned to lead and work well with diverse teams. Without them, those giant ships would have been little more than heaping piles of scrap metal.