Seeing Things Through A Different Lens

A little while back I was having a conversation with a friend about my graphic arts business.  When I told him that I was now making a few thousand a month he was floored.  He then asked me if I’d fully retire when my business income approached my W2 income. 

Seeing Things Through A Different LensI kind of laughed off the question.  For one, even though I’m growing steadily, reaching that level is still a ways off.  But the other reason I chuckled is that I’d never considered it.  And in that moment when I actually did, I thought it was kind of preposterous.

I really love my business.  It’s fun and even though I sell products I don’t have to handle the hassles of inventory or shipping.  I just make designs and the money pours in. 

But what I was laughing at from my friends question was the fleeting thought of telling a stranger I sell goofy t-shirts for a living.  I’ve seen others reach financial independence and put their energies towards philanthropic efforts or charities. 

But me, I make funny cycling designs.  One of my more popular camping shirts is simply entitled “Poop In The Woods“. 

It’s not like I’m solving world hunger or curing disease here.  I’m thriving on silliness and immaturity.  I’ve had a lingering feeling of “I should be doing more” in the back of my brain.  

 

A High Calling

Most of my career has been with the Dept. of Defense, supporting the brave men and women of the U.S. Military.  That’s included deployments to crazy places and lots of foreign aid work for developing countries. 

At its best it’s one of the most meaningful jobs you could possibly have.  I’m helping keep America and her Allies safe, and I remind myself of that often. 

So when it comes to doing meaningful work, my career is a tough act to follow.  And now that I’m not a manager anymore mired in hopeless bureaucracy, I’m once again contributing more directly to the mission.  That’s one of the gifts financial independence gave me – a return to more meaningful work.

While I don’t see my graphic arts business as something that has to match the importance of my career, until recently I’ve considered it just a nice little hobby that provides fun and value.  Knowing someone wants to give up money to buy something I’ve created is really rewarding

Rewarding to me of course.  A nice little selfish business.

Then a few weeks ago I got some feedback that got me to see my business through a different lens.

 

Stoked

One of the websites I sell on called Redbubble allows my customers to send a message through their system.  A little while back I got this message.

Seeing Things Through A Different Lens

I had been getting feedback for years from customers but would usually read it and quickly move on. 

Customer: “Love your design!” 

Me: Thanks!  back to work…

That’s the nature of online commerce, it’s mostly faceless and impersonal interactions. 

But I thought about this message and tried to put myself in the customers position.  She’s totally stoked about my design.  So much that she’s buying them to give out, to spread the message of her environmental non-profit.  I went to their site, they’re doing great things. 

This got me stoked.

So I started to go through the messages I’d received and look at them through a different lens.

Seeing Things Through A Different Lens

I quickly saw that I was taking the feedback for granted.  I wasn’t really thinking about what my customers were saying.  That’s an unfortunate part of not actually having interacted with them in person. 

But it’s clear that my business is not just providing rewards to me, my customers are getting tremendous rewards from it. 

Seeing Things Through A Different LensMost of my designs are about cycling, climbing, or kayaking, and the beautiful national parks and places where we do these things.  So in reality I’m helping fuel the outdoor activities and passions of thousands upon thousands of people out there. 

If someone takes the time to browse around the web for the perfect Yellowstone National Park sticker, and then finds mine and buys it, there’s meaning in that.  To them and to me at least.

They’re obviously enamored with Yellowstone, and in buying my sticker and putting on their backpack or water bottle I’m fueling their stoke even more.  They want to flaunt their love for the park and display it for all to see.  And they chose my creation to do it. 

It’s not quite the same as helping the military thwart terrorist plots overseas, but it’s meaningful nonetheless.  In a country with a staggering 44% rate of obesity, knowing my designs are fueling people’s excitement to lead a healthy outdoor lifestyle is really really meaningful.

 

A Different Lens

Seeing Things Through A Different LensI can be self-deprecating at times.  Apparently that means I have greater levels of psychological well-being.  Call me skeptical, but I’ll take it. 

One of my go-to lines about my business is “I sell ‘I’m with stupid’ t-shirts, with the arrow pointed up..”

In the lens that I used to view it, I saw my business as a creative outlet, fun, and nice extra income.  But overall, I saw it as a whimsical pursuit that while not doing any harm, wasn’t exactly bettering society. 

Now I see it through a different lens.  It’s still fun and all that jazz, but I realize I am indeed contributing to the betterment of society.  I’m helping people express their excitement and enthusiasm for healthy pursuits in beautiful places. 

Hopefully I’m giving them motivation to do more, to push their bodies in the outdoors, and stay healthy.  And of course to enjoy a laugh along the way. 

On your journey to financial independence, be mindful of things that you might need to view through a different lens.

 

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Dave @ Accidental FIRE

I reached financial independence and semi-retired in my mid-40's through hard work, smart living, and investing. This blog chronicles my journey and explores many aspects of personal finance including the psychological and behavioral factors that drive our habits.

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18 Responses

  1. The Crusher says:

    Dave, I love tour FIRE themed T-shirts but do not know much of your other work. Where can I find them on the web?

  2. dude, you’re killing it. i hope you keep doing you. we don’t have to change the world every minute of the day. i look at our ebay business in the same way. we’ve sold thousands in merchandise that we didn’t want and a lot of it came from the curb and never buy items to “flip.” we’re making bucks and keeping junk like that teal bidet out of landfills. i’m sure there are plenty of people in the world who could advise us on where we should be giving it away.

    happy thanksgiving. i think i’ll run a solo turkey trot with the dog.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      You guys are doing the same on ebay. I might get on ebay one day (like shopify), but I don’t like the ‘back-end’ part of my business as much as I like simply designing and coming up with new ideas.

      And I did a 10k yesterday, and will be doing something on T-day. Gotta burn what I eat, and I eat a lot!

  3. Enjoy what you create and take pride in the feedback. I know we feel so good when someone orders one of ours, heck I shipped a couple shirts to the Yukon yesterday. I wondered why the heck they would want a Van Isle shirt all the way up there but then settled on being very thankful. Keep up the creative and fun work.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      It does feel good doesn’t it? I wish I had started this business 10 years earlier. But later is better than never 🙂

  4. Mr. Fate says:

    Good stuff. I like your designs and being an outdoors dude, like that particular aspect of your work. It’s certainly more than simply making whimsical shirts like you say. Also, don’t understate the creative aspect that your business provides you. All in, it’s a pretty cool venture you’ve got there. Glad it seems even more so by looking through the new lens.

    P.S. Bring the cat shirts!

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Ha, I do have one cat design and it’s sold relatively well! I should make more but I don’t think I’m steeped in the culture enough to make good designs

  5. Your hobby business is amazing. It’s a win win for everybody.
    I think this is what everyone should do after retirement. It give you some goals and you’re contributing to society.
    Great designs.

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Thanks Joe it’s so awesome to enjoy my work again and to be on an upward trajectory. I hope everyone can find their muse!

  6. Noel says:

    Dave- I think bringing happiness to other people is definitely on the top tier of the ranking system when it comes to “contributing to the betterment of society”. What’s better than throwing some more happiness into the world? Looks like your customers are proud to sport your designs…and you’re able to make money off your creative talents…some might dare say you are a successful artist. Keep it going

  7. Kate says:

    Dave,
    If you need a way to answer the question of what you do, look no further than what you already said: I’m helping people express their excitement and enthusiasm for healthy pursuits in beautiful places.
    That’s powerful stuff!
    I’ve appreciated reading your wisdom and look forward to my regular doses of it.
    From a first-time commenter,
    Kate

    • Dave @ Accidental FIRE says:

      Wow Kate, you just made my day. It’s Thanksgiving and I’m very thankful I have some readers, I appreciate you and have a great Thanksgiving!

  8. Mr. Tako says:

    Totally agree with the fact that it’s for the betterment of society — even if that betterment is only a good chuckle. We all need to laugh more nowadays. Glad your doing your part to provide it Dave!

  9. Chris@TTL says:

    We can’t all be running around curing cancer. 🙂

    Gotta do what’s sustainable for you, find your way to create positive value in the world. And what sustains you.

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