Chasing and "following your dreams"

[Dan Robinson]

Aspiring (and maybe longtime) chasers, consider this meme floating around from Bo Burnham on Imgur:

http://i.imgur.com/ETTuOlz.png

and this video from Mike Rowe:

 

[Shane Adams]

This is a great post, full of substance and reality. Not surprisingly, crickets in the reply section.

I'm a bit different than the two extremes painted here. I agree with the video's basic message, but only because I never sought to make my passion my living. I NEVER wanted to be a professional storm chaser, I just wanted to be one. From the very first moment I decided that was what I wanted my life to be about, I realized I would have to sacrifice and make some changes, namely, my "career" or job path was going to have to be whatever opportunity presented itself, which would allow me to earn a living_and_fund my chasing. The idea of funding my chases through chasing - even supplementally - never entered my mind. The way I'm wired, if you love something enough, you're willing to lose money doing it. I am.

It's a sad state of affairs that this post was even necessary, but it really is. Everyone is so preoccupied with trying to be a "pro" that there just aren't a lot of folks left out there anymore (at least the ones with a strong online presence) who are out there simply for the love of chasing. I get the whole "well if I can make some money back why shouldn't I?" thing, but I guess that's just subjective; I just don't covet money for money's sake. For me, money is a tool, not a power source. It has a purpose, and in doing so, has a finite value to me because I only want so much out of life. To even consider that chasing needs to (on some level) provide some sort of return on investment just turns me off completely. I guess the best way to ruin anything I love for me, is to make it about money, on any level.

But the world today is filled with people who believe they are entitled to whatever whimsical desires they dream up, simply because they exist. News flash: nobody gives a damn about your dreams, desires, or well being. Sure, you might dupe a horde of shut-ins into joining an online fanbase and adorning you with much praise and "rock star" type attention, but admiration doesn't pay the bills. Maybe when this generation grows up, they will change. Time will tell. But one thing is true: all the desire and sense of entitlement in the Universe will never be a substitute for ability.

 

[Tim Paitz]

I still remember you talking at Saturday Scholars (February of 2011), telling us that storm chasing isn't really something to make a career out of.

In addition, when it came to storm chasing (and talking about it to others), there were the two words of wisdom to remember..... "NOBODY CARES".

 

[Todd Lemery]

I have never made a penny off storm chasing in roughly thirty years of chasing. Nor will I ever make a penny off chasing. No one will ever confuse me with any of the best chasers out there, which I believe there are several who frequent this site, but I believe I've shot some video worthy of being brokered. The best probably being overrun near wichita in 2013. I've spent thousands doing something I love, like a lot of other chasers out there. I've never even considered the option of making money doing it. Those that do, thank you. I really enjoy watching every clip that you provide that keeps me entertained, even in the dead of winter. If it wasn't for you guys and girls providing the video, there wouldn't much for the rest of us to watch. Stuff like Dan Robinson's video at El Reno will always be a classic and Brandon Sullivan's during the same storm will never be forgotten.
Mine will always be for my own memories and experiences. I got hooked at a young age and just hope I can pass on the fun an excitement to my kids and grand kids. The thrill of making the right call in a tough setup is what makes me smile when I'm laying in bed at night. I'm sure it's special seeing your video get a gazillion hits on you tube, but for me, it's most special sharing that with my family.
Truth is, now that to cash in on a video, you usually have to have something really special recorded. Something extremely close would do and I'm not the guy who is going to be getting that shot on purpose. Props to those who do get that video, but this old guy is just happy to be there

 

[Dan Robinson]

While it's unrealistic to make a career out of chasing, it is possible to build a career out of something in-demand (IT for example) that supports chasing. If you get good at your work and give 110% at it, you can get to a point where your employers allow you the freedom to chase when you want. For me, that's been the "dream". I still can't chase everything all season long, I have to miss big events now and then due to work, and I take a little bit of a pay cut for the "flex" lifestyle (I've been mostly part-time with multiple employers at a time) - but it's worked really well so far.

Tim, I didn't realize anyone still remembered that, thanks

 

[Ethan Lang]

I really like this video. I wish everyone thought like this. Plus I have had way too many people think storm chasing is a job when in all reality it's a hobby for the most part. When I first became passionate about weather I really didn't have any idea what I wanted to do with that passion. Tim Samaras was definitely the man who inspired me and then when he passed I knew for sure I wanted to do something with tornado research now my heart is set on it.

Sent from my XT1039 using Stormtrack mobile app

 

[StephenHenry]

I'm glad this thread didn't die. I had a lot of conflicted thoughts here that I couldn't quite straighten out.

I'm totally with @Shane Adams in that I don't ever plan on making money from chasing itself. In a certain sense, for me I think it would be like turning on cheat codes in a videogame. Initially it'd be kinda fun and different, but ultimately that moment would be the beginning of the end because I'd have completely overridden the mechanics that made the game fun for me in the long term. Caring about uploading footage ASAP or monetizing my youtube channel is just not how I want to chase. (Edit: not arrogantly trying to imply that I'm so good at chasing if it did ever monetize it would be easy like cheats were on )

BUT... on the other side of the coin, I know a decent number of folks who followed opportunity over passion and, despite being good at it and having really great careers, they HATE the day to day and live for the weekend. For them opportunity+skill is not fulfilling on its own.

Ultimately I think the question of how to balance passion and opportunity is one of the bigger things we all have to answer for ourselves and each will come to a different conclusion along that spectrum. I don't think any one answer is right for everyone. And at the end of the day, how lucky are we that we even worry about stuff like this?

 

[Tim Paitz]

While it's unrealistic to make a career out of chasing, it is possible to build a career out of something in-demand (IT for example) that supports chasing. If you get good at your work and give 110% at it, you can get to a point where your employers allow you the freedom to chase when you want. For me, that's been the "dream". I still can't chase everything all season long, I have to miss big events now and then due to work, and I take a little bit of a pay cut for the "flex" lifestyle (I've been mostly part-time with multiple employers at a time) - but it's worked really well so far.

Tim, I didn't realize anyone still remembered that, thanks

No problem. That was around the time I got into storm chasing. Sadly I didn't know any other storm chasers until a couple years later. DX

 

[John Farley]

I think there is a bit of a false dichotomy here. In my experience and my opinion, the best career is one that allows for passion, opportunity, and skill set to come together. The best jobs are ones where you are doing something you like, and that fit your skills. And for that to happen, you have to follow (but also sometimes make) opportunities. Now for me, chasing has always been a hobby. I have tried to monetize it by selling some photos and some video and have sold some, but that was never my top priority and I simply can't be bothered with making video sales or uploads a higher priority than the chase, especially now in the era of instant news. And even if I had, I doubt I ever would have made enough to pay for my chasing. But I was fortunate to have a job that I liked (for the most part) and that gave me a reasonable degree of flexibility. As a college professor, I could of course not chase when I had classes, but on days when I did not I was pretty free to do so, as long as I found some other time to get my work done. And it allowed me to retire fairly young and with good economic security, so now I have much more freedom to chase and pursue other activities I love, and the financial means to be able to do so.

 

[David Williams]

Dan, thanks for sharing that video and meme. I love things like that... the study of success, grit, passion, etc and how they're employed in people's lives is very fascinating to me. It's interesting to see how talent, perseverance, skill, etc go to together to make some people (although, very few) Olympians in their respective fields and force others to admit failure and move on.
Dan's initial point is not lost on me; no matter your passion, you're not going to turn storm chasing into a career. Agreed! However, that video segued the conversation into a more general look at passion as a basis for plotting your direction in life and your career. And on that point, I think to become "successful" requires people to include both passion and opportunity in some form. That's really the message I got out of the video. Sure, try following your passion, but be mindful enough so that when you realize you won't be a good handyman (or whatever) you can stop yourself before you're in too deep and change direction. In the end, it's a complicated combination of both passion and opportunity (and hard work and a bunch of other crap, too) and our perspective that determines each person's success. But chasing as a career... that's just silly ; )

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Stormtrack mobile app

 

[Ben Holcomb]

While I'm not a "professional chaser" I sure have done a pretty good job at bringing my passion and my skillset together working for OU School of Meteorology now and formerly WDT. I could definitely make a ton more money elsewhere, especially if I were to move to Dallas or Chicago or other big tech hubs, but why? I get 5 1/2 weeks of PTO, have the most flexibility I've ever had in my life, enjoy what I'm doing and get to work with weather every day. The other upside is the fact the NWC is a nice building, so I get to work in a nice facility.

That's the kind of thing most should strive for. Not always possible with every skillset, I know, but still is to a lot of people. The bigger hurdle is when you don't have any real skillset and just have to work rudimentary/basic jobs, those are harder to find flexibility in.

 

[James Gustina]

I think a lot of the issues arising with newer folks attempting to use chasing as a financial crutch/profession comes from the idea that something like a "professional chaser" exists. It's been recited ad-nauseam post-El Reno from multiple sources: trained professionals should be the only ones out on the Plains near severe storms and tornadoes. It creates a completely nonsensical idea that any of us have training or special education specifically for chasing. It also perpetuates the myth that chasing isn't an activity that will run in the red 99% of the time in financial terms.

Just echoing what others have said, flexibility with an actual job is what allows for the following of this passion. I don't fault others for wanting to go after the elusive possibility of making livable money solely off storm chasing, but at a certain point there has to be a wakeup call that there needs to be balance. I know I won't have the time to chase as much in coming years as I head out into the professional world, but I hope to be able to find that healthy balance between making enough to continue to trek out onto the prairie every year while also just being able to live.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Sorry I'm late to this thread (as usual). Great topic with wide-ranging applicability well beyond chasing. Hopefully our younger brethren will take note as they make decisions about jobs and careers.

I recently read a book called "So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love," by Cal Newport. The premise is that what makes a job satisfying are traits such as creativity, impact, control/autonomy, feeling competent, and connectedness/relationships with co-workers. Become good at what you do, and you will build "career capital" that you can ultimately parlay into a job that has these traits. The book evangelizes bringing a "craftsman" mentality to your work; a craftsman's focus is on what he can offer the world, whereas "following your passion" means focusing on what the world can offer you. This is not to say that being "passionate" and being a "craftsman" are mutually exclusive, only that "passion" should not be the sole catalyst for career decisions. Often, you can find your purpose and passion only after becoming good at something and following the opportunities that present themselves as a result. The book echoes many of the themes in the video that Dan shared (and Dan, thanks for exposing this audience to Prager University, I've been a fan for a long time!)

As for me, I developed a passion for chasing after I already had a career, a wife and a mortgage. 20 years and a few kids later, and I won't be changing careers from CPA to professional storm chaser anytime soon But in recent years I have had the "career capital" and autonomy to have a more flexible schedule and be able to adjust my chase vacation to coincide with a favorable weather pattern. And of course, one needs money to chase, particularly if traveling from outside the Plains and not wanting to have to make the choice between my own chase vacation *or* a family vacation. So it certainly sounds sensible to me, as others have said, to forget chasing as a "career." Once you've come to grips with that, you can focus on finding something that gives you the freedom, financial and otherwise, to pursue this avocation as well as other personal passions, while not having to impose sacrifices on yourself or your family the rest of the year in order to chase. After all, no matter how much we love chasing, we have to admit that at best it represents just a fraction of our time each year, so why not focus on optimizing how we spend the rest - actually, the majority - of our time?

As for me, I am changing jobs next month so may actually lose a little flexibility in the next few years. But it might also help me retire a little earlier than planned, and that's when I can really start extending my chase vacations!

NOTE - EDITED TO CORRECT LINK, I ACCIDENTALLY HAD LINKED TO A DIFFERENT CAL NEWPORT BOOK, "DEEP WORK" - ANOTHER RECOMMENDED READ!

 

[Dan Robinson]

a craftsman's focus is on what he can offer the world, whereas "following your passion" means focusing on what the world can offer you

James, great quote!

 

[Quincy Vagell]

Many of these points in the clip and comment section come back to one theme, "common sense."

Following your dreams is a great motto, but a good point is made that many people have high-reaching dreams that simply cannot be obtained by the vast majority.

Focusing too heavily on your dreams can cause you to miss out on opportunities. Sometimes unrelated opportunities can be a good thing, either in the short-term, as a learning experience, as a stepping stone or simply a means of getting through to the next day. Life is a journey and don't be afraid to take a few strategic steps off the path. Things will rarely go your way 100% of the time, but embrace challenges and use them to become stronger.

My overall dream has stayed the same since 1st grade. I wanted to be a meteorologist. I am one, but over time, what I wanted to do with my skills wildly changed. I grew up with the seemingly "unrealistic" plan of getting on TV one day, knowing that only a small number of meteorologists can make a successful career out of being an on-camera meteorologist. Through high school, I decided that the NWS would be a better route and perhaps a more obtainable goal. Through college, I switched back to thinking, hey, maybe I can do TV. I worked at three different TV stations as a meteorologist and, despite all of the "dreaming," concluded that I wasn't satisfied with that route.

It's the storm chasing thing that changed the path of my dreams, yet again.

I vividly remember giving a talk to a young group of students early in 2013 after a few marginally successful "storm chases" in the Northeast. "Can you make a living as a storm chaser?" one student asked. I gave the most reasonable answer that came to mind, essentially that its nearly impossible to become a professional storm chaser without some combination of money, media attention and/or luck. I concluded that it's extremely difficult and those who do make it in the field will probably encounter at least some hardship. (lack of profits, periods of time with no storms, missing the best storms, etc.)

When you think about it, storm chasing has a lot of similarities to other hobbies. Sure, you can do it for fun, but don't expect to become a pro at it and make a ton of money. Professional sports would be another example that comes to mind. Almost anyone can play baseball, but only a small fraction of players will ever make it to the big leagues. Even there, it's hard enough to stay a pro for a long period of time and have a truly successful career.

On the flip side of all of this, life is short. Be willing to take risks and make mistakes. That's how you learn. That's how you experience life.

I chased for nearly three years before making a cent and you know what, I wasn't even really trying, because it wasn't a top priority. I turned down at least one offer from a broker and I just wanted to do what made me happy and that was storm chasing. Even though that meant a lot of failed chases, especially early on, spending a large chunk of my savings and turning down multiple jobs, it was worth it.

Where am I now? I may not even have the answer for that. I started making money with selling chase footage and other photos this year, but it took a huge amount of effort and there was only one week this entire year that I made a profit. I'll echo other comments that I am no professional and it shows by the money made. It wasn't a lot. I don't need a label, I am just doing what I enjoy, even if it costs a lot of money and may not get me anywhere in the long run. But hey, you never know.

Chase while you can, before it's too late. Too many things can happen in life, from meeting a significant other/starting a family, to buying a house, to medical or vehicle problems. I chase as if every chase is the last one, because it very well could be.

I'm the type of person who wants to look back at life when I'm older and say, "hey, I got to storm chase and I had a helluva time doing it." Do I have expectation that I can solely coast through the rest of my life off chasing revenue? Absolutely not. Is there potential to make it a major part of my life/career going forward? I sure hope so and I won't know unless I try.

I was deeply motivated by those who told me that I could never chase for any period of time, suggesting after a few one-offs or a trip here and there, I would eventually move on. I haven't moved on and have no intention of doing so anytime soon.

Finally, as many have said above, there are ways of finding jobs that will allow you to chase, whether it's through vacation time, schedule flexibility or simply a good income to save up for future chases. Balance in life is a good thing. While your dream of storm chasing for a career may be unrealistic, most of you can find the best of both worlds and still get to chase while having enough money and resources to carry on with your non-chasing life.

End of rant.