My Journey to Running a Video Production Company Part 1
The story of how I found my way into video production is full of twists, missteps, and strange coincidences. But when I look back at it now through the lens of someone who’s built and run a production company for over 20 years, I see that buried inside that story are lessons that can help any video business owner.
So I want to offer you 7 lessons you can take from my journey. These insights might help you grow your business, sidestep some of the mistakes I made, and build something that actually works.
1. Start before you're ready
At 15, I tried to start a video production business. We shot a family event, handed out flyers, and hoped for referrals. It didn’t go anywhere, but I learned something valuable. You don’t have to wait until everything is perfect to start. Just begin. The early projects may flop. But each one teaches you something. And the faster you start, the faster you learn.
Takeaway: Don’t wait until your gear is perfect or your branding is polished. Get out there. Shoot. Share your work. Get feedback. Iterate.
2. Creativity and entrepreneurship are not opposites
As a teenager, I was drawn to both art and business. Two worlds that often seemed to clash. But running a video production company demands both. You need the eye and heart of a creative, and the mindset of an entrepreneur.
Takeaway: If you only focus on the creative, your business will suffer. And if you only chase money, your work will lack soul. Balance both.
3. Rejection is part of the journey
I applied to film school at 17 and was gently told I wasn’t ready. That could have crushed me. But it turned out to be exactly what I needed to hear. I went away, lived a little, made some things, and came back stronger. This time, they said yes.
Takeaway: Clients will ghost you. Proposals will be rejected. Sometimes you won’t get the job. Don’t take it personally. Use the rejection to sharpen your edge.
4. Life experience matters
The projects I made later, the ones that worked, drew from life. From travel. From strange jobs. From talking to strangers and getting stuck in the rain. Storytelling comes from living. And clients hire us to tell stories.
Takeaway: Step away from the edit suite sometimes. Take breaks. Travel. Talk to people outside the industry. The more life you experience, the more authentic and engaging your storytelling becomes.
5. Make your own opportunities
I got into the industry through what seemed like luck: a last-minute dropout from a course I applied to. But really, that opportunity came because I kept showing up. I put myself in the path of opportunity.
Takeaway: Don’t sit back and wait to be discovered. Make stuff. Share it. Reach out to clients. Follow up. Luck favours the visible.
6. Collaborate with people who raise your standards
When I made my first real short film, I teamed up with a guy who had high standards and wouldn’t let me wing it. He insisted we storyboard everything and plan meticulously. It was frustrating, but the result was miles better.
Takeaway: Surround yourself with people who won’t let you settle. Hire crew who care. Work with clients who challenge you to bring your best.
7. Choose to be chosen
During a hitchhiking trip through New Zealand, a stranger scribbled in my notebook: “Choose to be chosen.” I didn’t understand it at first. But over time, I realised what it meant. You can wait around hoping clients notice you. Or you can position yourself in a way that makes it easy for them to say yes.
Takeaway: Build your brand. Get clear on your positioning. Make it obvious why someone should work with you. Don’t just hope to get picked. Put yourself in the driver’s seat.
There’s no single path into video production. Mine was winding. Yours will be too. But if you take these seven lessons to heart, you’ll be better equipped to build something that lasts and enjoy the ride along the way.
Let me leave you with a question:
What are the lessons hidden in your own journey? Not the big milestones, but the small moments. The rejections. The odd jobs. The strange conversations. Often it’s the seemingly random or insignificant things that end up teaching us the most, if we’re paying attention.