Choosing the Leap

Today is the first official day of leaving my job to focus on my business goals. I plan on using this time to network and build future clientele for my photography business. I admit that I’m nervous; the timing isn’t ideal because Christmas is right around the corner, and Mindy’s oldest son just moved back into our house due to some concerning health issues. On one hand, Mindy is making more money than I ever was going to make at that place, so jumping ship “safely” has never really been an option before.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that this moment, this uncomfortable, uncertain pause, would eventually become the foundation of everything I’m building now through JJ Everitt Photography.

Ten Years of Working Without Control

I was with the company for 10 years, and the entire time I worked there, I was worried about being fired—not because I’m a bad employee or anything like that, but because it never really felt stable. It always felt like nothing was in my control, and things were run backward and on a whim. My position changed constantly, and during the time I worked there, I only received three raises.

I went from working at a big warehouse with a big-name corporation in a bigger city with various employment opportunities, to moving to a very small town and working at a very small machine shop that appeared it couldn’t keep up with the economy. Everything was new and uncertain. I had zero experience in this field and knew nothing about the machining world. Honestly, I had never even heard of it.

Still, I learned. I adapted. And looking back, that period taught me something I now carry directly into my photography work: when you’re dropped into unfamiliar territory, you either disengage or you learn how to see differently.

The Layoff That Forced Stillness

Three years ago, things slowed down to the point where, at the beginning of this year, I was laid off from my place of employment. I had never been through the unemployment process before, but I thought I had mentally prepared myself because I could see it coming from a mile away.

When I was laid off, I went into full panic mode.

In my head, I lost all my value as a husband and father. I obsessed over finances. I cut expenses. I convinced myself that canceling Netflix was some kind of financial genius move. I searched for food banks. I even limited what I ate so my kids and wife would have enough.

None of it was necessary, but fear isn’t rational.

After about two months, something changed. We were surviving. I wasn’t failing. I was present.

I started driving my kids to the bus stop. I cooked dinner almost nightly. I cleaned more. We spent time together because I wasn’t mentally wrecked from work. That shift, being present, observant, and intentional, is now the backbone of how I approach branding/lifestyle photo sessions.

Losing the Fear of the Unknown

At some point, I lost my fear of the unknown.

The 3 a.m. “what if?” questions were never about reality; they were about control. And ironically, the place I worked caused me more anxiety than unemployment ever did. It was soul-sucking.

Days blurred together. I swept dust from one side of the shop to the other for hours. I stayed because it was familiar. Because I liked my three days off. Because starting over felt terrifying.

To get through the days, I daydreamed about building something of my own. I listened to podcasts. I spiraled into self-help content. Eventually, that daydream turned into a laser-engraving e-commerce business called Stateline Woodshine, where I create personalized wooden photo engravings as unique, minimalist keepsakes that are designed to last.

That product still exists today.

Turning Creativity Into a Business

Being laid off gave me time—real time—to learn.

I learned SEO. I learned website design. I learned marketing basics and analytics. I learned that I genuinely enjoy photographing products and helping small businesses visually communicate what makes them different. I also write blogs where I share educational content, reflective essays, and practical guidance at "That ZEN Thing",

I also learned something unexpected: I’m not bad with people.

That realization directly shaped the services I offer now. Professional headshots, branding/lifestyle photography, and product photography for businesses that want visuals that actually feel human, intentional, and real.

This approach is what now defines my work at JJ Everitt Photography

Coming Back—and Leaving for Good

After six months, I was called back to the same company. I took the job because it felt responsible. But the position was worse. The environment was isolating. And the fire inside me didn’t go out—it grew louder.

Photography was always the root. The engraving business existed because of it. That passion evolved into what I do now: helping people and businesses tell their story visually—whether through portraits, headshots, product imagery, or meaningful custom gifts.

Why This Matters Now

Today is the first official day of leaving my job to focus entirely on my business goals.

If I hadn’t been forced to face fear head-on, I never would’ve built the confidence to do this. There’s never a “right time.” But there is a moment when you realize something isn’t serving you anymore.

That job unlocked the door. Photography showed me what was on the other side.

From Layoff to Leap: How Losing My Job Helped Me Find My Purpose