Starting From a Layoff
When I started Chasing Creative full-time a couple of years ago, it was not because I had a master plan. It was because the startup I worked for stopped raising money. They were not growing at the rocket speed that LinkedIn says you need. Sustainability was not enough. Great branding, powerful messaging, customer service, follow-up—none of it mattered when the funding dried up.
Today, apps and brands need to be growing at record pace and showcasing it to the world.
I cannot help but think this is just show-and-tell for adults. You go to the front of the class and want everyone to think your thing is cool.
We are now doing that on social media, and there are real benefits: your friend-group investors, your team, your network, and your funding. It all makes a difference to the bottom line.
What Chasing Creative Actually Is
I was chatting with an old colleague recently. On social media, I present a certain way because I am constantly creating content as an entrepreneur.
This has directly led to consulting opportunities, marketing services work, and micro-influencer partnerships with brands like Loftie Alarm Clock, Seek Bamboo, and Toja Grid. I am passionate about connecting with people. The best way to do that from my home office in Palm Coast, Florida is to create content.
My colleague was surprised when I shared our revenue numbers. "Wow, that is amazing. I can see you have done well." Then he wanted specifics. That is why I am writing this. If you are on this blog, you are curious about entrepreneurship, Chasing Creative, or my other ventures. We are connected in that way, and I am thankful you are here.
Spokesperson and Conference Coverage
I serve as a U.S.-based spokesperson for projects happening globally. I can articulate complex products and services in a simplified way. I attend conferences on behalf of brands, share to social media, and give product feedback. This goes back to my first startup experience at Wired2Perform, where I got hands-on experience working with a founder, dev team, product, and go-to-market.
Website Development
We build websites for brands at a fair price for fair work, delivered fast. We use the best tools available—AI, Webflow, and others—to get it done quickly. This lets us offer the best price, best product, and ongoing maintenance when needed. Everyone stays fiscally and design-minded.
Video Production
Our focus is testimonial and highlight videos. Simple, effective: talking-head clips, B-roll, quotes—all adding up to the full story. The goal is threefold: be found on search, showcase to future prospects how the project works, and drive internal awareness for the company that created the video.
My favorite part? When you create a case study video, you are pouring time into someone else is branding. You are essentially gifting them back a portion of what they spent on you. It is a win-win. We do this at a cost-effective rate—essentially a suitcase to a job site, one person shooting, turnaround in a couple weeks. A few rounds of edits and you are off to the races with high-quality video you can use for years.
Ongoing Support and Connections
We handle one-off projects, ads, SEO, creative, photography, video, and more. But we are also connectors. We know people across the industry and work with contractors to fulfill work. We connect others to folks who can solve their problems. This is a huge value asset that lets us scale up or down, whether we are pitching a $5,000 project or a $250,000 one.
The Road to $1M ARR
Why am I sharing all this? Because people keep asking what we do, how our services are formed, how I have built Chasing Creative. People say "wow, you are doing so well," and while I agree, there are several steps to get to where I want to be: roughly a million dollars in recurring revenue annually.
This is achievable if we continue layering on contracts, businesses, and retainers. It also lets me build a team I would be proud of. We work with lots of contractors, but I want stakeholders—highly motivated problem solvers. To be honest, these people cost a lot to hire, because why would not they just do it themselves?
New Tools We Are Building
ReplyRevive—An auto-reply finder for Gmail that discovers out-of-office messages and sorts them into a neat list you can import into your CRM. No lost leads on a weekly basis if you are doing outbound.
Chasing Creative Productions AI—A tool that lets customers create storyboard scripts and projects for their brand in minutes.
A blend of AI and people is the best mix for production. We have submitted this to the Shopify app store and are waiting on approval to help DTC brands create videos while working with UGC creators and videographers.
What I am Learning
One of my main verticals is smart lighting infrastructure. I am learning about lighting design, construction, and more. Fun fact: I studied construction in high school at Kent Community Technical Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I learned to build condos, cut wood, and stain cabinets. That translates to understanding what is happening on job sites today.
I also worked with a founder who opened a co-working space in Nocatee, Florida. I was part of the build process—‚walking grounds, picking items, meeting with contractors and developers.
All these experiences meet at the core of what I do. That is why no agency or person can truly reflect exactly what I do for clients. You cannot embody it, put it on a landing page, or clone yourself. Your experiences shape your business and help you find your perfect clients.
Now, forming a business does not really need any of that. If you are selling a product or service, reverse-engineer the want and need, create compelling content, and build systems to drive leads. Much easier said than done, but if you look at this as a journey and a ladder you are climbing, you will always find joy in your work.
The Hard Truth About Client Work
Do not get me wrong. There are hectic days, tough conversations, and emotions run high in creative work. That is the cost of doing this. If you are not built for it, you should probably stay in the revolving door.
It is also important to realize that clients come and go. I talked with another agency owner today, and we both realized you will never meet every single need.
We all aim for five-star reviews, but sometimes there is not a fit. Finding times to acknowledge this and make the best decision—even walking away from projects or clients—can often mean opportunity to work together in a bigger way later. Not forever, not with malice, but because you realize there is something more rewarding on the other side.
If you do not feel like there is a good fit for something in your life, acknowledge it, move on, and make a decision. Do not wade in the water expecting everything to solve itself. Sometimes you have to solve it, and sometimes that means it is not beneficial in the short term. But if it is in the ultimate outcome for your client, it can be far more rewarding.
Looking in the Mirror
I hope you have gotten a few nuggets of truth you can use in your business. If you are an entrepreneur, I am sure this feels like looking in a mirror.
If you want to learn more, book a meeting with me, leave a comment, or join our newsletter. You will be able to follow up, engage, and so forth.
I appreciate you stopping by. This is a blog in the classic sense—sharing where we are at. Years ago, I had a blog called "Whom the Sun Sets Free" where I shared life experiences and faith. Here I plan to do the same, but years later, some of the naivety has tempered. What stands true is that our journeys are important, our experiences are valuable, and faith always plays a role.
I will leave you with this: "When the Sun Sets Free Is Free Indeed." Take that as you may. I wish you the best in your journey, and thank you for following along with mine.
Blake Wisz is the founder of Chasing Creative, a marketing and video production agency based in Palm Coast, Florida.
Starting From a Layoff
When I started Chasing Creative full-time a couple of years ago, it was not because I had a master plan. It was because the startup I worked for stopped raising money. They were not growing at the rocket speed that LinkedIn says you need. Sustainability was not enough. Great branding, powerful messaging, customer service, follow-up—none of it mattered when the funding dried up.
Today, apps and brands need to be growing at record pace and showcasing it to the world.
I cannot help but think this is just show-and-tell for adults. You go to the front of the class and want everyone to think your thing is cool.
We are now doing that on social media, and there are real benefits: your friend-group investors, your team, your network, and your funding. It all makes a difference to the bottom line.
What Chasing Creative Actually Is
I was chatting with an old colleague recently. On social media, I present a certain way because I am constantly creating content as an entrepreneur.
This has directly led to consulting opportunities, marketing services work, and micro-influencer partnerships with brands like Loftie Alarm Clock, Seek Bamboo, and Toja Grid. I am passionate about connecting with people. The best way to do that from my home office in Palm Coast, Florida is to create content.
My colleague was surprised when I shared our revenue numbers. "Wow, that is amazing. I can see you have done well." Then he wanted specifics. That is why I am writing this. If you are on this blog, you are curious about entrepreneurship, Chasing Creative, or my other ventures. We are connected in that way, and I am thankful you are here.
Spokesperson and Conference Coverage
I serve as a U.S.-based spokesperson for projects happening globally. I can articulate complex products and services in a simplified way. I attend conferences on behalf of brands, share to social media, and give product feedback. This goes back to my first startup experience at Wired2Perform, where I got hands-on experience working with a founder, dev team, product, and go-to-market.
Website Development
We build websites for brands at a fair price for fair work, delivered fast. We use the best tools available—AI, Webflow, and others—to get it done quickly. This lets us offer the best price, best product, and ongoing maintenance when needed. Everyone stays fiscally and design-minded.
Video Production
Our focus is testimonial and highlight videos. Simple, effective: talking-head clips, B-roll, quotes—all adding up to the full story. The goal is threefold: be found on search, showcase to future prospects how the project works, and drive internal awareness for the company that created the video.
My favorite part? When you create a case study video, you are pouring time into someone else is branding. You are essentially gifting them back a portion of what they spent on you. It is a win-win. We do this at a cost-effective rate—essentially a suitcase to a job site, one person shooting, turnaround in a couple weeks. A few rounds of edits and you are off to the races with high-quality video you can use for years.
Ongoing Support and Connections
We handle one-off projects, ads, SEO, creative, photography, video, and more. But we are also connectors. We know people across the industry and work with contractors to fulfill work. We connect others to folks who can solve their problems. This is a huge value asset that lets us scale up or down, whether we are pitching a $5,000 project or a $250,000 one.
The Road to $1M ARR
Why am I sharing all this? Because people keep asking what we do, how our services are formed, how I have built Chasing Creative. People say "wow, you are doing so well," and while I agree, there are several steps to get to where I want to be: roughly a million dollars in recurring revenue annually.
This is achievable if we continue layering on contracts, businesses, and retainers. It also lets me build a team I would be proud of. We work with lots of contractors, but I want stakeholders—highly motivated problem solvers. To be honest, these people cost a lot to hire, because why would not they just do it themselves?
New Tools We Are Building
ReplyRevive—An auto-reply finder for Gmail that discovers out-of-office messages and sorts them into a neat list you can import into your CRM. No lost leads on a weekly basis if you are doing outbound.
Chasing Creative Productions AI—A tool that lets customers create storyboard scripts and projects for their brand in minutes.
A blend of AI and people is the best mix for production. We have submitted this to the Shopify app store and are waiting on approval to help DTC brands create videos while working with UGC creators and videographers.
What I am Learning
One of my main verticals is smart lighting infrastructure. I am learning about lighting design, construction, and more. Fun fact: I studied construction in high school at Kent Community Technical Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I learned to build condos, cut wood, and stain cabinets. That translates to understanding what is happening on job sites today.
I also worked with a founder who opened a co-working space in Nocatee, Florida. I was part of the build process—‚walking grounds, picking items, meeting with contractors and developers.
All these experiences meet at the core of what I do. That is why no agency or person can truly reflect exactly what I do for clients. You cannot embody it, put it on a landing page, or clone yourself. Your experiences shape your business and help you find your perfect clients.
Now, forming a business does not really need any of that. If you are selling a product or service, reverse-engineer the want and need, create compelling content, and build systems to drive leads. Much easier said than done, but if you look at this as a journey and a ladder you are climbing, you will always find joy in your work.
The Hard Truth About Client Work
Do not get me wrong. There are hectic days, tough conversations, and emotions run high in creative work. That is the cost of doing this. If you are not built for it, you should probably stay in the revolving door.
It is also important to realize that clients come and go. I talked with another agency owner today, and we both realized you will never meet every single need.
We all aim for five-star reviews, but sometimes there is not a fit. Finding times to acknowledge this and make the best decision—even walking away from projects or clients—can often mean opportunity to work together in a bigger way later. Not forever, not with malice, but because you realize there is something more rewarding on the other side.
If you do not feel like there is a good fit for something in your life, acknowledge it, move on, and make a decision. Do not wade in the water expecting everything to solve itself. Sometimes you have to solve it, and sometimes that means it is not beneficial in the short term. But if it is in the ultimate outcome for your client, it can be far more rewarding.
Looking in the Mirror
I hope you have gotten a few nuggets of truth you can use in your business. If you are an entrepreneur, I am sure this feels like looking in a mirror.
If you want to learn more, book a meeting with me, leave a comment, or join our newsletter. You will be able to follow up, engage, and so forth.
I appreciate you stopping by. This is a blog in the classic sense—sharing where we are at. Years ago, I had a blog called "Whom the Sun Sets Free" where I shared life experiences and faith. Here I plan to do the same, but years later, some of the naivety has tempered. What stands true is that our journeys are important, our experiences are valuable, and faith always plays a role.
I will leave you with this: "When the Sun Sets Free Is Free Indeed." Take that as you may. I wish you the best in your journey, and thank you for following along with mine.
Blake Wisz is the founder of Chasing Creative, a marketing and video production agency based in Palm Coast, Florida.
"Blake's insights transformed my approach to photography and branding. His expertise is truly invaluable!"
Join the Conversation Today!
Subscribe for insights, share your thoughts, and connect with a community of passionate readers.
Connect with Blake Today
Ready to elevate your brand? Reach out and let's create something extraordinary together.
.jpg)
FAQs
Here are some common questions related to our blog posts.
A blog is a platform for sharing ideas, insights, and information. It allows individuals or businesses to connect with their audience. Regular updates can help build a community and establish authority.
Begin by choosing a niche that interests you. Set up a blogging platform and create quality content. Consistency and engagement with your audience are key to success.
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, helps improve your blog's visibility online. It drives organic traffic by optimizing content for search engines. This can lead to increased readership and engagement.
Promote your posts through social media channels and email newsletters. Collaborating with other bloggers can also expand your reach. Engaging with your audience through comments and discussions fosters community.
Content marketing involves creating valuable content to attract and retain an audience. It focuses on providing useful information rather than directly selling products. This builds trust and loyalty among readers.
You can monetize blogs through affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and advertisements. Offering premium content or services can also generate income. Building a loyal audience is essential for successful monetization.
Backlinks are links from other websites to your blog. They are crucial for SEO as they signal credibility and authority. High-quality backlinks can significantly boost your search engine ranking.
Creating engaging content is essential for keeping readers interested. Use visuals and storytelling to enhance your posts. Regularly updating your blog can also improve retention.
Use analytics tools like Google Analytics to track your blog's performance. These tools provide insights into visitor behavior and traffic sources. Analyzing this data helps refine your content strategy.
Guest posting involves writing articles for other blogs to reach a wider audience. It helps build backlinks and establish authority in your niche. This strategy can drive traffic back to your own blog.
Still have questions?
Feel free to reach out!