Well not the actual Lotto. Shit, I wouldn’t have time to write this if I did. I’d be busy booking my next trip to…fuck. Stop dreaming Matt! LoL

But the Lotto I’m referring to is one where you are always winning. The lotto of being content. Yes, I WANT plenty of things. But I feel I’m in a place where if I didn’t get those things, I would still be happy. I have a loving family, I have awesome friends, I’m getting paid to do things that I love doing, and I’m healthy. What more can I ask for? A billion dollars?  

Yea the world isn’t perfect, and everyone’s ideal situation isn’t always their reality, but what I’ve learned in my short time on this planet is to keep your head out of the clouds. Don’t get me wrong, DREAM! and DREAM BIG! But don’t keep dreaming to the point where you’re just dreaming and not DOING. 

So if you want to feel like you’re winning everyday, then feel like it. No sense in feeling bad about your situation because you can’t afford that new (fill in the blank). Because chances are, you have clothes that keep you warm, food that makes you fat, and a job that pays you so you can afford to read this post on the internet via your laptop/tablet/smart phone. Make the best of where you’re at. You don’t need money for that. 

This past Tuesday, I premiered my project called “A Woman Who”. It’s a personal project I hold dear because its dedicated to the two women that have inspired me: my mother and grandmother. The project highlights uber talented women in the creative field that have become successful doing what they love to do. I’m collaborating with some awesome talent on this project: photographers and graphic designers, to help make this project a success. Check out the work here and let me know what you think.

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I have recently been promoted to the Social Media Manager for my company, BorrowLenses.com. I guess the 3 years of non-stop social networking is paying off…literally LoL Yea yea, I have a Civil Engineering degree, and why am I not using it you ask? Because sometimes you just get called to do other things in life. And frankly, an office job like that, was not cut out for me. B-O-R-I-N-G. #Yawn. Yea it was like that. I’m sure it works for some people, and I guess the money is enough for some to stay at a job for 30 fucking years, doing the same mundane shit, but damnit, I’m not that person. And this blog post suddenly turned into a RANT. LoL

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What was I getting at? Ahhh yes, Social Networking. To the creators of Friendster, MySpace, FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, G+, I thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Because without you, I would be stuck in a cubicle, designing mother fucking curbs and gutters. B-O-R-I-N-G.

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Onto my craft…if you can call it that. I’ve been very selective of the gigs I’ve been taking on this year, meaning, I don’t do shit for free anymore. Unless of course you’re blood, and if you’re blood, that means your parents fed me when I was a young. And that means, I ate a lot of your food. And that means, your parents spent a lot of money feeding my fat ass back then LoL So my repayment to you is giving you creative work. Whether it be photos or videos, or even suggestions on how to design your logo, its on me. Because without you, my fat ass would have starved as a kid. And I digress again…

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So I’ve been selective. The last few people I’ve worked with have their stake in the industry. Folks whose clients are the likes of ESPN, MTV, Hilton, etc…People who I want to be. You gotta train with the best to be the best right? As an artist, I feel that you have to constantly push yourself, pushing your limits further and further, ever changing, ever evolving, while still being YOU. I’m not saying that I’ve found my specialty or craft, but I have a good idea of what it is. Now its the time of refinement. And that’s why I’m so picky in choosing the things I work on. I know what I don’t like to do, and I know what I love to do. I choose to do what I love. And its not weddings LoL

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So that’s what it is so far. I’m really excited about the project. I’ve been getting really good feedback on it. And a word of advice to any of you trying to do something creative, whether it be photos, videos, music, design, anything artistic…HAVE A PURPOSE. That was my mistake when I first began my journey of being a creative. I had no purpose. I was just shooting to shoot. Shooting because I thought it looked cool. Looking back, I wish someone had told me what I’m telling you now. HAVE A PURPOSE. A purpose has a plan. A plan is well thought out. And when you think things out, and its planned, your purpose becomes something even more greater than the original idea you had.

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That is how “A Woman Who” came along. I just wanted to shoot hot chicks. I’ll admit it. I wanted an excuse to shoot hot chicks. Anyone can shoot a hot chick. I can get on Model Mayhem right now, and schedule a shoot for tomorrow if I wanted. But that would not have purpose. It wouldn’t be planned, nor will it be thought out. Find something that means a lot to you, something that inspires you, something that your passionate about. And when you’ve figured that out, consult your fellow creatives and get their input. And if you don’t have any fellow creatives, find some. There are plenty of creative people out there. You just have to find them. There is an awesome tool that’ll help you find these creative people…its called GOOGLE LoL

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I’ll leave you all with this statement:

Creativity alone is like a bullet without a gun, but creativity with purpose is a lethal weapon.

-Matt Maniego