I am an award winning web designer/photographer.
I do all the design, photography, video, editing, 3D, animation, illustration and programming myself. I've been building my own computers since 1984. I've been hard core into computers since 1980.
I have a hard time calling what I do work! It feels more like play than work. Honestly, I do the same shit in my spare time just for fun.
Most of the day I sit at the computer doing design and production on web sites. I smoke the finest herb you could ever imagine all day. I have an ice filled bong sitting beside me right now filled with some dank Blueberry.
I make $75/hr for web design and $150/hr for photography. I'm usually booked out at least 3 months in advance with work. 1/3 of my work is photography. I can work as many hours a day as I want.
My clients fly me all over to take photos. I was in Las Vegas for my last shoot. They pay for everything. Steak and lobster every night. The finest hotels. It's sweet!
I work when I want. Sleep in if I want. Take a nap everyday. If its windy I go kiteboarding. If it's sunny and fresh powder I go snowboarding. I can ride my dirtbike right from my house and hit over 100 miles of primo single tack through old growth forest. I have a Suzuki 1250 street bike that I take on the twisties that start at the end of my street.
One of my main hobbies is growing medicine for cancer victims. I take care of the all needs of several patients. I never take money from them for my services. I think it helps me as much as them. Helps me keep my life in perspective...
I've been happily married for over 27 years now and have a perfect kid. Life seems to get better every day.
So by now you might be thinking how the fuck did I pull this off...
I was poor white trash with no money or future. So I joined the Navy and went through 2 years of the hardest schools you could ever imagine. I spent 10 years in the Navy so my wife could have a chance to finish her degree. I saved my money and used my G.I. Bill to go to collage after I got out.
I waited tables at night and went to school during the day. I only had a day off at the end of each term. I never slept. We lived on Top Ramin noodles and peanut butter. I would sneek left over scraps off of people's plates so I could have something to eat that day. It was tough!
Was it worth it? Fuck yes!!! What ever it takes for you to get an education, DO IT!!!!
P.S. Watch out for my article appearing in next April's issue of High Times magazine, "How to harvest a pound every three weeks".