Accepting the Challenge

Hey guys, it’s Scott, the husband. I’m not going to post here often, because this is Vee’s project, and you all want to hear her inspirational messages and motivation to keep you active.

I do want to take the chance to share some motivation of my own. It’s about accepting the challenge, and it goes along well with Vee’s post about change.

And Vee says she isn’t a photographer. She did a great job capturing the action at Kutztown Cross.

In life, you are faced with decisions everyday. To get out of bed, to go to work, and make decisions that affect your life. Some are small, some are huge. In the past two years, there have been decisions that I have made that have challenged me as a photographer, as a writer, as a cyclist, and as a person in general. These challenges have shown me who I am, and helped prove to myself and others that I could do things I would have never imagined.

Shooting at Swashbuckler Cross.

About 5 years ago, I played around with shooting a bike race with a compact digital camera. Those pictures weren’t great, but I enjoyed it and there were a few gems. Then I got access to a Canon Rebel T2i. My work got better, and I’ve continued to grow and started my own photography business in 2014. It wasn’t until a little over a year ago that I received an email from Mary Zider of the Colavita|Bianchi Pro Women’s Team asking me to be the team photographer for this past season. I was honored and scared at the same time, but with Vee’s support, I challenged myself to take the risk and accept the contract.

In Philly shooting the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic for Colavita|Bianchi

I also went through a divorce three years ago. It was hard at first, but once I saw how unhappy I didn’t even know I was, I embraced it and promised myself to not live like that again. I challenged myself to find happiness which did, and have grown to be happier and happier every year. Eventually the promise led me to reconnect with my best friend, and marry her. I never would have guessed when we met 10 years ago today, that now she would not only be my best friend, but also my wife.

Shooting at the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.

So my point is, when you are faced with a challenge, don’t be afraid to accept it and have faith in yourself that you can do it. With Vee’s new job, there are days she comes home and says she is not sure she can live up to their expectations. I know she can. I know she is a smart, incredible woman, with the experience and knowledge to not only do the job, but grow her department and business into something great. They know that too, that’s why she got the job.

I’m currently faced with the same challenge. My company reorganized parts of the business to better align with supporting our field reps in a way they have never been supported in the past. This means I’m unexpectedly shifting from a finance position to a communications role, and I don’t even know what this new job will be (and neither does my new boss). I’m faced with the challenge of stepping up, possibly helping to define my new role, and make a difference. Vee has faith in me, and the company does too by recognizing my talents as a photographer and a writer.

Vee and I finishing the MS City to Shore in 2007.

These are just a few of the decisions and challenges that Vee and I have faced in the last year and we will have some more that we will be able to share with you soon. It really has been a crazy year, but with each other by our sides, we are ready to face these challenges and come out on top. For anyone that reads this, we challenge you to do something you never thought you would, to overcome something you thought you couldn’t, and find the positives along the way. Vee always says that progress produces motivation, so step up, don’t be afraid to fail, and push yourself to be the best person you can be for yourself, and those you love.