Alright, Earl Spencer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

Something I think that happens in workplaces is a random clique system. It all mostly depends on timing, when you were hired or who you were hired with. My philosophy has always been to ignore that and be the goofy me that I always am. Nothing catches people off guard like offering full authentic self first. Give 100% trust from the beginning and you’ll be shocked how many times it pays off. Sure, maybe a few times it will come back to bite you but I’d rather be the person who believes the best in people then the cynic who is all locked up. For example I when I started my job in Boston at WHDH I came from a smaller station where I was friends with everyone and would now be going to a station where I knew no one. However, I started the same way as I always do and that is to introduce myself to everyone possible, and if I could, make a lasting impression with humor. Now, after a year and 3 months I can confidently say I am friends with almost everyone. I say almost because there are people who break that trust but the key to staying inclusive isn’t in shutting them out completely it’s setting the boundary of disappointment in there broken trust and showing that you can forgive if they respect that boundary.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a videographer/editor and I currently work at WHDH Channel 7 Boston. But to get where I am now has been a lot of great timing and hard work. I started my journey in high school believe it or not. I wanted to be a chef going into school that year because the high school had a culinary class. The main problem was that everyone wanted to do that class and I didn’t get it. So other class mates told me that TV Production was a good class to take cause it was basically a study so I signed up and got in. My one mistake was that I know I can’t do nothing, it’s just not in me. So, when I was in the class I fell in love with the art. So I went to Bridgewater State University to hone in my skills and earn a degree in communications centered in film,video and media. And I minored in film studies. After college it was time to look for a job. I ended up working at my hometowns public access station as a producer/News Director /social media manager you name it. It was such a blast to be the information czar of the town between going to city council meetings and school committee and reporting things that happened around town. The one issue was that I wanted to move out of my parents and live with my girlfriend but I wasn’t making enough money so I decided to look for a higher paying job. So I applied and applied to job after job not hearing back from anyone until I did. It was a bit out of my current experience but enough in the realm. The job was for NBC 10 in Providence and after interviewing I joined their sunrise team waking up at 2am and coming home by 1:30pm. That job taught me so much about the work environment I want to be in and how to set boundaries in the workplace. So I worked there for almost two years and earned two Emmy nominations. Around my year and a half mark rent was raising and I again ran into the problem of needing to make more money to live comfortable. Now, I had been searching for a few months for that reason but then I received a message from an Executive Producer from WHDH who asked if I’d be interested in a position there. I was excited because I didn’t apply there they wanted me. This could have been because I was posting on social media my live shots and other work or just because they needed bodies…. I choose to believe it was the former. So, I interviewed there and have been working there for about a year and 3 months. All while doing these moves I also did freelance videography work too. I would pick up jobs here and there doing corporate videos, athlete recruitment videos and more. I did this not for the money but because I love videography. I love to bring an idea to fruition. One of the things I would always tell my clients is I will shot this however you want but if you trust me I can make this so much fun. I think my proudest moment is every time I send a client a video and I here back that they love it

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I believe in a lifetime goal and chasing it even if it’s somewhat unlikely because the chase is what makes it fun. So my goal is to earn an E.G.O.T.(Emmy,Grammy, Oscar, Tony). This is my goal because the greatest people in this industry have done it like John legend, or Whoopie Goldberg etc. I don’t sing or play and Instrument so for at least one of those awards I’ll have to be more creative but it’s something I can chase because if I do achieve it, it will feel so amazing.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think non-creatives may not understand the enjoyment we get from the varying day to day life. The constant change as a good thing because so many people find it comfortable to have a set schedule and have dinner at the same time every night and have a slot for everything. But as a creative the magic is always in the “what makes this different?” So living a life where things change and you do something different everyday cures the curious mind of stagnant thoughts. Especially when most of us creatives are a little ADHD and that the constant stimulus is nice. Personally I enjoy not knowing how a day could turn out because if you know the day is gonna be great you don’t need to try and if you know it’s gonna be bad you don’t want to try.

Contact Info:

• Website: Gearyprod.com
• Instagram: @Spencergeary
• Facebook: Spencer Geary
• Linkedin: Spencer Geary
• Twitter: @Photogspence

Image Credits
Tati Simpson