Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Candice Kalb. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Candice, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I am super happy as a creative!

I’ve been a nomad since I was 8 years old! My parents have always called me their Wild Child or their Little Fart in the Wind. Building a life around travel and creativity has always been the dream, but we are socialized to wait. “Just work hard now, so you can play when you retire” so my early 20’s I tried to put my head down and stick to the status quo: go to grad school, get a good job, house, etc.

The TL/DR on attempting a regular job: I was miserable and burnt that life to the ground. I left my long-term boyfriend, our little home, a doctorate program, and the profession that I wrapped my whole identity around and sold all my belongings.

Nearly a decade later, when I think of a regular job or the times I tried the settled-down life… a pit in my stomach appears.

I am madly in love with the life that I am continuously creating. I live by a Rumi quote “Respond to every call that excites your spirit.” It’s never led me astray but I also think it will forever prevent me from having a regular job.

Candice, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

You know in the movies, that moment where everything shifts and the narrator goes something along the lines of “at this moment everything changed.” Moving to Alaska was that moment.

I picked up a camera while working summers in Alaska. How could I not?! How could I NOT want to photograph the landscapes and wildlife?! Photography and drones became my way of visual storytelling or guiding. It was another way for me to illustrate a place’s history, culture, and ecology.

The more I guided and traveled in the off-season, the more dedicated I became to environmental sustainability and creating an intentional life. Being a solo female traveler, van lifer, international backpacker, and backcountry backpacker, this counterculture way of living gives you a different perspective on the world.

Like everyone, when covid happened, another great shift happened. Tourism was out and I jumped fully into content creation.

My toolkit is extensive but focused on photography, videography, drones, and narration. I create intentional content centered on travel, mindfulness, and environmental sustainability. I work with a large range of tourism boards, brands, and artists, to individuals.

With everything that I do, the purpose is to empower fellow adventures to create the intentional life of their dreams through travel, van life, and sustainability.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m going to approach this question a bit differently. My biggest lesson that I had to unlearn, is centered around mindset. Which is a giant web of interconnected things. Instead I’ll share my 5 biggest lessons that I’ve learned on my creative journey.

1. Your timeline is your own. Nothing that is meant for you will pass you by. Sometimes we have lessons to learn that push our timeline back from what we think it should be. Plus time isn’t real and everything is made up. *kinda joking*

2. You are your biggest critic. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron was and continues to be the best resource for healing these deep wounds. Get out of your own way. Everyone is the center of their own universe, no one is looking that closely at you.

3. Expectations will rob your joy and progress. Expectations close us to opportunities that we didn’t predict. It takes away from our creative wanderings that usually lead to the greatest experiences, pieces, circumstances, and connections.

4. Gratitude for all things will change your life. Showing appreciation for yourself inevitably leads to more kindness, acceptance, and love. This has a huge ripple effect on everyone and everything around you.

5. Approach everything from a place of curiosity. That childlike sense of wonder that lights you up, follow that. It might be weird, but as long as it’s not harmful to yourself, others, or the planet, run with it. Embrace yourself and bring that authenticity, the world needs it!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Books and resources!! Where to begin!?

1. The Artist Way by Julia Cameron: Absolutely brilliant for inner healing and embracing your inner artist. Her action steps, reflections, and prompts will have you healing limiting beliefs and stepping fully into your inner artist.

2. Atomic Habits by James Clear: This will set your days up for success, little changes have a BIG impact.

3. Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty: Mindset is key. Jay’s use of personal reflections, ancient traditions, and modern science will change the way you interact with the world.

4. Essentialism by Greg McKeown: In a world that tells us we’re never enough and to constantly pursue more, McKeown teaches us that intentional quality is always greater than quantity.

5. Discover Your Dharma by Sahara Rose: This interactive book will have you deep diving into yourself. A strong sense of self helps us root into our hearts and move forward purposefully.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chasingcandice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasing.candice/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChasingCandice
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candice-kalb-13a09962/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCks0o6qD2IAxq7BE_rkjrPg
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chasing.candice

Image Credits
Candice Kalb, all the photos are mine.