We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Schyck. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.

Lisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The creation of my lifestyle photography book, Glimpses of the Joshua Tree Dream, showcases the unique living spaces of creatives in the Hi-Mojave Desert. This book serves as both a platform and a vehicle to promote and support local artists and non-profits.

When I relocated to the desert from Detroit, I was searching for a project that would serve and benefit the community. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the book will be reinvested into local initiatives. It quickly became clear to me that the desert was home to an immense amount of untapped talent and creativity—yet it wasn’t being recognized enough outside the region. I saw the book as a way to bring attention to these individuals and the vibrant community they’ve built.

The book also makes a perfect souvenir for the more than 3 million visitors who come to the area annually.

I also noticed that many articles published in national publications about the desert were written by people from outside the region. These pieces often focused on short-term Airbnb stays rather than capturing the true essence of the area and its people. I wanted to offer a deeper, more authentic perspective.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve never worked on a project like this before, but I had a vision and an idea. For 20 years, I worked in corporate Human Resources, with a focus on recruiting all kinds of talent. Much of that time was spent reading resumes and conducting interviews.

I’m trained to understand people and what makes them tick, and I believe this background has been invaluable to this project. I also have a strong ability to “get sh*t done”—when I focus, my determination is laser-sharp. Follow-through has never been an issue for me; when I say I’m going to do something, I do it.

What I’m learning now, though, is that sometimes I need to apply the brakes because the timing isn’t right. Patience, I admit, is not one of my strong suits. I believe we only have a limited amount of time here on this planet and I intend to get the most out of it.

Giving back and helping others is my core value and motivation in life! Glimpses of the Joshua Tree Dream is a for profit venture that I can use to give back to the community.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Take the time to ask questions and truly understand others’ work. The more questions you ask, the more you’ll expand your understanding, deepening both your perception and perspective of the world around you. It also helps you step outside of yourself and creates opportunities for deeper connections with others. I believe that understanding others is far more important than being understood.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

The creation process was filled with many ups and downs. I had to restart the photography and change team members along the way. At first, I relied on others, feeling that I didn’t have enough experience or knowledge to manage a project of this scale and scope.

The way I like to describe this part of my journey is that my higher power was showing me that I did, in fact, possess the ability, skills, and fortitude needed to succeed. What I learned along the way was to trust my instincts and my internal compass.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Joshuatreedream.com
• Instagram: @glimpsesofthejoshuatreedream
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/ZUFNFhiaNWEQzrTH/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: @joshuatreedream

Image Credits

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