We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sushila Kandola a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sushila, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think to be successful, one cannot be a slave to their own idea of success. And honestly, I believe most of us are. The irony is that we do this to escape some other person’s idea of success; one that we believed would choke us and make us despise ourselves– at least I know that’s why I chose the path that I did, and why in the end I hated it.

I remember another videographer telling me that they worked 24/7 to avoid working a 9-5 job. They said this with pride of course, and I think they truly were happier this way. But how many of us convince ourselves that “so will we?” And mold our ambitions thus. I’ve noticed that this is the new trend for the ideal work-life; setting “your own hours.” Being “your own boss.” But as I approached this lifestyle, or at least my version of flirting with it and observing how it worked for others, I realized it was not me setting my hours, not in the least. As a creative contractor, I was beholden to many clients and their many dreams. All the while never having time for my own passions and projects. And while others could pause their working brain at 5pm when they clocked in their card, mine dwelled on well into my dreams. If I wasn’t doing something at the moment, it was what I needed to be doing, or wasn’t doing enough of. Why couldn’t I be this self-created modern American?
We (creatives and entrepreneurs alike) often cage ourselves to attain freedom, and I suppose we can achieve a pale substitute of achievement by doing this if this is our only true goal. Humans can do most things they set themselves to – we’ve no lack of quotes on the heights and upper echelons of achievement, and which rung of the ladder we dare tread to make it there. But do we want the same thing forever? I mentioned earlier that before I had no time to pursue my own creative projects, that I had signed myself up on a path where each milestone was helping another achieve theirs: a few years ago, I had completed a trailer for a documentary I was hired to film. At this time in my career, the footage and work I had done was the pinnacle of my creative efforts. It was excellent. It was meaningful. I made little money, and accepted promises as payment instead. Just before the full project was completed, the client flipped on me in an ugly way, and in a few words, the whole had to be abandoned. I could not pursue what was not my own, and it was all for naught but experience. Experience. That’s what everyone says, isn’t it? “At least you got the experience.” But what I realized was I could have reaped the same and more if I had simply focused these efforts on a project of my own, with people I trusted, on truly my own terms. I could be nurturing myself and my vision, instead of creating my own trap of codependency in my work life. Work for myself? Ha. If only I did. The only thing keeping me from that dream, was that I needed money, and I had chosen videography as my profession, not my passion. Which works for some. For me – I suppose I was much too free-spirited to truly be my own boss. And that’s okay.

Will this story help anyone? I don’t know. It goes against everything we’ve brought ourselves to believe, doesn’t it? Yet I realized that I had made myself a slave to my old idea of success and what I wanted. When I was fifteen, someone told me sometimes when you make your passion your job, you ruin it for yourself, because now you’ve attached stakes to it. My fifteen years told me, no, it is a privilege to do what you love every day, I will settle for no less. And as frustrating it is to suddenly doubt your fifteen-year-old wisdom, I do. Not that I think I can’t achieve it – I easily could; I’ve no lack of self-belief, and most of my generation has ample self-confidence to go around. No no. But ten or so years later, what do I really want? To be a slave to my old dreams? To be successful one has to adapt, and empty the cup of what they think success is. Don’t be stubborn and cling to what is not working, even if it is “working.” Now I take what I want, do the projects I believe in, and the only thing I’m beholden to is what I believe in; and the other half of the day, I’m a real estate agent—–maybe I’m a glutton for punishment.

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.

My job description has changed a little since my last interview: I’m still an independent filmmaker when I can be, I still offer videography, editing, writing, and creative video services, where I’m a one-woman band most of the time, and can do several different positions on set. The other half of the day I’m a real estate agent, following in the footsteps of my dad, being able to eat and buy groceries now being one of my passions.

Helen Stephenson at Yavapai College and one of the founders of the Prescott Film Festival, her program at YC, inspired me and my fiancee to get into the film world, and we still collaborate on as many projects as we can. I will never forget those days with our rag tag group of aspiring creators – nothing will in fact compare to those days of hope and promise. In a way I wish they had never ended.

I am proud to be able to offer professionalism, and high-quality work, representing what one can achieve with minimal gear in today’s industry. Does it negate the need to hire me? Not really, because you can’t replace a good eye, a good script, and experience in all the little surprises.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think there are a thousand parallels between creatives and non-creatives. No one is truly a non-creative. Creatives just believe they are more tortured beings. And maybe we are but we do it to ourselves and deserve little pity. I think mixing the two labels is essential to a fulfilling life and career and we do it everyday. Creatives may struggle at times to see how their craft is needed in times when the economy is suffering, but this is true of many professions, regardless of creative pursuit. Art is indispensable, and life is a roller coaster, no matter which car you are in.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Everyone knows you must have a contract when you are an independent contractor. We know this – yet sometimes I feel as creatives this aspect of the job is tricky, unsavory, and we never want to seem like we don’t trust someone. But really. Don’t trust anyone. Get it in writing. No verbal promises. I’ve learned that when someone wants to convince you to join their project, they are very willing to give you the world they are sure to conquer. Once you begin working, or get close to world conquering, they wonder why they needed you in the first place. Even if you carried the whole thing, you must have done it so seamlessly they forgot you were there at all. I’m a realtor now, so I say, get a contract, and only take the project if you love the project – not where it will take you, not because the person might know someone at such and such company and it might might just be the next big thing. What if it isn’t, do you still want to do it? Would saying no give you more time to do things you believe in? Your time is an investment. Don’t spend it on maybes if you forget yourself in the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: sushiksvideostyles.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sushiksvideostyles9987
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9286884/