Meet Jill K | Photographer & Data Analyst

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jill K and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jill, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
If you asked me 10 years ago how I defined success, I would tell you money. I’m not talking ‘money’ money either, I’m talking a modest middle class wage. This may seem a small and odd definition but I grew up poor, at times my family of four lacked a proper roof over our heads. I have gone from sleeping quite literally on cement of abandond buildings, with only a shopping bag full of belongings to a ‘successful’ young woman. I am the first of my family to have finished college, an education in which helped me achieve a high salary right off the stage. I believe that my life paints the picture of the perfect rags to riches American Dream. While I am living the 9 to 5, corperate America version of success that I had set for myself I have discovered something insane —

Money does’t buy happiness. And happiness is success. I got my first job when I was 12 and it was that money my family depended on for meals, that money would occasinally get us a motel 6 to sleep in for the night. I only ever knew one mode: survival. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I was able to slow down the 15 year grind that was my life. I had finally done all the things I set out to do, master’s degree, beat the number I had in my head for an ideal salary and had enough to properly provide for my family. No more motel 6. I made it, I am successful, or so I thought.

Something was missing, passion. The money is nothing without the passion and happiness to back it up. I have passion for travel and photography so, I became a ‘yes’ man. This past year I have been saying yes to every experiance thrown my way and making room for what is on the other side of the desk, the world. I hope to continue to grow my instagram as well as some up and coming projects to a point in which the desk job becomes a thing of the past. I am not yet in a place where leaving my full time job is an option but the second I am, I will choose happiness. Following a dream and not a mathmatical solution to success is scary and incredibly difficult but I am excited for the journey ahead.

Success today is the light in my sister’s smile, the laughter amoung friends, clocking out, logging off and checking in. Success is living mindfully not extravagantly, consider the impact on the items you buy and the purpose you are buying them. My goal is to portray only that through my social media and inspire others to give up the idea that money equals success as well. It’s not how many presents are under your tree, its who you share your precious moments with.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My professional career is a winding road of luck and hard work. I don’t love admitting this but it really is who you know and not what you know. I never took a sememster off from 18 to 24, I changed my mind about 4 times but I ended up with an AS. in Biology, AS. in Business Administration, BA in Fiance and a MBA in data analytics. What the hell right? I wanted to be a doctor and then a financial advisor and well now I am an overpaid excel master. I knew in my soul that I wanted to be an important business woman when I was in school. Thought’s of pant suits and corner offices got me through years of higher education all to end up in my sweat pants at home. My position is fully remote allowing me to work mostly on my own time as long as projects are completed and spend my 2 hours that I would otherwise be in the car each day on my side gigs, my passions.

Instagram is a fun outlet for my photography and it gives me a great way to showcase the travel and knowledge that I have collected. My goal for it would be to become more educational on the enviornmental and humanitarian front. Leaving an impression that lasts through this creative outlet is why I do it. I am truly greatful that I am in a career that allows such flexibility but I do not find joy in data sifting. I know that the journey has yet to really begin as the next chapter holds many more obsticles to get to a place in which my career and my passions allign.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
While I love Denver my favorite city in Colorado this far is Colorado Springs. The town is so perfectly sized for the best food, fun and adventure. A short hour or so from Denver it is the perfect get-a-way from the hussle and bussle of the city and home of my absolute favorie resturant, The Rabbit Hole, The resturant is located in an old train tunnel and the entrance is a very ellegant metro stairway decorated in tea lights. As you may have guessed by the name, the Alice in wonderland themed bar is well decked out keeping the theme throughout.

For day time adventures, there are no shortages of hikes in the area, 10-15 minutes from downtown are some of the most incredible trails I have ever tred. If my BFF hasn’t had enough walking with all the miles on our hiking boots, the Cheyanne Mountain Zoo is an absolute must see. I cannot even begin to describe this one, just go. I thought “it’s just a zoo” the first time I went and I left thinking “It’s the ONLY zoo!”

We would stop off for some classy drinks at a sneaky little alley bar called shame and regret before hitting the town for some bar hopping. Mix in a little hammock reading and some hottubbing perhaps and we would have our perfect little vacation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, we did have much but we always had eachother. My partner, for his unconditional support. And the 12th grade school counselor that pulled me out of class to help me apply to college. xo

Instagram: outgrowthebox

Image Credits
Outgrowthebox