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

Hi Stefani, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
“Life moves pretty fast. You don’t stop and look around once in awhile you could miss it.”

It took me a long time to find a work life balance – I’m still working on it honestly! I grew up watching my mom who went above and beyond. She wasn’t able to go to college, so finding a job that would hire her without a degree tended to be a challenge at times. When she would get hired, I think she felt or thought she had to work 10x harder than the others to prove she didn’t need that degree. So seeing that taught and encouraged me to do the same, always work hard, even if it meant not really having those work/life boundaries or balances. There was a job that needed to be done.

I grew up around video and photography. My grandpa started it all, my uncle – they were huge inspirations of mine – still are. Not only technically but how to look at something with a creative eye. How to use a lens, how to not just tell a story but have your audience feel it.

My first job in this industry was with a YouTube channel. I will not be making it because well – I was young, still learning about myself and life in general and unfortunately that content will now live on the internet forever. It was an Incredible learning experience none the less! Anyways, there was no work/life balance whatsoever. The hours were insane, we worked Monday through Sunday, it was a bit of a free for all.

Going from that, into my next role as a digital videographer for the Colorado Avalanche it was similar in that fact that it was not your typical 9 to 5 – Que Dolly! It was a Monday through Sunday 8am to 1am kind of role. The team’s schedule was our shedule. You’re getting calls, texts, emails, at all hours, taking your laptop everywhere with you. It was very go go go, but I loved it. It was exciting! I was going to so many incredible places, getting to tell so many amazing stories with my lens, getting to truly create and be a part of something so special. Then i started to notice how much of MY life I was missing out on.

Time with my family, my friends, my pup, sleep – I had no balance at all. I started to realize how badly it was affecting my mental health and you start to wonder – what’s truly important to me? Yes, this job is really cool – but at what cost? How many birthdays am I going to miss? How many moments with my grandparents who are getting older? I’m not even getting 30 minutes for myself to go to therapy anymore. After I left that job I promised myself moving forward I would never go back to not having a balance or boundaries. Life is far too precious and I don’t want to look back and be like, “oh yeah I missed all that because I was working.” I want to always strive my best to work hard and be great at what I do – but I don’t want to lose what’s important or myself in the process.

I’m at an organization now that truly encourages, and supports a work life balance and that speaks volumes. I still have to practice myself, i’ll get so caught up or excited about a project sometimes I’ll overdue – but hey! Im a work in progress. Unlearning these habits takes time. Just remember what’s important to you, and that you can say “no.”

To quote the Queen, Queen Latifah – “It ain’t that serious.”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think I’m just truly so grateful to be able to do what I do – I don’t take it for granted. It’s not easy to set yourself apart in this industry. It’s constantly growing, changing, and there are so many incredibly talented people. I’m always willing and wanting to learn. I’m not the most technically skilled, but that you can teach. I always create from an outside the box perspective, look at things from all perspectives, and treat all I work with or run into kindness. That you can’t necessarily teach.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family and friends – the love I have around me is unmatched. I am
Who I am because of them

Website: https://itshappening.blog

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steffybabay?igsh=MTRidnNicDl3NTZ5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

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