Today is the first day of the next chapter of my life. It’s definitely a different kind of a first day than I’ve ever experienced before. There is no orientation. There is no meeting new people (well, the day isn’t over yet so you never know). There is no paperwork, meetings, or learning new workflows. Instead, there is a world of possibility in front of me with plenty of unknowns to accompany it. To say the feeling is bittersweet would be an understatement. In general, I’m fairly good at looking at the positive in most situations. However, some changes are harder than others and this one isn’t the easiest.
Many people have been asking me “what’s next?” in the last few weeks. To be completely honest, I’m not sure. I have a few things that I think would be fun to do. We’ll see if they pan out into something bigger or not. At this point, I honestly don’t think I’m in the place to say what I’m absolutely going to do. I used to be self-employed and really liked it. However, that was about seven years ago and I will admit, this morning was weird. I won’t say it was a good weird or a bad weird, it was just weird… or maybe different is a better word. There are mixed feelings with everything right now and while I have a sense of opportunity, there is also a flip side to that coin as well.
There are many paths that could be taken right now and I’m just not sure which one I want to go down. A few things I do know though. I know I’m passionate about making a difference, and a positive one at that. I’m going to use what I have at my disposal to do that. In the short term, I know exactly what my focus will be on (no matter how I’m feeling).
Daps Magic
I’m definitely going to be sticking my head down and working on Daps Magic a whole lot more. Thanks to my friend Drew, the website has undergone a fairly substantial brand refresh… and we aren’t done. There are more surprises in store that we are working on. I’m very excited about these updates. There will be more than just cosmetic changes to the site though, there will also be some new content series coming out that will be announced at a later date. They are exciting and I look forward to sharing them with you. For now, Daps Magic will continue to be a website dedicated to being a safe and positive space on the internet for Disney geeks. We will continue to focus on posting Disney and geek news as it happens. It isn’t, and won’t be, a place that goes crazy by posting unconfirmed rumors or sensationalized theories. Instead, the news will always be the news, the reviews will be reviews, and it will be done in a way that is looks to the great journalists of the past. This may not be as exciting as other approaches, but I find it very rewarding.
On the media side of Daps Magic, there will continue to be content like GEEKS CORNER, Daps Vlog, Disney Reporter, Whistling Ukulele, Daps Magic Live!, Daps Watch, Disney This Day and some other ideas that we are working out the details on… including potentially a new podcast that the details are still being hammered out on that will be different than anything we have done before at Daps Magic and will bring a different approach to one of my Disney passions.
Photography
Through the last decade or so, I have found that I really love photography. I love capturing the stories that I see through the lens and being able to relive those memories as I revisit the photos. I have also really enjoyed taking pictures of friends for various projects, or just a day in the park. Occasionally, I’ve also been known to shoot a wedding or two. I’m going to continue to hone this skill and explore it and will be offering photo sessions for those who would like. Photos by Mr. Daps will provide that opportunity. I look forward to collaborating with friends and beyond in the future as we take what I hope will be some fun pictures for some fun reasons. This could be for brand ambassadors, graduations, birthdays, engagements, weddings, or just because.
Home-Based Business
For years I have run a home-based business with a company that I absolutely love as an Independent Distributor. I love the products and continue to consume. I love the people I work with and consider them some of the greatest people and friends I’ve ever made. I also enjoy the business and the opportunities it has given me. I’m going to continue to run this business as well. This company also has a non-profit organization called the Kalogris Foundation (RKF) that I love. It feeds kids around the globe and I have visited Haiti to work with the Foundation several times. Those trips have given me the opportunity to see firsthand what the RKF does and how much of an impact it makes.
So what’s next? I’m not entirely sure. I do know that I will continue to pursue the passions mentioned above and nurture them as they continue to grow and blossom. At this point, I don’t want another “desk job.” I want to be out and about and to make an active difference doing different things. I want to be a positive force in the communities that I work with and the people I help.
Speaking of people, I also know I want to do all of this with awesome people. I’m thankful for the people that have come into my life and who have been so supportive during this transition time. I can’t imagine a big change like this without the amazingly positive friends and family that are around me. This next chapter will be a grand new adventure. What the adventure will look exactly like, I really don’t have a clue. I am going to keep moving forward on it, however. I also will continue to write about it as I feel the inspiration so that you, my friends, can continue to go on this adventure with me.
Thank you for the support and the kindness!
Mr. DAPs
Whatever comes next, you definitely won’t be doing it alone! ❤️❤️❤️