Well, the life of an artist isn’t exactly what you’d call “structured.”
With a handful of projects going on at the same time, Dean Stanton is constantly buzzing from place to place, either finishing up a job or getting supplies ready for the next one.
So far, I’ve helped him outline his latest mural (one for a community garden in Calgary), painted with the kids camp, done some varnishing, and am getting ready to help set up for a large community mural to take place later this week. It would be great to have a boss like Dean! He’s easy-going and totally supportive of individual ideas. He understands how people work, and instead of getting frustrated of upset if things don’t go his way - he totally rolls with it.
Painting is almost therapeutic…gently brushing the colour on the canvas, whether staying in the lines or drawing outside, it’s a hands-on project, that gives you immediate results. I’m definitely a visual person, but am not one that’s able to articulate much of anything with a paintbrush. Dean’s style is funky – simple, but uplifting. You can’t help but smile when you see his zany cartoon caricatures and animated animals.
As far as my own painting ambitions go – I can definitely appreciate how tough it is to figure things out in a freelance world. You never know where your next job is coming from, or how long until you’ll be able to stock the fridge with something other than kraft dinner and hot dogs…
To be an artist, you have to sacrifice. Whether that sacrifice includes ever being able to wear pants that aren’t stained with paint, or larger things such as having a decent-sized savings account – the reason people become artists is because it’s their PASSION! Professions such as painters, photographers, musicians and actors, encompass the focus of the entire OWJ program! Artists become artists to express themselves and to create beauty – either for themselves or others.
There’s no guarantee that anyone will notice, never-mind like your artwork – but for some, it’s just something they have to do. Not many artists become rich and famous, but they continue to work at it because it makes them happy.
Ever wonder what it would feel like to paint for a living?! I have.
For the past few weeks all I’ve wanted to do is take a canvas, slather it in paint, and dig in.
Today, that dream came true!
Dean 'Saws-are-Manly' Stanton
This morning I met up with Calgary, Alberta artist, Dean Stanton at 8am (not sharp), for coffee. He’s established his own style, and has become somewhat of a local celebrity. His artwork adorns many homes and businesses, as well as a crop of local murals – the recognizable Sunalta School, especially.
Dean is hilarious; a ‘wild and crazy guy,’ with a strong feeling that art should be a team effort. In Dean’s mind, there’s no such thing as ‘high art’ – there’s only fun and creativity to be shared with everyone.
Paint Paint Paint
It’s this attitude that continues to bring him notoriety in every kind of circle in Calgary. He’s even developed a system of team-building/art cooperation, where he takes a large piece of plywood, makes a rough sketch on it’s surface, and then cuts it up. Everyone in whatever group he’s working with (kids, a corporate office, wedding party, etc), gets a piece of their own – to paint. Once everyone’s had their fun, Dean redraws the outline on top of the painted pieces, glues ‘em back together – et voila! A masterpiece.
Today, we had the pleasure of hosting a small group of kids from an arts camp, and making art together. I got to help sand the wooden pieces, and varnish some others from a freshly painted project. When the kids came, it was show time! We painted, flicked, finger-smudged, smeared, and painted again. It got on clothes, hands, shoes, and some of it even got on our canvases
My masterpiece!
It felt so great to get paint under my nails, and to see the kids having such a great time with it too. You never know what your piece is going to look like, until you’re done….and even then…how do you know when you’re done?!
Colours and creativity are what this week is made of, and I’m very much looking forward to it!
So – this post is totally late, but I swear, I’ll make it up to you…
Sea to Sky Highway from the air
Helicopter Pilot. This job is tough – no lie. Whether you’re fighting fires, flying a news/traffic chopper, doing search and rescue, piloting tourists, or even heli-logging, this job requires guts AND brains. You have to be willing to travel at the drop of a hat, hover dangerously close to the ground, and expertly maneuver through mountains. These pilots make life and death decisions in under a second, and do it all without anyone else on board even realizing…
Now – I don’t mean to make the position of pilot sounds ominous, or overly dramatic – but it is a pretty cool position to have!
Stuart Baxter of Britannia Beach Heli Tours showed me both the business and the flying side of the helicopter industry.
Lesson #1: To work as a pilot, you have to be patient! The industry can only handle so many positions, and if you’re going to get one of the coveted spots you’re going to have to pay your dues, sweep some hanger floors, and be ready to step-up when your time eventually comes. To be considered a competent pilot you have to have a certain number of flying hours under your belt. It’s a bit of a catch-22, as companies won’t hire you unless you have a certain number of hours, but unless you’re working – how are you supposed to fly?! To get these hours you have to either pay a decent amount of money to rent a machine, or find someone willing to let you get your hours on theirs.
Patience also comes in in regards to maintenance. Maintaining a helicopter is integral to…well…lives, really! Things have to run, and they have to run properly! And it takes time to get every part in it’s place and running smooth.
Pilot Stu and myself
Patience ALSO comes in regards to customers/clients and a new business. Britannia Beach Heli Tours is only in it’s second summer of business, so things were a little slow. The heli-pad, however, is strategically placed on the side of the highway and perfect for tourists making the trip between Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. We got a lot of traffic off the road, as well as by word of mouth.
Lesson #2: I would say the next most important lesson I learned, and this is more in regards to running a new business, but marketing is key. To get the word out there, you have to beat down doors, make those phone calls, and brainstorm like mad. Stuart’s a genius at this, and we spent many-a-time thinking up new ways to entice customers into a helicopter ride. ie: clown costumes, bus tour stops, and good ‘ol magnets! ;)
On Thursday, we even entertained a group of 3 and 4 year-old kids from a summer camp and taught them all about helicopters. It was pretty cool to see their faces light up, and compete for a position to sit in the pilot seat. Maybe a One Week Job program will start for kids that age?!
The Chief. Hiked to the top one day and flew over it the next!
Stuart loves the variety that comes with the job. So many avenues to go down – so many views to see! No trip is ever the same, whether it’s simply the weather, the landscape, or the people you’re flying with.
As far as my career future goes, however – I’m not sure that Heli Pilot is actually in the cards. I had a great time flying (did you SEE the video?!), and it was really gratifying to see guests so excited to go up and take their first ride. I think my mind was kind of still in ‘Event-Planning/Marketing Mode’ from Week 5 though, as at every turn I tried to find a way to help create more business for the company. And to be honest, I’m not sure I have the technical know-how to fly on a daily basis. I’m also not sure I want the responsibility of keeping others safe while soaring thousands of feet above the ground…
But here’s the kicker…the feeling of soaring, the feeling of freedom when you’re above everything else…the feeling of adventure…wow. That feeling is a passion in itself.
Washing windows on the chopper
On my last day, after expertly cleaning the windows (!), Stu took the door of the helicopter OFF for me to take pictures! I was nervous, but totally excited and in absolute AWE of what I got to take in. Words and pictures can’t do the scenes justice, but I am so grateful for the time I got to spend both in the air and on the ground at Britannia Beach. The mountains, the ocean, the wind…amazing.
A HUGE thanks to Stu and crew – I really appreciate your hospitality and the opportunity to see the world from such heights.
For the past five days, I’ve been backpacking with Peak 7 Adventures in North Cascades National Park. Peak 7 is a non-profit based in Spokane, Washington, that specializes in amazing outdoor adventures for at-risk teens. I was fortunate to go on one of their “Ascent” trips, backcountry wilderness trips that challenge the teen participants physically, emotionally and spiritually. This trip was unique since a youth group flew in from Minnesota to go on the backpacking trip. With 3 guides, 3 adult leaders, and 6 girls, we had a blast this past week!
It’s hard to put into words the magnitude of beauty I saw in the great outdoors. It was mind-boggling to look at the mountain peaks, the meadows, and dense forest, meanwhile pondering that God created it all!
In case you missed my first blog with some background about Peak 7, check it out here.
I love that Peak 7 really educates the participants about “Leave No Trace” Principles, navigation, and about other vital outdoor skills. What is “Leave No Trace?”
Leave No Trace is a set of 7 principles that center around the idea of enjoying nature, but not leaving evidence of being there.
For example, one of the principles is to “Leave What You Find.” There are some mighty cool rocks, sticks, and flowers, but if everyone started hauling off natural souvenirs, there would be no nature to enjoy!
To give you the play-by-play of the week:
Monday night, I went rock climbing!
Getting ready to climb!
It was my first time to actually climb outside. (I usually just climb on an indoor climbing wall.)
Tuesday morning, I woke up around 4:30 AM to drive with Nicole (one of the guides for the trip) to the
Hiking Boots, Jackets, Helmets, and More!
Warehouse. Upon arriving at the warehouse, I got some extra gear that I needed and got my food sack for the week. Check out the picture of the warehouse with plenty of gear to lend to participants.
Around 6:00 AM, all the youth participants showed up at the warehouse to get backpacks and other gear checked out for the week. To give you an idea of what I took on the trip:
Gaiters (go around hiking boots to keep debris out)
Headlamp (very important for when you have to pee in the middle of the night!)
Whistle (only used when you see a bear or are in an emergency)
Clothes (lightweight nylon pants and shorts, polyester t-shirts, & travel undies that dry super fast)
Food (instant oatmeal packets, lots of granola bars, cup of noodles for dinner, and jelly beans)
Raingear (waterproof jacket and pants)
Journal (a small hand-bound journal I made for the trip)
As you can see, the key to backpacking is to pack light and only bring essential items!
After helping the girls get their gear checked out and packed into their backpacks, we loaded up and drove about 4.5 hours to North Cascades National Park.
The drive was incredibly scenic and offered all of us the chance to sneak in a last nap before a full week of hiking.
About 4 hours into the drive, we stopped at the Ranger station to pick up a permit that allowed us to camp in the area. Then the rain came…
When I say rain, I mean LOTS OF RAIN!
We arrived at the trail-head and knew we were in for quite the adventure. The 12 of us girls sloshed through 3.5 miles of muddy trails and rain pouring down and finally made it to our camp, Fireweed Campsite. On that first night, everyone was worn out from the drive, the cold rain, and the hike, and ready to get to bed pronto! Before we could sleep though, we had to set up 3 tents.
After setting up camp, it was time to get some dinner! For dinner, each girl had 2 packages of cup of noodles in her food sack.
Honestly, I was pretty darn miserable the first night since I was soaked, (despite wearing a new waterproof jacket) cold, and hungry.
The trip guides went to the closest stream to get water to boil for the noodles and set up the mini-stoves. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting for boiling water, it finally boiled. The girls were troopers in spite of horrible weather and didn’t complain too much about our simple dinner.
After dinner, everyone ducked into their tents for the night as the rain continued to come down.
Settling in for the night and glad to be out of the rain
I could seriously write so much about this trip, but will split it up between multiple blog posts. I am flying home today from Spokane, but will post again with more details, pictures, and even a video!
My last night in Austin was a late one. “Last nights” are always filled with weird emotions. You have to be focused because there are always a lot of little things that need to be taken care of before departure – packing, laundering, ticket-buying, calling, etc. And you’re kind of sad because you’re going to be leaving, maybe you don’t want to leave, and you want to make sure you’re using your last hours up well, soaking it all up. So you want to hang out with as many people as possible. But doing chores and hanging out with people makes the time pass quicker. So does sleeping. So your best option is just sitting somewhere by yourself, alone, reflecting. But that can get depressing, and you can’t get depressed, because you need to gear yourself up for the new place you’re going to, because that place is probably going to be just as awesome as the one you’re about to leave.
“Last nights” are a little rough.
I stayed up late after Beth, David, and Matthew went to bed. I did some laundry, wrote a lot, and ate a lot of Beth’s chocolate chip cookies with craisins.
When I woke up the next morning, I showered and packed hurriedly. Cookies were in the kitchen again. Beth not only let me sleep in, but she packed some extra cookies for me to take on the road! I made sure David didn’t see me tear up. Every morning I shared with the Brookses came with a tasty breakfast taco and a cup of coffee, both of which were made by David. This Friday morning, David switched it up. Toasted French bread, eggs with shredded cheese, turkey bacon, and orange juice. The breakfast of association professionals.
I forgot to mention that Tuesday’s night of “America’s Got Talent”-watching came with a couple of Matthew’s chocolate-banana milkshakes. It was good, Matthew.
By Wednesday morning, I had stepped into the shoes of a Communications Manager and Business Development Manager, was working as a journalist as I finalized three press releases, and had attended two meetings, one as an association management trainee, and one as an association staff member. Not too lazy of me.
To finish off the releases, I had to obtain Beth’s input. As the CEO and President of the association giving out the awards, it was imperative that she give a few authentic, positive words on each of the recipients. On the way to work, I took down her words and fit them into the press releases after we arrived at the office around 7:45am.
9am brought the nominators of the award recipients. The plan was to film each nominator speaking about the person they had nominated, and the footage would be used for the presentation at the Annual conference. Josh and Beth let me sit in on the filming, and it was fun to be a part of yet another aspect of the association world. I enjoyed witnessing the different speaking styles of each of the nominators. Some were more conversational and funny, while some were more professional.
I’m back in my home state for a little bit, in the city of Austin, Texas! It feels so good to be here. Here’s the weekly hour and mileage update:
~769 miles from Denver to Austin by bus.
~5806 miles traveled overall.
~83 hours spent traveling overall.
And here’s the trusty weekly map update:
Haha that map is looking a little messy! This week, I’m working with the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE) as an Association Professional! I know you probably don’t understand that job title because I had issues of my own before actually working with the company. Let me try to help.
So – the smoke cleared enough for us to take off today, and fly from Squamish to Britannia Beach. Here’s a photo of me and Stuart in the air, and a video for your viewing pleasure!
I’ve apologized for inconsistent posting before, and here we are. I’m just going to stop with the apologies…
I think I may have indicated in the past that I enjoyed working at the pizzeria the most out of all the one-week jobs. We have a “problem” now, because that is no longer the case. I could easily say the same thing about my time with Coda Coffee this past week. That it was my best experience. And though I’ve told you nothing about the job I’m in right now, I really like it too. I’m conflicted!
I’ve always been hesitant to identify favorites, and this is why. So, forget what I “had” said. This is not to say that I will not have a favorite in two weeks, just that I’m taking recanting a statement. Simply remember that once upon a time, Michelle was against coffee. Then she did that one-week job thing, and now she drinks coffee.
Well, here we are…Week 6 already! At the moment, I am in the town of Squamish, British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada. I’m spending a week with a Helicopter Tour Company called Britannia Beach Heli Tours !
MOUNTAINS!
I’d like to first start out by saying how BEAUTIFUL the Rocky Mountains are! I will never tire of looking up at them, and love how they make me feel so safe and inspired.
Squamish is about 60km north of Vancouver, and on Sunday I caught a ride with my friends Kim and Robbie. They were very kind to offer their car as well as their company for the trip up! Before checking into my hostel, we stopped at The Chief – a huge mountain that sits at the entrance to the town. It’s a popular hike, and we eagerly started climbing the second peak.
It was a great 3 hours clambering over tree roots and granite rock faces. We even got in a little ladder/chain action up the side of a few steep pathways!! The view from the top was definitely worth the sweat we drained…and a big thanks to Kimmy and Rob for keeping me entertained with all their falsetto singing
I wish I had my photos downloaded, but I’ll have to show you the views in a later post.
So – on to Heli Tours! Squamish is known (unofficially) as Canada’s Outdoor Recreation Capital – and it’s easy to see why! With hiking, rock-climbing, kite-surfing, sailing, mountain biking, all just outside your door – it’s an outdoor lover’s dream come true. Britannia Beach is a 5 minute drive south of Squamish, and is where Britannia Beach Heli Tours has their office and heli-pad set up. They’re a small company that specializes in affordable trips along the Sea to Sky highway – the corridor from Vancouver to Whistler, B.C. You get mountains, oceans, glaciers, and lakes on-top-of-mountains! The company started up in 2009, and is quickly growing in popularity in the local adventure tourism industry.
At the Squamish Airport - notice the mountains hiding under the smoke
There’s a lot to know about flying! The first, and one of the most important things to consider when flying, is to make sure your chopper is properly maintained. Lucky me, I get to see the insides of a helicopter! Haha! The company is doing some regular maintenance on their machine, a Robinson R44.
An issue at the moment, however, is the amount of smoke in the air due to forest fires burning in the interior of the province. Visibility is tricky when there’s smoke – so again, safety is key. It’s pretty crazy, actually – my hair even smells like smoke it’s so heavy!
To become a helicopter pilot takes hundreds of hours of in-flight training. Emergency maneuvers are practiced and wind patterns are studied. Physics is a big part of flying – something I definitely need to learn more about! The company pilot Stuart Baxter, has been great at answering my questions, and has been kind enough to even let me stay at his house while I’m here. He actually got into this job because of a heli-ski trip he took a few years ago. He said that he found himself more curious about the helicopter, than about the fresh powder he had paid so much to ski! I guess that’s all it takes though – a genuine curiosity and who knows where you’ll get!
Flying has always been something I’ve loved – whether in airplanes on vacation, or the one helicopter shoot I did a few years back. I don’t fully understand how it all works yet, but I have always marveled at it. When I was young, I always had dreams that I was flying; I was convinced that if I jumped a certain way, or from a certain spot on the ground, I would magically take-off and travel wherever I wanted!
This is why I wanted to see what it was like to work in the aviation industry, what kind of trials and tribulations (such as smoke in the air!) they have to deal with, and what it takes to get off the ground.
Biking - Safety First!
But, I’m off to check in with the engineer and the pilot – fingers crossed this smoke clears and we can take off!
Greetings all! You may (or may not) know that we’re in the midst of fundraising for the last phase of the One Week Job documentary. Our goal: $4500 in 17 more days. Learn more and donate here.
In this latest update, I share the philosophy behind using “crowdsourcing” as a viable funding model for creative projects. While it may seem simple at first, it actually represents a much larger shift in how our society funds and creates content.
Enjoy! And if you know someone who’d be interested, please Facebook/Tweet to them all!
I am a traveling machine! After wrapping up an awesome week at Scott’s Bike Shop in Cleveland, TN, I flew across the U.S. on Sunday to Spokane, Washington. It’s hard to contain my excitement for my job this week: backpacking guide! There is a great non-profit based out of Spokane called “Peak 7.” Peak 7 is a non-profit that focuses on taking low-income and at-risk youth on outdoor adventures. They offer climbing, rafting, and backpacking trips. Unlike some organizations that cater to mainly affluent youth, I appreciate that Peak 7 does not exist to make money. They exist to make relationships with the kids, teach them about the outdoors, and to ultimately, show them Christ’s love throughout the trip. It’s so exciting that Spokane youth have the opportunity to explore the outdoors and learn from experienced guides through this organization.
I arrived to Spokane Sunday morning after a long day of flights from Tennessee. Austin, the Peak 7 coordinator, met me at the airport and took me to Zip’s, an amazing burger place, for lunch.
After a quick bite to eat, we headed over to the Peak 7 Warehouse to unpack gear from the previous week’s trips. I put up tents to dry out, cleaned boots, and tried to help get everything organized for this week’s trips. It was great to meet the Peak 7 staff, volunteers, and guides. Every person I talked to had a unique story about how they came to Spokane and found out about Peak 7. The organization has only existed for just under five years, but it’s incredible how far along they are. The warehouse alone is an achievement since most of the gear has been donated by different companies. There are some causes that I hear about and quickly forget about, but Peak 7 is definitely not one of those for me! I love what they’re doing and believe it’s a very worthy cause to have trips for at-risk youth. If you’re interested in donating, click here for a secure link.
Peak 7 is based in Spokane, but for the backpacking trip, we’re driving 5-6 hours to the North Cascade Mountains.
What is my job this week?
I am going on day a five-backpacking trip, which Peak 7 calls an “Ascent Trip.” I will be going with Nicole on an all-girls trip with 7-8 youth participants. Since I haven’t been to guide school or gone through Wilderness First Responder course, I’m basically a participant that is also job-shadowing. Nevertheless, I plan to get involved by building relationships with the kids, helping filter water, set up gear, and learning as much as I can during the week.
How am I feeling pre-trip?
This week will be unique since I will be gone all week and away from my laptop. I’m ecstatic to take a break from technology though and be fully engaged in the trip. Honestly, I am nervous that I won’t be fit enough to backpack for five days. This will definitely be a stretching experience, but I don’t want to be a person known for playing it safe and only doing things that are comfortable. I anticipate that this will be a memorable week and will help me see firsthand what it’s like to lead teens on wilderness trips.
I will be backpacking for five days so guess what that means! I won’t be blogging for five days! I plan to post again this coming Saturday with a detailed blog about the trip, complete with pictures and videos.
Thanks for following me on this journey this far.
Sincerely,
Kieley Best
Email me at bestweekjob@gmail.com with job offers, questions, comments, etc…
I have decided to keep coffee in my life beyond this week. I vow to research and find a cafe in the area that I’m in. One that I deem “good” using the information I’ve learned during my time with Coda Coffee Company, of course. I’m doing this because…I want to, and that’s always a good enough reason, in my opinion. But let’s go over the change in reasoning:
Being in my hometown has been great since I worked with a local business and I could zip home from work for dinner with my family.
A couple nights ago, I went on the Thursday night road ride. The “road ride” takes place on the road as you might have guessed.
There are four different groups of riders, with the groups being divided by pace and number of miles they ride.
I’m not new to cycling, but I’ve always ridden on a paved path or on a street with no cars. The thought of riding my bicycle on a busy street was a bit unnerving, but I wasn’t about to chicken out.
Feeling great after riding 18 miles on Thursday night
For my first night of riding, I rode with the “D” group. This group rides 15-20 miles and at a comfortable pace. Don’t let “comfortable pace” mislead you though; I was still huffing and puffing at times and I even endured some hills!
My fellow “D-group” riders were so welcoming and helped me figure out the gears on my bike and get used to road riding. I felt so cool to finally be in a cycling group riding through a major intersection. I’ve always admired cyclists from afar and Thursday night, I was one of them.
Talking business with David Coulter, co-owner of Scott’s
Meeting Stan, a local shirt printer who made me a custom Boise St. jersey
Thursday night road ride on Frontage Road (Cleveland, TN)
Doing a tune-up on my friend’s mountain bike
Wearing spandex
Putting clipless pedals on my bike (increases pedal efficiency)
Getting some used cycling shoes to use with my new clipless pedals
So, what did I think of working at a bike shop?
I was surprised by how interesting it is to work at a bike shop! There is a lot of variety between helping customers pick out bikes and gear, building and repairing bicycles, and keeping up with the business aspect of it. I liked how I could wear casual clothes everyday and not worry about getting dirty!
Favorite Part of the week?
I definitely enjoyed both the mountain bike ride and the road ride. The group rides are seriously amazing and there is so much comraderie between all the cyclists. I loved meeting new people from my hometown and telling them about the One-Week Job Program.
Least Favorite Part of the week?
It was frustrating at times to watch the mechanics work on bikes and not be able to contribute. Since I was only there for a week, I could only learn so much about repairing bikes.
Good Experience?
This week was phenomenal and I learned a ton! I would definitely consider a job in the cycling industry!
To cap off the week…
I just returned from a 9-mile bike ride with my dad! I was dying to try my new pedals and shoes to see if I could feel the difference. I definitely felt more fast and it was nice to not have my feet flying all over the place. My dad was pedaling HARD and still had trouble keeping up. To clarify, “clipless pedals” are pedals that a rider “clips into.” I know the name doesn’t make sense, but trust me on this one. Scottie gave me an explanation earlier this week that got lost in the bicycle files in my mind!
Scottie building a bike
The most valuable things I will take away from this week are not material; what I will treasure the most are the friendships I built
Stan printed a custom Boise St. jersey for me
with David, Scottie, Stan, Mike, and the other people I met this week. Each person was so hospitable and taught me something I needed to learn.
It’s been nice to be home for a week, but now it’s time to venture out in a huge way. I’m flying out early Sunday morning to Spokane, Washington for my next job.
Like many others in his generation, Sean Aiken couldn't tell you what he wanted to do with his life. So he started the One Week Job project. He traveled anywhere in the world working 52 jobs in 52 weeks. All his wages were donated to charity. Learn more
Naked Foundation
The new One Week Job student program is sponsored by the Naked Foundation: loving people through science, art, education and the environment.
Learn more
Sean and Ian will spend a day at your workplace gathering clips with employees about their jobs and why they enjoy it, and Sean will try out a few tasks in different departments.
The finished product will be a fun, informative profile of your company that you can post to your website providing potential clients, employees, and the general public an insight into what you’re all about without it sounding like a cheesy infomercial.
