I Wasted My 20s in Kitchens and Addiction—Then Rebuilt My Life at 30

I started working in kitchens at 13. By my late 20s, I was a head chef... and battling addiction. At 30, I walked away from everything to become a filmmaker. No plan. No safety net. Just me, chopping logs for £8 an hour to fund the switch, wondering if I'd made the biggest mistake of my life.

But here's what I learned about rebuilding your life when you think you've wasted it...Every experience - even the painful ones - gives you perspective, resilience, and honesty. The mistakes, the chaos, the lost years… they shape the stories we tell and the art we make.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction: If you think you've wasted your life
01:16 - My journey: Started in kitchens at 13
02:43 - The reality of demanding kitchen work
03:30 - The philosophy of small steps forward
04:10 - My transition into filmmaking
05:03 - Key lessons learned from my past
06:34 - Why I'm proud of my chef work
07:10 - Discovering filmmaking was possible
08:05 - How your past shapes your present
08:53 - Using your experiences as foundation
10:02 - The power of incremental progress
11:11 - Hypothetical: What if I could transform overnight?
12:23 - Your past is your advantage
13:30 - Conclusion: Everyone's journey is different


If you’re trying to rebuild your life through creativity, this is your reminder that you haven’t missed the boat. You’ve been preparing for it all along.


🎬 Filmmaking Gear I Use

(Affiliate links — if you purchase through these, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the channel.)

Shooting:
Main camera – https://amzn.to/4nCMqkJ

Other camera – https://amzn.to/46UABPA

Other other camera – https://amzn.to/46VmOs6

Filter system – https://amzn.to/4pUSCGk

Microphone – https://amzn.to/3VTLHzv

Other microphone – https://amzn.to/4nZKylQ

Main light – https://amzn.to/4ob7wqu

Fill light – https://amzn.to/48WjcZs

Tube light – https://amzn.to/4pRxOzr

Edit Suite:
Computer – https://amzn.to/42oJ78j

Backup setup – https://amzn.to/479tLHo

Edit drive setup – https://amzn.to/4o1QQRT

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