When I reflect on the evolution of industries through technology, I’m amazed at how much has changed—and how quickly. I still remember the early 80s when I took a computer class, and the machine stretched the length of an entire wall. Fast forward to today, and my iPhone holds exponentially more data and fits in my pocket.

When I started in broadcast television, we shot commercials using stills on a green screen. Now, advertisers and marketers have access to cutting-edge technology that can produce cinematic-quality content. Back then, creating print ads was a hands-on, labor-intensive process. I would sketch out concepts by hand and take them to the local newspaper or print shop, where they would use typesetting machines to lay out text and images. Final proofs were printed and reviewed manually, and any changes required redoing the entire process. Today, with digital tools, the same work can be done in minutes, allowing for endless revisions and creativity.

My journey with photography has followed a similar transformative path. I remember Kodak film and the excitement of picking up printed 35mm images, hoping at least a few of my shots turned out. Fast-forward to today, and digital photography has made it possible to capture thousands of high-quality images on a single memory card, edit them instantly, and share them worldwide with a tap. What once felt like magic now fits into the palm of my hand.

My first home computer came in 1998, complete with the screech of dial-up internet. Before Kindles, I remember buying my first Nook, and long before that, there was the magic of flipping through Reader’s Digest or roaming the aisles of bookstores for paperbacks. Audiobooks once lived on CDs; now they’re just a download away. Friday nights meant trips to Blockbuster with my kids, and I remember being thrilled by the novelty of Redbox. And music? I’ve enjoyed it on vinyl, eight-tracks, cassettes, CDs, and now digital streaming.

These technological shifts didn’t just change how we work and play—they reshaped entire industries. And while it might feel overwhelming at times, I’ve always believed in the philosophy: evolve or die. I’ve never been one to fight the tide of innovation. Instead, I’ve embraced it, whether it meant adapting to new tools, learning new skills, or simply keeping an open mind about what’s next.

From hand-drawn print ads to Photoshop, Kodak film to iPhones, handwritten letters to social media, and Blockbuster to streaming services, technology will always keep moving forward, and with it, so will industries and the ways we live our lives. It’s not about holding on to the past—it’s about blending the lessons from where we’ve been with the possibilities of where we’re going. For me, that’s the essence of progress.