I accidentally run into your web site and shocking, sad and some how not surprised to read your story. I came to USA to pursue my MBA degree back to 80’s (bad timing, prime rate was 22.50%). met my wife at the school married when we both only had a degree and walked into a cold world. With God’ grace, we finally made it. I did not been influenced by capitalism (consumer purchasing is 2/3 of US economic) because I grown up in Taiwan (third world county that time). With limited income and the only thing to survive is to live at a very low living standard and save every penny that you could. No vacation, only spent on the necessities.
Glad that you made a right decision and had a great father!!!
MikeMcMack
October 17, 2015 6:34 pm
Nasim, best luck to you, and prayers to you and your family for your new life path!
Venu
December 5, 2014 2:05 pm
Dear Nasim,
Congratulations!. I have been a reader of this site for 2+ years now. I completely read your annoouncement. What you do on this web site is outstanding. Why you do this is Truely Inspiring. A lot can be related to my own life. I admire your courage to decide to follow the true passion in life. This helps many readers including me, do some self introspection of our lifes.
All the vert best.
venu
Martin
November 19, 2014 7:16 am
Thanks mate, many people have felt the same as you did back then. I hope this message helps some.
ATB, Martin.
Daniel
November 17, 2014 12:12 pm
Nasim,
I wish you all the best. Godspeed on your new full time career.
But it’s funny to think how things are so different around the world. In most countries, is impossible for someone with 100k in debt and no savings to build a half million dollar home. The interest rate for a credit card can be as high as 10% a month, and about 15% a year for a new home. Some banks even stipulate that you must not exceed 30% of your family income on credit.
I can see way the temptation is so high in the US for someone to fall into debt.
Daniel, it is a good thing we walked out of that deal! You would not believe how the system lures people into buying stuff here. Banks increase your credit spending limit on credit cards every year, just to make you spend more. All they want people to do is buy buy and buy. But the irresponsibility lies with people of course first and I was one of them. I had debt, but my earnings were far higher than the debt I owed, so the bank had no problem in lending me half a million. In fact, I could get financing for even more if I wanted to! Crazy stuff…
Antony
November 16, 2014 4:55 pm
Nasim, what a revelation your message was. It is a very stark and real reminder that we all need to get our lives in check every now and again. You inspire a lot of people through your website here, so thanks for that. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share with us all what you have thus far, I hope everything works out just how you hope and wish you and your family much happiness. All the very best for the future. Kind regards Tony
Vilius
November 15, 2014 12:17 am
Nasim, you made the right strategic choice. Everyone who is in his forties in a corporate world knows that the end is approaching and you need a plan B. There are so many middle aged corporate folks with (currently) high salaries, no clear mid term prospects, dream houses and big mortgages. And so many are desperately trying to get rid of all that and find the way out. You have created a wonderful photography resource that has become bigger than Colorado. Nasim Mansurov has become a household name for photography enthusiasts across the globe. And you have attracted best talent to contribute to your website. With our abilities, your photography and writing skills and educational talent this was the logical way to go. I think you will find more ways to make money out of your website over time, as its popularity increases, along with your name as known photographer. And then you will build a dream house without a devastating mortgage. It will take longer, but it will be sustainable. All the best of luck, Nasim!
Cosmin
November 14, 2014 4:43 am
Respect!
Terrence
November 13, 2014 7:37 pm
Congratulations Nasim, I’m so happy to know that you are following your passion. I wish you the best and I hope to do the same someday.
Aaron L
November 13, 2014 7:04 pm
Wow… I have only discovered this blog a couple of hours ago, but I have to say – oh my Evolution that is a grand letter you wrote! I identify with each and every bit you say, and although I currently work in finance (not exec level) and from the feedback I get I appear to be doing very well in it, though that confuses me somewhat. My mind and heart has always been elsewhere. My main passion is rock climbing and I really want to teach that for a living as well as pursuing my own goals in that area and in others (photography is a more recent passion and would come a close second for a career choice). But taking the leap is hard indeed when there is a comfortable paycheck guaranteed if I just stay here a little longer… And I am all-too-aware that the longer I leave it the harder it will be to finally leap. In other words – it is a cowardly thing to do to not follow your passions. I congratulate you Sir on taking your leap. At least for now, you are a much braver person than I am – I hope to prove to myself otherwise in the near future!
Hi:
I accidentally run into your web site and shocking, sad and some how not surprised to read your story. I came to USA to pursue my MBA degree back to 80’s (bad timing, prime rate was 22.50%). met my wife at the school married when we both only had a degree and walked into a cold world. With God’ grace, we finally made it. I did not been influenced by capitalism (consumer purchasing is 2/3 of US economic) because I grown up in Taiwan (third world county that time). With limited income and the only thing to survive is to live at a very low living standard and save every penny that you could. No vacation, only spent on the necessities.
Glad that you made a right decision and had a great father!!!
Nasim, best luck to you, and prayers to you and your family for your new life path!
Dear Nasim,
Congratulations!. I have been a reader of this site for 2+ years now. I completely read your annoouncement. What you do on this web site is outstanding. Why you do this is Truely Inspiring. A lot can be related to my own life. I admire your courage to decide to follow the true passion in life. This helps many readers including me, do some self introspection of our lifes.
All the vert best.
venu
Thanks mate, many people have felt the same as you did back then. I hope this message helps some.
ATB,
Martin.
Nasim,
I wish you all the best. Godspeed on your new full time career.
But it’s funny to think how things are so different around the world. In most countries, is impossible for someone with 100k in debt and no savings to build a half million dollar home. The interest rate for a credit card can be as high as 10% a month, and about 15% a year for a new home. Some banks even stipulate that you must not exceed 30% of your family income on credit.
I can see way the temptation is so high in the US for someone to fall into debt.
Daniel, it is a good thing we walked out of that deal! You would not believe how the system lures people into buying stuff here. Banks increase your credit spending limit on credit cards every year, just to make you spend more. All they want people to do is buy buy and buy. But the irresponsibility lies with people of course first and I was one of them. I had debt, but my earnings were far higher than the debt I owed, so the bank had no problem in lending me half a million. In fact, I could get financing for even more if I wanted to! Crazy stuff…
Nasim,
what a revelation your message was.
It is a very stark and real reminder that we all need to get our lives in check every now and again.
You inspire a lot of people through your website here, so thanks for that.
Thanks for taking the time and effort to share with us all what you have thus far, I hope
everything works out just how you hope and wish you and your family much happiness.
All the very best for the future.
Kind regards
Tony
Nasim, you made the right strategic choice. Everyone who is in his forties in a corporate world knows that the end is approaching and you need a plan B. There are so many middle aged corporate folks with (currently) high salaries, no clear mid term prospects, dream houses and big mortgages. And so many are desperately trying to get rid of all that and find the way out. You have created a wonderful photography resource that has become bigger than Colorado. Nasim Mansurov has become a household name for photography enthusiasts across the globe. And you have attracted best talent to contribute to your website. With our abilities, your photography and writing skills and educational talent this was the logical way to go. I think you will find more ways to make money out of your website over time, as its popularity increases, along with your name as known photographer. And then you will build a dream house without a devastating mortgage. It will take longer, but it will be sustainable. All the best of luck, Nasim!
Respect!
Congratulations Nasim, I’m so happy to know that you are following your passion. I wish you the best and I hope to do the same someday.
Wow… I have only discovered this blog a couple of hours ago, but I have to say – oh my Evolution that is a grand letter you wrote! I identify with each and every bit you say, and although I currently work in finance (not exec level) and from the feedback I get I appear to be doing very well in it, though that confuses me somewhat. My mind and heart has always been elsewhere. My main passion is rock climbing and I really want to teach that for a living as well as pursuing my own goals in that area and in others (photography is a more recent passion and would come a close second for a career choice). But taking the leap is hard indeed when there is a comfortable paycheck guaranteed if I just stay here a little longer… And I am all-too-aware that the longer I leave it the harder it will be to finally leap. In other words – it is a cowardly thing to do to not follow your passions.
I congratulate you Sir on taking your leap. At least for now, you are a much braver person than I am – I hope to prove to myself otherwise in the near future!