The Ember - Lighting the Torch
February 22nd, 2022. Not only is it my 27th birthday, but it’s a day that I feel marks true freedom for me as a creative, an entrepreneur, and as a person. I’m officially lighting the torch on a new brand, and a fresh presence for work that matters to me.
Lighting the torch is a symbol that dates back thousands of years.
For example, the flame is one of the most important symbols of the Olympic Games. It represents the fire Prometheus stole from the Greek god Zeus. In fact, the tradition of lighting a flame started in ancient Greece. And if you must know, yes, I am a bit of a history and mythology nerd.
But over the centuries, it’s become a symbol for a life and competitive spirit. That’s what I hope to instill in my own life, and in this business. A competitive spirit to push the boundaries of what even I believe can be done, but also a life that is actually my own life. Not someone else’s concept of what they think I should be doing with my life.
Fire & Flame is the phoenix rising from the ashes of my previous brand, Casey Nelson Media. The initial brand was a launching point to have separation between my creative endeavors and my ‘regular job’ (nothing is regular about being a news anchor and reporter, trust me - But that’s a different story). Fire & Flame was an idea sparked while listening to the Rally Caps podcast on a drive to work in late 2021, where the interview featured Ryan Browne of Forged in the North. I had always imagined removing my name from the actual business name and forging ahead under a new, unique moniker. Within just minutes, Fire & Flame popped into my noggin, and it simply stuck - as if someone had super-glued the concept to my brain.
Other than my Duck Toller, Diggs…THIS became my new baby.
While attempting to slowly develop a new plan to light the torch of Fire & Flame’s new launch, my girlfriend Susan, a non-stop freight train of ideas and taking action, helped kick things into a whole new gear. We found a logo developer, a brand concept, and built out pricing guides - and even worked on the financial side (GASP!) during our weekly ‘schemin’ and dreamin’ coffee stops. Frankly, I’m a typical creative entrepreneur - all of the ideas, but zero grasp on how the actual ‘business’ side of things works. I figured it out.
Now, am I the perfect businessman who can do no wrong? Absolutely not. I’m still learning. But that, to me, is what is so damn exciting about this whole thing. It’ll take time to mould and craft this vision into the optimal balance of building and sustaining client relationships, maintaining a creative drive, and having enough left in the tank to do what’s important when I get home.
I welcome each and every one of you to join me on this epic journey of life, and I ask that you support these dreams in any way you can - even if that’s something as small as a quick minute of encouragement.
I look forward to lighting the torch in this business - and doing the same for many other enterprises and lives - for many years to come.
Who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually find that stage for a documentary-related Oscar or film and voice a Super Bowl commercial. But again, only time will tell. For now, it’s just one foot in front of the other. And I’m glad you’re here to help me keep my balance.
All love.