Brandon Stanton

I think everyone feels alone in their sadness, and there's a certain value to hearing other people's sad stories.

In July of 2010, I lost my finance job in Chicago. Instead of updating my resume and looking for a similar job, I decided to forget about money and have a go at something I truly enjoyed. I'd purchased a semi-professional camera earlier that year and spent my free time taking photos in downtown Chicago.

If I had sat around and waited until I had an idea to be a successful photographer, I would still be in finance.