I began my company almost fifteen years ago to support myself as an Apple trainer. Over the years it grew to become what it is today – a staff of ten, creating news, information and training for a worldwide audience. We’ve produced hundreds of hours of audio and video programming, along with thousands of tutorials – releasing new material every week.
What we have accomplished is amazing – but, I’m exhausted. Also, while our new state-of-the-art production studio allowed me to create programs and training that I would never have been able to create otherwise, it became a “Bridge Too Far” in that it never generated the revenue we needed to support it. I can no longer afford to keep it.
I love our industry – I’ve been working in media and technology for almost 50 years, starting in high school. I can’t imagine working anywhere else. But our industry is changing and I need some time to step back and see where it’s headed. I can’t do that running a company that’s creating so much original content every week. The deadlines are too tight. My team and I are running so quickly amidst the trees that we aren’t able to see the larger forest.
So, the time has come for me to move in a different direction; though I am not yet sure what that direction is.
For the next few weeks, we will continue doing weekly webinars, all our websites will continue to work, new material will be added every week into our Video Training Library and there will be a new Digital Production Buzz every Thursday.
However, changes are coming. My last newsletter will be Feb. 29 (cool that it ends on Leap Year’s Day). Our last live Wednesday Webinar will be Wednesday, March 2. The Buzz will continue for the next few weeks, but we’ll make a decision in March on how and whether to continue the show.
If you are a member of our Video Training Library, ALL our training remains online with new titles added for the next month. Later today, all current members will get an email from Debbie describing how our service will evolve going forward.
I will be keeping all my currently scheduled speaking and training commitments – like BVE, corporate training, user group training and such scheduled from now till May. I may be moving on, but I’m not dead.
This also means that, starting immediately, I’m looking for buyers for both the LarryJordan.com and DigitalProductionBuzz.com websites. I’ve spent years building these into worldwide resources for our industry; generating millions of viewers. I’m looking for a partner to take these over and continue to grow them into the future.
Thinking of partners, I’m delighted to announce that we have a new partnership with CreativeLIVE. During the next few weeks, all of my downloadable training will be moving to their website. Plus, I’ll be creating new training for them in the coming months.
Here’s my new landing page on their website: www.creativelive.com/larry-jordan
Think of this landing page as a sneak peek. A few initial titles are already on their website. The “Official Launch” will occur the first week in March. I’ll keep you informed.
– – –
A company is products and customers, of course, but for me, a company is the people in it. One of the saddest things, for me, is saying goodbye to one of the most skilled, dedicated and talented teams I’ve ever worked with. They make coming into work a joy. I count on their guidance and advice every day. They deserve special mention, as many of you have dealt with them on the phone or email:
It is an extraordinary group; which makes saying goodbye all the harder. I will miss them.
I also need to thank my wife, Jane. Running a small business is a never-ending challenge, with no set hours and continual interruptions. The fact we have been able to grow and accomplish so much is due to her love and support. This company would not exist without her and I am deeply and humbly grateful.
And I will miss you. The motto of our company is: “Helping media pros get jobs, improve their skills and keep clients happy.” These are good goals to dedicate a life. I love teaching and sharing ideas with you. I enjoy spending Sundays thinking about and writing my weekly newsletter. I am challenged every day by your emails and doing my best to answer your questions.
But the time has come to move on.
The reason I’m telling you now is that I want to give you time to get the training you need, my staff time to get ready to move into the next phase of their lives, and me time to wrap things up cleanly.
It is time to say goodbye, but not to our industry, nor to you. I’m looking forward to whatever the future brings – and happy to consider any invitations. In the meantime, I have two great websites and a really killer studio that all need a new home.
Take care, it has been an amazing time. I’m honored that I could share it with you. I wish you all the success in the world.
Stay in touch.
P.S. I am amazed, stunned and humbled by everyone’s comments. Overwhelmed, actually. I just wish I could have found another solution. Thank you very, very much for all your kind words.
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276 Responses to The Time Has Come to Say Goodbye – for a while…
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Bob Searl says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:06 am
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Ron Blau says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:08 am
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Kevin Murphy says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:10 am
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Paul Kagawa says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:13 am
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Tom Munnecke says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:14 am
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Michael Kienitz says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:17 am
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Evan Fitzer says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:17 am
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George Cuttress says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:21 am
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Joe Hackett says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:32 am
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Daniel Todd says:
February 15, 2016 at 9:48 am
← Older Comments Newer Comments →After 50 years of still photography. I picked up FCPX for the first time two years ago and I was hopelessly lost. I subscribed in my second month. Your vast library has been vital to me as I have learned the art and science of video editing. Thanks so much for showing that climbing the “learning mountain” can be both effective and fun.
Changing direction does’t mean disappearing, and it often foretells a renewal of mind and spirit leading to even better things. The digital production world is not through hearing from you by a long shot. You’re still too young!
I’ll be looking for a reemergence somewhere. Best wishes to you and your great staff.
Thanks for everything, Larry. I’ve learned a lot from you, especially about FCPX. Your way of presenting information is so savvy and your mellow voice and way of speaking encourage learning. All the best for your next venture!
Ron
Larry,
The folks who have already responded appreciatively have captured so much of my feelings that I’ll simply say, “Amen!” to those. But, from another perspective, I wish to offer information that may suggest possibilities for your future work.
I celebrated my 80th birthday two weeks ago, and your impact on my life has been significant in that you have empowered at least one member of the geriatric set to do things that otherwise would have been most difficult to achieve.
Your FCPX training enabled me to produce many of my 279 (and counting) YouTube videos, which are mostly in service to our community. I may never win national awards for the work, but it is of a much higher quality — and sophistication — than would otherwise have been possible for me, without your training.
But, the important point, for me, is the realization that we so-called learning-resistant elder folk can learn — and delight in it — when the teaching process is as you have crafted it.
Given that I spent 40+ years as a trainer and training designer, crafting real-time programs, I have some sense of what high-quality training should be. Yours made the cut, hands-down, and I can think of only one other person in the business who can fit that standard, so it is a microscopic group, in my opinion.
Therefore, I suggest that you think a bit about the implications of another, possibly interesting, market segment. I see a lot of my contemporaries working with smart phones, tablets, and more serious camera gear, these days. Maybe that’s a new and different niche to add to your future plans?
Whatever route you take, please keep me in your loop. I hope to sharpen my skills a lot more before my “final take,” and can’t imagine getting there without your guidance.
Sincerely,
Kevin Murphy
Larry, thanks for all the advice and guidance over the years. Your generosity and expertise helped us navigate the enormous changes that the editing world has gone through recently. Best wishes on your next endeavors.
bummer…. Larry, ever since taking your seminar in San Diego, you have been a great source in helping me grow in my film making and editing efforts.
I was wondering how you could keep up the pace, and the intense personal connection that you maintained.
Maybe one way out would be to keep up the same kind of business, but with a more scalable business model. There is only one of you, and you are the single choke-point for everything that happens. Maybe you can just shift your business model a bit to offload your workload to others, and retain your loyal customer base.
P.S. Your greatest business value is your customer base, not your domain names 🙂 I suggest you take some time off to walk in real woods, and call this a sabbatical, not a “good by”
Best of luck Larry with your future endeavors, change is liberating. There will always be good cheese when you return to Wisconsin and a bevy of drones.
Larry, in 2008 I drove hundreds of miles attend your Power Up with FCP Studio seminars in Vancouver, British Columbia. I still have the certificates you presented on the wall in my edit suite today. I have followed your blogs, used your training, and listened to The Buzz since then. Thanks for being out there, and rest assured, I WILL NOT take those certificates down. 🙂
All the Best, Larry
Thank You.
Larry,
I am a 72-yearold amateur, who garners great pleasure from working in video. For the last 12-years I have utilized your books and instructional videos. In 2009 I suffered a heart attack and several small strokes which affected my cognitive and memory abilities a great deal, and the climb back has been difficult. There is little doubt in my mind that forcing myself to continue editing, using your teachings, has had a lot to do with my recovery, although I’ll never be 100%, editing has helped build new paths and bridges within my brain. For financial reasons, I’m still working with early versions of final cut and Larry Jordan (Lynda) training, I still try to watch your Webinars whenever I can, I still enjoy them.
I’ve had my own business’ for over 50+ years and I know the difficulties and pitfalls you speak of…. My heart goes out to you and all of your staff, I wish you all the very best, durring this very difficult time.
I thank you so very much,
George
Larry
Such a great guy – and an incredibly entertaining and specifically accurate teacher- with allowance for discovery.
Thank you.
Loved being in class with you. You taught me final cut and showed me that its possible to have a career in media and as well as an editor. I for one am glad to hear you’ll spend some time outside of the trees to see the “forrestI” – this must have been a difficult decision and hope that your future endeavors bring you joy. Thank you.