Outdated Tech Holding You Back?

Joseph Hernandez, owner of InMotion Pro and a 20-year veteran in photo and video production, knows this truth firsthand. His journey—from restaurant jobs to running a full studio with multiple employees—proves that success isn’t about the gear you buy. It’s about the people you lead, the choices you make, and the courage to grow beyond being a “boss.”

Here’s his story—and the playbook to help you break free from outdated thinking, outdated tech/gear anxiety, and outdated leadership habits.

From Breakdancing to a Camera in Hand

Joseph didn’t set out to become a business owner. He was a breakdancer who bought a camera just to review choreography with friends. Before long he became “the guy with the camera”—invited to events not for the dancing, but to capture the dancing.

A simple favor shooting a family wedding became the first spark of a business.

A few years later, with encouragement from his wife Rosa—who saw his potential long before he did—Joseph stepped away from restaurant work and stepped into his creative career full-time.

When “Outdated” Tech Becomes a Trap

Like many creatives, Joseph hit that familiar wall: “If I just had better gear, my business would explode.”

He tells the moment everything changed: He was sitting in his dining room, obsessing over a $60,000 RED camera. He wanted it—badly. It represented professionalism. Status. Validation.

But then came the question that stopped him cold:

“If I had this new camera right now… would the phone ring more?”

The answer: No.

That’s when he created one of the smartest systems any creative entrepreneur can adopt: Does Joseph want it, or does the business need it?

That single lens shift saved him from years of expensive, unnecessary purchases—and helped his business grow sustainably.

Because here’s the truth: Your outdated tech isn’t what’s holding you back. Outdated thinking is.

When Growth Requires Leadership, Not Just Skills

Most creatives reach a stage where the workload becomes too much—but the thought of hiring terrifies them. Joseph hit that point too.

At first, he hired the way most overwhelmed owners do:

• “Can you help me with this one project?”
• “Great job—can you also do this?”
• “Actually can you also handle THAT?”

Training was inconsistent. Expectations unclear. Stress high. It wasn’t leadership—it was survival mode.

Everything changed when he rewired how he thought about building a team:

1. Define roles before hiring.
   • Not “I need help.”
   • But “I need an editor,” or “I need a photographer.”
2. Follow the ‘I do, We do, You do’ model.
   • So quality stays consistent—no matter who is assigned the job.
3. Build leaders, not workers.
   • Because empowered team members don’t just execute…
   • They grow, innovate, and eventually contribute far beyond their job title.

His proudest moments? When former employees go on to earn big contracts—and still bring Joseph and his team in to partner with them.

Leadership > control.
Always.

How to Lead Without Fear

Every business owner eventually faces the nightmare scenario:

• You train someone.
• You invest in them.
• They learn everything.
• Then they leave.
• Maybe even set up shop across the street.

Joseph’s response?

“Kudos to them.”

He genuinely believes:

• There is no real competition—only differentiation.
• No two companies offer the same exact experience.
• Clients choose based on fit, not price alone.
• And rising professionals grow the industry, not threaten it.

That’s leadership thinking—not scarcity thinking. Scarcity buys shiny gear to prove worth. Leadership builds people to multiply worth.

Why the American Dream Still Isn’t Dead

When asked if the American Dream is over, Joseph doesn’t hesitate:

“No. It’s only dead if YOU have given up.”

Business is still human-to-human. Handshakes still beat cold emails. And there is still more opportunity than any one person can contain.

But you can’t tap into any of it if you’re hiding behind excuses like:

• “My gear isn’t good enough.”
• “I can’t trust employees.”
• “Competition will take all my business.”
• “Times are too hard right now.”

No—times are changing. And your leadership must change with them.

Outdated Tech Isn’t the Problem. Outdated Leadership Is.

If your business growth feels stuck, you don’t need a new camera, or laptop, or microphone.

You need:

• clearer roles
• stronger training
• better decisions
• a healthier mindset
• belief in your team
• belief in yourself

Because technology won’t save your business. Leadership will. And the best time to start leading—not just managing—is today.