I ran into our next stranger while he was out getting ready to have lunch with his fiancé.
Meet Tyler.
Tyler is originally from the Northeast and has lived in Charlotte for about two years.
What kind of work do you do? “I work in technology.”
What advice would you give to your younger self? “Don’t rush. Take your time. Think things through. And don’t make decisions for anyone but yourself.”
Is that something you were always able to do? “Yeah, for the most part. It’s sort of a mantra.”
What is your biggest challenge? “Balancing the pursuit of success with happiness. That’s a really complicated one for a lot of people.”
Are they mutually exclusive? “Not necessarily. I think they’re very much related, and that’s where the balancing act comes into play.”
How would your friends describe you? “That depends which friend you ask… {laughs} but, mostly pretty outgoing, pretty easy going, definitely an oddball. Considerate and there when needed.”
If you could put a billboard up in Charlotte, what would it say? “Respect yourself.”
And you don’t think people do that enough? “Not necessarily. Not in my experience.”
What would you do if you had a million dollars? “You’re assuming I don’t have a million dollars. {laughs}”
I am making an assumption, yes. It’s usually a pretty accurate one… {laughs} “If I had a million dollars, I would probably play with it, invest, maybe go on a vacation. Standard stuff, nothing drastic.”
Technical Notes: It was a sunny day, so we found a shaded area out of the direct sun. Tyler was lit from his left side by a bright reflection bouncing off a distant building. I used a reflector on his right side to even out the light.
Dan Russell-Pinson 