I'm a Floridian (And So Can You!)

My name is Scott Kelly (not to be confused with the astronaut), and I'm a degreed biomedical engineer with a habit of starting businesses and going on adventures. I am currently starting a photography based technology company with some out-of-this-world partners, and working with a group of outstanding entrepreneurial leaders to develop a world class entrepreneurship program at Florida Gulf Coast University.

While I have my fair share of products, patents, and other engineer-y things, I plan on using this creative platform to talk about the stuff you get to do when you have a very healthy work-life balance. Stuff like traveling, kayaking, biking, backpacking/camping, photography, music, Disney World, and maybe even some tips and tricks for automating the little things.

I spend a great deal of time playing in my watery backyard. If you want to see the world though the eyes of a Floridian, you're in the right place.

You are the average of your five best friends

Good thing I have more than five! I do my best to surround myself with people who know more than me, individuals that challenge my ideals, and geniuses that force me to see beyond what's in front. Life is nothing but the culmination of experiences and people in it, so it's important that we take no breaks in the pursuit of the great adventure.

My best friends share my hobbies and interests. Nine times out of ten they have other hobbies and interests that I get pulled into. If it weren't for them I wouldn't be a certified drone pilot, wouldn't have a road bike that I put over 50 miles a week on, wouldn't have gone sand-boarding in Peru, and wouldn't have ran a beer mile. There's a lot that I credit my friends with, but I'll save those adventures for a later post.

Speaking of friends...

I got married to my best one. My wife Sandra is a practicing biomedical engineer. It was dumb luck that lead her and I to meet at the perfect time. She moved to Southwest Florida with her family from Lima, Peru, and just so happened to also enjoy the wonders of engineering enough to major in it. Needless to say, after a few years of close proximity (same classes and projects), natural chemistry, and the help of our mutual best friends, we started dating and eventually got married.

Married life is pretty awesome when you've partnered up with someone who enjoys a lot of the same things as you. Although she doesn't share the same passion for the outdoors as I do, we do share quite a bit of interest in TV shows, foods, social events, travel, and problem solving (she's a master of sudoku and Lego Avengers on PS4). We have a supportive relationship that pushes us to continue doing the things we love, even if it's not something that one of us enjoys personally.

Do what you love!

When I first graduated from college, I started working on a new product development company. I realized very quickly that it wasn't what I enjoyed. It only took two years to take action on it...

During that two year period I found myself volunteering at local high schools, the University, and veteran entrepreneurship programs as a mentor in business and engineering. I realized that what I want to do in this lifetime is to help others create a fun and profitable life for themselves.

I get to live my dream everyday as an engineer, entrepreneur, educator, and adventurer. If you love what you do so much, that you are willing to do it for free, you will get paid to do it.

Thanks for reading! Can't wait to get to know the Steemit community!

Check out my social media: Instagram, Strava, Flickr.