Life and Work with Ria Ruthsatz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ria Ruthsatz.

Ria, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I boarded the roller coaster with such enthusiasm. It was shaped like a giant caterpillar, and the face on the front car smiled in a whimsical way that no three year old could resist. The track was a short loop with one very slight drop. The ride was made for children, and I remember being excited that my parents couldn’t join me on this one. I buckled in and waved heroically at Mom & Dad. At three years old, I was clearly all grown up. The excitement built as other children proceeded to board their cars and the carnival music announced the ride was about to begin, but when the caterpillar started down the track I was struck with terror. I panicked and cried for them to let me off, and when they wouldn’t I tried to take matters into my own hands and jump out of my car. In that moment, anywhere was better than wherever that caterpillar was headed.

Thankfully, my parents made them stop the ride before I managed my way out of the buckle, but that was the last time I looked at a rollercoaster with any sort of enthusiasm.

On my 30th birthday I resolved not to let that caterpillar get the better of me, and I braved Space Mountain with my husband. They didn’t have to stop the ride, but I still left in tears.

Being an entrepreneur is sort of like riding Space Mountain all day every day. There are unexpected twists and turns, you never truly feel in control, and sometimes you’re left in the dark. For someone like me, who likes to know where I’m going, and prefers to be in the driver’s seat, it can be a constant struggle not to jump.

The unpredictability of running your own business is exactly why I vowed years ago that I would never, ever, do it. As a child I watched my parents, both creatives, freelance and I knew all too well the pains of waiting for the next client to call. When I met my husband, Chadwell, I was once again reminded how hard it is to work for yourself. He was trying to make it as a filmmaker and watching him handle his own marketing, engage with clients, and deliver a great product was exhausting. Nope, that life wasn’t for me. There was a steady predictability to clocking in and working for someone else that I could count on. Sure, there were some ups and downs but I had a plan, and I could see where I was headed.

Quitting my steady job to start a business with my husband is perhaps the biggest change I’ve made to date, and unlike most things in my life it wasn’t the result of careful planning. It was, in fact, due to a change I didn’t choose and couldn’t have predicted.

Years prior, when we were first dating, Chadwell introduced me to his best friend, Ron. Imagine a young Santa Claus with a red beard and a naughty grin. The twinkle in his eye was a mischievous one, and he had a devil-may-care attitude that was tempered only by his warmth & generosity. He made everyone around him feel comfortable and included, and it wasn’t long before I considered him my friend too.

Ron was the first of our friends to buy a house and, like the amazing restaurateur that he was, he hosted much of our lives during those early years. Lazy Sundays were often spent at Ron’s, where you could count on great food, fun conversation, and maybe a little trouble. There was really no predicting what Ron might get up to, and that’s what made him so much fun.

We would spend entire afternoons talking about his dream to open his own restaurant. He had every detail of the menu planned, for every season, and the decor had been meticulously designed right down to the color and thread count of the napkins. I envied his lofty goals. I was beginning to tire of the predictable circles my caterpillar was making, but I wasn’t sure what to do about it.

The years passed, and they were marked by promotions and raises, but I couldn’t ignore that nagging feeling that I was stuck on a track leading nowhere. We had our share of happy moments, Chadwell and I got married, but there were fewer and fewer lazy Sundays. We found ourselves replacing childish fun with increasing responsibilities, and those afternoon conversations about future dreams became a rarity. Chadwell was filming more than ever, and Ron had traded his restaurant dreams for a desk job. Ron had hoped the job would be temporary, but with a mortgage and bills to pay it became much longer than he had planned and his restaurant plans were put on hold.

It’s fitting that I received the call on a Sunday. I was working weekends and it was strange that anyone would call me at work. I was sitting at my desk when they told me the news.

Ron had passed away. He was gone. He had died at his desk, at the job he never wanted or planned to have.

The days that followed are a blur, but I know that in that moment everything changed.

We had all spent so much time working towards tomorrow, and patting ourselves on the back that we had reached the next step towards something better. We had sacrificed time with our families, and with each other, and traded lofty goals for jobs that simply paid the bills. I had spent years trying to plan my life, but I was suddenly faced with the reality that it could end at any moment.

No promotion, raise, or predictable career path was going to give me more time on this earth. I sat at my desk and wondered, what if this is it? What if I don’t make it home today? What if the tomorrow I’m working towards never arrives?

There will never be another lazy Sunday at Ron’s, and despite my best efforts I still can’t recall the last one we had. I like to imagine we all enjoyed it, but the fact is it was just another Sunday – not invested with any significance because we expected to have thousands more.

We couldn’t go back and tell ourselves to treasure that last Sunday, but we could change how we treated every moment going forward.

A few short months after Ron passed, I traded my predictable desk for a ride that scared me. I boarded the rollercoaster with more trepidation, but also with conviction. It was no longer enough to go through life simply paying the bills, and we gladly sacrificed all predictability for the chance to pursue bigger dreams.

My husband and I started our own film production company, and six years later I can tell you it has been quite a wild, wonderful, and unpredictable ride. What began as just the two of us working side by side, has become a company serving clients around the world.

I am intensely proud of the business and the life we’ve built, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t shed a few tears along the way. The years have taught me to prepare for the inevitable twists and turns, but the truth is that some days they still get the better of me and I wish someone would stop the ride and let me off.

Those are the days I think about Ron. I think about all the time we lost while making plans. I think about the futures we imagined on those Sundays, and how different our lives are now from anything we could have predicted. Living in my memory, Ron is the only thing that hasn’t changed. He’s forever just dreaming, and making plans that will never come to be.

I’d give anything for another lazy Sunday and the chance to tell him about the incredible places we’ve been, the films we’ve made, and the people we’ve become. The truth is, it took losing him for any of these things to happen. Thanks to Ron, our years are no longer marked by promotions and raises; and each passing moment is held a little dearer. We’re different people now, made braver and more confident with each move down the track.

Nowadays I meet with my clients and discuss their dreams. It’s a privilege to hear their lofty ideas and to be a part of sharing their stories with the world. I still don’t know what lies ahead, none of us really do, but I do know that we don’t have time to waste.

How many plans have you made, and then quietly put aside for more practical pursuits?

Those unpredictable twists and turns, ups and downs, that once scared me – I now embrace without reluctance. I know that life is short, and each moment may be our last. With that in mind, I smile, raise my hands in the air, and enjoy the ride.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Don’t put your dreams aside. Work hard, but always remain focused on why you do what you do.

No matter where you’re at in your career, look for people to learn from. One day, sooner than you think, it’ll become your responsibility to share your knowledge too.

Please tell us about Tree9 Films.
We take films from idea to delivery. Conceptualizing, writing, casting, shooting, and editing – we do it all.

Our commercials have shown around the country, including in Times Square, and our fundraising films have raised millions for causes worldwide.

There’s a reason we don’t call ourselves an agency, a studio, or a production house – we’re your team of creatives. We’re here when you need us, and not crowding your office when you don’t. When it comes to your brand, we share your vision and your goals and we’ve got the skills to reach your audience.

We create cinematic films that move people via the mediums they use most. Whether it’s for broadcast, Facebook, instagram, or that new app you haven’t heard of yet – we’ve got you covered.

Who have you been inspired by?
I’m inspired by the genius and talent of Dolly Parton, and how she never sacrifices who she is or what she believes.

I’m also incredibly fortunate to be inspired by women I know and get to work alongside, including Stacy Taubman. Stacy founded RISE Collaborative Workspace (new to Denver this year). Originally a high school math teacher, it has been incredible to watch her launch her business and grow it across the country. RISE is also home to hundreds of other amazing and inspiring women all working to make a difference in the world. Each of them, in their own way, push me to be better each day.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.tree9.com
• Email: ria@tree9.com
• Instagram: tree9films
• Facebook: tree9films

Image Credit:
Tree9 Films

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.