RelationshipOps of the Week #27.
Video Production Agency
|
Apr 24, 2026
“Almost everything meaningful in my business life came from a relationship, not a cold call.”
“Almost everything meaningful in my business life came from a relationship, not a cold call.”
Patty Mooney.
This week, we’re highlighting Patty Mooney, co-owner and producer of Crystal Pyramid Productions, one of San Diego’s longest-running video production companies. Since 1982, Patty has been building something rare…
A legacy in an industry that’s constantly evolving.
Before video became digital... before drone shots and TikToks were mainstream... Patty and her partner, Mark Schulze were out filming stories, serving clients ranging from nonprofits to international corporations. And for Patty, the work has never just been about the lens.
It’s about the relationships that keep meaningful projects coming.
Her story is a reminder… When your name is built on trust, you don’t need to chase the next opportunity. The work finds you.
Let’s hear how Patty keeps her creative engine running by treating relationships like real people… not pipelines.
Show Up Without Expectation.
Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?
Patty Mooney:
“Almost everything meaningful in my business life came from a relationship, not a cold call.
The biggest and most enduring example is my partnership with my husband, Mark Schulze. We met in 1982, long before video production was fashionable or easy, and we built Crystal Pyramid Productions together over more than four decades. That relationship didn’t just shape a company. It shaped a way of working based on trust, shared risk, curiosity, and showing up for people even when the outcome wasn’t clear. Constant communication has proven to be key, for the two of us, and especially with our clients.
Beyond that core partnership, so many opportunities came simply from saying yes, being present, and doing the work with integrity. One clear example is a project we did last year for the San Diego River Park Foundation. There was no big budget, no promise of future work, and no expectation beyond telling their story honestly. We spent time along the river, listened carefully, filmed with care, and treated the subject matter with dignity.
That single video helped the organization secure a $25,000 grant.
What matters is that no one asked us to “make it grant-worthy.” The trust already existed. People knew we cared about the mission, not just the invoice. The win was never just the money. It was being invited into meaningful work because the foundation organizers believed in us, and we wanted to support their work.
For anyone navigating this themselves, the lesson is simple but not easy: relationships built on respect and consistency often pay off in ways you cannot predict or plan. The opportunity usually appears later, quietly, as a result of how you showed up earlier. Key: Have no expectations, for they lead to disappointment.”
Relationships Thrive on Presence
Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?
Patty Mooney:
“We don’t manage relationships like a system or a strategy. We manage them like people.
On a daily basis, I pay attention. If someone crosses my mind, I reach out. If someone has helped us, I thank them. If I see work that moves me, I say so. Those moments of acknowledgment matter more than perfectly timed follow-ups.As the Red Hot Chili Peppers remind us: "Can't stop the spirits when they need you. This life is more than just a read-through."
Weekly, Mark and I stay connected to our community by showing up without an agenda. We support other creatives, nonprofits, and storytellers because we believe in the work, not because we’re angling for something. Relationships don’t thrive on transaction. They thrive on presence, and a give-and-take.
Doing good work, keeping your word, and treating people with respect has always been our long-term approach. Over time, that becomes your reputation. My dad had this saying, "You can dole out a thousand 'atta-boys.' All it takes is one 'f..k you' to lose all the good will you built up over time."”
Protect Your Generosity.
Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?
Patty Mooney:
“I would tell my younger self to stop trying to prove so much and start trusting my intuition sooner. I would add that although money is a necessary element to living life, it's not the end-all and be-all. I have learned that the money comes when you have laid the groundwork, perform the labor, and have faith in yourself. The more you give, the more you receive. Take a look at "The Laws of Attraction" and adopt the lessons offered. Avoid greed, for it is an illness. The reason "Money can't buy happiness" is such a cliche' is because it's true.
Not every relationship is meant to last. Not every collaboration deserves a yes. Pay attention to how people behave when there’s no immediate benefit for them. That tells you everything.
I’d also say this: protect your generosity. Be kind and open, but don’t confuse kindness with obligation. The right relationships give you energy and expand your sense of possibility. The wrong ones quietly drain you. Reserve the right to "fire" a client if they are abusive or if you see any "red flags" - rely on your own intuition.
Be introspective with every decision you make, because you are plotting out your map to a well-lived, adventurous journey.
And finally, I would remind myself that the most important relationships are the ones that let you grow into who you are becoming, not who you used to be. When those relationships are in place, business follows naturally. It always has.”
Key Takeaways.
We’re glad to have Patty Mooney with us on this week’s series, but if anything, here are the few key takeaways:
Meaning follows presence. From her marriage to Mark to a grant-winning nonprofit video, Patty’s biggest wins came from trust, not tactics.
Connection over strategy. Patty tunes into her intuition… and follows up whenever someone comes to mind.
Generosity needs boundaries. Kindness should never mean obligation… the best relationships help you grow into who you’re becoming.
That’s all for this week.
If you're open to sharing your experiences in one of our future articles… or know of someone who is, feel free to drop me an email here.
Author.
Leonard Chin
Follow me on LinkedIn.
Patty Mooney.
This week, we’re highlighting Patty Mooney, co-owner and producer of Crystal Pyramid Productions, one of San Diego’s longest-running video production companies. Since 1982, Patty has been building something rare…
A legacy in an industry that’s constantly evolving.
Before video became digital... before drone shots and TikToks were mainstream... Patty and her partner, Mark Schulze were out filming stories, serving clients ranging from nonprofits to international corporations. And for Patty, the work has never just been about the lens.
It’s about the relationships that keep meaningful projects coming.
Her story is a reminder… When your name is built on trust, you don’t need to chase the next opportunity. The work finds you.
Let’s hear how Patty keeps her creative engine running by treating relationships like real people… not pipelines.
Show Up Without Expectation.
Leonard Chin: What’s an instance when a relationship led to a big win or a really great opportunity for your business?
Patty Mooney:
“Almost everything meaningful in my business life came from a relationship, not a cold call.
The biggest and most enduring example is my partnership with my husband, Mark Schulze. We met in 1982, long before video production was fashionable or easy, and we built Crystal Pyramid Productions together over more than four decades. That relationship didn’t just shape a company. It shaped a way of working based on trust, shared risk, curiosity, and showing up for people even when the outcome wasn’t clear. Constant communication has proven to be key, for the two of us, and especially with our clients.
Beyond that core partnership, so many opportunities came simply from saying yes, being present, and doing the work with integrity. One clear example is a project we did last year for the San Diego River Park Foundation. There was no big budget, no promise of future work, and no expectation beyond telling their story honestly. We spent time along the river, listened carefully, filmed with care, and treated the subject matter with dignity.
That single video helped the organization secure a $25,000 grant.
What matters is that no one asked us to “make it grant-worthy.” The trust already existed. People knew we cared about the mission, not just the invoice. The win was never just the money. It was being invited into meaningful work because the foundation organizers believed in us, and we wanted to support their work.
For anyone navigating this themselves, the lesson is simple but not easy: relationships built on respect and consistency often pay off in ways you cannot predict or plan. The opportunity usually appears later, quietly, as a result of how you showed up earlier. Key: Have no expectations, for they lead to disappointment.”
Relationships Thrive on Presence
Leonard Chin: What's your daily/weekly routine for maintaining relationships that help your business?
Patty Mooney:
“We don’t manage relationships like a system or a strategy. We manage them like people.
On a daily basis, I pay attention. If someone crosses my mind, I reach out. If someone has helped us, I thank them. If I see work that moves me, I say so. Those moments of acknowledgment matter more than perfectly timed follow-ups.As the Red Hot Chili Peppers remind us: "Can't stop the spirits when they need you. This life is more than just a read-through."
Weekly, Mark and I stay connected to our community by showing up without an agenda. We support other creatives, nonprofits, and storytellers because we believe in the work, not because we’re angling for something. Relationships don’t thrive on transaction. They thrive on presence, and a give-and-take.
Doing good work, keeping your word, and treating people with respect has always been our long-term approach. Over time, that becomes your reputation. My dad had this saying, "You can dole out a thousand 'atta-boys.' All it takes is one 'f..k you' to lose all the good will you built up over time."”
Protect Your Generosity.
Leonard Chin: What tips would you give to your younger self around relationships and how they impact business?
Patty Mooney:
“I would tell my younger self to stop trying to prove so much and start trusting my intuition sooner. I would add that although money is a necessary element to living life, it's not the end-all and be-all. I have learned that the money comes when you have laid the groundwork, perform the labor, and have faith in yourself. The more you give, the more you receive. Take a look at "The Laws of Attraction" and adopt the lessons offered. Avoid greed, for it is an illness. The reason "Money can't buy happiness" is such a cliche' is because it's true.
Not every relationship is meant to last. Not every collaboration deserves a yes. Pay attention to how people behave when there’s no immediate benefit for them. That tells you everything.
I’d also say this: protect your generosity. Be kind and open, but don’t confuse kindness with obligation. The right relationships give you energy and expand your sense of possibility. The wrong ones quietly drain you. Reserve the right to "fire" a client if they are abusive or if you see any "red flags" - rely on your own intuition.
Be introspective with every decision you make, because you are plotting out your map to a well-lived, adventurous journey.
And finally, I would remind myself that the most important relationships are the ones that let you grow into who you are becoming, not who you used to be. When those relationships are in place, business follows naturally. It always has.”
Key Takeaways.
We’re glad to have Patty Mooney with us on this week’s series, but if anything, here are the few key takeaways:
Meaning follows presence. From her marriage to Mark to a grant-winning nonprofit video, Patty’s biggest wins came from trust, not tactics.
Connection over strategy. Patty tunes into her intuition… and follows up whenever someone comes to mind.
Generosity needs boundaries. Kindness should never mean obligation… the best relationships help you grow into who you’re becoming.
That’s all for this week.
If you're open to sharing your experiences in one of our future articles… or know of someone who is, feel free to drop me an email here.
Author.
Leonard Chin
Follow me on LinkedIn.