As a matter of opinion, it’s time to get some cojones. Or whatever clever slang you’ve cooked up for the female equivalent, or whatever will help you understand the following point. Sure there’s plenty of good things to honor about the past of our photography industry. A lot of the trails have been intelligently blazed by those before us, a lot of ditches have been dug. But…ahem…generally speaking status quo in photography doesn’t know which way is up. Surely you’ve noticed.
So I ask.
What is your photographic vision?
What is your brand vision?
What is your business?
What is your marketing?
What are your effing goals?
This is not a fluff piece. This is truth: there ere are a bazillion photographers in the safe little ‘status quo’ bubble that will keep the status quo quietly marching along. So many that, in fact, it will be just fine without you.
Which is precisely why you should leave it behind.
What does that mean? It means take a chance. Or Three. Charge away from convention. Break shit. You can always go back to the status quo if you get scared or get knocked around a bit, because the reality is that it’s not going anywhere. You’ll be told that they won’t take you back if you leave, but that’s a scare tactic. In reality, they’ll take you back in a second, because… the SQ voice depends on numbers. If you don’t have what it takes, it will always be there waiting with open arms saying, “We knew you’d be back” or “I told you so.”
But the funny thing is this: I’m banking that when you push it, when you leave the status quo behind, and make some new in-roads, some new habits, that you might just get comfortable with the new you, and lo and behold you’ll be ready to push it again. That’s when the magic happens. That’s what we need. That’s what–I’m guessing–you need.
“what are your effing goals”? Awesome.
So spell it out, Chase – what are YOUR “effing goals”?
Great post.
Cheers
Carl
I love your posts, Mr. Jarvis.
This one is particularly inspiring & cojones-kicking.
Sometimes I wonder how do you get through to us so well. I wonder if you perhaps sit down & write something to yourself in your hip little journal with some coffee stains & photoshoot sketches. & then you just feel like sharing, so you go ahead & share it with the whole world.
Either way, you are pretty darn good at what you do, photography, blogging, business. & again I wonder if that’s cuz you don’t take the life’s no’s. Or if it’s just staying true to yourself. Or a heck of a lot of luck topping off your talent…
Thank you for the post, man!
I am bit late to the party, but I love this. It made me think. Fear is a powerful force that cripples many and prevent them from leaving the SQ.
Thanks for the “luck 13” posts.