If you’re already a professional creator, then you know that you had to hear a lot of “no” for every “yes”. If you’re not yet a pro, or perhaps more importantly if you are a pro whose enjoyed a taste of success, then hear this: Get Used To Hearing “No”.
Quite honestly, understanding this will be some of the best medicine you’ll ever take – because once you get it…you GET it, and it will be with you forever. The powerful result of taking this medicine TODAY is that the word NO will change from bumming you out to inspiring you and driving your actions to get to the next YES. As such, enjoy this tasty medicine 😉
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1. Let “no” serve as a motivator. If you don’t win a gig from an agency or a magazine, if you lose it to another photographer, vow to win the next one. Make a plan for how to do it different, better than you did last time. Make new photos, prepare, hone your vision, whatever it takes.
2. Let “no” keep out the other people who don’t want it as bad as you do. Remember, when you’re hearing “no”, so is almost everyone else. When other artists hear “no” too much, they quit, defeated, never to return again. Don’t let that be you. When you hear “no”, let it remind you of this little post.
3. Let “no” remind you that this job isn’t for everyone, especially the uncommitted. In a round about way, every “no” should remind you that you’re in the right place, not the wrong place. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
4. Let “no” turn you into a better artist. A bunch of “no” usually doesn’t mean that you’re not talking to the right people. It usually means your work is not “there” yet. If that’s the case, see #1.
5. Mario Andretti once famously said, “If everything feels under control, you’re just not driving fast enough”. Same goes here. If you’re… …not hearing “no”, you’re not really getting your work out there enough, pushing what’s possible, pushing yourself.
Now here’s the kicker. It should be plainly obvious that, after a substantial amount of time cultivating the above vision, you will likely start to hear a hell of a lot of “yes”. That’s nice. Nice for the bank account. Nice for the ego. Nice for your portfolio or whatever. But when that happens, don’t get cocky. Don’t only seek yes, don’t depend on it, because it makes you and your work soft. Not in a cuddly way. In a way that you’ll get apathetic.
Of course it’s a balance, but mark my words: when you start to hear a lot of “yes”, consider doing what it takes to hear a bit more “no”. I’m betting that you’ll thank me – or more importantly, thank yourself.
That was a damn good post man.
Isn’t that exactly what I needed to come across? Yes, it is! Thank you for putting that out there and thank YOU for putting it in front of me.
This is really good advice
advice that i will keep in mind
I havent actually started with my photography, as in not with a stand alone camera, i do with my phone (the best camera is the one thats with you)
I live in jamaica and while we are a musical and cultural Mecca its pretty hard to start out in photography here, infact it seems next to impossible (gear is expensive here and to get stuff from overseas shipped is just as bad)
I’m pretty adamant though, I will be a great photographer despite a whole society telling me “No, do something more realistic” “you will never make it” so on and so forth
Long story short thanks for the reminder and encouragement
Awesome post! Just laughed out loud about James’ comment above me. Oh my goodness! So funny!
I’m not saying you’re not right , but , it’gets very very hard to keep focus when you’re faceing a lot of “no’s”.When finaly some yes starts to show up , it’s kind of up to what kind of person you are that will determine the outcome. Some will be grateful and keep doing what made it happen, others will get an ego boost so high , they won’t know what hit them when it’s over.This applies to most industries/arts,One yes , or be it ten of them, mean you are on a good path with your carreer , but don’t fall asleep on yourself and don’t settle for what you’re doing.Get better.
Yes it is hard. But plain and simple, working thru “hard” is what separates those that want it, from those that don’t.