Whenever us creative types get together, or–come to think of it–even when we’re alone, it’s usually all about “me”, “my”, or “we” or “I”. What is MY next gig, what am I doing to improve MY portfolio, MY solo exhibition, MY client list, MY ad campaign, MY blog, MY bank account, gear locker, self-promo mailer, vision… You get the point. Don’t deny it.
As a result, we can be overly paranoid, competitive, frustrated, cocky, going for broke, indulgent, critical, self-absorbed, self-loathing, self aggrandizing and overly analytical. We spend a lot of time living in our own heads.
But the truth is, we’re way better creatives when we’re better people. Better to ourselves, better to others, better to the world.
I just bumped into a close friend on the way back from my morning coffee. He shook my tree a little bit and told me a quick story in realizing this about himself. The story ended with his re-framing his self-focus into a simple plan to motivate a change. At the wrap up of each day he’s asking himself “what are 3 things I did to make somebody else’s life better today?”
I like that. Perhaps you should too.
I like that idea, it keeps things in perspective 😉
you somehow always come up with suggestions to work on matters that exactly bugs me during the days when you post that!
thanks a ton for being such a great mentor Chase!
love,
Bimal.
Good post, some people need to hear this, especially those self-loathers who try to shit on you and your post for wanting to improve yourself in a way that benefits others, not just yourself.
This is TRUTH! I’m on it!
Great post…I have been following this model for as long as i can remember…maybe its the part of me thats a nurse and wants to care about people…but I derive joy in teaching and guiding people to better paths…for example, on my facebook fanpage, when people ask questions on how i took a photo, i just spill the beans cos everything i know was taught to me, online, for FREE by people like you and zack arias…so it has always been my model to pass on the knowledge and help anytime i can…
Last weekend, i went to a location to meet a fellow local photographer who wanted to learn how to light. I brought my gear so she could play around with it and she brought a model to practice on. At the end of the session, I could tell she was happy about the experience and I got the joy of teaching her about compensation and how to get great photos using off-camera lighting…its one feeling i wont trade for anything…
Thanks for all your inspiration and as always KEEP THEM COMING 🙂