Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
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Chase Jarvis Chase Jarvis
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  • About
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  • Book

Stop Trying To Get Everyone To Like Your Work

When I talk to creators and survey the industry landscape, I see a zillion creators trying to have all their work liked by all the people. This comes from our social animal DNA, but it’s the completely wrong approach to success – whether that be measured by your work being licensed, sold, etc, or by getting hired, shown, talked about, displayed, whatever.

Simply said, by trying to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one, especially not yourself.

But fear not (or fear less, perhaps). The answer is simple.

1. Shoot what you love.
2. Relentlessly share that work.
3. Repeat.

People can smell whether you love what you’re shooting or not, love what you’re promoting or not, love what you’re doing or not. So you might as well effing love it for real. It’s all you’ve got.

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So quit with your shifty eyes, looking at what everybody else is doing. And do your own shiznit. Yes this means you. If your work is priced…… appropriately, be it fine art, commercial, editorial, wedding, whatever, all you need is 10-50 people each year to dig what you make. That’ll come from doing what you love, and that will make for a great year. Of all the damn people you have access to with the innernets, there are 50 people with money who like what you do. Of the 1000 or 10,000,000 who look at your site, your book, your whatever, those “likers” can be a pretty low percentage. Bet on it.

Check out these creative classes I've curated + built that relate to this post:

Worth It: Negotiation For Creatives
with
Creating Your Ideal Photography Business
with Kathy Holcombe
Fulfill Your Creative Purpose
with Ann Rea

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154 replies on:
Stop Trying To Get Everyone To Like Your Work

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  1. Diogo says:
    October 15, 2014 at 8:35 am

    This tip should be posted every single day for every single creative pro!

    Shweet reminder Chase!

    D

  2. Jimmy says:
    October 14, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    It’s easily said. As most people love your work Chase. Mere mortal like us have to struggle. But have to agree in some ways.

  3. Anonymous says:
    October 14, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    Agree in some way. Anyhow its also easy for you to say Chase as most people love your work. As for mere mortal like most of us have to struggle.

  4. Brian says:
    October 14, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    Excellent advice. In the vast sea of social media it’s easy to forget that you can’t please everyone all the time. Focus on that niche and grow.

  5. Regina Pagles says:
    October 14, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    I smell what your steppin’ in, Brotha. Amen…

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