Why is it that our society clearly celebrates the chance takers, yet we rarely encourage one another to take chances–especially those people closest to us?
Almost all your favorite artists quit the traditional to pursue their dreams. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates dropped out of college to pursue their passions. Regardless if you wanna be in art, or film, or accounting, or a pro athlete, the story is the same.
Go tell your husband that you’re quitting your well paying job to pursue a career in video and film. Or go tell your parents you’re dropping out of college to pursue photography full time and see what they say.
I’m not saying quit your day job on the spot. But I do find it strange that our culture by-and-large celebrates those people who have taken non-traditional paths to success, but yet it rarely encourages people to take those same paths when success is only a distant dream.
What is wrong with us?
Take that chance. And encourage others in your life to do the same.
Excellent point Chase!
Taking a chance doesnt always mean quitting your job and gambling it all in one day. In regards to photography, it could simply mean, photographing your first wedding, photographing your first portrait, or photographing your first fashion show. By doing so, your slowley increasing your ‘chance’ to do what you love, and turn it into a business you enjoy.
Zack Arias is also a great example of somebody who took a ‘chance’, and is an amazing photographer. Do a search, and you’ll see what can be done.
I’m wondering why did you post this right now… What is going on in your mind to make a post like that because you are a photographer already. This post is just a push for the things running in my head. Were you not scared when you took that chance? Did you think then that it is a chance or did you think that you try it and you’ll see?
One side is doing something that makes your bills paid and another is that makes you wanna wake up every morning. Which one is the right for all the people who are not Chase Jarvis? What are the odds to have both?
Thanks for the post(s). They keep me alive…
This is what I appreciate about you Chase, your open honesty.
I watched your interview with Jasmine Star and you more than once said something that I believe firmly in, “There’s enough for everyone.”
I think many people never pursue their passion because they believe there is not enough to go around for everyone. The truth is there is more than enough, the hard part for me being new is finding that right niche that I can fill.
And you are lucky to live in the US, where it is true (at least that what it seems from abroad) that chance-takers are celebrated. In other countries (Spain in my case) chance-takers are socially considered with suspicious eyes…
Probably because its called a chance for a reason and in some cases its a 2 sided coin, win everything, live the dream and the other side lose all you got by investing in a crazy dream. Persuing a career in photography is no easy business, dropping out of collage probably isn’t the smartest thing to do, we celebrate the unlikely few who do succeed because everyone loves a rags to riches tale. Ooohhhh today is positive thinking day… oh sorry
Taking a chance is great in theory until you’re the bread winner of the family with dependents and responsibilities. If I now take a chance I’m not just gambling my own future; there’s a chance my wife doesn’t get the meds she needs for a chronic disease. Word to the wise: it get’s much harder to take a chance the older you get and you end up having find time to do what you love around the other things you have to do.