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.
Its a very scary thing Chase…I almost quit college last semester to pursue my dream. I did not inform my parents. I was scared to tell them. Up till date, my parents don’t even know I own a camera. I come from a place where anything art or music is very frowned upon. Parents where i’m from are only interested in their children becoming Engineers, Doctors, lawyers, etc…mentioning anything off that path can cause serious family issues…I totally agree with this post but I think taking a step forward to actually pursue ones dreams is very very scary, especially in our world of uncertainty…I’m still joggling my two majors (nursing and chemistry and getting ready for med school) while pursuing my love for photography and i hope one day i find an avenue where all my expertise can coexist in harmony…hopefully
I’ve been planning a move to a more intentional working life, and am slowly putting that plan into action now. Stared at myself in the mirror the other day just before I called to turn down some well-paying but dull work to free up time for the photo-related work I really want to be doing. ‘Do you want to go grey working for someone else?’ I asked myself out of nowhere (or rather, out of the core of me).
It’s taken me a long time to get even to this point, but I’m excited for the journey to come. Thanks for the encouragement, Chase.
I guess it has more to do with the trust levels. We never wish to see our beloved in trouble. And thats the only point why we ourselves may pull back from taking a chance. The fear of “troubles to come” is the only thing that makes us resist support for such a venture.
But we sure gotta break out of mold and take chances, coz thats the only way to know one’s potential and exploit it too.
Cheers Chase! you are awesome at making a point that irks the idlest of minds 🙂
Chase,
this post is truly inspirational.
It would be great to see a testimony-kind of post, with interviews from people who took the chance. How did they manage their time (if you have a day job, how can you book a weekday photoshoot, for example), how long did it take for them to break even, this sort of things.
Thanks for being such a great coach to us all.
Cheers,
Levy
I can really relate to this. When I left a paying job to go full time as a photographer I received several “You’ve got to be out of your mind.” comments and looks.
But I took the chance and I am very grateful that I did.