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.
I wanted to be a photographer for years, but ended up going to school for education. Teaching jobs in Michigan are almost non-existant, so facing joblessness I pulled out my gear and starting shooting again. It’s been the hardest yet most rewarding thing I ever did! I worked 14-16 hour days 7 days a week all summer without paying myself, and I would do it all over again. My business is growing and I am booking new work all the time. Self motivation and passion keep me shooting, even if the money is slow to return.
Well said!
That is some terrible, but fantastic advice. Funny how the outcome will determine on which side of that a person will end up falling. People need to realize that making it work will be some of the hardest work they ever do. Don’t quit the traditional as a route to the easy life. You will fail! Be prepared for the greatest hustle you can do and then some!
I’ll admit I am just I’m terrified to take huge chances. The security of a job can be comforting. My partner has taken leaps several times and nothing has stuck, yet. So in our 11 years together, we’ve had to do a major reset several times. That is enough to make you latch on to a job like a barnacle.
That said, I have contemplated selling my own work for a living. My major obstacle is thinking that I think can’t backtrack on what money is coming in. Combine that with loving the people I work with (mostly) loving my job, making a leap right now doesn’t make sense for me.
Whatever your goal is, put it out there in the universe. Things manifest in weird ways and take you down unexpected paths to your goals, but you have to start somewhere. Mine is to go to law school specializing in intellectual property. I want to help people protect their ideas and creations.
considering. 😀