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.
“Fear causes hesitation and hesitation will make your worst fears come true” I love this saying, what movie is that from?
People are driven by fear on some level, most of our beliefs are driven by fear even the ones that seem to be selfless and genuine. political, religious, social, financial, on and on. For all those people making comments about how they can’t take risks because of their responsibilities you need to understand that risk taking is a lifestyle not an occupation. If you are enslaved by your debt then pay it off. Plan for you and your family to make a lifestyle change so risks can be taken and dreams can be pursued.
They say that money doesn’t buy happiness but it does buy comfort and convenience, are you willing to give that up if needed?
We are educated in the admiration of free minded people. To some extent, this sounds like fear less people with great talent. What do we admire so much in art? Freedom! Freedom of mind, freedom of vision. And through this freedom, they can share their humanity, their way to be in the world with us. We feel a little less alone, thus.
But.
We’re educated in the respect of rules and regulations. Full of fears and frustrations and – sometimes real, sometimes supposed – obligations. Getting rid of them is a big work, and taking one’s chance is not as simple as saying ‘look, today I’m going to do my dream job instead of my day job’.
Even dream jobs have their counter parts, dark corners and boring aspects. Even dream jobs have to be well planed, precisely organized, meticulously executed. So I do not think that you take a chance like you take a plane. You do not take a chance. You live it. More; it lives in you. It pushes you. Naturally. Obviously. One day, an observer says ‘you took a chance’. But you know. You did not. You just worked. Just did your human job.
Awesome post!
Quitting my job and moving to Thailand to teach English.
Man, It’s almost as if you wrote this just for me.. I’m in exactly this point in life right now.. I ‘want’ to persue a speciffic career and all I need to do is act accordingly! like.. just get out there and het my ass moving! hut hut hut!!
Thanks man! Thanks for all your inspiration and motivation!
Twan, Netherlands
I’m taking a chance. I also need some help choosing my adventure. http://www.lovethepano.com/the-photographer/tweet-my-photography-destination/.