Whenever Michael Jordan gets on the golf course and his friends ask the stakes of the game–how much money they’re betting against one another–rumor has it that his stock response is: “Whatever makes you nervous.”
That’s what you should bet on yourself, every time. Not what makes you comfortable, but what makes you nervous.
Your muscles get stronger by running, jumping, lifting weights, by stressing them out, by pushing them, not by sitting on the couch.
Mario Andretti said famously: “If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough”.
And the one-liners could go on and on… Point being that you’ve got to push your comfort level to grow. That goes for your photography, your filmmaking, your art, your vision, your business, your whatever.
You will not succeed if you do not take risks.
[thx for the flying shot martin gisborne!]
Haha, this fits so well with my last few days. I just spent more money on a project than ever before to shoot an action sequence for the first time. Not to mention it was in powder snow 3 feet deep and three vehicles of people and a trailer full of gear. I hardly slept for two days before the shoot and there were more hurdles than I could have anticipated, but it was an amazing experience. Now let’s hope it turns a profit:D
i keep this quote around me; in my sketch books, my desk, on my laptop. it’s by minimalist artists Richard Serra.
“If you are not uncomfortable with your work, it is because you haven’t begun yet.”
I think Kennedy said ‘it is only those that dare to fail greatly that can achieve greatly’ or words to that effect and meaning. This is of course true, the bigger the prize the bigger the risk to obtain it. One has to be careful in a culture like ours as everyone seems to forget the basic requirement of talent. There are very few Michael Jordans in the world. Certainly one can keep improving at what makes them happy (key word) and hard work will take you further than no work at all but it doesn’t matter how much work or effort you put in on your journey or how much you believe, if you keep walking East to see a sunset you aren’t going to see one. Talent gets you nowhere without application but equally application won’t make you naturally talented either so you may end up after all your hard work in a better place, but equally you may end up unhappy as you realise you are never going to be good enough at the thing you love the most.
Wow. A friend just sent me this link, based on a conversation we had yesterday. Can’t say how well timed it is. Thanks!
Thanks for the reminder! New month, clean slate. Let’s shoot for the stars.
BTW, nice shot of the classic 172SP, M. Gisborne. – Is that the ILS of the airport you were approaching in the bokeh?
Pilot, no… just an easy cruise along the northern Cal coast 🙂 Thanks for the comment.