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!]
Yeah definitely. Got to go out on a limb to get the fruit!
Chase your msg was so appropriate for my girlfriend and I yesterday. We got thrown into a last minute (first time) shoot for a local hip-hop/funk group Theoretics yesterday evening at Chop Suey before they went on live and we were so nervous! We took a shot of something to calm the nerves and to toast a first of it and did what we came to do to the best of our abilities applying all the practice shoots we’ve been doing her and there (usually of each others) during our free time. I loved every minute of those butterflies flying around. Feeling nervous like this makes me feel I’m pushing myself forward and most importantly, it makes me feel so alive. Like your msg, we’re constantly looking to put ourselves in this state of mind as we chase our dream because it feels so good afterwords just like after a good workout at the gym. You’re awesome and an inspiration…keep it real! Jin
Here’s one of the shots we got downloaded, touched up and delivered as soon as we got home way past our bedtime on a work night! I’m so proud of my girl…she took this one!
http://jinda.smugmug.com/Music/Theoretics/20101202-Theoretics-1/1113283761_etVLi-O.jpg
Chase,
Your post have quite the way of really touching on what is stirring around in my head. I’m taking off to Revelstoke B.C. on Sunday to start in on shooting the stills for a documentary ski movie. I’m so in over my head on this on the photography side, but my background of patrolling and guiding got me the job! I really cannot believe this is happening!
Your shit is RAD!
Cheers!
Corbin
I love the shot but also the challenge of pushing yourself.I was involved in a photo shoot where I was photographing out of a helicopter over Central Park in NYC with both doors off and in Cold windy March wind, and leaning out to capture the scene.RESULT! was great because I pushed myself to get the shot.
NO GUTS NO GLORY!