Marcus, we are so honored to have you as part of the CGA family!
I normally try to stay away from the super long inspirational posts, but as I prepare mentally to speak on the PDN30 Panel giving advice to emerging photographers in New York in a couple weeks I thought I’d share this for anyone who might need it.
I was sitting in the San Francisco airport patiently waiting for my flight back to Chicago after a long 5 days of shooting and traveling when I finally had a moment to really sit back and take in just how awesome this year has been. My eyes began to water and eventually a couple tears ran down my face as I started to think back on all the hard work I’ve put in over the years to get to where I am now. I’m over joyed thinking about all the people I’ve met who’ve helped me along the way to achieve my goal of being a professional photographer. As I rolled through the sunny hills of northern California, I thought about just how far I’ve made it from the concrete jungle of 79th St. (my Chicago people know). It’s been a really fun roller coaster ride full of crazy ups and downs.
The year’s end marks a huge milestone for me, my first full year of being completely in business for myself. The emotion of it all really hit me when I thought about how it wasn’t that long ago when I was questioning if I was good enough or if I had the skill to succeed in this business. It really feels like it was just yesterday. Then I get excited because this is only the beginning and I realize how much more work is left to do to achieve even bigger goals. That’s an exciting feeling when you love what you do that much. I think it’s an experience everyone should have.
With that being said, I know there’s someone out there reading this post that really wants to be doing something they love for a living instead of whatever they’re doing now. Just remember that no matter how impossible the dream you may have feels, it’s a lot closer than you think. Don’t let the fear of failure trick you into thinking you’re not good enough. My success grew exponentially when I released myself from the claws of fear, and embraced my failures and learned from them. It’s a never ending fight, but I’m relieved because the hardest part is done, and that’s getting started. I’m making IT happen just an inch at a time, and that’s all you really need, an inch. The thing that pushed me the most was making the tiny goal of getting ONE thing done each day, no matter how small or large that contributed toward the bigger goal. What’s your one thing?
