There is no Magic Button.

A week ago I woke up and did my normal routine. Dragged 2 kids outta bed, got a cup of coffee and sat down to catch up on all Twitter and Facebook had going on during the wee ours of the night. And then, I had finally had it. I read the last status update that contained a knock down to those that bust their tails making their lives and businesses happen, by a disgruntled photographer. I have been seeing this trend for a long time now…but that day it just topped me off and I wanted to shake a few people.

So I started my day off with this quote to the world…

“Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it.” Unknown

I am catering this to the Photography world, but it can easily apply across the board.

It happens to all of us. We are being ambushed every second by magazine articles, updates, updates, and more updates, blog posts, forums, interviews, podcasts, WS announcements, flight plans, vacations and client bookings from photographers all over the world. It is so easy to get wrapped up in what they are doing, where they are going, how they are drinking their coffee, what gear they are using, who they are shooting, how great their images are, what F stop are they using, blah, blah, blah. Then we get green with envy, negative, or full of self loathing because we will never be that good, or that successful. Both are catalysts for failure and creative mind saps.

I see all too often, others spending their time worrying about them and the “rockstar” life. Negative comments start flying around the social media networks, banter posts creep through the forums and then you watch your time, energy, and creative inspiration seeping slowly out the door.

I am 100% guilty of all of this. A little over a year ago I was hit hard. I spent my days trying to be everything that everyone else was. Shoot like this, edit like that, constantly beating myself up for not having, being or creating what they did and were. I found myself hating my photography and literally wanting to quit. And I was super close to doing so.

Then one day I came to a crossroads. Quit or go All In. So I did quit…I quit the forums, quit blog stalking, and quit worrying day to day about them and put every ounce I had into me and my business. I went All In. The decision was made; if after a year of giving it everything I had, if  I didn’t see change in me, my happiness and my business I would then quit. So I sit here today with my business doubled, my personal style apparent, and happy and eager to push myself even further this coming year. I am now soaring into the place I so longed to be.

There was no famous friend, no super WS, no Magic Button. I did it. I busted my tail day in and day out to get to where/what I wanted and I will continue to do so until I tackle the goals I have set for myself.

So stop dreaming and start doing. It is not easy, it takes tons of hard work and determination, but in the end, when you reach that goal it will be all that much sweeter and you will be blown away with what you are actually capable of doing.

Because no post by a photographer should be without an image…here is my dear Ginger, flared, hazed and bokeh’d.