Tim Ferriss introduced me to the idea of lifestyle design, and for that, I will forever be grateful.
His book, The 4 Hour Workweek, broke my echo chamber.
I grew up in a small town, had parents who lived poor but comfortable, graduated from a small high school, and went to work straight out of school at a small newspaper.
Up to the point of reading Ferriss’ book, which I consumed as an audiobook on a long drive from Bandera, Texas, to Fort Worth and back, my life questions were simple:
- Do I have enough money to buy computer games?
- Can I afford to upgrade my computer so I can play better games?
- How loud can I make my car stereo?
- Am I doing good enough at work to keep getting a paycheck?
- Do I have enough money to spend on dates with my girlfriends?
I was a sadly typical twenty-something.
A Basic Bro.
(With a few shades more class, thanks to good parenting.)
Life was comfortable. Good enough. I didn’t really have anything big worth caring about, so I cared about small things: video games and bassy car stereos.
My echo chamber consisted of my parents, friends, and coworkers, all with similar ambitions: get the next paycheck, and get by best you can. Don’t rock the boat. Don’t take risks. Don’t fix what ain’t broke.
Then Tim Ferriss broke my life. He busted my echo chamber.
Listening to 4HWW, it’s like someone turned on the lights – like sitting in a dim theater, and then, the curtain is drawn: wide-eyed, excited…the show begins.
The answers to questions I never knew to ask came flooding:
- I don’t have to live in this small town forever?
- I can move up in life without a promotion gifted by my corporate owners?
- I can make more money by creating value for others?
- I’m…valuable?
- I can…design my lifestyle?
Is there a word for this kind of epiphany? “Pashoom!” It’s like the sound of fireworks whistling and popping inside your head. It’s like walking through the wardrobe, right into the forests of Narnia. The shift in my world was tectonic.
Suddenly, in the course of listening to one audiobook, I was anything but comfortable. Quite the opposite – every corner of my brain and my heart were on fire.
All the “good enough” brainwashing I got in school and from my corporate owners was violently not “good enough” anymore.
Thank God.
Because with the curtain drawn and the lights up, I could see the stage of my life – and I was now the director.
There is another way.
There are a trillion other ways.
You don’t have to live the life you’ve been handed, taught, or encouraged (or discouraged) to live. You don’t have to be a people-pleaser. You don’t have to ‘pay yourself last’ in life. You don’t have to suffer energy vampires (many times, friends and family) who drain you of your dreams and spirit and life. You don’t have to work your way up the ladder – or at least, their ladder (you can build your own). You don’t have to hurt, steal from, or step on anyone to get ahead in life.
Whatever horsesh*t has been beaten into your head and heart over the course of your life doesn’t have to define and cage your life.
You’re better than that. You’re capable of more. You’re worth more. You are worthy.
And the world is waiting.
“You are the average of the five people you associate with most, so do not underestimate the effects of your pessimistic, unambitious, or disorganized friends. If someone isn’t making you stronger, they’re making you weaker.” – Tim Ferriss
Next Steps
- Never Forget Your Why: Never forget that you’re climbing the mountain to success as a part time professional photographer because you want to. However much work, effort, trial and error is involved in getting up that mountain, you’re here right now because you want to be. Because you put a stake in the ground and have chosen to pursue your dream. This is the life, the lifestyle, you want to live, blessing others with your art and the experience you craft for them, and enjoying the blessings creative, social and financial in return. It’s a good life. And you’re earning it, one small step at a time.
- Do Some Soul Searching: Are there people in your life who contribute to your echo chamber of limiting beliefs? Are there people who through their words, actions, or mere presence in your life are causing you to stay in the same old ruts in life? Always remember the parable of the crab bucket. It’s only in the past few years that I realized A) how negatively certain people affected my life, and B) that I could do something about it.
- Brainstorm Session: Get out your pen and paper. Really open up your mind to possibility and ask yourself: What limiting beliefs are holding me back? Who in my life is slowing or stopping me from achieving my goals? Who in my life is accelerating and encouraging my dreams? What would I do if I wasn’t afraid? What would I be doing if there was no way I could fail? What really excites me? File this away in your Brainstorms folder.
- Subscribe Today: It’s my calling to help you earn your first $5,000 to $50,000 as a part time professional photographer. I am truly grateful for your readership, and encourage you to subscribe to my e-mail newsletter at the top of any page of this site.
- Do This Now: What’s the biggest struggle holding you back right now? E-mail me your answer (yes, right now!), and let’s make a breakthrough today.
- Start The Conversation: If anything in this post has spoken to and inspired you, please comment below or drop me an e-mail. I’d love to hear how you’re hustling to better your art, life, and business!
absoulutely great post. I have shared it with a niece I want to inspire to her potential. and it has been very encouraging to me.
Thank you so much for your kind words Stephen! It’s awesome that you’re helping your niece to achieve her dreams! Put her in touch with me anytime, I’d be happy to visit with her and help in any way I’m able.
Thank you again! Please do keep me posted on your successes and adventures!
i have a plan… and also? crabby critics. i am living my plan to a tee, though some think i’m not dreaming big or fast enough. i had priorities… children to raise, children i wanted to spend time with, and then, a craft to practice and learn. my youngest is about to fly and so am i. just as i planned.
i’m just bummed that i hung out in that echo chamber, listening.
wonderful post. ty
Thank you for your honest comment and readership Patty.
You know what? Critics and haters are a good thing – it means you’re taking action. You’re getting noticed. You’re doing something important, and that can scare people – sometimes (most times) because you having control and confidence and proactive agency over your life shows them what they’re not brave enough to choose for themselves.
One exercise I do often in my day job in newspaper advertising sales is to see how many no’s I can get. Instead of being mortified or feeling rejected, I do my best to get a yes, but when I get a no, I celebrate that effort and result, acknowledging that it’s a process – for every five no’s I get, I get a yes, but if I didn’t get those first five no’s, if I quit early, if I got offended or upset or embarrassed on the fourth call and never made the fifth, I’d never get a yes at all. And it’s the yeses that count, that add up, that make a career or a business or a dream.
You take absolutely wonderful photos Patty, your clients are truly blessed by your art. And your Pearls for Girls work is wonderful and important.
You’ve got this! Please do keep me posted on your successes and adventures!
I have been married to my wife for over 20 years and have 4 wonderful sons. In a couple short years my youngest will be out the house. I am ready to take a BIG step. I have always had the desire to create my entire life. I have jumped in and out of many different mediums and have truly enjoyed the variety. But this past year I heavily gravitated toward photography. To me, the level of expression is matched by no other. Capturing a moment in time that can be so priceless to someone is an amazing gift in and of itself. I have grown so much in just a year and will continue to look to photographers like yourself to aid me in this journey. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment and your readership Joe!
It’s absolutely my pleasure to help in any way I can.
It sounds like you’ve already built a wonderful life, and taking on the journey of becoming a part time professional photographer will become another success in your life. I agree fully – for me, professional photography provides the perfect mix of challenge, growth, creative expression, and rewards both social and financial. I’m truly blessed to have picked up a camera 16 years ago and fallen into the profession.
You know where your heart is, and that passion will prove a great blessing for your many clients just waiting for you to launch and reach out to them.
Thank you again for your readership! Please do keep me posted on your successes and adventures.