You need some wins.
We impatient, self-flagellating human beings tend to want to change completely all at once. We go cold turkey. We don’t wean off carbs, we swear them off. We don’t start at the gym for 10 minutes, we go for two hours (then can’t move for a week). We don’t commit to feeling a little better, we set the goal of a summer swimsuit body in 30 days.
Wins build on wins. Mojo, baby.
But the human brain is built of deep-cut neural pathways. Your sugar addiction is a superhighway. Your dream habit of meal prep and lifting heavy at the gym is a bike trail. And your new goal of eating and acting healthy is like trying to divert rush hour traffic down that dirt path.
Likely to end in a wreck.
But…(and this is a good but, for once)
Superhighways start out as wagon trails.
Rough country evolves into wagon trails, trails into paved roads, paved roads into two-lanes into eight-lane cross-country interstates.
Takes time. Takes purposeful effort. Takes some vision, and a commitment to the vision.
How do you evolve your artistic and professional skills into the top 5% of your peers?
Focus on your strengths first.
When I coach a struggling photographer, some of the first assessments and exercises we do are to identify superpowers both known and hidden.
(Do you love reading books and blogs about business and/or photography? Did you know that’s a superpower? Most companies with thousands of employees can barely get their people to do mandatory continuing education, much less study independently and passionately to grow their skills.)
This has two purposes:
1. To break the self-destructive obsession with weaknesses.
2. To rediscover the personal foundation of strength upon which that photographer can uniquely build their art and business.
Weaknesses can be shored up later.
Some of those weaknesses will turn out to be powerful differentiators, and surprising strengths when reframed.
But focusing on your strengths first lets you grab low-hanging fruit. It makes your wins come easier and faster. Aren’t you tired of feeling stuck and frustrated and discouraged?
Hit the reset button and start over working from the foundation of your unique strengths.
What frustrating, slow, energy-draining work are you doing right now that’s leaving you feeling inept and frustrated? E-mail me at james@banderaoutlaw.com and let me know.
James Michael Taylor
www.parttimephoto.com