Don't become a slave to your future
Let this one sink in a bit... There. Is. No. Perfect. Time. The harsh reality of life is even if you have everything planned to a tee, something will change. The unexpected is always expected. There is no value in waiting for the future to do what you can right now, today. That's what living in the moment is all about. Whether it's starting that new workout regimen or leaving a job you hate or starting a business of your own. All of these things require commitment that starts with decisions you make today. Don't create barriers to your own happiness. You can't make a promise to work on yourself in a few months because it's more convenient then. You have to be willing to work on yourself today. One helpful tip is replacing the word "Should" with "Must" in your everyday vocabulary. See what happens when you do this! So find the courage to get started, that's the first step to change.
If you want it, make it happen
If I were to tell my old self, the one who worked in a Corporate job and lived in a cushy apartment, that the amount of energy dedicated to crafting a new business is in no way shape or form measurably "fair" to the amount of money made (at least not right away), I wonder if she would have left her job. In the end, I'm glad I did. Deciding whether you should leave your job to pursue your passion is dependent on three key factors: 1. how much money you saved 2. how much money you "need" to be truly happy 3. how big your passion is. This year, Mike and I did an exercise to record every single thing we spent money on (which I highly recommend doing). Aside from our rent, the biggest change was not buying $100 worth of coffee and an unmentionable amount on restaurants + clothes (oops) every month. Though my fashion is a little more Nordstrom Rack than Nordstrom, I realized it had no impact on my overall happiness. The long hours spent on ideating, creating, and editing images for our clients is what we live for. It makes everything we have to sacrifice worth it. I have learned that passion trumps everything else. Passion encourages me to read, to learn, and to find innovative ways. And without it, none of this will make any sense to you. Find your passion, chase after it, and hustle. If you want something, whatever it is, then go get it... sacrifices and all.
You have to make a choice and stick to it
Here's the double-edge sword. There are bad days, really bad days. There's no sugarcoating it. I used to have a lot of them in the beginning of the year. When you leave one kind of life for another kind of life, there is always a transition period. During this time, you are confused and the world is super scary. But that's because you haven't determined your values yet. Eventually, you know what is actually important to you and what your happiness radar is driven by. Then, you will have to make a choice and stick to it. Meaning, every time you find your mind wandering onto the other side... you bring it back to where it needs to be. In the end though, the good days (dare I say, amazing days) far outweigh the bad. Like when you get your first real clients. Or when you unexpectedly exceed your goal for bookings next year. Or when your clients tell you how much they love what you did for them and they know they hired the right photographers for their wedding. These winning moments are incredibly heartwarming and make all the ups and downs worthwhile. And what's amazing is we get to make new friends, we get to travel, and we get to create art. The biggest revelation? I no longer feel numb, burnt out or dread my days.
Don't surround yourself with like-minded people. Surround yourself with people who have similar values.
Mike and I will never forget this one day where we grabbed lunch with an old college friend, Chris. We were sitting outside a crepe cafe having an enlightening conversation when this student approached us attempting to sell chocolate. He was slurring his words and made no eye contact. He didn't look engaged. We weren't even quite sure what he was selling. Most of us wouldn't even bat an eye at this kid. We would wave our hands to signal "go away" or just a quick "no, thank you" before dismissing him. But that's the furthest thing from what Chris did. He proceeded to spend the next 10 minutes teaching this kid how to enunciate, make proper eye contact, and stand with better posture. The kid was hesitant at first to take the advice, but he practiced his pitch a few more times and I could feel his confidence grow with each try. He wasn't perfect, but he improved. We bought a few chocolates from him that day. He walked away with so much gratitude, that someone cared enough to stop and help him. Mike and I will never forget those 10 minutes (Chris, if you are reading this... thank you). Find people like Chris in your life and befriend them. These are the friends who will change your perspective, humble you, and inspire you to be a better person.
Every sunset is magical.
This year, Mike and I have seen a lot of sunsets. Likely more than I have seen in the past decade. And I have to say, every sunset is magical and I never get tired of it. Sunsets are a way for me to reflect on the day. What did I learn? What have I achieved? What am I grateful for today? It's a moment to meditate, a moment to cleanse, a moment to just enjoy the beauty of the world. But the best part of a sunset is not just about watching the sun drop below the horizon on the West, it's turning around and marveling at the cotton candy sky that's on the East. Saturated in colors of pink and blue, it's even more beautiful than the sunset itself. Everyone is so busy staring into the obvious, they miss the beauty of what they can experience if they simply looked the other way. Sunsets have taught me a lot this year. It's a moment of the day I always look forward to.
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I just want to say a big THANK YOU to those who have been following and supporting Mike and me on this mind-blowing adventure. And to all our friends, old and new: the ones who put us up in their homes for days, weeks or months at a time, the ones who inspire us, the ones who believe in what we do... not sure what we did to deserve you guys but boy oh boy are we glad to have every single one of you in our lives.
And don't hesitate to give us a shout if you or anyone you know is seeking traveling photographers and you think our fun, artsy, photojournalistic style would be a good fit. We are still booking weddings, engagements, and lifestyle sessions for 2016!
Website: mainandsimplephoto.com
2016 Travel Schedule: mainandsimplephoto.com/schedule
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