It’s funny how far you can come and still have a chip on your shoulder. It’s crazy how much can change externally while you feel the same internally.
6 years ago, I was working two part-time jobs in industries totally unrelated to what I’m doing now (making creative stuff for inquisitive brands). At the time I couldn’t imagine a world where I got to wake up and do what I wanted every single day. Though I hoped at some point I’d become good enough at making photos, or music, or videos, or books- or smart enough with money- to start my own business, nothing really happened until I quit one job and was fired from another.
I didn’t grow into the next thing, but rather was thrown into it and, as a result, forced to grow. The only path is forward, as some say.
In that moment I didn’t get better taking photos because I got older, or more prepared to run a business; I got started because I had to get way better fast, or risk failing even more.
A few years have passed since, and though I’ve certainly (probably?) grown and changed as a result, I don’t necessarily feel any different.
The same feelings of fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome still strike me on a Sunday night at 8:17pm. What if nobody hires me? What if nobody likes what I do? What if I’m not worth it?
Younger me assumed that would go away once I was doing the thing I was passionate about, but it turns out that’s not the case. Things don’t just change unless we change them.
Many people expect to grow up but instead find themselves the same, but older. The idea that progression is a byproduct of time spent is a pernicious one and bears almost no impact on this reality:
You’ll never get better if you don’t work at it.
Whether the context is personal therapy, exercise, technical skills or soft skills (like learning sales, negotiation, managing people), the principle holds true.
Improvement isn’t given; it’s earned.
links I like:
When people ask what i’ve been listening to I say Alex G… and this record.
I love cocktails, expensive spirits, and bitter amari. I’m also a sucker for a limited release. These bottles are a need, not a want.
There’s something special about the details. This website is full of incredible macro/closeup photography and it just hits.