“The road to failure and despair is littered with the dreams of those who failed to act upon them”
~Napolean Hill~
I love a good story of pain and struggle. You know, when everything seems lost, hopeless and doomed.
You see this in many, many movies. Problem is, in movies, you need this so they can tie it all together for the big climatic moment. “And they lived happily ever after….”
Yea, right….
In real life, it ain’t the same. Most times, folks pack it in, lick their wounds and crawl back into their metaphoric caves of safety and shelter.
Being in business is hard. Very hard. The struggles are real and painful.
One of the most insidious evil forces of all is when you are ready to push, crawl out of the bucket of crabs so to speak, ready to rise to a new level, many forces show up to drag you down.
Inside forces. Outside forces. Some to challenge you. Some to inspire. Many seem dark, evil and despairing.
These forces can be social, conscious, unconscious, metaphoric, real, unreal, magical, mysterious or obvious.
They take on all shapes. But one thing is true, show up they will.
How we decide to view these forces and respond is key.
Commitment is also key and is an underlying foundation. Staying committed is hard. I get it. But it’s part of the struggle that forges your resolve into a steely gaze and determination that protects and deflects all the bullshit and arrows that get thrown at you.
Yes, in the journey is pain. And struggle. There are NO exceptions. What we do with these experience will enrich us, if we’re open.
I love Maggies story. We sat and chatted a few days ago at the PPOC convention, as we planned for an upcoming one day event we’re hosting together.
That’s us in the selfie above.
She started telling me about her struggles and stories when she started out in business. I thought to myself: “Most people would not be able to withstand the constant and endless challenges she did. This lady has brass balls (as metaphor)”
But she did. And it all worked out.
Her studio is humming along like a top. She has risen to the top of this crazy game we call photography. She is totally crushing it.
And we can all learn. And listen to her story.
And mine too. On June 2, at Maggie’s studio in Oakville.
The struggle is real. And we all need some guidance, coaching, support and inspiration.
Yours in success and in photography,
Rob
It was great to meet you at Maggies on June 2nd and love following you through photosuccess.Even though I am in a different line of photography it was inspiring to hear both of your stories at the summit and it really gave me hope that I can make this photography thing work when so many people have told me “you can’t make money with photography”
In a 1 on 1 conversation with Maggie really lifted me and encouraged me.
Thank you both for what you are doing!!
Chris de Laat
You too! Did you create a video yet on your old school cameras?? (I forget what they’re called…)
Rob