Food for thought.

I noticed, in me, and in others, a rookie mindset mistake.

EXAMPLE: Think about anytime you started something totally brand new, but something you really wanted to know more about.

It sorta goes like this…..
“I need to learn all I can, so I can look like I know what I’m doing. It’s all about how much I know….” (ego)

The key words….”all about how much I know…”

This is one of the biggest limiting mindsets to getting ahead.

Truth is, it’s all about recognizing how much you don’t know.
That’s the core fundamental mindset of being a good student. No matter your age.
No matter your experience.

As soon as you think you know it, you’re doomed. The gates close.

The is kinda expected at first, since newbs will be newbs.
We’ve all been there.

But the real opportunity presents itself later on, as we get more skilled and masterful.

As we get better, at first, we stumble and fumble…unsure….worried….stressed…. it’s all so new and confusing.

The big mistake= trying really hard to get to the point of “knowing”.

The better place to be is to always be an open, empty vessel…take it all in.
Be modest.

This my friend is harder to do at first because we’re newbs and we want to look good (ego) and it’s equally hard to do when we get better because we think we’ve made it. (ego)

Ask questions. And put your ego aside.

There is no getting to the point of “knowing”.

It’s a fallacy. An illusion.

In photography, both in the actual technical side (lighting, posing, photoshop etc etc….) and in the marketing and business side, we’re always, always in a continuous state of movement and flux.

Stop learning and die.

Stop moving ahead, challenging yourself and your ego on all levels, and the mold and spider webs take over your mind, your heart and soul.

I call this CBS…calcified brain sh*t.

The beginning of the end.

The solution: Ask yourself what you don’t know vs being worried about how smart you are. This requires being a good student and putting your ego aside.

Trying to look smart when you’re starting out is silly. Think about it.

Trying to look smart when you’re got good is much easier…easy to fool many for a while….for a while….

It requires a surrendering, of sorts. An innocent, child like curiosity.

For the most part, I feel very lucky to have been blessed with an insatiable curiosity. I am addicted to workshops, webinars,  documentaries, google and wikipedia…

What success in business and in photography I can directly link to this aspect of my personality.

My daughter has it too. Like her dad. She drives me nuts at times, with 101 questions about something. She HAS to know more, to understand.

I get it. Be patient dad, she’s young. Her curiosity is a good thing.

It will bring her far in life. Let your curiosity work with you.

Let your ego rule, and the doors to curiosity are slammed shut. Air tight.

Nothing gets in. Stay real and authenticity will float to the top of your being.

Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher

“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”