As a lot of you know, I primarily shoot fitness athletes. Fitness season is pretty much all year around, so I don't get a lot of time to watch much of any NFL football like I used to. I must admit that I'm very grateful that they invented the DVR because I recorded all of the Atlanta Falcons games shown here in Colorado, the playoff games, and the Super Bowl.
Most people don't know this, but I watch football games and analyze them like it's my job to do it... (Seriously, you can just hire me on and I'll break down the game). I just finished the best game of them all that wasn't the Super Bowl, the Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints.
That game was... WILD!!!!!!!
I posted the video below. Look at how Case Keenum and Stefon Diggs didn't give up and connected with only 10 seconds to go and won! That takes some serious PR because they were playing against a recent Super Bowl winning team. Some will call it, "luck", or a whatever, I call it PR. Imaging being in front of all those fans, and millions of people watching this game, and you're down in points, then you stand up and perform like they did. I stood up and cheered for them!
Now back to the subject of "Resilience & Perserverance". When I was on active duty, these really were my best qualities as a Marine. I didn't stop digging into whatever I was involved in. I always had focus. I may not have understood something initially, however once I kept at it, I became the, "Subject Matter Expert". Now, as a photographer, that certainly has helped my growth. I've been at this for a few years now, and I get a lot of photographers that reach out to me and ask advice, or whatever, I help them, then **POOF!** I get unfriended, or blocked for numerous reasons. Most times people ask about lighting, getting published, or whatever and I always tell them the same thing, "I work my ass off to perfect a lighting technique.", or "I just kept improving my work, then re-submitting until it fit their standards." Unfortunately, those that left being my social media friends don't work on what I showed them, then they end up giving up on photography altogether. It's like they just don't have the moxie to stick to it, and work hard.
In any art or creative process, things have to be practiced. Taking someone's workshop one time, then getting mad at someone for showing you their technique once is ridiculous. You've gotta take great notes, ask questions, and more importantly...PRACTICE!!!!!!!!! Work on whatever you're doing in your business. If you suck at marketing, work on it! If you suck at lighting, work on it!! If you suck at editing, work on it!!! Whatever it is, you've gotta work on it. Some of us have to work seven times harder than others. Once you work on it, keep working on it until you get sick of it, then work on it thousands of times more!
"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." - Bruce Lee
My biggest point is this. If you don't work on what you've learned, or develop on your weaknesses, the only person you have to blame is YOURSELF!!! For me, I'm cut from a different cloth. I do everything I can to ensure that I'm practicing my techniques, and other business related things daily. For me, that's important since I'm constantly trying to make sure that my clients are taken care of. If you're not striving for progression daily as a photographer, or rather as a human, then you're definitely doing it all wrong.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
I went into this business without a "backup plan", or "escape route". I am an "all or nothing" kinda person when it comes to achieving my goals. I don't let bad people, or situations stop me for continuing my goals. You've got to put the work in to be great. You can't depend on other people to help you reach your objectives. Even I have photographer buddies that help me out from time to time, however I don't lean so heavily on them that they can't do their jobs. If you're trying to accomplish your goals the right way....DON'T QUIT!!
If you're looking for a great photography workshop, contact me, and let's make it happen. Thank you for your time.
Semper Fidelis!
Mike
Instagram - @mikeconphoto
www.mikeconphoto.com #mikeconphoto
