Failure Isn’t Fatal

“Failure, to me, is not trying. Failure, to me, is the idea that unhappiness should be a permanent part of life.”

This is such a great statement if you’ve get to get started but I’ve found that trying too hard can also be a major source of unhappiness and stress. It seems like it’s so easy to overwork in your own business.

I hate to say it and I’ve tried so hard not to be this person, but having our business be our only source of income scares me into overworking. The worries, the question always in my mind about if we will make it is now a part of my life when it never used to be. Balance is the key, but boy it’s hard to have sometimes.

This was a great read though, and good timing, at least for me. I’m always very encouraged by your ideas and outlook on things in your blog.

-holly

My story is a little unique and has a different spin. I recently switched from full time photography to part-time. Some may see it as failure, I see it as a win/win. Here is why.
Over 3 years ago I took the big leap into a small photography business with much fanfare and encouragement from friends, family and mentors. Things were going OK. However, I hated the hours behind the computer. I loathed spending hours each week trying to focus on SEO, blogging, networking, computer maintenance, etc. But, the wedding days of shooting brides and grooms on their happiest occasion was an indescribable joy. Meeting new people, creating photos that families treasure, being there when fathers cry, creatively capturing images to share – what a blessing! Each wedding day was a thrill. I absolutely love every moment of the chaos, stress and passion which occurs on the wedding day itself. But when it came to days of drudgery in Lightroom and Photoshop, it was draining and demoralizing for me.
So, I started outsourcing most of my post production work. It cost more, but it is done better and faster than I could. It took me quite a while to release this. After much searching, trial and testing, I found a post production partner I could trust. Suddenly, my enjoyment factor went up tremendously. Best of all, I had more time on my hands.
After several months of this new process, a window of opportunity occurred and I was recruited for a non-profit organization that helps provide assistance for orphans and foster care children in South Florida. Being that I had already volunteered as a photographer for the charity previously, plus the fact that I myself was adopted and, the energizing thought of making a positive impact in the lives of children in our community was something which gave me a great deal of peace and joy. Even more, I could continue to shoot weddings on weekends.
So, with much prayer and insight from the same friends, family and mentors, it was decided this was a path of win/win for myself, my family and helping others in need.
Now, I get to do what I love most at 2 jobs at the same time. And get paid for both! Also, to tag onto what Lawrence says here is true, I didn’t lose three years, I gained a world of experience, travel, business and discovering more about myself than I could have without taking the “leap”. Either way, we all need to wisely take risks in order to discover more about ourselves and what truly makes us content, peaceful and fully alive.
I simply share this because each one of us has a different calling on our lives and we all need to be open to the idea of what “freedom” and “success” means for us individually.
Hope that someone out there is encouraged by this in some small way.
Be blessed!
– Curtis

I’m in the middle of a book called the 4hour work week. Now although as a photographer I cant exactly follow the advice of the author about returning email and phone calls, I’m taking lots of notes with the other tidbits and little golden nuggets he provides. It’s a good read so far, and I think Lawrence recommended it (didnt you??). I recommend reading it for sure :)