Why Failing Forward Could Be Your Ticket to Ultimate Success
Fall. Stand up. Fall. Stand up. True failure is not standing up, the fall is just life.
Two Short Ideas on a Quiet Thursday Afternoon.
I have tried a lot of different things.
Had a few big successes.
I also failed. A lot.
But the truth is, failure can actually be a blessing.
Why Failure is My Best Friend
Think of failure as an internal GPS giving me constant feedback.
It’s like my brain telling me, "Hey, wrong turn, let’s reroute!"
Those who never miss a turn? Well, that's impressive, but they may be missing out.
How weird would it be to always expect a win without a single loss?
Life just doesn’t work that way. If you are not being defeated, you aren't working very hard.
Sweet success is defined by the bitter taste of failure.
Imagine being on top of the world since the day the doctor slapped your scrawny ass.
If that's all you knew, would it feel like a success or just another Tuesday?
A life lived is about setting sky-high goals, falling down a bit (or a lot), and then finding the magic of that sweet space in between.
The Magic of Self-Reliance
Which brings me to another thought - the beauty of self-reliance.
Let's talk about the rich kids for a sec.
Many of them have never had to hustle for their next meal.
Success is their daily bread.
But, because of that, they miss out on discovering their limits, finding their mojo, discovering that their groove is silkier than Sade's smooth operator.
They don’t know the thrill of setting a target like earning $1,000 a month from scratch. Or navigating the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with such a journey.
A nugget of golden advice; Embrace your failures.
Love them and learn from them.
They are the roadmap to your next success.
The Assignment: "Journey of Light"
Something for this weekend. A scavenger hunt for creativity.
A fun way to approach making photos. No stress, just art.
Suggestions:
Chase the Light: From dawn's first glimmer to the night's final ember. Capture the journey of light in its many forms. How does it evolve? How does it play?
Incorporate Shadows: Darkness isn’t your enemy. It’s your dance partner. How do light and shadow play together? Show the contrast.
Human Element: Introduce a human subject into your frame. Let light interact with them. Highlight. Silhouette. Glint in the eye. Whatever it takes!
Mood & Emotion: Don't just click. Feel. What emotions does the changing light evoke? Let your image convey that feeling.
Challenge: Ditch the digital. Go analog. Film, if you dare. Capture that raw, organic feel.
Inspiration isn’t about the best equipment or the most exotic location.
It’s about the eyes behind the lens.
It's about heart.
It's about soul.
It’s about your vision, and yours alone.
Think about the places you've been, the people you've met.
Think about the stories you haven’t told yet.
Let the light guide you. Let your lens be your pen.
Now, go out and feel the world.
Let the journey of light inspire you to make your viewers feel something.
Anything.
And when you've got that shot—that one shot that makes your heart race just a bit faster—come back and share it with us.
You've got the talent.
Now, give it wings.
Keep shooting, keep exploring, and above all, stay engaged.
A portfolio that sells your talent in a time frame that makes it crazy cool!
I am doing my 30-Day Portfolio Slam starting mid-September. If you want to get a whole portfolio done, quickly, without sacrificing quality, this course is for you.
Then use the framework for your next portfolio idea.
Something special to announce.
A FREE book giveaway to all premium members.
Starting the second week of September, I will be giving away one chapter per week from my business book, “Dare to Succeed”. This will be for the Premium Members only, and it will be contemporaneous. That is to say, each chapter will only be able to be downloaded from Friday to Monday over the weekends. The chapters will be delivered on Fridays. We begin September 15, 2023 with the first chapter.
This book was created specifically for my Project 52 Members and has not been offered to the general public. So here is your opportunity to snatch this bad boy up.
See you all tomorrow for our Friday Dispatch.