Unfortunately, many photographers lay awake at night beating themselves up. “Why can’t I figure this out by myself?”. Laying there in frustration and disappointed in themselves for not being able to “figure it out”. We’ve all been there. It is a journey. A path we all take.

For starters, I believe everyone should be leading a purpose driven life with a mission bigger than ourselves AND our income. It is this big purpose that provides the gas to power your business. I almost equate it to a ‘divine mission’.

Most photographers need to play a bigger game by defining their purpose/mission. They play too small out of fear and limiting beliefs. Negative self talk erodes your confidence.

And…. fear of change is SO deep, you desperately “cling to the old” to avoid discomfort. This “clinging to the old” is justified with clever excuses that appear real (but they aren’t really).

The fear makes you play small! Too small.

Self sabotaging behaviors are numerous!

1. “Too busy” to do marketing or follow up with clients or ask the owner of that business if you can do a display.
2. Afraid to truly invest in yourself. (ie. hiring a photography coach)
3. Procrastination (a particular favorite of photographers)
4. Photographers tend to be amazing “excuse generating machines”. No time. No $$. (the same excuses ‘clients use’) AND to make things worse, we believe our excuses are real. Let me tell you, excuses get in your way and makes the path you should be traveling down foggy.
5. Negative self talk or allowing negative people into our life. It might be time to fire a ‘friend’ or two.
6. Fear what others might think of is.
7. Fear our clients will leave us if we charge an appropriate price for our artwork.
8. Ignoring signs and that annoying little voice in your head telling you “you should be doing that!”
9. Too scattered because we lack time protocols! And if we do have time protocols, they are set in sand, not stone.
10. Shiny objects capture our attention so easily it causes disruptions in our workflow yet wonder why we are so “overwhelmed”.
11. Not enough determination – one foot on the gas and one of the brake.
12. Not enough faith this give up too early. Faith, trust, & courage are the fuel for not quitting. No quitting. Quitting is not an option.

If you always struggle on the inside, you will struggle on the outside. We’ve got to get rid of the drama! No drama! Unplug from it.

Mindset is 90% of your success OR failure. We need to get it under control. It needs to be monitored like a bull-in-a-China-shop.

With the right team, or coach, on your side you CAN accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Way more.

Do you feel overwhelmed?

Do you feel your life is always running behind & feeling rushed?

Do you find yourself telling your kids, “just one more email honey” or “just one more picture babydoll”?

Are you pursing ONE passion outside photography?

Does your children get mommie time?

Are you doing things you are incapable or incompetent to do versus doing the things you are uniquely capable of doing?

Is it time to invest in yourself with support?

Take time to love the things and people you have. Break the cycle of insanity now.

Do you feel unworthy of investing in yourself? Break that chain!

Understand that the purpose of your vision is greater than the thoughts of others who are unplugged from your vision – let them go. Free yourself from their criticism.

There is nothing wrong with you. We all feel this way. Together, we can break through these chains that hold us back.

Vow to wake up tomorrow no longer willing to live in mediocrity.

Examine your fears. Invest in yourself. Say ‘Yes’ to opportunities.

Do things others aren’t willing to do OR invest in!

Take chances. Take action.

Have positive expectations and faith you CAN make changes and if they doen’t workout as expected, you CAN change them again.

Your life is not an accident. Create it! Or your life reverts to ‘default’.

Stretch your vision. See bigger. See more. Expect more.

You can’t do it alone! (let me repeat, you can’t do it alone!)

You need someone to help you, guide you, encourage you, be there for you, show you new skills, explore new perspectives, …

Upgrade your mindset with a photography coach.

Get clear on money’s purpose with a photography coach.

Pinpoint incongruences with a photography coach.

Increase your self image with a photography coach.

Release fears with a photography coach.

You ARE enough and deserving! Use your gifts in a big way.

HUGS,
George Dean