Do what you love

By now it is pretty darn obvious that I'm going through some things inside my head. I don't want to drag it out, but I do need to get it out. It's part of the process, at least for me. For some time now I've been just a bit off. I haven't had that really strong drive. Don't get me wrong, I've still accomplished a lot and I'm really proud of some of my accomplishments, I just didn't have that drive to push just a bit beyond and get to the really good stuff.

Whenever I get like this, I like to recess into my own world. I've used the words "go into my cave" before. I like to go into my basement, hide behind my computer and read, learn and process images. It is my way of filing away things inside my head and it is my way to learn and be inspired.  

Recently, I read a post over on Chase Jarvis' Blog. It's titled "Stop trying to get everyone to like your stuff." I don't read Chase all that much. He's wildly talented and I do like his stuff, it's just sometimes he's a bit too glam for me. In short and in his words, "...by trying to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. Especially yourself." While these words could be spun in many ways, where I am at is not about trying to please everyone. Sometimes at work it is that way, but it certainly does not apply to all my stuff. I mean seriously, I've been out riding solo for hours on end so it's pretty obvious that I was doing things that were pleasing to me and putting off things to please others.  But...As I get beyond those words and that valuable lesson, what really hit me was his simply 3 step advice. 

1) Shoot what you love

2) Pimp that work

3) Repeat

Ok....Now for me I just need to replace Shoot with Do. I love to ride bikes, take pictures and share them. That is what I love. That is what I need to do. In looking back over the last few years, when I do those things the rest falls into place. It's when I get too serious about any one of those things and start to try to please others that things fall apart. So, that is what I'm going to do.

I'm also going to take this opportunity to not only do what I love but to pimp my work just a bit. First, I am sharing a picture of my friend Ben because I was supposed to go riding with him this morning but I had to cancel to get my work done so that I can do more of what I love. I am almost there.  Ben, thanks for understanding. 

Second, in the next month, my images will be featured in several upcoming publications. I've got images in cycling publications in Australia, Japan and USA. I also was contacted yesterday by another. Pretty darn cool. In fact, that image above was one of the images requested by the Australian magazine. I don't think it was the one chosen, but it could be. 

Third, repeat. I haven't been shooting much but tomorrow I'm going to pull out the good camera and get back to work while riding with friends. Oh yeah, now it's coming back to me.

Do what you love.

Comments

[Herringbone]

I started following your blog because of the pictures.Your honest words have been a plus. Thanks.

[Adventure Monkey]

Alright boss, whatever you say. I'm taking that do what you love mantra to heart.

[quinn]

I have admired your work for a while now and am pleased that magazines are taking notice. I also really admire your verbage, As a professional photographer by trade and an avid cyclist as my other passion i feel that we are similar yet opposite if you know what i mean. I combat staying creative in a day after day situation and it has been especially hard this year to keep the creative spark burning. My 530am morning rides help but i am looking to spend some alone time in the wild riding my El Mar and shooting nature. As a portrait photographer you find yourself trying to please your customers and sometimes that means not pleasing yourself, it is funny how it sneaks up on you and then look back at older work and think about how your work changes and not always for the better. We just launched our new website and i tried to just post work that i liked and not be political and post work to please my clients. Your words really hit home as i ponder my sabbatical. Keep up the great work.

[Laidlaw]

Do what makes you happy- that's the key to success no matter what you're trying to accomplish.

--Mark

[Velosopher]

Amen. Thanks for the reminder. Gnat, your processes continue to parallel mine. I've lost my juju at work, and I'm working on revamping what work means.

Do what you love is a chestnut by now, but you helped me look at it anew -- a necessary step.

Sometimes it's do what you love at work (or at least more of it), sometimes on your own, sometimes with a loved one. The law of love transcends all other laws; all things align to it.

[Kevin]

Gnat, this is not related to your blog at all, I just don't have any other contact info. Yesterday our SWAT team was doing something a little different for training at our Western Maintenance building (your neighbor). They stole a page from the Army Rangers and did a team-building exercise, piecing together a conveyance from scrap, then moving a heavy load over a course that went by your building. It was a race that ended back at our range with some sub-gun firing course. Anyway, some QBP folks were out cheering them on, and I wanted to tell them thanks-our guys got a kick out of the support.

On a blog note, I really appreciate your photography and am continually taken by your heartfelt words. I don't know if it is by profession or personality, but guys at my work are seldom so honest about their doubts. I know you felt guilty about all the DK training, but I truly believe that having your kids see you make a valiant effort and fall short was a life-long lesson. Many of their classmates will always get ribbons for participating, or score will never be kept, and rules will be bent so that all succeed. That thinking has a place, but those kids grow up with a skewed view of the world. Your kids saw you work your tail off and not reach your goal, and they're better for it. You're a good Dad.

Best~Kevin

[Velosopher]

I just want to hit the virtual "Like" button on Kevin's comment. The first part was a blast -- who's lucky enough to have neighbors like that at work??? The second part was so true in so many ways. a) "Real Men don't express doubts" is a bunch of hooey; b) seeing your kids try and fail is crucial (has anyone read 10 Points, by Bill Strickland? Talk about expressing doubts in a cycling context!!); c) "Everybody wins" as a universal rule is unhealthy for children!

Thanks, Kevin!

[Gnat]

Hey folks, I just want to really say thank you to all of you for sharing and commenting today. I can't put into words what it means to me. Thank you again.

[Rob]

http://oceanaircycles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2.25-musings-1.jpg

I wrote this down on the back of my journal back in grad school, a long time ago, I am pretty sure it came from a surf mag. I keep that journal handy to remind me of the very same things.

Your art inspires us as well as you - Thank you