Stop Making Excuses - Take Action Now!
When I was a senior in high school, I started receiving letters from universities inviting me to visit their schools. Granted, most students that filled out a form at the Career Center in school got those letters, but it made me feel good. It made me want to pursue my dream of being an architect or designer. I was a creative since I was knee high. I loved drawing, and I had a knack for figuring things out if I took the time to study them. So naturally, going to a school where I would be able to hone my skills and hopefully pursue a career in something that I loved excited me.
One morning, when my dad and I were in his truck heading to school, I asked him if he had looked at the brochure for The School of Art Institute of Chicago. I had received that brochure a few days prior, and I kept nudging him to take a look at it, so I decided this would be an opportunity to ask him once more. I asked hopefully, “Did you look at the brochure from the art school?” He was silent for a moment as we made a turn at the intersection, then said something that I will never forget and forever have seared in my mind. He said it with an annoyed and irritated tone. He said, “What are you going to do all day, draw?!” I don’t remember what my response was. Maybe I said no. I can’t seem to recall. I do know how I felt. I was hurt and felt defeated. After that, I stopped talking to him about schools. He wanted me to stay local and go to the community college six miles away, which I did. I never graduated, never got a degree. I applied a few years ago but never went any farther than that.
In hindsight, I know where he was coming from. It was an expensive university. Heck, even back then, universities were expensive. He wanted me to try and do a couple of years near home and maybe go to university later. Later never came. I did a year and a half of community college, got married, and moved out of the house. I joined the workforce and had kids. A beautiful wife and two beautiful girls. Looking back, I do not regret making that decision. If given the chance, I would do it all over again. I tell this story because, in some way, early in my life, it affected the decisions that I have made, both positive and negative.
Early in my twenties, I wasn’t the go-getter. I needed something or someone to give me that nudge, the motivation to go after what I wanted. Thank God for my wife. She was and continues to be instrumental in giving me that push when I need it. I tend to get too comfortable and complacent. I’ll tell myself every excuse in the book and convince myself that I will somehow get it done tomorrow. And then I start overthinking. Everything thought of what could go wrong or might go wrong begins to flood my mind. Or, what will someone think or say if I decide to do what it is I set out to do? I convince myself that maybe it isn’t worth it. Out of fear, I don’t do it. The next day, I wake up and tell myself, “Today is going to be different. I am going to get something done!”And yet I do the same thing, nothing. It’s Groundhog Day all over again.
I guess what I’m getting at is that I make too many excuses. I overthink and do nothing. I research and study, but I take no action. Writing this blog for others to read and hopefully gain some value out of it, I am also writing to myself. It’s a reminder and hopefully motivation to get off my butt and take action. The best way to learn something is to just do it. If I could give my twenty-something-year-old self some advice, it would be this:
“I’ve been where you are. When I was in my twenties, I made excuses too—told myself I wasn’t ready, didn’t have enough experience, or that I’d start someday. But here’s what I’ve learned: ‘Someday’ isn’t real. Today is the day! Start small, start slow, but you must start now!”
Here are three pieces of advice that I believe will help you on your journey to get it done.
There’s No Perfect Start. If you’re waiting for the right time, you’ll be waiting forever. Nobody has the perfect setup when they begin. You figure things out as you go.
Excuses Won’t Get You Anywhere. You can tell yourself you’re too busy, too broke, or not skilled enough, but none of that changes the fact that taking action is the only way forward.
Action Creates Momentum. The first step is the hardest, but once you take it, things start falling into place. You don’t need to have everything figured out—just start. Progress always beats perfection.
So stop overthinking. Stop waiting. Take the leap. Your future self will thank you!”
DREAM CHASER
I feel as though I’ve been looking at everything wrong. For the past year and a half I’ve been on the “Entrepreneur” bandwagon. In some ways I’ve gained little traction for my business by putting myself out there and taking some risks to get my name out. Grant it I only do what I can with the little time I have between my regular full time job and my personal life. This is where the crux of the matter comes to play. I’ve listened, watched, and written down everything that I could get my hands on when it comes to being an entrepreneur for my business. Gary Vee is trending and rightly so. He has a way of motivating you to get out there and get things done. Content content content daily is the name of the game. Stop complaining and making excuses and just get it done. Do free work if have to but you need to just get content out! Stop watching Netflix because that’s consuming your time from your daily grind. Not to mention draining your wallet. There’s one thing though that I think we tend to miss when it comes to getting things done and grinding your way to the top, family. Every speaker that is out there will tell you that you need to hustle but also that you need to prioritize your life. You do not want to become a success in your business at the expense of your family. We entrepreneurs have a dream that we want to fulfill and nothing can get in the way of that dream. Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.
These last few months have been a wake up call in my efforts of success as a business owner. I truly want to get noticed for what I do and want to do more but it always seems like there’s something in the way. Or at least I’ve convinced myself that there is something in the way. I’ve complained, griped, felt sorry for myself, gone through small bouts of depression, and even doubted that I can actually succeed in this. And through all of it there is one person that has been there for me, my wife. There were times that I’ve felt like quitting and she was there to remind me that I can do this and that I can be successful. She was there when I needed help to hold a light even though it was heavy and made her body ache. She was there when I’d get upset and become negative and at times get frustrated at her for no reason whatsoever. The point that I’m trying to make is don’t get so caught up in the dream that you forget those that are with you and have been with you since the beginning. I get it the negative people you need to get rid of but the ones that support you no matter what and are willing to put up with your roller coaster of emotions those are the ones you need to keep close to you. I have learned that yes I need to make sacrifices to have a successful business and that I need to go out and hustle to make things happen, but not at the expense of my family.
If today were my last day on this planet and I had a moment to look back at my life, would I be more proud that I was a great dad, friend, and husband. Or would I be disappointed that I didn’t sacrifice enough of my time and friendships and family to further my career as a photographer? If I lost everything today but had my family(my wife and my girls), I’d die a happy man.