Great Photographers and Business Owners Never "Settle"

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life,
and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.
And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.
If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.
As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.
Steve Jobs

Every morning at 7:30 am EST I tweet a quote that's relevant to business, life, creativity, marketing, etc. I was once told it's a great way to build Twitter followers, but after all these years the truth is, it's a great way to start my day. Reading relevant quotes first thing in the morning has become as important to my brain and heart as breakfast is to the rest of me. I just need something to feed my soul every morning and get me going.

I caught the quote above this morning, and it hit home. There are too many of you out there who have "settled." I'm not suggesting you're going down the wrong career path, only that you're spending too much time dealing with something that keeps you off-balance. You need to do a little fine-tuning. 

Here's a better analogy. Everybody has worn a pair of new shoes that needed to be broken in. They hurt your feet, but after a few times wearing them, they got comfortable. Well, guess what - that's not what happens with your career choice. If something hurts, doesn't feel right or is creating more stress than positive vibes then you need to adjust.

Don't settle! Don't just accept that if you find a compromise position, you'll eventually get used to it and continue to grow. In fact, it's the complete opposite...it'll stunt your growth as an artist and business owner. 

• So, if you hate your gear, hit a rental house and take a few other products out for a test drive. If you're short on cash and need new equipment check out leasing options.
• If you're working with somebody day-in-day-out and they grate on your nerves, sit down with them and talk it out.
• If you hate the subject matter and specialty you've chosen for your core business, work on your skill set to what makes you happy and then make a change.
• USE YOUR NETWORK! That inner circle of six to ten people you're closest to are there for a reason. Share your frustrations with a couple of them and ask for help. Stop holding all the stress of not being happy inside because it'll kill your spirit in the end.

And, one more quote I tweeted this morning that fits so well right here:

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.
Lou Holtz

Photo credits: © Creativa Images