Two Kinds of Photographers

Technology is creating two kinds of photographers: The scared photographer and the democratized photographer.  The scared photographer fears what is happening around them.  They live in the past and and harp on camera phone photography as gimmicky, uncreative, and creating a whole new generation of mediocre photography.

The Scared Photographer

The scared photographer is worried because anyone can claim to be a photographer and it’s simply not fair to them.  On most websites, you’ll find photographers trying to separate themselves from the democratized photographer – usually through more technical equipment and by stating the years of experience in photography.  On Nuwomb, we support the democratized photographer instead of trying to put you down and scare you away from photography.

The Democratized Photographer

Because the bar is lowered to enter into digital photography, more and more people are shooting photography and considering to start a photography business.  These photographers are like warlocks with tiger-blood.  They are fearless, creative, trying new things, shooting non-stop, and building a following based on their love for photography.  These photographers don’t care what camera they’re using because they’re creating photography and feeling good.

The democratized photographer is slowly building a portfolio whether they know it or not and they’re everywhere online.  The interest in photography starts out innocent and grows into a desire to make a living from it.

If the democratized photographer upsets you, get used to it.

The fact that technology has empowered many new photographers is not sad. It’s inspiring and motivational. If you’re put off by having to work harder to stand out then it says more about you than these democratized photographers.

More than Perfect Pixels

I find that many people seem to forget what photography is about.  In the past, there were fewer photographers because equipment was very expensive.  The best equipment is still expensive but you don’t need the “best” to create amazingly emotional, raw, creative, and breathtaking photography. Remember that photography is about more than just the final picture. There are some emerging qualities in photography that are overtaking perfect pixel photography.

There is an article on Blackstar about Chasing the new in photography and how it sucks the passion out of the industry.  I honestly have no idea what the heck that means, but we’re told that people are trying to find the next new trend and thus creating mass amounts of mediocre photography.  An art gallery curator even told a photographer that there was nothing new in their portfolio and sent them on their merry way.  The response of the curator, in my eyes, was one that said nothing in the portfolio stood out. Nothing in the portfolio was exceptional and extraordinary.

Good is not good enough.

This gallery curator doesn’t care if you’ve been taking photographs since you were in the womb.  This curator probably doesn’t know you from a hole in the wall and doesn’t care if the lighting is perfect, the composition is perfect, and doesn’t care if you have used the highest quality binding for your book.  The curator doesn’t care if you’re a professional photographer or not.

A Movement

Look at Instagram because it is a space in which non-photographers are creating amazing photography.  These non-photographers have 10′s of thousands of followers, followers that love their work.  People don’t care if the person they’re following is a photographer or not.  People simply love to see great photography and anyone is capable of creating it.   If a follower loves this photography, created with an iPhone, imagine what they could do with a DSLR.  Even better, the follower could be so impressed with the photography feed that they request this person for photographic services.  Your social presence and continuous sharing of photography can have a great impact.  This is the movement of the democratized photographer.  The movement of people exploring photography, poking the box, and pressing the shutter more than you (the scared photographer).

The more the scared photographer tries to put down these mediocre and wannabe photographers, the more the democratized photographer will rise up.  We totally support the democratized photographer – yea the ones shooting camera phone photographs and finding creativity and interest in photography. Who are we to put that creative expression down?

Things change. You better be willing to try new and different things because other people are and they might be the ones that don’t have your decades of bland photography experience.  The scared photographer needs to end the campaign against the fact that everyone can be a photographer today.

Motivation

If you’re one of these democratized photographers, don’t take the heat from these grumpy old photographers. Use their negativity as motivation. Show and share more photographs than them. Shoot more photographs than them. Their years of experience in the darkroom while be eaten up quickly. Have fun and talk about your photography more than them. The last thing you should do is join them in their quest against new explorations in photography.

We’re currently in the most amazing time period of time that photography has EVER seen. Everyday something new is happening within the photography world and we are encouraging you to embrace it. Let’s ride this wave instead of trying to building a wall around it.

Which Photographer Are You?

Thinking longer term is super important.  Why am I doing all of this? What’s the point? In this post, I explain a long term idea and contribution that I want to provide the world. I encourage you to read it over because I hope that it helps you think about your own personal contribution to the world and what you want to do long term.  After you’ve read, I would love to hear what your goal or your desire for personal growth is these days.  I’m a huge fan of sharing this kind of information because it really does help the people that don’t comment because they need help figuring this all out too. Here we go:

Recent Reflection

There is a short exercise in Escape From Cubicle Nation by Pam Slim (affiliate link) that mentions the idea of finding income streams. I always think about the possibilities in an industry and where can money be made. A lot of people get stuck in the mindset of only having a photography service. I have thought of this too – wedding, portrait sessions, real estate sessions. Then I started wondering if that would just start to feel like a “JOB” as well. Because it could turn your photography into a commodity. Where you’re just banging out photos so much that you cannot develop the thing that makes you special or remarkable. You’re just doing the same thing as every other service based photographer and competing on price or availability.

A Little Background About Me

I went through Architecture school at Ryerson University in Toronto Canada. While I don’t practice, I still have a love for it via design. Design and creative exploration was my favorite aspect of every project. I would spend forever sketching, going deeper and deeper into ideas for the project. It was amazing but I hated the technical drawings and everything that came after.Today, could I find someone to outsource the work to? I didn’t just say that did I? sorry. But I  don’t believe that I should have to abandon architecture for photography. It’s not a choice of one or the other. I feel that I can find a mix? What else can be done within architecture, photography, and world change?

Personal Contribution and World Change

I’ve been stuck because of MONEY. Perhaps that’s your issue too.  This and the uncertainty or lack of confidence that comes from lack of know how. Here is what I mean:

There is a burning desire and dream to have some automated income streams, and have a location independent business. This is because my long term goal is to be able to fly (travel in any sense), at a moments notice, to anywhere in the world. I got idea when I saw photographs of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I cant remember the photographers name or the magazine right now (but I’ll find it and update sometime) and he had amazing photographs of the destruction in some houses. I saw these years after of course but I imagined the ability to get to that area as soon as possible to help document, and gain awareness of the impact.  This would help the world and hopefully build acts of kindness in the form of donations to help the crisis.

When I heard of the earthquake in Haiti, I wanted to fly there right away. I wanted to photograph the way the architecture was non-existent. I would also make connections with the people helping everyone and the people that need hope. To me this is a way to mix the love of photography, architecture, and world change.

As I write this, I am reminded of my connection to it just in my own city. I gravitated towards old historic buildings that were set fire, destroyed and then demolished in a short period of time. I got out there right away to take pictures, and capture the life of the building before it was totally gone.

Possibilities that Come from A Personal Contribution

Books, art exhibits, gallery shows, photoblogs, courses.  These are ways to earn some money and earn donations to help the issues around the world or locally. It’s like your own assignment photography. I imagine that if you could build a following and have 1000 fans, you could earn the trust of the fans to commission you on a project. Much like artists or instructors that announce an upcoming series and sell the art or space before the product is close to being available.

This is a huge reason as to why I am trying to build these income streams.  I’m helping people start a blog through a really low cost and I can do this anywhere that I have a laptop and Internet connection. Another steam is setting up a designed newsletter for people that need to build an e-mail list to communicate with clients and promote their business.  It’s super exciting and I’m hoping it takes off.  I hope this because it will help me with this long term personal contribution to the world.

I don’t want to take any attention off the act of helping you start a blog though.  I want this service to help you start out and have your own special way to build a personal contribution. The power of the Internet has allowed us to have so many options to make a contribution to the world. A driving need for every person on the earth is growth or contribution.  The more people I can help start will mean so much! It’s about you though.  I will feel good because you’ll have a way to do this same thing and you’ll start filling that need for growth.

Share your thoughts! What’s your dream that you’re working towards?

Ryerson Photo Credit: Steven Hoang on Flickr

I started this post just before the new year and wanted to get it up so that you could consider making your resolutions with a renaissance mindset.  I never got around to finishing it up.  Instead of saying that I missed the boat, I’m using the idea in the hopes that I can keep you motivated on your goals for 2010.  We don’t have to wait for until 2011 to make new resolutions and changes for the better.

A Brand New Year

A decade and a month has passed us by. We no longer live in 2009. We have moved into a year that is so fresh and so clean, and you’re high from the excitement that a new year brings is hopefully still there. If it’s not, you could re-establish your ideas here and now.

The way resolutions are formed can make a wold of difference in their success rate. I’m not talking about creating simple, achievable goals or resolutions.  You can still go ahead and make some insanely difficult goals.  Without them, there is no long term direction, and “thinking” big never hurt anyone. Never ever.   I’ll start off with what I feel you should not do as you plan resolutions.  These ideas do not have Renaissance Living in mind at all!

What not to do:

• Do not wipe the slate clean
• Do not come from a place of scarcity
• Do not let anyone or anything hold you back
• Do not form resolutions in a negative format like these sentences have been formed.

Resurgence

A renaissance builds on the past. It’s like rising above and knowing where it all came from.  Each year we talk about quitting something or giving up something.  I’m all for eliminating things in pursuit of a minimalist lifestyle; however, forming resolutions and personal changes in a negative format is dangerous.   Think of the next 11 months with renaissance living in mind.  Acknowledge your past and realize that you can recall that dream of being an artist or world traveller. It’s about allowing your creative self, your artistic genius to be revived and overtake the corporate (cubicle) mindset. This is the perfect time to allow your passions to rise up and do what you’ve always wanted to do in life.

Frame ideas and changes in a positive format! It’s hard at first but you’ll start to see how easy it is to turn a negative into a positive.  In my eyes, the office mindset has taken over the way we can frame issues in a positive light. It’s beaten the artist out of us because the company needs you to keep answering the phone or working the line. Suddenly our only resolutions are to quit smoking or lose weight.  How boring and sad.

Embracing life from the mindset of renaissance living and creativity will help in the art of change.  Making resolutions is an art form. I’ll look at the two resolutions that I hear every year.

Comparing Mindsets

In my opinion, people make resolutions from a negative mindset. I’ll quit smoking and it’s going to be so hard. I’ll lose 60lbs and not be fat anymore. How are you seriously going to do anything with thoughts like that.   I know, let’s blame reality television! You’ve been eliminated from the game, you’re fired, you’ve been evicted…etc.  We’re constantly bombarded with negativity.  Let me just give you an example of the 2 resolutions in a positive light:

• I am going to enjoy the fresh air more and more often. I remember how amazing the air was as I grew up and how I felt great being in natural settings associated with freshness.
• I’ll increase the amount of healthy vegetables I eat because I feel more alive when I take the time to eat properly. I remember how great it was playing soccer and other sports while growing up. I intend to play and have fun getting exercise.

These are 2 examples.  The first doesn’t even mention the act of quitting smoking, but it is the exact opposite of having a cigarette. The second idea doesn’t even mention being “fat” and needed to lose weight.  It only deals with eating better and getting exercise, but it’s relating to the past feelings of having fun.  Don’t make it feel like another chore.  We have far too many of those.   Both of these resolutions or life changes are looking into the past and reviving great feelings and interests.  Somewhere along life took a turn and we lose touch with such simple things that are so good for our lifestyle. The positive side effects are amazing.  Why would I smoke while the air is so fresh and invigorating?

If you’ve framed some of your goals or ideas in a negative way, revisit them for me and you. Re-phrase the ideas in a positive light and keep the renaissance living mindset active.  It’s seriously changing the way my brain is wired.

I’m sending out a newsletter later today.  It’s going to have the winner of the Linchpin Book Contest and an idea related to social media for you to think about and try. You can subscribe below the post.  Interested to see who wins the book! I’ll post here as well on Friday.  Thanks for all the participation! It’s hugely appreciated.

Seth Godin always resonates with me. I was writing this article here (started on December 22, 2009) and came across a recent post of his titled: Welcome to the Frustration Decade (and the decade of change). Seth kicks off by mentioning a major trend of Change:

Change: The infrastructure of massive connection is now real. People around the world have cell phones. The first Internet generation is old enough to spend money, go to work and build companies. Industries are being built every day (and old ones are fading). The revolution is in full swing, and an entire generation is eager to change everything because of it. Hint: it won’t look like the last one with a few bells and whistles added.

Connectedness is serious. I know what others are working on, how their lifestyle looks, and I can follow it in real time.  If my life is nothing like theirs, I start to ask why? We’re working on a global level while sitting in our queen size beds earning a living.  We’re building our own companies on $100 and they are growing.  We’re going to be building upon the connectedness platform.

I actually look at the change as a renaissance instead of a revolution.

Frustration: Baby boomers are getting old. Dreams are fading, and so is health. Boomers love to whine and we love to imagine that we’ll live forever and accomplish everything. This is the decade that reality kicks in. And, to top it off, savings are thin and resource availability isn’t what it used to be. A lot of people ate their emergency rations during the last decade. Look for this frustration to be acted out in public, and often.

Frustration is happening at more levels than just the baby boomers. I know because I am hitting it first hand. Frustration hits as we realize that we are living our life in a way that we never even dreamed it.  The belief that we are immortal has got to end.  You and I shouldn’t have to go through a near death experience to realize that we were never alive in the first place.  I think I’ve mentioned this quote before, but I want to mention it again.

Probably 5 years ago, near the end of my other call centre job, a man was having trouble paying his hydro bill.  I took payment arrangements (I wasn’t collections).  This older man called up to tell me that he will pay his bill but needed more time.   He was sick.  He told me something that made me leave the phone after the call ended.

I always thought retirement was about going to relax in Florida.  I never expected it to actually be going in and out of the hospital.

Do what you love! Do it while you have your health.  Think about mini-retirements throughout your life.  This decade is going to be about Meaning and Purpose! Let me play with Seth’s trends again:

Meaning (change)

Change brings new possibilities for more people to pursue meaningful connections. Our mass connection is allowing us to see options that were never there before – this is especially true for baby boomers. They’ve never seen such a connected world.  With the help of a younger generation, one that’s trying to connect on many levels, the frustrated boomers can learn how they can take advantage of the Internet.  It’s going to be a lot of their questions that will help shape creative design and companies online.

The change is also important for how the Internet generation is going to go about work/life as they finish school or avoid post secondary all together.  The near invisible barrier of entry will allow younger and younger people to pursue their passions. They’ll be able to pursue it and build their authority long before they ever need money.  These young people will be doing it because they care and find it interesting. They will have all of the trust long before they ever require anything back from their readers.  The only motivation will be what it means to them and how it makes them feel.  The feedback from readers will fuel them. The kid next door just started a business with his 100$ (2 months allowance).

Purpose (frustration)

The frustration to come from a life wasted will steer us in the direction of purpose. Finding purpose is the antidote to your frustration.  First, you have to surrender to the frustration that’s overcome you and ask what can be done to eliminate it.  I believe this is an exercise that is often put off. We’re scared to ask the question because we don’t know if there will be an answer provided.  If you listen long enough, the answer does come.  The same thing that brings change (and meaning) will allow people to move past frustration and towards their purpose. While savings were thin and dreams were fading, you’ll hopefully notice that young people are starting businesses with $100.  Baby Boomers will be able to set up shop and pursue what they’ve always loved before they see retirement. Starting a blog will be a big part of this movement.  While social security was a scary topic, income will be supplemented with income streams built using the Internet and the connectedness of people.  We don’t live forever, so the best time to live your purpose is today.

Soft Conclusion

Everyday I am blown away with the connectedness of the Internet. I feel so thankful for the ability to write, photograph, and create but I’ve even more thankful to be able to share it all with the world.  I want to help other people that feel disconnected, lost, and stuck to see how precious our life is right now.  Passion is great.  You love something! How can you take that passion and change the world? Change your relationships?  Turn your frustration into purpose driven change.  Remember to think about where your passion comes from.  Why are you so passionate on a particular subject? It’s these values that will provide you with meaning. It’s up to you to be driven by purpose and meaning, so that your passion for the subject comes through.

American Idol is in it’s ninth season. For almost 8 years, stadiums around America have been filled with people that want to become true artists.  They want to be saved. These people want to be taken care of with fame. If you get to the top 10 on American idol, you’re set for life; Atleast that’s the belief. They’ve been tricked.

I believe this type of show is the exact reason you are sitting in the cubicle, office, or standing on the line and hating your job.  Don’t get confused here.  You might think that American Idol and the pursuit of passion would be make a great team.  Remember that the show starts with stadiums full of people.  After all is said and done, there are 10 hopefuls and 1 winner.   99.9% of the people think that if they show up, they’ll make it big. So why do 99.9% of the people leave crying?

We play the lottery with our lives.

We get so upset at the idea of going back to an average reality? You see this on so many reality television shows.

These shows have not actually inspired us to live out their passions and become artists.  It’s crushing them and reminding each person of their mediocre job and future. I watched the other night and a female from an audition in season 1, was back 8 years later with a sign saying: “this is my year.” After some laughing at her, the judges told her another: No. No. No. No.

8 years! She’s probably been playing the weekly lottery instead of finding a way to share her unique artistry.

Most of the people auditioning are pretty young, but I have noticed a huge number of 20 somethings begging for the chance.  Anytime judge’s ask about the profession of a contestant, they get the same response: A Soul Crushing Job.

Stadiums are being filled with people that want to unleash their creative urge, and live passionately through something that they lose themselves in. It’s the dream to be an artist. They dream to give people the gift of their voice.  Yet there is something sad that these millions don’t realize:

You don’t need American Idol to be an Artist.

American Idol isn’t the holy Grail for becoming an artist.  Idol will not save you. It will not set you up for life. If you try out, there is a very high probability that you’re going to go home, cry, and be back in your cubicle the next day.  Atleast you have that security though right?

Wrong.

Job security is a joke today.  You’re not going to be set for life with your current job opportunities either.  Remember the recession? People working jobs for 20 years were let go. The model doesn’t work anymore.  Just like idol, the employer can find someone else by saying “NEXT.”  For the corporation, “Next” means they’ll find someone else to fill your cubicle and they’ll be even cheaper than you cost.  Their cubicle will probably be overseas or maybe even a call tree service.

So what do you do?

Being an artist isn’t secure and neither is the cubicle farm. Take the bull by the horns and start doing what you want today. If singing is your true passion, sign up for lessons and start talking to people.  Start a blog and document your journey by releasing mp3 files. I have a feeling that by auditioning for something like American Idol, you aren’t seriously interested in the music industry or becoming an artist.  You’re interested in fame, the idea of being saved for life and never having to think again.  We need artists their head and think.  What do you have to offer the world that’s special? What is your art?

Think about what you truly love. Grab some paper and write down what you wish you could be doing while at work.  What do you find yourself drawn to? What did you love before life stomped the creative out of you?

This will save you. Making the decision to give something from your heart will save you. This is your art! Find a way to incorporate this into everything you do.

Artists, next time American Idol is set to come to your city, ignore it.  I don’t want you to be the person that shows up 8 years later, for another audition, and gets laughed at.  You don’t need a boss or a judge to tell you want to do.  You don’t need Simon to tell you it’s now your time.  We need to give ourselves permission to let our inner artist come out. That feeling inside of you right now, that little voice inside your head, is telling you that now is your time.  Listen to the artist in you and find your flow.

You decide when it’s your turn to live your life.  Being the best you can will save you in the democratic renaissance.  We all have a chance to be amazing and do whatever it is that we dream about when falling asleep. Let your creative genius do the talking and we’ll all do the listening!

I know today has been full of iPad hype. I needed to wait til around this time to send out this post;  A post about Linchpin by Seth Godin.  I want you to have a copy. I started reading a copy of Linchpin and it is bang on what I am trying to get across here – sooner or later.  It’s saying what I did at the start of this month and worked towards last year.  Linchpin is a book that you cannot pass by and read in 5 years because everything is happening now, and you need to make the decision now.

I have not finished reading the book. This is not a review of the book.  I just want to get this book into the hands of person that maybe can’t go out and buy it, or knows someone else that can’t buy books but keeps talking wanting to live out their passions instead of making widgets faster and faster.

This is a contest in which I’ll send a hardcover copy to you. I want to pass a brand new copy so that you can read or give to someone in need of it.  If I can help one other person see the light that is sitting within Seth Godin’s book, I will feel so great.

Seth calls this a revolution.  I am seeing it as more of a renaissance.  Whatever you want to call it, you have so much to offer the world! We have everything at our fingertips now to create and live every passion we’ve ever had since age 3. Reconnect with your inner creativity.  I want you to win this book. I want to mail it to you so that you can experience what I’ve been thinking and how Seth Godin is able to communicate it so well.  I believe the information within this book is so much more valuable than an iPad. I’m not kidding.

Let me mention how to win:

I’m creating a ballot system.  It’s fun! More ballots = More chances to Win!

Comment on this post = 1 ballot

Retweet the post (simple button at the top of the post) = 3 ballots

Sign up for Newsletter just below the post = 10 ballots

Contest will End at 23:59 EST on
February 2nd 2010.

On Monday February 3rd, I’ll tally up the ballots and do the draw. Would be awesome if someone in my city won so that I don’t have to ship but I’ll ship this book anywhere.

I have read a few great blog posts related to this book recently.  After you get your 14 ballots in (best odds of winning), go check out these 2 blog posts:

1. Hugh MacLeod: “Linchpin: Ten Questions for Seth Godin“
2. Charlie Gilkey: “The Creative Entrepreneur’s Guide to Linchpin“
3. John Jantsch: “Talking Linchpin with Seth Godin” (this has a link to his podcast interview)

“So what exactly do you do?”

The Christmas season is over and you’re probably happy to have this question behind you for a little while.  How you answer this question can, apparently, tell a person a lot about you.  I used to hate this question.  I would go to get my haircut and the stylish would make small talk around:

“So did you come from work? Where do you work?”

Once this question was asked, I could feel my shoulders sink and my energy level go off a cliff.  I don’t know why I didn’t lie to make it more exciting.  Does this resonate with you at all? Keep reading and I hope to inspire you with my story a bit more.

A Long Time in the Making

Over the last 2 years, I’ve made it a dream to quit my day job and show my depression that I’m the one in control. The simple act of owning my own domain triggered an area in my brain that said: “Welcome!”  I make the decisions on my domain.  I had no manager telling me what was allowed, why I can’t work on this or that right now, and what the content must be related to for this quarter.  It was like the dark clouds suddenly moved aside and the sky opened up a beautiful blue, and a plane flew buy with a banner attached saying: “Don’t ever look back, Scott.”

In April of 2009, Marika and I went out to Calgary and British Columbia to see some of her family.  We stayed with her Uncle Ben’s Family while in Calgary.  It was a really great experience and synchronicity played a big part.  This visit with Ben and Pam made me realize how not doing what I love would be a disservice to myself and the world.  We didn’t exactly get that literal but it’s what I saw.  There was a moment when Marika asked Ben: “So what is it you do exactly? We always wonder!”

Ben laughed and I loved that it was so hard for him to quickly define his “JOB.”  If my memory serves me right, he said that he does Engineer Consulting, Podcasting, Video Editing, ect.  He works from home doing what he loves.  He’s now got a wicked thing going on over on a domain called Mechanical Mashup. MechanicalMashup is a Mythbusters like webcast for the DIY garage types.  Check it out!

Fast forward 9 months, and I’ve quit my day job. Interestingly enough and unplanned it fell in line with the name and purpose of this blog.  A fetus incubates in the womb for what, 9 months? Go with it. I didn’t plan this out; However, I do believe that I set this intention in motion a long time ago.

I cut the cubicle umbilical cord!

I have taken the biggest risk of my life and I wish I took it 7 years ago. Last week I said goodbye to my life in a pseudo-cubicle. I handed in my security pass and the dreaded dog-leash-of-a-call-centre headset.   You’re probably looking at the number of subscribers and gasping.  You have due cause. The number of subscribers is higher right now than it was at the time of my resignation.  Remember, I am taking the biggest risk of my life.

Or am I?

Absolute Certainty

n my life, I have always felt a connection with the right side of my brain. I loved the design aspect of my architecture program, yet dreaded the technical  drawings.  I am drawn to expressing myself in a creative manner. If I can’t than I am not myself.  At my first call centre job, I would design a new time-sheet everyday. I wish I had kept a few and not handed them in. I became known as very creative and people would want to see what I would come up with at the end of the day.  This was while mindlessly taking inbound calls for loan applications, or payment arrangements for a hydro company.  I was grateful for having a job and being able to go out on weekends with friends, but everything became mind-numbing.  I would drink so much on weekends that I would not remember anything due to blackouts. And the follow days were spent in bed trying to recover.  Ever read the book Million Little Pieces? My life felt like that book in the first few chapters.

With the time that’s passed, and the amount of knowledge and experience I’ve gained I came to a conclusion:

I  had to put an end to soul crushing work. In all my heart, I believe with absolute certainty that I will succeed. I am beyond excited to have the ability to focus 100% of my energy on blogging, design, photography and life.  Everyday that I spent at my day J.O.B. felt like my creative soul was being power washed away.  It took multiple talks with my fiance, Marika.  We weighed out pros and cons. We saw what the work there was doing  to me and my doctor, at our last follow-up, had said he didn’t want to mess with my medication much because he felt it was my job at this point. I had adjusted and made the effort to change everything else in my control and the last thing standing was the job I hated.

People were shocked, and some are still confused.  How or why would someone leave such an outstanding company to work for?

The company was highly recognized:

This company one of the strongest major banks within Canada.  The job served its purpose for the last 3 years, but it just beat me down. I knew deep down that the work was not for me.  I believe this is where the body, and the universe sends you a wake up call.  I mentioned my wake up call before here.

As much as I would love to say everything that did not work for me at that job, there is not value in doing so.  Since starting a blog, I’ve done so much self-reflection, self-development and it’s allowed me to combat depression.  Combining blogging, design, and photography is a serious dream.  I remember saying:

I want to blur the line between blogging and photography!

I feel that I am and more. I have to focus on earning an income and creating a greater value for you readers.  I am in this for the marathon.

What’s to come?

You’ll hear about progress on the blog from time to time.  A lot of the behind the scenes progress will be communicated via my newsletter – you can subscribe in the form below.  I finished the design and love how it looks. We’re in business!  I can finally commit my time to your needs.  Recently, I would have to put some work off because I would be at my other job, or just too mentally drained.

You’re going to see:

• More frequent blog articles. Blog articles are free and I know that free rocks.
• More frequent newsletter communication about this process and ways it could help your small business online
• My other projects gaining some ground and getting more attention
• Free eBook
• Future eBooks
• Blog Critiques

I am open to blog topics, questions, and things you’d like to see here.

What will I be doing?

Nuwomb is, in a way, going against the grain of the information provided by a lot of other bloggers. At Nuwomb, I’m not just about personal development, or business development, or business marketing. I what to help you out on a holistic level.  Nuwomb does  have an overall desire to help you in your own rebirth. A rebirth, or reinvention of yourself to follow your dreams (finally) and quit the job you somehow found yourself stuck in.  To make such a shift is not subjected to a micro-niche.  I want to help with giving you a look at everything that goes into this democratic renaissance.  I will help you:

• Start a blog to have a place of your own online
• look within to realize that you’re not trapped in the cubicle
• to be inspired to pursue your passions
• pursue a number of passions and not just one
• help you with your business blogging – either starting out or preventing you from giving up on it all
• to see what other bloggers are doing right that you may want to do with your blog.
• realize that now is the time to take control and you’re welcome to join me in my journey.

I want to do this in so many ways, ie blog posts, newsletters, eBooks and Critques. I have made a start on my services page. It’s located at the top under “Hire Us.”  This is to get going.  I am here to get you going too.  There are way too many blogs out there now that try to teach you how to blog, how to install your blog and so on.  I don’t want to waste my time or yours on those kind of things.  I don’t think you should waste your time on learning that information either.  I’ll do that work for you. I’ll install wordpress on your hosted website domain, set everything up with a premium theme like I have here, and we’ll do a walk through of the basics.  This gets you going in 24-48 hours!

If your looking for more – which I would highly suggest – I can also work on the design of your blog to make it unique to you and give you some schematic blueprint type ideas on where to place future features if you decide to expand. Premium wordpress themes are great! I adore WooThemes because of the many outstanding designs and then I can go to town on making graphic and code changes for you. This is great for lower budgets.  I also love Thesis because the framework is there, but it lacks serious personality. I have learned a lot about Thesis in the last year and I can go to town on making it unique.  You would then have a unique looking design, but know it’s using all the unseen benefits of the framework. We would discuss the use of your site, and your industry and other things if you’re starting up.  If you already had a blog and domain, I would hopefully be able to tell your intentions and we could keep the same theme and just give it a makeover, or rock out a totally new route entirely.

Lastly, I am also looking to help people with a blog currently. You may have seen the blog critique I did on myself. Check it out if you haven’t.  I am interested in helping you with that service as well.  So much time is wasted on blog tweaking and trying to figure out what to do.  You should focus on what you do best, ie your photography, your writing, your recipes.  I’ll take a look and give your a review of what I see going on with the blog from a new set of eyes.  The prices for a blog critique are on the hire us page as well.

I am in it for the marathon, and I hope you are here to join me.  I started with 60 people on the sidelines and I am excited for us to become a strong family that inspire each other.  We’re not an army, and we’re not out to take over the world. We’re here to take part in, move with the changing world, and live a life by our own set of rules.

I decided to say whatever! This wasn’t easy. I got the help of an awesome website on creativity. This website literally gave me the permission to suck.  This is also the website to help direct me towards the term ‘democratized renaissance.‘ I have so many thoughts running through my head, and I struggle with getting them out for others.  Forgive me if this post is not perfect, eventually I’ll be in a nice flow! But remember, I have permission to suck it up!

Shifting Culture to a Creative Class

The emergence of the Democratic Renaissance is happening within our culture right now.  It’s the reason behind your unstoppable urge to be creative, desire to look into new lines of work, and ability pursue your passions.

Times are tough right now for a lot of people.  Times may even get worse. I am here to help you realize that you’ve got to act on your dreams, desires, passions and open yourself up to your inner creative urge.  If you’re unhappy in your cubicle, tired of hammering the fence post, or depressed when you hear of others pursuing their own passions, then this is the website you’ll want to subscribe to.  I am trying my best to show it’s possible to live out every passion you’ve had since birth.

An emerging democratic renaissance means that everybody has the ability to create value and you want to be involved in something that brings meaning and purpose to all. Many products and services, reserved for the professional, become a commodity. This a time to reinvent yourself in pursuit of interests that you thought were childish because of that first hydro bill.  You’re able to pay that hydro bill with whatever you’re passionate for now.

The democratized renaissance is the force behind what’s allowing so many of us to quit the soul crushing day job and pursue your passions in creative ways.

Think about the notion of web design, photography, graphic design, etc.

How hard was it 10 years ago to get into the business of photography, design, publishing, and web development?  It was fucking difficult.  Excuse my language but it was not something you could do with only $100 in the bank.  Now you can!

Democratized Media

New media has given everybody the chance to get their creativity on.   Everybody know what Helvetica means today. Uproars exist over a font change in the IKEA catalog. Everybody can get amazing photographs with a digital camera.  Everybody can start a blog or website, use WordPress, submit video to youtube.  We can owe much of this renaissance movement to the Internet.  Just as the Romans built roads that connected people and became a network for communicating with others, the Internet has connected us on a new level.  The internet connects our ideas and exchange of information in new ways and faster than ever.

We’ve entered such an inspirational era that sitting idle isn’t an option.  You need to make the decision to follow your dreams, collaborate with others and forget competition.   The industrial era mindset needs to be washed away with a creative identity or renaissance mindset.  Every industry is going to be influenced by their web presence, design, usability, and their customer service.

So where is the value here? Anyone can make that website, anyone can take that wedding photograph, and anyone can can write a book now.  The end product or service is something you’ll be able to get anywhere.  This is where creativity and opportunity arise to allow people to innovate and connect on a new level.  There is a greater opportunity for all of us to do this work.

End Work/Life Balance

Think about how you can integrate yourself within the new culture by being you.  You can now be authentic and creative. There is no such thing as work/life. You can do everything you’re passionate about, make a living and have meaning behind everything you’re associated with.  The Roman roads had one problem: they were finite. Our access to the Internet is ever expanding and our most innovative days are ahead of us.

I want you to think about how you can position yourself to connect with people, a new industry, and or practice. There are a growing number of references for this new mindset in our daily lives.  I wish I had kept a list myself. I’ll be looking to build a list – so shoot me an e-mail, leave a comment, or use twitter and send me a reply.

How much do you control in your life and when was the last time you actually made a true decision and took action?

If you’re a bit confused by that question, stop and think about it for a bit.  Constantly being stuck, feeling trapped and lost in the pursuit of doing what you love for a living is a tough place to be in.  A very tough place to be in.

The other night, I was feeling down and I started to ask myself why. I started with going through my days in my head and came to a conclusion that my day is controlled by people other than me, and I don’t make many real decisions – decisions are made by others.

A serious lack of these two needs will increase the way gravity effects someone. It feels like weight pushing down on your shoulders, squeezing tension in the head, and short breathing is all that’s possible. How or why does this happen?

Did you ever have control?

Growing up, we are subject to the control and decisions of our parents. We are encouraged to do what we love as children. Youthfulness is full of opportunity, blue skies, and excitement – for both parents and children. Away from home, our teachers kept us in control and the decision of what we were to learn was not made by us.

If you started to work right after high school, you more than likely stepped into the control of your new Boss. The decisions were made by the Boss and over time. When starting a new job, it felt okay because it was as if you chose. it. Soon though, the weight applies and you realize you’re still no further ahead. Next thing you know, you’re being controlled by the biweekly paycheck – amount decided on by how your boss rates your performance – that shows up in your bank account.

No wonder we’re upset, lost, confused, and stressed. Following your passion is about being in control. But before you’ll be in control, you have to make the decision. You. Not you boss, teacher, or parents. You’ve never made a true decision in your life and that is why following your true passions is so difficult and scary.

A Taste of Control and Pseudo Decision Making

My first taste of control was in my pseudo decision to study Architecture at Ryerson University in Toronto.  I say pseudo because it was partly made by myself.  I was great at math and science, and had a strong connection to art.  I went away from home, and was on my own. It was the most freedom I had ever felt, and I am sure a lot of people feel the same way about their experience.

I was in control of my time! I was able to work on projects whenever and whatever I wanted, and the only thing I had to adhere to was class schedules and due dates.  Although, many people will skip class and hand in projects late.

The post secondary experience gets tough once it’s over.  If you’re like me, you returned home and needed to find a job to start paying for education, and a place of your own.  The difficulty lay in finding a job in a fashionable time and doing something related to your studies.

This was the last time I remember control.  Sound familiar?

The Decision to Pursue Passion

The one decision you must make is the one of passion.  To gain back any control, and to make any progress towards reclaiming yourself, you have to allow your passions back into your life.

Do whatever it takes.  I was so far out it – depressed beyond belief.  I still have days that kick me in the nuts (just recently I had an emotional break down).   February I finally had to go see my family doctor about my feelings and ended up requiring medication.  I am on a max dosage for my anxiety and depression, but it’s helped me take massive steps towards what I seriously love and lose track of time doing.

I believe that January of 2008 told me that I needed help. That I needed to start making my own decisions and gain control of what I love in life or I’m going to be left with big regrets.

A mind-set that anyone reading should adopt is the mind-set of doing things that matter. Think about this when you’re out playing the role of a consumer, and while in your career path.

The deeper you move in this direction, the more the world opens up to you.  The weight on the shoulders will begin to lift, doors begin to open and your breathing is much deeper in your stomach.

Reclaim Your Passion

Take a look at your personal situation.  If you’re trying to start a business, move in the direction of blogging for a living, or having trouble taking your photography to a new level, look at where you have control in your days.

There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the passion of life.

- Federico Fellini

Once you’ve located some barriers to controlling your life, brainstorm some ways that you can overcome them and gain a bit of control back.  Make this a deliberate intent to gain a bit of control where it was once lost.  You have to make that deliberate decision or you’re going to be continually stuck – no one else is going to make that decision for you.  Reclaim your passions.

Bottom Line

Make the decision to take control of your passions. Start finding ways to do what fills you up inside. Do things that matter.

I originally wrote this article on another blog of mine that been very quiet and private.  I think a couple people might have stumbled upon it somehow through google.  It was written on June 20th 2009 and it existed long before then within the pages of my Moleskine.  Here I wrote it out much more detailed than in my Moleskine finally and I revisit it from time to time.  There are probably a lot of posts on blogs like this one, however I wanted to share my take. Recently there was a lot of activity and talk over on Photographer Zack Arias’ blog about taking steps towards your dreams in photography – How many of you are standing on the dock?.  I could connect with this entry by Zack because I am there right now, or been there.  I feel that I’ve jumped off the dock and I am swimming slowly, coming up for short breaths of air and trying to make it.   It’s the toughest road river I’ve been on.   I related the story to an old co-worker and her dream to own a bookstore.  You can easily substitute the bookstore for a photography business, online business, traveling, video game review business, etc.  Whatever you love doing, whatever you day dream about can be real. You can be paid to play video games, take pictures of clouds, travel the world, and own that coffee shop in town.  Anyways, I’ll let you get to the article of mine.

Passion Vs Lottery Ticket

If you WON $50 Million in the Lottery, what would you do?

This is an amazingly powerful question [and exercise] to ask yourself. Ask it and tell me what you start to think about. It’s powerful because you’ll either start to think big, or you’ll enter a childlike state and remember that anything is suddenly possible. I remember a woman I used to work with in a third part call centre years ago. She is an amazing person and I wish I was still in touch with her today. She was an older lady, Betty, and she would always mention that if she won the lottery she would open a used bookstore. She adored the idea of owning a used bookstore and how great it would be, but only if she won the lottery. Winning the Lottery would allow her the freedom to quit he job in the call centre and do something she dreamed of doing. I would love to blame TV commercials / advertisments that state “Imagine the freedom!” however, I think it goes beyond that branding. People that don’t even play the lottery make this kind of statement from time to time.

Thinking Big

When you start to think about what you would do with $50 Million Dollars does your heart start to race? I believe it surpresses the anxiety that is associated with bills, savings and emergencies. If you don’t have to think about that, you’re free to concentrate on what really matters to you – you’re passion. What is your passion? If you don’t know what you’re passionate about, hopefully this question about the lotter has helped spark an idea. Passion to me is the ONE thing you would do if you had everything else you would ever needed covered. I am confident that $50 Million would easily do for you and me. The sky opens up and your possibilities are limitless.

Enter a Child-like State

The fun thing about children is that they say amazing things about what they’ll be when they grow up. They can still imagine the greatness they can become in their life. The benefit of being an adult and thinking like a child, you can think about you interests, and brainstorm how you can earn a living from those interests. Sometimes, you’re interest will require schooling and if that’s the first step – Go for it.

I’ve always enjoyed taking photographs; however it was hard to get started within photography before the digital era. Of course it’s possible with film, but it really requires a lot more work. We’re fortunate that digtial has lowered the barrier to a lot of professions today. I just became more and more interested in photography as I was in university at Ryerson in Toronto. Seeing amazing architecture, and being around people in the photography program got me thinking about how much fun it would be to take pictures. I didn’t have the money upfront to purchase a digital camera though so I just dreamed of the freedom associated with carrying a camera around my neck. I also found myself consistently looking at photography books and literature, magazines, and websites. At my first call centre job, I was far more interested in looking at those websites or reading than doing applications or payment arrangements for a third party company.

Take Some Time to Reflect

Think of your interests. Reflect on your workday and is there something your mind is drawn to while working the daily grind? This could be your passion. It’s something that draws you in and would would do this activity for nothing. You are so passionate about it that you don’t even need to get paid – you do this on your freetime! When pursuing, or doing something your passionate about, you’ll lose track of time, forget when you last ate, maybe even feel as if you’re having an out of body experience. It’s a great feeling to have such passion for something.

Why does Betty continue to dream of the Lottery winnings to start a used bookstore? Do you really need to win the lottery to start something like this in your own life? Is it the fear of failure that holds Betty back? If the bookstore were to fail, she wouls still have the rest of her lottery winnings to do something else. But if she were to fail through her own passion, what would that mean? You start to enter the unknown and the unknown is scary.

The Unknown is Regret

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

This quote can be taken interpreted for more than just your personal relationships. Don’t let the unknown hold you back today. Take your passion past the unknown. I believe that there is no chance for failure when you are living on purpose. I will be the first person to let you know that this is not easy and I am an example of trying to push through the unknown. I don’t want to me on my deathbed wondering what may have been if I actually applied my passion to every single day of my life. Take the Unknown by the horns and don’t let yourself regret the decision you made to wait until you won the lottery.

I would assume most of my readers would be interested in Photography, and I wonder what you’re doing right now to move towards your dreams of a life in photography. It could be as much as editing a few photos and posting them on flickr. If you’re not into photography, what are you doing right now? What are your dreams and what could you today, something small, that would be a step towards it?