17. The Best

The Summer Olympics are on.  Very inspiring. The best athletes giving their best efforts after years and years of practice, pain, and perseverance.  To be the very best of something – what a goal!  Are you the best photographer / artist that you can be?  What % of every day do you spend honing your craft ?  If you spend 50% of your heart, soul, time, and energy on anything would you expect to be on top of the pile, when everyone else who is serious gives 110%??  Olympic athletes push themselves to be better, to do more, to try harder.  Are you an Olympic caliber photographer, do you push yourself regularly, or do you expect art to somehow fall into your lap?  Do you have a strong work ethic?  Do you shoot every day?  Does your art spend more time in your head than your camera ?  Do you really give your best to your art?  Are you driven or do you bumble along?  Are you hard working or are you lazy?  There is no in between for an Olympic caliber artist.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

 Persistence and determination are a mind set.  Make up your mind to do something.  Then make up your mind to be the best.  Then do it.