Put One Foot In Front Of The Other

Do you remember this song from Santa Claus Is Coming To Town?

Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

When I was a kid, I just loved watching the show. It was fun, made me smile, and the tune was catchy. But now I see the hidden meanings in the lyrics.

When you were a child, you had to learn how to crawl before you walked. You had to learn how to add and subtract before you could multiply and divide.

As a business owner, you have to learn the basics before you can become the leader in your field.

We all look at the success stories, and dream about emulating them. If they went from $0 to $1,000,000 in 30 days, surely we can do it too.

But for every case of the million dollar success story, they always have their beginnings. A time when they learned to crawl before they could walk. Whether it was growing up in an entrepreneurial home, and learning a ton from their parents. Or working for a successful business owner for 10 years before they went out on their own.

One of my favorite sayings is “I’m a 7 year overnight success story.” I didn’t reach the top overnight. I didn’t instantly have one of the top photography studios around. It took seven years of work, training, practice, and growth.

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand

I’m sure you know the main chorus of the song I mentioned above. But what about the rest of the lyrics?

Right now, most people are losing faith in the traditional JOB mentality. While my parents and grandparents were taught that if you’re faithful to your employer, they will take care of you through the end.

We know now that’s not the case. The only assurance we have for a successful future is if we create it ourselves.

Whether you’re thinking of pursuing photography as a side business, or you’ve already set up the business, you’ve done the hardest part. And that’s changing your mindset to realize you want more, and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.

The problem comes with your expectations. Everywhere you turn, people are talking about overnight success stories. And when it doesn’t happen, most give up and go back to a “normal” lifestyle. One where you have a job to complain about. One you worry about whether it will be there next month. One that provides you just enough security to be complacent.

But if you really want to make photography your career, you have to commit to turning it into a success business. You have to look beyond the bad news, and look beyond the nay-sayers. It is possible.

And you have to commit to doing one thing every day that will bring you closer to your goal. It’s always a learning process. And even when you’re successful, there’s still things you can work on and change into more success.

It takes time. And it takes a little work. But if you knew 5 years from now you could be living the life of your dreams, would you do one thing today?