Isn’t that what the old wives advise? Or some gnarled man in a cave, studiously etching out proverbs into stone? Hmm…maybe not. But as I look at my life, I realize that while I am made up of many passions and interests, my 24 hours each day cannot possibly accommodate them all so fantastically well all at the same time. I’ve been really examining where I am in life right now, and it’s a very good place, but it’s also a very limited place. This month will see two children getting older (one going right on into legal adulthood), and in the month after, my eldest child will enter into his career field as a police officer (well, police academy first, but same thing, except I get to sleep at night during this bit). Obviously I’ve spoken of this on NUMEROUS occasions. You can see just how much this all matters to me, yes?
So. Time. It’s short. This parenting stage is close to an end. And my personal and professional time is short. And I lie awake at night trying to figure out how to balance out all my interests with life itself. I realize it’s not always possible. In accepting that, I know that choices have to be made. I am but one person with dreams, just like everyone else. No, this isn’t a declaration that I’m quitting this or that, but rather that I’m setting a few things on the back burner to simmer while I concentrate on one area full on.
Being in business – brick and mortar business – is different than writing. When I’m only writing, I can do it anywhere, anytime, and I need only rely on myself to show up. Running a photography business, however, means so much more than that. In the early stages, it’s likely more frantic and busy than later, once one has been established, but the work never ends. I am not merely a photographer; I am also everything else, from the accountant to the marketing department, from sales to customer service. It’s easy for those not in the know to assume I make a ton of money for showing up for 2 hours to take pictures. The truth is, well, that’s far from the truth. Getting my feet on the ground and truly launched the way I’ve always seen my business, it’s taking up TIME! And money. And loss of sleep.
What I’m looking at, then, is putting my interests in writing and speaking aside for a bit and focusing solely on photography. I owe it to myself and my family (and my wedding business partner) to pour myself into this business and build it into everything I know it can be, without settling for less, without scrambling and compromising myself in all the ways we artists know.
Eat, sleep, breathe photography and business…the new plan. So, for the remainder of this year – at the least – this blog will also be on hiatus. All my efforts will be on Klocke Photography, Studio K2, and my photography/awareness project at The Tiara Project. At the beginning of 2013, I’ll re-visit where I am with everything and see what adjustments need to be made. In the meantime, then, please join me for my blogging efforts in the other three places.
“Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.” -David Frost
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