Stop Hiding: The One Skill Necessary for Success (D195)

Tasra Dawson —  March 14, 2010 — 14 Comments

Imagine all the work you do to improve and promote your craft (be it photography, art, writing, scrapbooking):

  1. social media like Twitter, Facebook, blogs, forums
  2. networking via events, conferences, conventions
  3. education through books, magazines, videos, online training
  4. and of course, the actual work of creating something from nothing

The list goes on because it truly seems endless. All the things we “need” to do to get our names and work recognized and accepted by the powers that be, the industry we participate in, or the people we respect and admire.

When it all comes down to it, I have to wonder if we’re really ready for what we dream. I don’t wonder about the hope, the dream, the intention, the plan. I wonder about the reality, the grit, the determination to make those hopes and dreams survive in the real world where commerce meets creation. I wonder, because I see so many creatives hiding (myself included).

tasra365 flower boy Stop Hiding: The One Skill Necessary for Success (D195)

Here are five reasons YOU MUST STOP HIDING…

  1. When you stop hiding your fear, you open yourself up to acceptance.
  2. When you stop hiding your inability, you open yourself up to being taught.
  3. When you stop hiding your insecurity, you open yourself up to being encouraged.
  4. When you stop hiding your work, you open yourself up to being recognized.
  5. When you stop hiding your personality, you open yourself up to standing out.

tasra365 flower boy 2 Stop Hiding: The One Skill Necessary for Success (D195)

We all do it—hide behind our work, our words, our image, our avatar. We hide behind humor, sarcasm, exaggeration. We hide behind others paving the way and blazing the trail before us. Secretly we may wish to be them, but inwardly wonder if we could handle it all. We may show glimpses, parts of our work and selves that we’re comfortable sharing, but few really go for it and lay it all on the line.

If there were one skill we could develop to increase our odds of success it would be to stop hiding. Last month I wrote The Definite Guide to Winning Photo Contests and the answer is shockingly familiar… and it works.

This month, as I recover from the overwhelming barrage of education, inspiration, networking and creativity that happened at WPPI, I’m convinced that if you (and I) were to simply focus on this one thing for the rest of the year that we would be more successful than we have ever been in the past.

Manual: Page 105
Images: Looked through a few photography magazines I picked up at the WPPI tradeshow.

In 365 project, feature articles, live inspired, Month 7: Mar 2010, photography , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Tasra Dawson

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Author, designer, photographer, teacher... just an artistic curious girl learning to live insanely great and sharing what I learn along the way.
  • http://my365daysofreality.blogspot.com/ Sandra Marek

    Thanks for the words of encouragement, the inspiration and the roadmap. This will be my second year doing a 365 but it was not until I stumbled on your site, just one month ago and I followed your advice about reading the camera manual and studying other photographers work, that I have noticed an improvement in my own photography. Thank You so much for sharing.

    • http://tasra365.com tasra

      I'm so glad to have been a stop of inspiration on your journey! We're all in this together and it's amazing to have a community that encourages and motivates you to really go after what you dream!

  • http://twitter.com/SecondSightDave DaveWilson

    I always love reading your positive energies around the net Tasra but I have to be honest here, how exactly are YOU hiding? I don't see you hiding at all. AT ALL!! From my perspective you're running full force 24/7. Like you mentioned in a post a couple weeks ago, I also typically get about 4 hours of sleep a night but I can't seem to muster up all the crazy focus and energy you seem to have streaming out of you. What is your secret to living a high energy, super productive, sleep deprived lifestyle?

    • http://tasra365.com tasra

      Let's see… right now it would be a quiet house, working at 2:57 a.m., eating a bowl of granola. Hmm, sounds very glamorous doesn't it?

      I'm so thankful for your kind comments though. I love that you see me running full force and not hiding. I'm definitely taking action, but like most people, I see areas where I could be better – more focus, less distraction. There is still so much I want to learn about lighting, so much I'd like to write about in books and here on the blog. So much time and energy I'd like to give to the teen girls I work with.

      Truly, I don't sleep enough at night, but I'm a pretty late riser. Ask anyone in my family about being around me before 10 am and they'll tell you that I'm anything but high energy at that time! Ways that I recharge are listening to inspiring sermons on podcasts by Andy Stanley, Joyce Meyer, and Francis Chan. Alone time helps me recharge too… and a lot of prayer!

  • http://www.christylynn.com/ Christy

    Wow, I am so thrilled that I found your blog. I read your post on photofocus and immediately looked your blog up. I will be starting my 365 April 1st! Yes like you I must begin at the start of a month. Thank you for your inspiration and sharing your talent with the world. And thanks to Scott for introducing you to me! Sort of.

    • http://tasra365.com tasra

      Wow, I am so thrilled by your comment! Thanks for taking the time to stop by via Photofocus. :-) Good luck on starting your challenge on April 1… wouldn't hurt to start practicing now… that's what I did for a couple weeks to get in the habit. It really works!

  • janice5minutesformom

    BEAUTIFUL!!! And oh so true. :)

    • http://tasra365.com tasra

      Thanks Janice! YOU are definitely one that is putting it all out there and crushing it! :-)

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/rauberphotoworks/ Pam Rauber

    It is absolutely amazing how many times I open your blog to read something that relates so closely to my thoughts. You almost scare me. I'm Pam, the one who sent the info on the Swing Dance Club in Buckhead. I admit I hide. My goal in photography is special needs children and neo-natal ICU. Unfortunately, both genres require professionals. I don't have a website because I'm not computer savvy. I've volunteered all my life and would feel uncomfortable charging. The photographs I take, I print and give out for free. I never ask for model releases so I never post pictures publicly because it has never been about me only the subject. So I avoid pursuing my goal. I have in fact e-mailed various photographers expressing an interest in assisting. Haven't heard back. So I guess in one way I haven't hidden to far behind (flowers). That said, in the meantime, I mentor two kids in photography. It is absolutely gratifying to see the joy in their faces when they see the awesome shots they take. It is rewarding to see the new smile on the tired mom's face of eight children when she realizes how her two children's lives have changed since they started photography or since they saw their pictures on their very own blogsite, (I set this up since it would be illegal for them to have a blogsite) and since they joined my photography group. Now they look forward to their first exhibit. So, to say the least when one door closes in my face another one opens. All that aside, I'm going to work harder at not hiding because I put a camera in my daughters hands and she has left me in the dust, now I've placed a camera in two more kids hands, it would be detrimental for me to hide behind my 15+ years of photography. What would they think? Oh yes, I'm on Day 27 of “Three in 365 Challenge”. I'm on a roll. I had no idea how much information is in a camera manual. What one can learn by reading instructions. I’ve preached those words to my husband for years. LOL!
    BTW, if you don't mind indulging here is the blogsite of the kids I mentor. http://abasiandangelica.wordpress.com/ They will be pleased to know Tasra Mar Dawson viewed their pictures.
    Thanks for your insights. You are doing great things for the teens who come into your life. Keep up the great work.

    • http://tasra365.com tasra

      I think what you've done with your photography in sharing it with teens and others is fantastic. There are so many great organizations for working with infants and special needs kids. Have you gotten hooked up with them?

      I'll definitely take a look at the blog link you sent. Thanks for sharing it!

      There are so many free websites and ways to share your images, it would be great to put some of your work out there and share the inspiring stories you have. Let me know if I can help!

  • simplykuni

    Great post today! I completely agree 100%…and yes, we all do it(hide)!

    I think for many it may be because we don't see our work as being good enough to show. Whether it's being humble or way too self critical of our own work, I'm not sure. For me it's being too self critical. What do you think? Why do you feel that you're hiding?

    • http://tasra365.com tasra

      I think self-criticism and fear can come disguised as humility. I think others might see me as humble, which I strive to be, but I believe that at least part of it is really not believing in myself or my work, rather than really owning and being confident in my work without getting prideful. Does that make sense?

      I've always been fascinated by people who are prideful and confident in their work (in photography or otherwise) when it really isn't that great. I took a singing class once and the most confident guy in the class couldn't hold a note. Me on the other hand, I could hold a note and yet once ran out of the room and hid in the bathroom because I was so scared to perform!

      People are so interesting. So… where and how do you see yourself hiding?

  • simplykuni

    Great post today! I completely agree 100%…and yes, we all do it(hide)!

    I think for many it may be because we don't see our work as being good enough to show. Whether it's being humble or way too self critical of our own work, I'm not sure. For me it's being too self critical. What do you think? Why do you feel that you're hiding?

  • http://tasra365.com tasra

    I think self-criticism and fear can come disguised as humility. I think others might see me as humble, which I strive to be, but I believe that at least part of it is really not believing in myself or my work, rather than really owning and being confident in my work without getting prideful. Does that make sense?

    I've always been fascinated by people who are prideful and confident in their work (in photography or otherwise) when it really isn't that great. I took a singing class once and the most confident guy in the class couldn't hold a note. Me on the other hand, I could hold a note and yet once ran out of the room and hid in the bathroom because I was so scared to perform!

    People are so interesting. So… where and how do you see yourself hiding?