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Anyone who knows me well knows that I am a sucker for a good business book. Since we travel quite a bit, I end up logging most of my reading hours on a plane somewhere high in the sky. A couple years ago I read Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers and it rocked my world. His findings on the 10,000 hour rule have really stuck with me in those moments when I am tired & exhausted, I remember his words about punching the proverbial timecard toward being the best artist/photographer I can be.
Gladwell says the best way to achieve an un-parralled success in any respective field is to spend 10,000 hours honing your skills. Gladwell says, "Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert - in anything. In study after study, of composers, basketball players, fiction writers, ice skaters, concert pianists....and what have you, this number comes up again and again. Of course, this doesn't address why some people get more out of their practice sessions than others do. But no one has found a case in which true world-class expertise was accomplished in less time. It seems that it takes the brain this long to assimilate all that it needs to know to achieve true mastery."
It's a simple lesson in hard work, blood, sweat and tears and the powerful payoff they have. Nothing great in life comes without cost and sacrifice. I've noticed that a lot of kids of our generation don't want to put the time in necessary to achieve the level of success at which they strive for. They want a quick workshop or online tutorial to be the answer to it all, and although those things can be beneficial tools, there is NOTHING that will trump time and hard work.
These past two weeks Chris and I have been shooting a commercial campaign where we were pulling 12-16 hour days on our feet shooting. Our shutters got more action than they have seen in a while and throughout the experience we kept looking at each other and saying "we're logging the hours" with smiles on our faces.
This is Chris and our good friend Whitney somewhere in the middle of Moab, Utah. I'm really awful about scanning in our film and finally got around to scanning and uploading this 360 film that Chris took. It was taken with a fun little lomography toy camera and I was really quite impressed with the results.
Have an awesome Monday friends!
Thoughts
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I read Outliers a few years ago and more than anything else the "10 000 rule" stuck in my head. This year I have made it one of my goals to take every opportunity I can to shoot so I can get closer to that number. Thank you for your inspiring post to remind me of that goal. :)
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS! IT'S BRILLIANT. TOTALLY AND UTTERLY!
I love this picture! You made me wanna head down to Barns & Nobels and buy that book! Love your work Sarah!
After pulling a 12 hour day this was the perfect read to end it.
THANK YOU
you are always such an inspiration.
x
annawithlove
So in love with this!
I think this is one lesson that new photographers or new anybody often don't understand or take into account. All a new-to-the-industry sees are the successful photographers (who may be offering a workshop) and the newbie wants "the answers," the "shortcut" to the success. In reality, as you point out, what you don't see is the 10,000+ hours behind the curtain, the blood, sweat, and tears, the late-nights, the failures, etc... that have all led to THIS moment of the hard-earned success. What no one sees now are the ones coming, the ones who are working to find their personal vision, who are putting in the hours, mastering their technical skills and honing their business skills. Yep, these are the hours. ;) Great reminder. Thank you.
Swoon!
Loved that book!
10,000 hours was definitely a requirement, but so was opportunity. We can't leave out opportunity!
Each case study in his book talked about the unbelievable opportunities each person had/didn't have. In his own words...
"Our ability to exceed at what we do is powerfully bound up with where we are from..."
"People who have extraordinary success are those who have been given opportunities and who have had the strength and presence of mind to seize them."
Ultimately, lets not forget that hard work is 99.9% of success. It is also true that hard work creates incredible opportunities for us... Focus on the 10,000 hrs and your mind will become sharp enough to see the opportunities.
Prepare, practice, work, search, create and pray for eyes sharp enough to see opportunity!
wonderful!!!
Interesting!
such a cool picture, love the rows and rows of school buses. just keep shooting, just keep shooting....
Love this film strip! I was once told by a photographer I was silly for wanting to develop film this way. He had NO idea! :)
Love me some Gladwell and dig the film strip
Outliers is one book that is a mainstay in my business library. My favorite thing now when traveling is loading up my iPad with biz and photography books to kill the down time.
Gladwell is one of those authors who just sticks with you. Blink is a great book as well!!:)
and this is why you guys inspire me more than almost anyone. because you're two people around my age who value hard work the way i do. xo. can't wait to see more from this 2 week campaign!
this is just what i needed to hear! sometimes i get frustrated that i'm not an "amazing" photographer yet...but i have to stop and realize that i'm only 20 years old and have definitely not logged even close to 10,000 hours yet. thanks, sarah!
great post! Always a brilliant writer and motivator- thanks for the great monday pick-me-up - im sounding redundant- although i want you to know im greatful!
boom!
Second best use of buses since evil kenevil and Andy Samberg.
I LOVE Malcolm Gladwell! If you haven't already read Blink and the Tipping Point, you will love them as well.
Dude such a kick in the face to hear that number. Must needs to work at it more. Good word Sarah.
those guys are so hot right now