We all want more money.
But no matter how much money we have, we always want more.
I always thought to myself: if I wanted to be happier, I needed to earn more money. But in reality — the only way I’ve become happier is to create more value to others. To be more useful to others.
Also when it comes to money and wealth, the only way to become richer is to create more value for others. Because the more value you create for others, the more valuable you become. Then the more valuable your services are. The more valuable your influence. The more valuable your opinions.
What is more valuable than money?
Be a person of value.
If you want to earn more money in life, think about how you can be more valuable in life— rather than how you can make more money.
If you always think about how to make more money — you get distracted. You think of how to “optimize” profits, rather than to add new value. The only way to create new wealth (for everyone) is to create more value. Then by creating surplus value and wealth, you take some of the difference for yourself.
For example, let’s say that hypothetically you create $100 of new value in terms of new ideas. Then you charge your customer $50 for that idea. Then your customer will make a $50 profit, because he has only spent $50 on an idea that will earn him $50. And not only that, but you will earn $50 for that idea you created.
Expand wealth for everyone
Think to yourself— “How can I create more wealth and value for other people?”
By focusing on others (rather than yourself); you start to really think of how you can be best useful to others.
The reason why Uber is worth several billions of dollars, is because they have created surplus wealth for billions of people. They have helped empower unemployed (or under-employed) people who had no jobs, not enough money, but had extra cars. They also empowered other people who never could afford to take taxis, but can now afford to take Uber. And they have empowered individuals to no longer own cars, which means more money for them to invest in other things.
I feel the ultimate currency for the future is in ideas. Create ideas that can will help create value for others. Create ideas that will help the lives of others. Create ideas that will empower others.
How to create value (even more) value for others
We all want to create more value for others— but easier said than done.
How can we add more value to others, and to ourselves? Some ideas:
1. Find what you’re frustrated about, and try to help yourself
When I started street photography, I couldn’t find any resources on ‘how’ to shoot street photography, not get punched in the face, all while capturing ‘the decisive moment.’
The passion for this blog started as a way to teach myself. And I still consider myself a student. I just share what I learn.
What do you want to learn, but you can’t find any resources on? That is your opportunity.
2. Start from scratch
A lesson I learned from Elon Musk is to come up with new ideas from ‘first principles.’ Meaning, start off by coming up with new ideas from scratch. Rather than seeing what others have done before you, you need to start with a blank slate.
Don’t simply copy or mimic other successful people. You need to find the truth yourself.
You can only do this through experimentation, trial and error, getting feedback, and constantly innovating and new “iterations.” You need to ‘fail forward’ — to have the risk to try something that nobody has done before.
With a photo project, don’t look how others have done it before. Sit down, and think to yourself— how would you do it in today’s world? How would you think for yourself?
3. What is useful?
Lastly, if you want to create value for others— think of what is useful. Theory is nice, but practicality, utility, and ‘usefulness’ trumps everything.
You need to create ideas, products, or information that will actually help others. You need to help empower others become the best versions of themselves. You need to make people less miserable, less anxious, more innovative, more excited, and more informed.
Think to yourself: will this be useful to others? And you can start off by thinking: “Would this be useful to me?”
Be a person of value
When in doubt, try to create more value for others. Start off by trying to help yourself — create what you want to see in the world. What do you lack in your life? That is probably what others lack in their life.
First seek to add value to yourself to come up with ideas, and then figure out how you can add value to others.
Create surplus value for everyone, and you will become wealthy — in terms of your ideas, motivation, and also financial wealth.
You’re valuable — so share that with others.
Always,
Eric
PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101 by ERIC KIM
If you want to make a living (or a killing) from photography, download:
KEYS TO SUCCESS
- How to Innovate
- How to Build Your Own Empire
- YOU ARE ENTITLED TO HARD WORK.
- PICK YOURSELF.
- OWN YOUR PLATFORM
- 10 KEYS TO SUCCESS
Table of Contents
Learn how to make a living from your passion:
- Preface. BRAVE NEW WORLD OF PHOTOGRAPHY
- Chapter 1. How to Create Value
- Chapter 2. ZEN CAPITALISM
- Chapter 3. Scarcity
- Chapter 4. How to Brand Yourself
- Chapter 5. How to Build a True Following
- Chapter 6. The Blueprint to Success in Photography
- Chapter 7. HOW TO BE BOLD
- Chapter 8. How to Sell Out
- Chapter 9. GO AGAINST THE GRAIN
- Chapter 10. EXTREME ABUNDANCE
- Chapter 11. Photography Experience Economy
- Chapter 12. Why You Should Make Money for Your Photography
- Chapter 13. How to Become a Famous Photographer
Photography Business 101
How to Make Money with Photography
- How to Charge More Money in Your Photography
- Why You Should Not Pursue Photography as Career
- Can Photography Make You Rich?
- How I Earn $200,000+ a Year From Photography
- How to earn $10,000 a month as a photographer
- Why you must be an expensive photographer
Photography Marketing 101
- Why You Should Do Photography Work For Free
- How I Became an Internet Famous Photographer
- Photography Blogging Ideas
- Why You Should Promote Your Own Name
- How to Build a Following
- How to Stand Out as a Photographer.
- HOW TO GO VIRAL AS A PHOTOGRAPHER.
- How to Master Marketing
- How to Sell Yourself
How to Hustle.
- Entrepreneurial Advice to My 18 Year Old Self
- How to Become Insanely Productive.
- 5 Lessons From Hesiod on Hustling
Entrepreneurial Principles
- It is Better to Beg For Forgiveness Than Ask For Permission
- The Free Way to Become Rich
- JUST DO IT.
- 7 Steps: How to Make a Living From Your Passion
- How to Do What You Love for a Living
- How to Create an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
- How to Fail Big
- How to Invest in Yourself
- How to Be Bold in Photography and Life
- Mission: Cover Your Rent and Food
- 1,000 True Fans
- The “10x Principle”: The Only Difference Between “Success” and “Failure”
- Make More Value Not Money
- We Live in a Photo Utopia
How to be a Full-time Photographer
- How to Make a Living From Photography
- The 3 Principles of Making Money With Photography
- Advice for Aspiring Full-Time Photographers
- Don’t Go Into Debt For Your Photography
- How to Brand Yourself as a Photographer
- Trust: The Most Important Thing You Need to Succeed as a Photographer
Photography Blogging
- How to become rich from photography blogging
- How to Make a Living with Blogging
- 50 Blogging Tips For Beginners
- How to Start Your Own Photography Blog
- A Photographer’s Guide to SEO, Blogging, and Social Media
How to Teach Photography
- How to Become a Photography Teacher
- How to Teach a Street Photography Class
- Why I Teach Street Photography Workshops
Social Media
- Why I Deleted My Instagram
- The Social Media Blackbook for Photographers
- Why Do You Need More Likes or Followers?
- Instagram is Going to Be the Next Facebook
- Don’t Trust “Free” Photography Social Networks