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Why it is Better to Beg For Forgiveness than Ask For Permission

eric kim red face looking up hanoi

eric kim red face looking up hanoi

Dear friend, a key to success in entrepreneurship and life: Don’t wait for permission before you take risks and try something epic in life!


Learn how to fulfill your dreams in photography entrepreneurship in my new course, “Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship“.



The problem in entrepreneurship and life is that we are afraid. We are afraid of failing, we are afraid of being judged negatively, we are afraid of going “against the grain”, we are afraid of breaking social norms, and we are afraid of being “hated on” or ostracized by others.

To be honest, this isn’t your fault. It is human nature. By human nature, we are ‘risk averse’ — meaning, the fear of getting punished/losing/dying is 2x (or more) powerful than the feeling of pleasure we get from being rewarded. In other words, losing $100 at the Casino is twice as painful as winning $100 at the Casino.

Therefore in life, we fall victim to the ‘status quo bias’– we prefer to stick to the status quo (what is tested and “safe”, predictable, and “un-scary”). Then what happens is that in life, we prefer the “safe” option. We don’t like taking risks, and doing anything that hasn’t been done before.

What is an entrepreneur?

To me, an entrepreneur is an individual who is willing to make a risk to (ultimately) benefit society and the human race.

Etymology (history) of the word ‘entrepreneur’:
– The word entrepreneur is from the French (as a lot of English is), and comes from the old French word, “entreprendre” which means to begin something, or undertake.
– Therefore it makes sense to me to see an entrepreneur as an individual who attempts something, tries something new, and (of course) must take a risk in order to attempt something.

Money is a means, not the ultimate end!

Of course, an entrepreneur must make money. An entrepreneur cannot make a living without earning money and profits. However it is my belief that the purpose of making money isn’t to become the richest person in the world. The purpose is actually to use money as a tool to achieve higher goals in life.

For example, Elon Musk‘s goal isn’t to become the richest human on planet Earth. No — he wants to earn money through his companies (SpaceX, Tesla, etc) in order to build rockets to colonize space/Mars. Money is a tool of achieving our dreams in life. Money itself isn’t the goal.

Therefore if you have enough guts to attempt crazy things or the impossible; I bow down to you, and give you a hat-tip for your courage, brazenness, and the fact that you’re actually attempting to pursue your dreams in life. Whether you succeed or not isn’t as important to me– what is more important is your work ethic, your drive, and your hustle.

Therefore, if you’re willing to take risks in life, and do crazy or “unreasonable” things in life, you are an entrepreneur.


Be the change which you wish to see in the world

If you’re attempting something epic and grand in life, you don’t require the permission from anyone. You only need permission from yourself. And that is something you can control 100%.

Realize that if you try to do something epic in your life, you’re going to piss people off. Consider all the great things that people like Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, and countless other individuals in history have attempted. They had such a passionate belief in their ideals, that they all risked their lives to realize their dreams of advancing humanity for the better.

Do you have the hunger, appetite, or desire to become the change which you wish to see in the world? If so, I encourage you to enroll in my new brand-new online course, “Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship” now live on Udemy. In the course you will learn how to pursue your dreams and passion in life, how you can successfully make a living from your passion in photography, and how you can empower yourself to take more risks, to stay productive, and dodge all the nay-sayers and “haters”.

BE BOLD,
ERIC

Photography Entrepreneurship 101

Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship by Eric Eric Kim on Udemy

Fulfill your dreams in photography and life with my new course, “Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship” now live on Udemy!


How to Succeed as an Entrepreneur

  • How to Become a Digital Nomad
  • Why You Must Own Your Own Platform
  • First Principle Thinking for Photography Entrepreneurs
  • How I Became a Digital Nomad
  • Better to Beg For Forgiveness than Ask For Permission!
  • Spurn Pleasing Others!
  • Create Your Own Niche
  • How to Gain More Exposure For Your Photography
  • Intense Focus
  • How to Conquer Your Fears as an Entrepreneur
  • Define Yourself
  • Let Dissatisfaction Drive You Forward!
  • It Doesn’t Matter if Someone Else Has Done it Before!
  • How to Succeed as a Photography Entrepreneur: Be Extremely Resourceful
  • Open Source Business Model in Photography Entrepreneurship
  • Entrepreneurship 101: Growth and Innovation Over Self-Preservation
  • How to Create Value as a Photography Entrepreneur
  • Why Become a Photography Entrepreneur?
  • Why You Must Ignore Nay-Sayers to Succeed in Entrepreneurship, Business, and Life

The Modern Photographer: Tips, Strategies, and Tactics to Thrive as a Visual Artist in the Digital Age

THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER by HAPTICPRESS

Marketing, Branding, Entrepreneurship Principles For Success

MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER is your new philosophical and practical primer to succeed as a modern photographer in today’s digital world.

  • MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER KINDLE EDITION ON AMAZON
  • SEE ALL PRODUCTS ON AMAZON

Business Mental Models

ERIC KIM x HENRI NECK STRAP
ERIC KIM x HENRI NECK STRAP
  • How to Succeed as a Photography Entrepreneur: Be Extremely Resourceful
  • Open Source Business Model in Photography Entrepreneurship
  • Entrepreneurship 101: Growth and Innovation Over Self-Preservation

How to Monetize Your Photography

EURO CAMERA MONEY by ANNETTE KIM

  • Photography Entrepreneurship 101: INFLUENCE
  • Should I Monetize My Passion for Photography?
  • 10 Practical Photography Monetization Strategies: Pricing, Google SEO, & Entrepreneurship
  • How to Make Money From Street Photography

Why Become a Photography Entrepreneur?

Take control of your own photographic destiny:

  1. Photography Startup Manual
  2. PHOTOGRAPHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP MANUAL
  3. On Risk Taking and Entrepreneurship

THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHER

  • CREATIVE CAPITALISM
  • How to Monetize Your Photography
  • 5 Practical Photography Career Tips and Advice
  • 10x Thinking
  • How to Hustle as a Photographer
  • How to Become Your Own Master Marketer
  • The ‘T’ Technique of Success
  • Go Ahead and Sell Out
  • What is Your Unique Voice?
  • Why You Must Self-Promote Yourself
  • What is Your Unique Angle as a Photographer?
  • Photography Content Marketing 101
  • Why You Must Become Your Own Publisher
  • The Art of Cross-Pollination in Photography

Photography Entrepreneurship Articles

Google advance up arrow

  • Why You Shouldn’t Trust Your Pictures to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Flickr
  • How to Make Money From Your Photography
  • Photography SEO and Blogging: How to Become Number One on Google
  • Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation
  •  Now is the Best Time to Be a Photographer
  • PRODUCERISM
  • What Is The Value of a Picture?
  • Your Photographic Labor is Not Free

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS 101

CAMERA MONEY GBP by ANNETTE KIM

  • Chapter 1. How to Make a Photography Blog
  • Chapter 2. How to Price Yourself
  • Chapter 3. How to Find Your Market
  • Chapter 4. Why Teach Workshops?
  • Chapter 5. How to Build Trust
  • Chapter 6. How to Market Yourself
  • Chapter 7: Why Should Someone Attend Your Workshop?

KEYS TO SUCCESS

  • Why You Must Be a “Personality” in Order to Succeed
  • THRIVE OR DIE.
  • Impatience is a Virtue
  • Create Your Own Category
  • HOW TO DREAM BIG.
  • Will Not or Cannot?
  • Why Not?
  • How to Think BIG
  • How to Stay Ahead of the Curve
  • How to Invest in Yourself
  • The Two Camera Rule
  • MEANINGFUL DIFFERENTIATION
  • Advice For College Students
  • How to Thrive in Uncertain Times
  • CANNIBALIZE YOURSELF.
  • DO AND GROW RICH
  • Does Fear of Punishment Hold You Back?
  • HOW TO GET MORE FOLLOWERS
  • 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

  • Practical Photography Business Advice

How to Make Money with Photography

CAMERA MONEY USD by ANNETTE KIM
CAMERA MONEY USD by ANNETTE KIM
  • 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 Have More Followers?
  • 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

SELLOUT ERIC KIM

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

How to Save Money

  • How Cindy Saved Us $150,000+
  • The Free Way to Become Rich

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