Dear friend,
A practical thought:
What is ‘true‘ productivity? And how can we achieve it?
Productivity
To be ‘productive’ means to produce much. In my eyes, production (creating new things) is good. The opposite of production (degeneration) is bad.
What is NOT really productive?
The problem in modern society– there is a lot of ‘pseudo-work’ (busy work) which is superimposed upon us.
I remember as a child, the thing I hated the most was having “busy work” loaded unto my shoulders. As a child, I had a personal motivation to be efficient in finishing my classroom-work effectively– because the quicker I could finish my class work, I could do what I really wanted to do — like chat with my classmates, draw pictures, or play video games. Yet, when I finished my class work quickly, instead of getting applauded and rewarded (teachers leaving me alone), I would actually get punished by being given more busywork!
I still remember this vividly — this felt like the ultimate injustice/bullshit. What incentive would I have to be effective with my work — knowing that if I performed at a higher level — only to be given more bullshit work?
Pseudo-work in modern offices
To me, my personal hell is being stuck inside an office (9-5), and being forced to do shit I don’t want to do.
I still remember– when I got my first 9-5 office-tech job out of college, I tried really really hard to be as effective and productive with my work, to get all my shit done as quickly and efficiently as possible. After a few months of hard work, I was able to get my 8-hour workday done in about 3 hours.
I then had 5 hours of “free time” during my workday. Initially, I tried to get more (interesting) responsibilities, in order to hopefully do more fun-interesting work, and to get a promotion-salary increase. But nobody knew what to do with me — so I was just burdened with more busywork. Thus, what I started to do was:
Pretend like I was working (when I really wasn’t) — so I wouldn’t get punished with busy-work.
I have fond memories of going on long pointless walks around the office, chatting with co-workers, or playing intense ping-pong matches in the “meeting” room.
Which makes me realize:
Modern work must incentivize effectiveness, productivity– and we must be REWARDED for getting more shit done in less time!
True productivity
I don’t think that answering a lot of emails, ticking things off your to-do list, or doing logistical work is really meaningful-effective work.
I consider “true” productivity as:
Maximizing your production of your #1 strength/skill/talent.
For example, if your main strength is blogging– your “true work” is blogging. The more you blog, write, and produce articles, videos, and internet information — the better!
If your main strength is making photos, your “true work” is making more photos! Thus, your “true productivity” is to just PRODUCE MORE photos!
The difficult thing is this:
Knowing what work we do is very impactful, and being able to focus on that.
And perhaps even more important:
NOT doing (avoiding) doing busy-work.
What is your archimedes lever?
How do you maximize your leverage-strength in life? Easy:
Figure out what your archimedes lever is in life, and then focus on exploiting-doing that.
An ‘archimedes lever‘ is your #1 strength in life. Figure out what your primary strength is, and focus on maximizing your strength, rather than trying to “improve” your “weaknesses”.
I don’t believe that we should be “balanced” (in the traditional sense). For example, if you’re not good at organizing things, or if you’re not good at planning stuff (my weaknesses) — don’t worry about it. Hire someone else to help you with what you are weak at, and focus your personal energy, time, and efforts in doing what you are really really good and strong at.
But what if I don’t know what my strength is?
There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer here. You dictate for yourself what your strength is.
I recommend to just write about it — meditate and journal for yourself. I think figuring out your strength in life is a combination of reminding yourself:
- What your passions were as a child.
- What kind of work you enjoy doing (which others perceive as difficult, but is very easy for you).
- What others have told you what you are “talented” in.
Don’t fake humble. If you think you are great and dope at something, say it loud and proud, and just do it!
Conclusion
Ultimately for yourself —
Focus on producing things which you find personally-meaningful, impactful, or important.
If something is important to you, and others say that it is a “waste of time” or that your work is “unimportant” — ignore them. Give them the cold shoulder, and focus on your own inner-heat!
Create your own future,
ERIC
‘Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship’: How Far Can You Fly? >
Entrepreneurship Mindset
- What is Success?
- Fill a Vacuum
- Think Big
- What is Your Dream in Life?
- 8 Blogging Productivity Tips
- Why Be Normal?
- How Much Suffering Are You Willing to Endure to Achieve Your Dreams?
Photography Entrepreneurship 101
- Don’t Sit Still!
- Bitcoin for Photographers
- Don’t Be Timid
- Why Start Your Own Photography Blog?
- Fill a Void
- 1,000 True Followers: How to Build Your Own Niche in Photography
- Photography Entrepreneurship 101: Why You Must Start Your Own Email Newsletter
- TURBO CREATION: Why a Maxed-Out MacBook Laptop is the Best Investment You Can Make for Photography Entrepreneurship
Life and Productivity Hacks
- My Ultimate Productivity and Life Hacks
- Life/Productivity Hack: Write (Type on a phone) While Walking on a Dynamic Treadmill
- ERIC KIM Life, Creativity, and Productivity Hacks
How to Make a Living from Your Passion
- Digital Nomad Photographer
- Build Your Own Instagram!
- How to Be More Ambitious
- Do It Your Way
- How to Measure Your Progress as a Photography Entrepreneur + Come Up With New Ideas
- How to Make a Living From Your Passion in Photography
Put a Dent in the Universe.
- Fear Disguised as Reason
- Distraction is the Enemy
- Innovate for the Sake of Innovating!
- Reality is Malleable!
- Stoic Entrepreneurship
- Against Self-Preservation
- The Purpose of Life is to Make New Stuff!
How to Succeed as an Entrepreneur
- You Have No Limits.
- Calculated Risk-Taking
- Invest in Yourself
- The Secret of Happiness: Shoot for the Moon!
- Moonshot Thinking
- Why We Should all Be Photography Entrepreneurs
- Memento Mori Entrepreneurship
- Why it is Better to Beg For Forgiveness than Ask For Permission
- 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
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.
Business Mental Models

- 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
- 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:
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
- 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
- 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
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 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

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