{"id":161273,"date":"2019-08-04T14:53:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-04T21:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=161273"},"modified":"2019-08-04T15:57:01","modified_gmt":"2019-08-04T22:57:01","slug":"the-kaizen-approach-to-photography-and-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/04\/the-kaizen-approach-to-photography-and-life\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kaizen Approach to Photography and Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Get free photography and life inspiration on ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER<\/a><\/em><\/strong> ><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A thought:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps we should focus on tiny (incremental), 1% improvements everyday (no breaking the chain). <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is ‘Kaizen’?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The basic notion of ‘Kaizen’ is this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovation is about steady, gradual, and non-stop improvements over a long period of time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For example, while the original iPhone was a massive game-changer, every iPhone since then was a quite gradual improvement [Kaizen approach]. However if we consider the original iPhone and the current iPhone Xs, the improvement is massive. But the difference between an iPhone X and Xs might only be a 10% improvement at best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to apply the Kaizen approach to your photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If you can improve your photography by 1% everyday, you will technically be 37x better<\/strong> at the end of a year! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To put this into scale, let us say you can lift 100 pounds for a deadlift. If you theoretically increase that weight by 1% everyday, you will be able to deadlift 3,700 pounds<\/strong> [3.7 tons] at the end of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus of course from a physiological perspective, indefinite 1% gain everyday, forever is impossible. However, it is still a practical and pragmatic way we can think about approaching our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kaizen Photography Activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Practical ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Shoot 1% more photos today than you did yesterday<\/strong>. For example if you shot 1 photo yesterday (round up) and shoot 2 photos today. If you shot 10 photos yesterday, shoot 11 photos today. If you shot 100 photos yesterday, shoot 101 photos [etc].<\/li>
  2. The more you shoot, the happier you will be, and the more ‘keeper’ photos you will make<\/strong>. Thus increasing the quantity<\/em> [number of photos you shoot] will actually increase the number of “quality<\/em>” photos you shoot.<\/li>
  3. Think about your photographic progress from a day-to-day basis<\/strong>. Simply strive to become a little better in your photography today then yesterday.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If you want honest feedback and critique on your photos, upload your pictures to\u00c2\u00a0arsbeta.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kaizen in life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Physical strength:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    With lifting weights, strive to become 1% stronger today than yourself yesterday. This means, try to increase the weight by 1% everyday, and every workout. For deadlifts, just try to add 5 pounds every workout [two 2.5 pound baby weights on each side]. Or for chirrups, try to do 1 more chin-up every workout.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Artistic strength: <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    As an artist, thinker, and creator — try to “improve” yourself and your output by 1% everyday (however you determine this metric).\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Entrepreneurial strength: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Maybe try to sell 1% more products today, or think 1% bigger today than you did yesterday. Think big, bold, and audacious goals. Increase your goals 1% everyday. [Photography Entrepreneurship 101<\/em><\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What I’m inspired by today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A list of things I’m inspired by today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. “What Happened to the Future?<\/a>” Essay on Founders Fund<\/li>
    2. Mission Statement of Palantir<\/a> [Peter Thiel’s<\/a> company]<\/li>
    3. The Moonshot Company<\/a> [Google’s “X” company]<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      ARS: Social Media for Photographers Done Right<\/a><\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      One of the new features of ARS which is super awesome: using your ARS COIN<\/a> to get ‘Commissioned Critiques’ on your photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Check it out. Upload new photos you shoot to arsbeta.com<\/a>, and also start giving constructive critiques to others in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Learn why ARS is better than Instagram ><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Interview with Cindy Nguyen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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