{"id":28865,"date":"2016-05-10T02:00:21","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T09:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=28865"},"modified":"2016-05-08T12:41:58","modified_gmt":"2016-05-08T19:41:58","slug":"how-to-become-wealthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/10\/how-to-become-wealthy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become Wealthy"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Berkeley,
Berkeley, 2016 #ricohgr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t desire or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153want\u00e2\u20ac\u009d anything superfluous in life, you are truly wealthy. When you have all your needs (food, water, shelter, love); what else do you need in life?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How to create wealth with value<\/h2>\n

OK, so you know you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need much to be happy in life. But how do you practically make a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153living\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in your passion\u00e2\u20ac\u201d whether that be photography or any other creative pursuit?<\/p>\n

I believe to create wealth is to create value. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Value\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is empowering others with your original ideas, with useful information, or anything that helps another achieve their dreams.<\/p>\n

\n Seek to empower others as much as possible and everything else will follow.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My personal experiences<\/h2>\n
\"Photo
Photo by Emilio Aparicio \/ NYC, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve dedicated the last 5-6 years of my life producing information on photography to empower others, keeping it \u00e2\u20ac\u0153open source<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (free, open, and easily-accessible to the masses).<\/p>\n

I feel I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve created tremendous surplus value for others through this information I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve produced.<\/p>\n

For example, I remember when other photographers who went to art school would \u00e2\u20ac\u0153name drop\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the names of famous photographers, and I would nod my head along like I knew who they were talking about. But in reality, I had no idea, and was quite ashamed of my lack of knowledge. A lot of these art students used their knowledge and information as an ivory tower\u00e2\u20ac\u201d to empower themselves, while casting judgement and weakening those around them (who didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t go to art school).<\/p>\n

So I thought to myself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure there are other<\/em> photographers as clueless as I am. Maybe I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll do some research and write some blog posts about the masters of photography, in order to educate first myself and then others.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Thus the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Learn from the Masters<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d series was born.<\/p>\n

How to overcome your fears<\/h2>\n
\"NYC,
NYC, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For a long time, shooting street photography scared the living crap out of me. Fortunately over the years I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been able to build my confidence, and now I teach workshops to help others build their confidence. To have the confidence to empower them to take photos that they might have been too scared to shoot before.<\/p>\n

Help others<\/h2>\n

I feel the purpose of a human being is to be useful and to empower others. That means empowering your community, friends, family, and humankind at large.<\/p>\n

The more value you create for others, the more meaning, self-purpose, and happiness it will bring you.<\/p>\n

Karl Marx talks about how many working-class individuals feel \u00e2\u20ac\u0153alienated\u00e2\u20ac\u009d from their labor because they don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153means of production\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and are never able to fully reap or appreciate the rewards of what they work on. If Marx were alive today, I think he would be much more optimistic seeing how we have all the digital \u00e2\u20ac\u0153means of production.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

When I say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153means of production\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I mean the tools that help us produce information, images, and knowledge. We have free and ubiquitous wifi, powerful and cheap computers, stellar digital cameras, and other free and open-source digital tools that empower us to create the art that is dwelling in our hearts.<\/p>\n

Nowadays our only limit is our own creativity and our own tenacity to create the art we must create.<\/p>\n

You got everything you need<\/h2>\n
\"Berkeley,
Berkeley, 2016 #cindyproject<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As long as you have a laptop (or a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153device\u00e2\u20ac\u009d that connects to wifi) you can create value and empower others. You can start your own blog, share ideas, make YouTube videos, publish e-books, share images, and make useful information or provide useful services to others. To further add value to others, you can offer your advice, counsel, and honest feedback & critique to others.<\/p>\n

The two most valuable commodities in today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s economy<\/h2>\n

In today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s economy, trust & love are the two most powerful values you can build.<\/p>\n

You need to create a sense of trust<\/em> between you and your audience. You need to help others with an authentic heart, ad to infuse passion, love, and enthusiasm into your work.<\/p>\n

You can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t bullshit passion or love. You need to be genuine, and figure out how you can amplify your strengths in order to empower others.<\/p>\n

What are your strengths?<\/h2>\n
\"NYC,
NYC, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re social and extroverted, perhaps you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re best suited to be a teacher, consultant, or guide. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re more introverted, perhaps you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re better suited to writing or producing useful to content to others.<\/p>\n

You need to discover how you can best positively impact society and humankind. Be relentless on serving others for the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153higher good.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Blessings on blessings on blessings<\/h2>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m blessed. I have low living expenses; no kids, affordable rent, no car, and no mortgage or debt. All I \u00e2\u20ac\u0153need\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to survive is some eggs, ground beef, and coffee to sustain me. I have a laptop and a digital camera that doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need upgrading. I have all the tools of the internet to empower me, and help create and share value with others.<\/p>\n

My mom always tells me, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Eric, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re so blessed to be born in the generation you were born in. Without the internet, you would have never been able to create your business and do what you do.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d And she is totally right\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I always count my blessings, because I certainly couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do what I do today if it weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t for the internet and modern technology.<\/p>\n

My daily focus<\/h2>\n
\"BART,
BART, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Everyday the only thing I focus on is how I can be more helpful and useful to you, my friend. Whether that is to create YouTube videos, blog posts, e-books, or teaching workshops. I honestly feel everything else is a huge distraction (social media, blogs, etc).<\/p>\n

There are many times that I feel lost and purposeless; and whenever I am not<\/em> working, thoughts of doubt and depression cloud my mind.<\/p>\n

But whenever I teach a workshop and be around other passionate photographers, I realize the impact that I am having on others is powerful and positive. This helps uplift me, and empowers me to continue to hustle to help others.<\/p>\n

Nowadays I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m becoming more cynical about social media. Honestly it doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hurt, but having a big social media following helps you a lot less than you might think. My suggestion: invest your time, energy, and attention into your own platform. Purchase your own digital tools (don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t trust \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfree\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 social media platforms), self-host your own blog, and publish your best images to your own website portfolio (firstnamelastnamephoto.com).<\/p>\n

Blogging is self-empowerment<\/h2>\n
\"NYC,
NYC, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am quite sad that it looks like fewer and fewer people \u00e2\u20ac\u0153blog\u00e2\u20ac\u009d anymore. It is much easier to upload something to Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook. But blogging gives you so much more freedom\u00e2\u20ac\u201d to share your thoughts, your words, and to express yourself on your own terms. Do you really want to only be able to express yourself through your photography in a 4\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 screen?<\/p>\n

If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know what to blog about, simply write articles which you wish you could read. For example, I was frustrated that so few blogs on the internet actually taught you about photography\u00e2\u20ac\u201d 99% of the blogs I found were just gear-review sites.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, know that your blog doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to be perfect. It matters less about how fancy your images, words, and ideas are\u00e2\u20ac\u201d what matters more is that you are consistent, stay on-track, and be open and honest.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite photography blogs is my friend Josh White (jtinseoul.wordpress.com<\/a>). Not only does he share his soulful images, but he also shares a lot of his personal thoughts and life experiences. Reading his blog is more like reading a personal visual diary, than some promotional corporate-sponsored entity.<\/p>\n

If you are struggling with things in your photography, share your experiences with others. Share why<\/em> you are currently facing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153photographer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s block\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and ways you think you can overcome it. Treat your blog like a visual diary \u00e2\u20ac\u201d share images, thoughts, and write for yourself. Write with all your heart and soul; the more you bleed onto the page, the more others will relate with you.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to be perfect<\/h2>\n
\"SF,
SF, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not perfect and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not an expert. But then again, who is?<\/p>\n

We are all \u00e2\u20ac\u0153amateurs\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we do what we do because we love it. We might or might not make a living from it, but as long as we are providing value to others, we are doing our job as a human being. We are all on the path of self-improvement; and daily becoming better human beings and photographers.<\/p>\n

Everything in today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s digital world is a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153work-in-progress.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I think this is quite liberating\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we can go back and re-edit old blog posts, we can delete old photos we are no longer proud of, and we can constantly re-shape and stay flexible with our photography style.<\/p>\n

Know that all your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153needs\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in life are taken care of. All that is left for you to have the time, energy, and enthusiasm to create your art.<\/p>\n

Know that freedom is what we are all seeking for as artists<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u201d not having a more expensive camera, not living in a more fancy city, living in a bigger house, having a faster car, or having more 0\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in our bank account. True happiness is to know our purpose in life, and devote as much of our time and attention on empowering others; loving and being loved.<\/p>\n

Share your gift<\/h2>\n
\"Fort
Fort Bragg, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To end this letter, know that you have a special gift that you must share with others. You might not yet know what that gift is, that is why it is your special task to spend your entire life figuring out what your gift is.<\/p>\n

And once you discover your personal gift, you must spend the rest of your life, and all your time and effort to share it with others. It doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t matter if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re 18, 40, or 70 \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the genuineness of your sharing matters far more than how many people you help, and how many years you help others for.<\/p>\n

The more you share your personal gift with others, the more you will receive. And the more wealth you build, the more you can be generous with others.<\/p>\n

Push humanity forward with your ideas, inner-gift, and love. Your imagination, creativity, and fountain of ideas is boundless and infinite. Keep sharing, and you will never die.<\/p>\n

Always,
\nEric<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t desire or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153want\u00e2\u20ac\u009d anything superfluous in life, you are truly wealthy. When you have all your needs (food, water, shelter, love); what else do you need in life?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_ek_photo_artist_note":"","_ek_photo_thesis":"","_ek_photo_camera":"","_ek_photo_place":"","_ek_photo_human_moment":"","_ek_photo_sequence":"","_ek_photo_question":"","_ek_photo_canonical_claim":"","_ek_photo_ai_summary":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28865","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-posts"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28865","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28865"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28865\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}