{"id":48620,"date":"2017-05-01T06:26:41","date_gmt":"2017-05-01T13:26:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=48620"},"modified":"2017-05-01T08:28:40","modified_gmt":"2017-05-01T15:28:40","slug":"how-to-achieve-your-dreams-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/01\/how-to-achieve-your-dreams-in-life\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Achieve Your Dreams in Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcDon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry about looking good\u00e2\u20ac\u201d worry about achieving your goals.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 – Ray Dalio\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A lot of us care more about looking good, rather than winning.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

There is a legendary basketball player who had one of the highest free-throw percentages\u00e2\u20ac\u201d because he had an \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcugly\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 shot \u00e2\u20ac\u201d he threw his free-throws underhanded. It looked stupid, but he had a high free-throw percentage.<\/p>\n

Shaq (one of the lowest free-throw percentages in the NBA) would often get fouled, and miss his free throws. Even though he could have thrown his free throws under-handed, he would rather miss his shot than look dumb.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In photography, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think of looking good with your camera or shooting technique. Worry whether you get the shots you want or not. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care whether you look cool or not.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In life, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care whether you look cool or not. Just achieve your dreams.<\/p>\n

Why do you care to have expensive clothes, when cheap clothes from UNIQLO suffice? Spend less money on your exterior (clothes, watches, bags, cameras, cars) and more money on building yourself \u00e2\u20ac\u201d building your mind with books, through travel, having novel experiences, and meeting new minds.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In investing, seek to make money. And the best thing to do in investing is this advice from Ray Dalio:<\/p>\n

\n Make sure your risk of ruin is nil (zero).\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That means, make sure your risk of losing 100% of your money is 0%. That means, never dump 100% of your savings into 1 investment. Always diversify.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In business, have a diverse income stream. I make money from workshops, through Haptic Industries (Cindy runs it 100%) by selling STREET NOTES, PHOTO JOURNAL, and through Amazon Affiliates.<\/p>\n

I know nothing lasts forever. So I need to diversify\u00e2\u20ac\u201d not just focused on street photography, but travel photography, personal photography, all photography, and through life philosophy, through writing about entrepreneurship and business, through psychology, design, and anything that interests me.<\/p>\n

Diversify or die.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The point of life is to win, not to look cool. And not to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwin\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 by \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcbeating\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 anyone else. Rather, to achieve your personal dreams.<\/p>\n

My dream is to help empower others through art. I do that through blogging, teaching, and traveling and meeting others.<\/p>\n

My basic needs are met. I have all black clothes. I have my laptop, phone, digital camera, headphones, wifi connection and eggs + coffee. What else do I need?<\/p>\n

Happiness<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To me, happiness is doing meaningful work. I define happiness as \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchuman flourishing\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 (Greek word: EUDAIMONIA) rather than just a feeling. Otherwise, if I just wanted to \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcfeel good\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 I would be high on heroin all the time.<\/p>\n

To me, true happiness is being active. Through writing, doing creative work, through making images, teaching, and making a social impact.<\/p>\n

Whatever you do in life, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t care about how others perceive you. Only judge yourself. Judge yourself whether your actions<\/em> in life accord with your personal philosophy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I once learned that wisdom is following your own advice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

I often advise others to not care about what others think of them by ignoring comments and not checking likes. That is what I do.<\/p>\n

I often advise others to just create art that is 80% \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcgood enough\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 and hit publish. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t believe in perfection. And 2,000+ blog posts later\u00e2\u20ac\u201d I have become much more \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcsuccessful\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 through just putting myself out there (2011-2017).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Progress in life. A tree will continually grow until it dies. But the growth is gradual.<\/p>\n

How long does a redwood tree take to go from a tiny seed, until it becomes an elegant behemoth that blocks out the heavens? Thousands of years.<\/p>\n

Of course we probably cannot live that long. At best, the (so far) known maximum extent of human life is 120. So at best, we can live to be 120. But realistically, most of us will live to be 80-90 years old.<\/p>\n

With death creeping on your shoulder, and the grim reaper tapping you on the shoulder\u00e2\u20ac\u201d why do you delay? You need to be a sprinter \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you need to quicken your pace for living out your dreams. You need to jump in the Lamborghini Huracan (blacked out) and put the pedal to the metal. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t cruise around in your highway of life like a Prius. Rather, bolt on the twin-turbo, and go fucking fast.<\/p>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Now, I am the only judge of myself. I like to write about what interests me, and in the hope that it will help others. If I can help just 1 other human being in the world with my writing or art, it is worth it. So I keep doing it.<\/p>\n

No limits. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let no algorithm control your life.<\/p>\n

Facebook and Instagram penalizes you for \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcposting too much.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 I say fuck that. Just post whenever and however much you want. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wait until 12pm everyday to get the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcoptimal number of likes.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fear people unfollowing you. Just ask yourself:<\/p>\n

\n Would I follow myself?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

How to achieve your dreams<\/h2>\n

Some ideas:<\/p>\n

1. Achieve your dream today<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Is your dream to become a novelist or writer? Just write today, and hit publish in a blog post. Everyday finish just one chapter, and hit publish. Publish it as it is a work in progress. Because life is a work in progress.<\/p>\n

Is your dream to become a full-time photographer? Make your own website (firtnamelastname.com) via bluehost.com \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and install wordpress.org, and put up your portfolio of your best 20 photos, and put in your email as a contact. Then start promoting yourself on social media, through Craigslist, or through asking friends if they know any people who need a photographer.<\/p>\n

2. Is your dream to travel?<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Want to travel? Start local. Just jump in your car, and travel to the next town. Want to travel internationally? Visit Hanoi or Bangkok.<\/p>\n

Traveling doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to be expensive.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve learned I prefer traveling locally to New Orleans in America, than going to Paris.<\/p>\n

I also prefer traveling to Mexico City (went there on my Honeymoon) instead of going to Tokyo.<\/p>\n

Travel to places where your money goes further.<\/p>\n

3. Do you want to be a full-time photographer\/artist?<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Want to be a full-time artist and give the middle-finger to the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcman?\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Live in Hanoi in a nice studio apartment for $380 a month, and your food\/living expenses will be another $200 a month. You can live comfortably in Hanoi for $580 a month \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and if you are frugal, even less.<\/p>\n

4. Exhibit<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Exhibit your work as an artist. Hit up a local coffee shop, and print out your best 5 photos 12×18. Hit up my buddy Brian Milo from MILOPRINTS (based in Chicago, email him at brian.milo@gmail.com<\/em>), and frame them with some cheap IKEA frames. Offer the coffee shop free art, and ask for an opening night. Buy some cheap Trader Joes $2 wine. And invite friends, family, and the local community.<\/p>\n

5. What is your dream?<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

And of course\u00e2\u20ac\u201d before you achieve your dreams, know what your dream in life is.<\/p>\n

So write your dream-list, and ask yourself\u00e2\u20ac\u201d how can I achieve that dream today?<\/p>\n

Conclusion: DO OR DON\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T DO, there is NO TRY<\/h2>\n

\"buy<\/p>\n

Be like YODA\u00e2\u20ac\u201d \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcDo or don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do, there is no try.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t try nothing you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to do. Only do what you want to do.<\/p>\n

\"STREETTOGS\"<\/p>\n

What are your dreams? Take your first step to achieve them today.<\/p>\n

No excuses\u00e2\u20ac\u201d only opportunities in life.<\/p>\n

Be strong,
\nEric<\/p>\n

Learn more: Entrepreneurship ><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcDon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry about looking good\u00e2\u20ac\u201d worry about achieving your goals.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 – Ray Dalio A lot of us care more about looking good, rather than winning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":48665,"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,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-posts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/eric-kim-street-photography-x100f-fujifilm-7338.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48620","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=48620"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48620\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}