When you’re young, you’re asked “What you want to be when you grow up?”

Remember? I bet right now, if you were to ask yourself and be honest with yourself, you’d have an answer that just might be very different from what you’re doing with your life. Why? Why aren’t you doing what you wanted to do?

If you’re like most people, it’s because you needed to pay the bills and then life happened. That’s what we always say. I know people that have kids and they hate their jobs, but they need to pay the bills. They need to support their family. People seem to want better, but they just are not sure of how to get their safely, without putting their family or what they have at risk. Sound about right?

So what if.. and I’m just spit-ballin here… what if you took baby steps to reach your dream?

Start slowly, one day at a time moving towards your goal and before long, you’ve arrived.

My first jobs after high school as well as my second jobs, all the way into third, fourth, fifth jobs were retail hell. I worked at restaurants, I worked at the mall, I was even an electrician’s first year apprentice. I needed to survive, to pay the bills. I hated my job because it wasn’t what I wanted to do so in time, I bought a camera and slowly.. started to shoot.

Some background if you’re new here..

I grew up around photography. I grew up looking at Playboy, from the age of four onward. My Dad liked his Playboy, my Mom on the other hand, did not. I wanted to be the person that created this beauty. This was well before it was sexual. It was about beauty, the way the light danced across her body. The smile, the eyes, the colors. I wanted to create art, with people.

My goals weren’t about how much I’d make. I never stopped to ask myself if I’d be rich doing these things, or if I’d be able to buy a house. I asked myself how I’d be able to create art, and later I figured out a way to do it. Although at the time I didn’t see it as my escape to a new career, I saw it more as I’m doing what I want to do.

Aren’t we always told the key to life is to find something you love to do, and find a way to make money doing it?

I know a few guys that wish they could do what I do. So why can’t you? Nobody starts at the end, they start at the beginning, with a dream. They start slowly and over time, doors open and opportunities present themselves, or rather, you make opportunities present themselves. Get a camera, shoot a friend for free. Get experience and confidence. It does pay off.

Right now I am going through a waiting period and it’s driving me nuts. I am waiting for my new camera to arrive so I can start shooting again. The future is a lot brighter then it’s ever been and I’m excited. Bryci is excited, we’re both thrilled with what lay down the road. Just *wait* to see what we’ve got coming next…

I’m currently writing my next book, and I’m also planning something big photo wise. Life is good. I didn’t get here overnight, but I never stopped believing I could get here either. Sure you’ll have set backs and sure.. sometimes life will kick you in the nuts. So what? Get past it. What are the other options? Give in and be some person that let life beat you? Ewww. that would suck. I refuse to settle for less, and you yourself should always strive for better.

If you can chose between success and failure, and believe me when I tell you.. you CAN choose.. why not choose success? Stop worrying about what others think, what others do. Start worrying about how much you’re smiling.

It’s a lot more fun.

It’s time for one of my epic rants. you ready?

One of my favorite quotes: “Everything popular is wrong” – Oscar Wilde

This is true in my opinion.

We’ve somehow become a society of sheep. So concerned with the wrong things, what you’re driving, what you’re wearing, where you live. How many square feet? How many bathrooms? Is it fast? Does it have leather seats?

Sigh.

What the fuck is wrong with people?

Is it just me or are people assholes for the most part? Nobody says please, thank you, nothing. Canadians get teased for being polite. This somehow makes sense to you? If you’re an American and you think it’s funny Canadians are nice, you just might be an asshole. You’re aware of this right?

Sweet, there’s something to be proud of.

BE THE CHANGE

If you’re tired of people being shitty to you, how about you stop sucking? If you haven’t noticed yet, we learned this as babies and we still do it today. We mirror what is in front of us. If you look crabby, people think you’re crabby. If you look happy, you’re perceived as being happy.

(or stoned, drunk, on meds, meh… same diff)

YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE

Why is this not common sense? Everyone is so sure the world is out to get them.

Newsflash – the world doesn’t give two squirts of piss about you. The only one that has your back, IS YOU.

I’m not jaded, I’ve just been around enough to see this as being true. Feel free to correct me if you feel otherwise.

Put positivity out there and oh snap, would you look at that? I am getting positivity back.

This rant isn’t being negative, this rant is a wake up call for some. It was what woke me up not too long ago.

I will without question have at least one message, one email, one phone call asking me if this blog was about that person.

This blog is not about you. This blog is not about you. This blog is not about you. This blog is not about you.

Capiche?

This blog is a collection of utter bullshit I’ve endured over the past month or two. I am tired of hearing people bitch and moan about how rough things are. You have a computer, you have internet, you most likely have a roof over your head. You want to talk rough? Go check out the people with no job to support their families. The people that are back from the war and the banks have foreclosed on their home. The kids with no food in their bellies. The homeless dude down the street that can’t feed his dog.

Go ahead, tell me how your life sucks. No, wait, don’t.

Life might be hard for you right now, but come on, you’re fine. Pick up your shit and get it together.

I’ve been there myself, hardships, shitty things, life deals you a hand you never saw coming. It sucks. It really, truly does but who cares? It’s survival of the fittest and last time I had a story to bitch and moan about, i don’t recall getting paid for it. I do recall getting evicted though or having my lights shut off because I was so busy feeling sorry for myself that I forgot the very basic way life works. You need to work to survive.

Again, NO I am not talking about you. I am recounting my personal life here. If it matches yours in the past, present or future… fucking fantastic!

I can give you some advice and if you are smart and follow it, you’ll be a-okay.

Stop.

Just stop the pattern you’re doing. Keep doing the same thing, how are things going to change?

Benjamin Franklin scribed – “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”

^ ^ ^ THIS ^ ^ ^

You are the only one that can change things. So.. umm.. change things.

Pick up the pieces, rebuild, you’re going to be fine. Hate to sound cheesy, but you have to believe to achieve.

Yes, things will be hard, that’s how it works. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it, wouldn’t they?

A phrase I like to tell myself.. Leader or Follower. Which are you?

The greatest thing about each day we’re given (and we are given these days, you should never expect them, they’re a gift, use them wisely) is that you get to choose if you’re going to lead the way or follow others.

Hint – FUCK FOLLOWING OTHERS.

Most others are so fucked up, lost in their Facebook status update or keeping up with the Joneses.. you’re better off Leading. Trust me.

Strong people are rare but if you’re still reading, I have a feeling you’re either one of them already or you have the ability to be one of them.

So what’s stoping you? You clearly have a computer, internet, electricity. So what’s your story? Time to start kicking ass?

I’d say yes.

Okay, enough with the rantavitional speech. (new word, feel free to use it as needed. Rant + Motivational = Ranivational)

Time for random shit.

10 RANDOM THINGS INSIDE MY HEAD (now in my blog)

Uncensored, the way things in life should be

Alright people.. I am outty. Time to go spend the evening with my better half.

Again, I was not talking about you. If your life is sucking, change it. It’s not impossible, what’s impossible is dealing with the mindset that change is impossible. If life is fucked, does it matter what you do? Pick one thing, change it. You’ll see it’s easier than you think.

Make sense?

Lastly, tempting as it might be, yellow snow is NOT LEMONADE SNOW.

Avoid the temptation.