So I’m on a 12 hour flight, heading a destination where I’m not even sure what I’m going for. Booked the flight, a few days ago, on an impulse before thinking it too much; without any set plan, with no idea if it makes any sense or if it is even a rational or reasonable idea. But, after all, no reasonable or rational idea has ever led me to any of the most incredible or unexpected things in life. Anyway, I was in front of the computer seeing the flight, wondering if I should, if I shouldn’t. If this or that? Wondering if the timing was correct or made more sense waiting for a better time. So basically after all: I knew I had to do it and had to do it now.
If somehow, this idea was on the back of my mind and I was overthinking it over and over, it was because (although might seem crazy to anyone) makes sense after all. You only need one person to make things actually make sense: and that is yourself. Fear, and insecurity was what was preventing me to do it. And that’s the very reason I knew I had to do it.
I have to force myself, put myself into the uncomfortable and even terribly scary situation and go for it. Enabling the right circumstances and attitude for incredible things to happen. It’s not going to happen sitting on the couch of my home and staying still.
Ok, ok let me explain what I’m talking about. “Making it” in photography or any artistic field is a constant challenge and struggle. Years and years of hard work, failure after failure, more hard work, trying and trying and still not there, sometimes it consumes your energies to even keep attempting or making to doubt yourself. Some days you wake up thinking if any of all this makes sense. Some days your energy is at its lowest.
But then you realize that’s what makes you vibrate, feel alive, and keeps you inspired every morning you wake up. So, then… how possibly can’t you pursue that? How possibly can’t you keep trying with all your heart and energy?
This is probably the constant up & down mood roller coaster and mental struggle in every artist pursuing an artistic career and seeking a passion.
Ok, so what is this about? I’m going to Los Angeles for 12 days and I’ll explain why.
As much as I love my hometown sometimes is not the best fit when thinking big and pursuing the bigger dreams. Just the fact of being your hometown sets you in a comfort zone. You end setting for achievable goals, for the comfortable and for the realistic and attainable.
But what about the unrealistic, the big dreams? The “there’s absolutely no way”? What about shooting right to the moon? Sometimes, the only small detail of achieving something spectacular is just going for it and actually trying it. And of course firmly believing it’s possible.
In some way, a lot of times I’m terrified and feel really uncomfortable to pitch myself or go for the big things, the big projects and believing that my photo work or my skills can actually make it into bigger things. Fear and insecurity.
And that’s what I’m going exactly to do in Los Angeles. Force myself into this uncomfortable situation of actually trying it, seek bigger things and actively hustle where the big things happen. Take myself more seriously, my work more seriously on a hub like L.A, leaving aside the doubting, and put my work out there and firmly believe big things can happen.
12 days might not make any sense to realistically achieve something meaningful. But that’s exactly it. I have 12 days to go all in for it. Go big or go home. I want to put myself into the pressure of achieving something meaningful on the time that I have. 12 days was the maximum I could do in between other work at this moment. It would have been easier to just leave this to a better time. But just because of that it was the right time to do it. There’s not a better time than now.
I want to put myself in the right mental attitude for big things and that’s not going to happen by sitting at home sending a few emails.
So just by thinking that this nonsense, makes sense, sets me in the right mood to go all in and enable the right circumstances to make things happen.
I just bought the flight. And now I must fill the rest of the gaps. All of them. Now there’s something tangible. I’m going to be in L.A and I’ll better do something about it. Not sure where I’m staying, not sure the plan, not sure anything. But once the flight is bought the rest of the things start falling into place automatically because no matter what I set a fixed date I’m going to be there.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t even know where I’m starting, and of course have those moments of “what I’m even going with all this”. But I try to focus on the fact that I have this 12 days and this 12 days for taking things to the next level. And that’s all I need to have in my mind.
So the plan is trying to meet with art galleries, photo editors, magazines, brands and basically make the most out of it and make the most connections I can leaving all my fears aside. Also would love to get inspired and connect with other likeminded artists that are on the area. And basically see where I can push this 12 days by enabling the right circumstances by having the right attitude and actually trying it. See how far can we get.
So, if you can help in any way, of course, I’m most than thankful. Any contacts you can point me at or introduce? Any tips or recommendations for achieving any of this? Any idea of who should I reach? Any brands, galleries? Any door I must knock, any artists you may know from the area? Everything is helpful.
So there we go. I land in a few hours and the adventure starts. Let’s see how far can we get by setting the right attitude, the right mindset and go all in for taking things to the next level. Stop waiting for things to happen and pursuing them actively now. And also I want to push my limits, connect more with people and do things I usually don’t do. Hello L.A.
