“Get the inside right and the outside will fall into place. – Eckhart Tolle The Power of Now
This doesn’t mean that once you focus on you the rest of your success will simply fall into your lap, it means invest in yourself because you are a platform for which all else will rise.
We know that your busy, so when investing in yourself really consider how to spend your time in a productive manner by allotting specific time for planning, networking, learning and practicing. Weigh out how you’re effectively using or not using these categories, and how shifting your goals around these concepts, can help accelerate your learning.
Invest Energy
Because time is so valuable, spend each moment with good intention and 100% purpose in any circumstance you might find yourself, even if its not ideal. Leave your ego at the door and step into every situation with the intent of learning and growing from your own and others’ mistakes. While it is great to have an end goal, don’t let your ambitions overshadow your ability to appreciate the now and where you currently are in the process.
Just like Newton’s Third Law- for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Tom Shadyac said it perfectly:
The energy that you put into the world comes back. In other words, the fruit is in the seed. You can’t sow an apple seed and expect to get an avocado tree. The consequences of your life are sown in what you do and how you behave.
Still figuring out how to make the most of your day? Here is a good time management template from professional photographer, director, artist, and entrepreneur Chase Jarvis.
Invest in Your Community
Invest in yourself by investing in others. This may sound a bit backwards, but by getting involved in your creative community you are exposing yourself to a world of resources. Here are some ways that investing in others can benefit your personal growth and take your career to the next level:
1.) You gain inspiration, insight and knowledge from others ideas and experiences; creativity breeds creativity, so surround yourself with creative people.
2.) You gain connections which lead to networks.
3.) You’re building up your audience.
4.) And you increase your lens-borrowing range (only partly kidding).
To make things simple I’ve spelt it out in an equation:
You= your experiences and ideas.
You+ someone else= twice the amount of experience and ideas
You+ a group of others= tons of experience and ideas!
Beyond getting involved in your local events, here is a list of some film festivals to attend in order to expand your creative community:
Top 4 Adventure Festivals & Why Attending is Crucial for Breaking into the Industry
Invest in Your Experience
Experience is the best teacher.
Invest in the experience of education. Whether its taking online classes, reading text books or signing up for hands on courses, gaining knowledge in your field is crucial. Start with the basics and work your way up, constantly pushing yourself; elevate your knowledge and you elevate your creative abilities.
While knowledge can be a tremendously powerful tool, all that information lacks validity if you don’t learn by putting those lessons to use. So grab your camera and go on an adventure, take a trip, break out of old habits, and do more of what makes you happy. These experiences don’t have to cost a thing, just get out and do.
Happy Filmmaking!