The world isn’t going to end if you don’t become a millionaire
Your life doesn’t end if you don’t buy a giant house
Your friends don’t stop being your friends if you don’t have a fancy job title
Life doesn’t end if you don’t attain all the things you’re supposed to want
Focus on you
Focus on your craft
Focus on what you’ve got to contribute to the world
And when the world comes crashing down
Find peace in knowing that you gave yourself a chance
by Jason Lam
“Do not die an impostor”
This came to me in a dream
It felt too important. So I will remember it here
by Jason Lam
Creating and putting your work out there is the greatest form of trust you can ever have for yourself. It is the ultimate testament. Leave nothing in the tank. Go for it. You might crash and burn. But you won't know until you try. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you keep stumbling forward no matter the self-doubt, no matter the hate, and no matter the rejection. Keep fighting. Keep creating. Keep trusting in yourself.
by Jason Lam
For the past decade of my life, I’ve tried to craft this perfect image of a cool, stoic, black and white photographer. Ugh, just typing it out makes me want to puke. The reasoning behind it all was because I thought I needed to present myself in that manner in order to get work and build a good reputation. After all, many of the photographers I’ve looked up to seem to project this sort of mystical aura. They almost seem like gods who can create masterpiece after masterpiece, and here I am, just struggling to pull together a shoot, yet still trying to make it look like it’s all so easy.
It’s not.
There are, in fact, many minor inconveniences about photography. You need to find the right subject. If you are shooting outdoors you need to hope and pray the weather is good. Before that, you need to find a location. And if you are going to shoot in a studio instead, well, you’re going to have to pay, and it can get quite expensive. People cancel last minute. And even if everything lines up, you might not be able to develop any chemistry with your subject to come up with good work. Lastly, some clients don’t pay. I remember all of them.
But still, I’ve persisted with this cool… calm image.
It’s fake.
At least, I think my intentions are real. No, my intentions are very real. I have absolutely no other desire but to create raw, honest, and timeless work. Outside of the basic well-being of myself and those around me, that’s all I really want to do in my life. I just want to create, and I want to create at the highest level possible. And I guess, I’m coming to the realization that continuing as this cool calm black and white figure that I’ve created for myself is not the way.
The way forward is to continue as authentically me as possible, and that means not limiting myself to an image crafted by a younger, more naive version of me.
I need to grow.
Seems to be the case, huh? No matter how much you learn, how much you grow, and how many damn lessons life has thrown at you. There’s still more.
So much more.
Moving forward, I will continue creating from the truest parts of me. I will not limit myself to this image I’ve crafted. I will let life be a little more messy. I will let my authenticity express its full self, and accept it in every form that it takes.
Onwards.
by Jason Lam
“Be you and own it”
This was a piece of advice I received about five years ago.
To this day, I still think back to it because I feel there’s a part of me that still hasn’t fully integrated what this piece of advice has to offer.
"Be you," I think I have that part down.
Owning it?
That’s a whole different animal.
That means to be proud. To stick your neck out. To put your name on the line. And not only to just shine a light but to keep shining despite the haters trying to put you out.
This isn’t easy. No wonder I haven’t owned it.
I noticed I still take the safe route.
Like there’s a deep part in me that says, "Don’t put yourself on the line. Create a brand and come up with a fancy logo, people will love it!"
But really it’s just a dinky little costume I don in the hopes that people will like me better without having to expose too many parts of myself.
I need to be me. I need to own it.
by Jason Lam
Motivation is like a flame
Every once in a while you need to feed it
Otherwise, with no oxygen, no fuel, and no spark, it can die and be that much harder to get going again
If you ever end up getting going at all…
If you find that you’ve built a flame, find a way to keep it going
Shield it from the haters
Surround the flame with people who care for you and support you
Even go so far as protecting the flame against yourself
Because sometimes, we can be our own worst enemies
by Jason Lam
What if you lost everything right now?
Your entire work history. Your life story. Everything.
Where would you want to go from here?
Which target would you aim at?
If you can answer the question honestly it can be very telling.
We often cling to our narratives and past selves. Keeping us exactly where we are. Making sure we stay on the path crafted for us from a younger more naive self.
But if you lost everything right now. Even if it’s in a figurative manner. How would things change?
How would you change? What would you do? Where would you go?
You might find your answer surprises you. Even if you don’t have an answer at all, you might find a weight lifted off your shoulders. A burden, gone missing despite years of blood, sweat, and tears, crafting your identity into who you are today. Because when you burn it all down, you get to start over again. But this time, with new information, more wisdom, and without the weight of the past.
Perhaps a rebirth is something that we can give to ourselves. Not something to be handed to us. Maybe not even something to be considered a tragedy.
So, if everything burned to the ground and you lost everything.
Where would you go?
by Jason Lam
When starting a new endeavor there can be so much anxiety about how to start. For good reason. We don’t want to waste time. We don’t want to be wrong. We definitely don’t want to embarrass ourselves. The problem, however, is this beginner’s anxiety can keep us frozen for way too long and we end up doing nothing.
A different approach would be to “Begin Anywhere”. Sure, maybe you don’t know how to begin, but you probably won’t know until you get started. So just get going. Accept that the first few steps may not be a straight path. Chances are you’ll be zig-zagging left and right and even making a couple of circles when you first take off. Then again, this can also be considered your opportunity to gather information and find out where the proper path is located.
With enough time, you might find that you are always beginning. You may also discover that there isn’t always a clearcut path, and sometimes you must create your own. Everything is an experiment. Maybe the secret to life is to simply begin, and to begin again.
by Jason Lam
At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, I feel like a part of me died out in SE Asia.
But in a good way.
It wasn’t until prolonged travel that I finally had the quiet space and time to realize how I’ve been holding on to a certain identity I felt I had to cling onto for the past ten years of my life.
For those of you who don’t know, I want to be a photographer, but not just any photographer, I want to be cool. I want to have a stark style that people can recognize from a mile away. From my time in the industry, the established photographers always seemed to have a sort of enigma that if done correctly, could outlive them even after they were gone.
Irving Penn, Mary Ellen Mark, and Peter Lindbergh, just to name a few.
I want that.
At least, I wanted that.
But here’s the problem, it can be very limiting to hold yourself to the confines of just one version of you.
Really? Do you really want to just be that guy that wears all black and takes stark black and white photos?
Do you really need to be that “cool”?
Is that necessary? Or could you maybe just let it all go, be yourself, and let the pieces fall where they may?
I think I can.
To be honest, I don’t think I have much else of a choice.
Identity is a tricky thing if you are trying to craft one in an industry whose sole purpose is to make money.
"You need to brand yourself," they say.
"People need to know what you do in two seconds or less."
"If you’re everywhere you’re nowhere."
So we limit ourselves, for monetary purposes.
It works.
Our lives are too complicated to process all the incoming information the world has to offer. So we do what we do best, simplify. We simplify people down to one thing. We do this out of necessity, even if it’s not true or accurate. Even if it’s ourselves.
We think of Michael Jordan as the basketball player, not the father, not the cigar enthusiast, not the son who had to struggle with the untimely death of his father. He’s the basketball player.
I wanted to think of myself as the raw, stark, black and white photographer. I think I’d like that. It strokes my ego. I’d love to be acknowledged for that. But I’m also the quirky Asian-American kid who likes taking care of my plants. I like cracking jokes. I’m a huge fan of comedy, improv acting, and music. Occasionally, I’ll indulge in coffee. Oh, and I like to travel and write, obviously.
What about all those things? At what point is it not worth it to simplify yourself into a limiting identity for the sake of profits, or even worse, ego?
At the end of the day, we are everything. I am everything. From my birth, to my hopes and dreams, to the heartbreaks, the quirky little hobbies, career aspirations, and everything else in between. Where do we draw the line? When is it no longer worth trying to craft an image? Particularly if it’s simply not working?
Rejection.
This might sound contradictory, but rejection can be freeing.
The best example I can think of that relates most to this topic is when you’re lovestruck.
You’ve just met the hottest girl in the world. You’re so enamored with her, you bend over backwards trying to craft yourself into becoming the best version of yourself to get the girl. But despite all your efforts, she still rejects you. Sure, it will suck for a couple of days, maybe even weeks, but afterwards, you are also free. Why? Because now you have no choice but to be yourself. There’s no more need to put up a facade when that facade clearly isn’t working.
My attempts to craft myself into a singular image failed. It has, in fact, failed multiple times.
Barely Evolved Apes, and I Think I'm Just Lonely, just to name a few.
So then what?
After the initial sulking period, I woke up and realized, "Cool, I don’t have to contort myself anymore. I can just be. Who am I? I just am. I’m not my name. I’m not my job. I’m not my projects. I just am."
A part of me died in SE Asia. All these identities I’ve crafted for myself. Gone. All these concepts of who I should be in order to be better, to get forward in life, and to generate income. Failed. Heartbreak sucks, but it’s freeing. I now feel a level of lightness I’ve never felt before.
I’m no longer holding my breath.
And with this metaphoric death, I feel a new space has opened up in my life.
One that just is. For me to just be.
by Jason Lam
So you want to change careers? Start a new project? Maybe pick up a new skill? Nah, just give up on that idea.
"It’s too late!"
Does that sound familiar to any of you? I’ve always been the culprit of this kind of thinking when starting anything new. Heck, I once thought I was too late in learning how to play the guitar.
I was 14.
Here’s the problem, no matter what you do, it will always feel like it’s too late.
The question is, why?
I think it’s a problem of who we compare ourselves to. We’re our own worst critics. We already know that. But in addition to that, we're more likely to compare ourselves to the childhood prodigy, or the celebrity, than to who we should really be comparing ourselves to.
I’m reminded of a quote:
“Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today”.
- Jordan Peterson
I like this quote because, despite the fact that it might not feel competitive enough for some of us, I feel it is more relevant. It puts us in a frame of mind that encourages us to act, rather than focus on how much further we have to go.
Next time you want to start a new endeavor and feel like it’s too late, pause for a second and ask, "In comparison to who?"
by Jason Lam
I finally learned how to surf and I love it so much. It’s definitely my new favorite hobby. The learning curve is pretty steep but it’s so rewarding when things finally start to click. I love the feeling of being able to catch a wave, it feels like I’m flying!
Anyways, here are some life lessons I learned from surfing:
Don’t wait for the perfect wave - Everybody wants the perfect wave. Who doesn’t? But waiting for the perfect wave might mean waiting forever. Meanwhile, there are others going after every wave, and even though they’re not perfect, they’re at least seizing the opportunity to practice and hone their craft. You can’t wait for everything to be perfect in life before you get going. Just get going. Often times, you can figure it out and make the necessary adjustments along the way. Better yet, the imperfect wave might just turn out to be the perfect wave for you, but there’s only one way to find out.
Commit - Sometimes I see a wave coming and I’m not sure if it’s the right one to chase. This happened a lot when I first started surfing. I wouldn’t really commit. I would kind of just half-ass it by paddling a little bit and give up. Meanwhile, I see others beside me continuing to paddle and actually getting the wave. Wow! Nothing is more of a wake up call than seeing others capitalize on waves that you gave up on. If you’re going to do something, commit to it fully, otherwise you’re just guaranteeing your own failure.
Work on the fundamentals - All the perfect waves in the world mean nothing without strong fundamentals. When I first started learning how to surf, I didn’t go straight out into the ocean. I started on the sand and practiced the basics to build good habits. Even when I got out into the water, I would constantly watch people who were better than me to see how I could improve. If you’re going to capitalize on any opportunities in life, you’re going to need strong fundamentals. Put in the work first, so when the opportunities come, and they will, you’ll be ready to ride the wave.
Life is better with friends - I know, stating the obvious here, but I think I got lucky because I made so many new friends when I was learning how to surf. We all got better together and it was so great having each other as support. I can be a bit of a nomad at times, and try to figure everything out on my own. Though I enjoy this type of challenge, I often get caught in a funk and fail to realize that I’ve been spending too much time alone. It’s not just what you do that matters, it’s who you do it with, and I’ll always remember all the wonderful friends I’ve made through surfing.
Stop overthinking - Sometimes, I get nervous when a wave comes because I don’t want to mess it up! Other times, I’ll go after a wave, but I’m so tense, that I just end up wasting all my energy and the wave passes me by. At worst, the perfect wave will come but I’m overthinking everything and I miss out on the best wave of the day. Throughout all of this, I need to remind myself to relax, to breathe, and to get out of my own way. Life gives you many opportunities. They come in many shapes and sizes. But to move forward, sometimes it’s about letting go, trusting the work that you’ve put in, and allowing life to push you forward.
Timing is everything - There have definitely been days where all I’m doing is paddling and I catch no waves. Meanwhile, I see others catching everything! “What am I doing wrong?” I’d ask myself. I’m paddling as hard as I can, but I still can’t seem to catch anything. Meanwhile, there are other people in the water who seem to be catching everything so effortlessly. There was a point where a couple straight up looked at me and said, “You’re paddling way too early.” Yikes. In life, you don’t get rewarded for doing the right things at the wrong time.
Surfing is healing - When I began surfing, I spent more time in the ocean than I ever have before, and one thing I’ll never forget is how amazing I always felt after a surf session. I don’t know what it is, but I always feel rejuvenated and just a happier person overall. Cathartic is the best way I can describe it. Everything just seems to melt away and nothing else matters. It could be because I already love the ocean, but I also think it’s the combination of exercise, being one with nature, and working towards bettering yourself that leads to its healing properties. I know now, that if I’m ever having a bad day, I just need to go surfing.
The importance of rest - Surfing can be pretty exhausting. You’re exposed to the elements and the ocean never stops moving. You constantly have to be on the lookout for the next wave. You might get sunburned, someone might crash into you, heck, your own board might even wack you in the face. If none of that happens, just falling off your surfboard and having to get back on repeatedly is enough to provide a full-body workout. Make sure you prioritize rest as much as you prioritize all your actions in life. It may not seem important among the popularization of “Hustle Culture,” but simply put, without rest, there can be no action. I’ve definitely injured myself because I didn’t have the discipline to rest.
Learn how to fall properly - You’re guaranteed to fall when you go surfing, so you might as well learn how to fall properly. When you fall, you should jump away from your surfboard and protect your head and neck. You do this because you don’t want your surfboard coming back to wack you in the head. I’ve definitely been hit by my own surfboard and trust me, it hurts. You’re going to fall many times in life, but it never has to be a complete wipeout. Learn how to fall in a manner that will keep you in the game, so you can keep learning and growing for the rest of your life.
Keep swimming out - Contrary to popular belief, the hardest part about surfing is not catching a wave, it’s paddling out from the shore. You’re fighting against the waves and you can burn a lot of energy. There were definitely days when I was tired and it felt impossible to swim out because the waves kept pushing me back. However, I knew that giving up and going home would lead to nothing. Sometimes it can seem like you’re not making much progress in life, but despite the obstacles, you have to keep swimming out. Keep moving forward. Life isn’t going to make it easy for you. You will get pushed back. What’s important is how you respond in these moments. Keep swimming out.
by Jason Lam
I was never a morning person, but I love waking up early.
Waking up early gives me a confidence boost. It makes me feel like I managed to do something most of the world has failed to do.
The morning is quieter than the rest of the times of the day, so I feel a sense of calm and peace that I otherwise would not feel.
Waking up early makes sure that I am guaranteed to have “me time” where I will not be distracted.
I write better in the mornings. I don’t know why, but thoughts seem to flow better in the mornings than at night.
Waking up early allows me to see the changing of the day. It makes me more appreciative of the passing of time.
Waking up early gives me a head start. I usually manage to eat a healthy breakfast, write, and exercise. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something before most people have woken up.
If you want to wake up early, you might find it difficult, because you might not be able to sleep as much, but I sleep a lot. I don’t sleep less. I just sleep earlier. Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes. Chances are you will feel empowered to even wake up with the morning sun.
by Jason Lam
Maybe we don’t encounter problems. Maybe problems encounter us. Maybe problems seek us out because we’ve been too afraid to go out and look for it. Maybe problems come and find us in the middle of the night because they are required in order for us to grow. Maybe problems present themselves to us when we least expect because deep down, we’d rather not know. We’d rather not face the problems. Even though we know they exist. Maybe the only solution has always been to just face the problems forthrightly, rather than hide under the blankets hoping they would disappear. Maybe that’s the way forward. Maybe that’s the only way forward.
by Jason Lam
I learned early on in my life that without a healthy body, everything sucks.
While training for a bicycle tour back in 2009, I fell and suffered a shoulder injury that I never fully recovered from. With that same injury, I also had to get stitches on my eyebrow and bottom lip because my teeth dug straight into them when I face-planted onto the concrete. I know, it was gross, and it freaked me out. I’m sure I was a sight to see when I went into the nearest Starbucks asking for a cup of ice cubes to soothe my wounds.
Because I never fully healed from the injury, the pain began to trickle down into other parts of my body that included my neck, lower back, ribs, knees, and ankle. It was after about 5 years of increasing pain and thousands of dollars later seeing chiropractors, physical trainers, massage therapists, acupuncturists, and even trying Chinese medicine, that I finally found a way to make things a little more bearable.
I missed out on many friendly gatherings to play basketball and simple afternoon runs because my body couldn’t handle it. You don’t get much sympathy when you don’t have a cast on, and I never had. My troubles were interior, unseeable, but I felt them every day. Nothing is more demoralizing than waking up to a world of pain that others do not understand. While I’m nowhere near where I want to be, in recent years, I managed to learn enough about my body and figure out an exercise approach that works to keep the pain away and improve my quality of life.
Here are 10 exercise tips to stay in shape:
Small doses - Keep your workout sessions short. I notice I begin to lose focus after working out for about an hour. I also get tired. Most importantly, keeping my workouts to just one hour doesn’t feel like too big of a commitment. It’s just short enough so I’d want to come back and do it again the next day. Once you get stronger, you can up the time, but I think maintaining short sessions is a great way to stay interested so you want to keep exercising for the long term.
Reward yourself - I like to treat myself to a delicious smoothie after a workout. For a while, my treat was also a yummy Indian restaurant with the most best curries ever. Another way to reward yourself is to switch up your workout and do something a little more fun. For example, you can go for a swim if it’s a nice sunny day, or take a dance class with a friend.
“Don’t get in shape, just don’t be out of shape” - This is a concept I learned from jiu-jitsu class. Our instructor once told us to stop trying to win all the time, instead, “Just don’t get defeated.” I think a lot of people burn out trying to reach unrealistic goals. Everybody wants the perfect body, but I’ve found it much easier both physically and mentally to aim to simply not be out of shape. I know it might seem like a backward way of thinking, and it doesn’t sound impressive at all, but it keeps me in the game, and I think that’s what matters most in the end.
Good music - I don’t always use music, and some people say it’s a crutch, but I find it helps put me in a better mood to get going sometimes. I don’t always listen to upbeat music. Sometimes I listen to meditative sounds. To be honest, sometimes the music at the gym sucks and I don’t want to hear other people huffing and puffing. So even if it’s just to shut out the distractions, I’d do it. Podcasts could work too.
Turn it into a habit - Exercise is hard when you have to rely on willpower every time, so turn it into a habit. This might take some experimenting but I find it’s best to exercise in the morning. Incorporate it into your morning routine if you can. The reason why is because you’re still fresh at the start of the day and I notice it energizes me more than it drains me. If I save my workout for the end of the day it becomes more like a chore and it's not easy when I’m already tired from work.
Don’t look at the mirror - I know, it’s hard not to check yourself out after your workout to see how much sexier you’ve gotten. You’re not. Just kidding. Seriously though, it’s important to consider why we look at the mirror. Is it because we genuinely want to spend time looking at our reflection? Or because we want immediate results? Chances are, you’re looking for immediate results, so more likely than not, you will be unsatisfied. Don’t waste time looking at the mirror. It doesn’t do anything for you.
Stretch - Stretching is often overlooked in exercise. I don’t blame you. It doesn’t look like you’re doing much. However, when you exercise, your muscles become fatigued. They tighten up. Strength comes from the ability for your muscles to contract, but also relax, so stretch. Otherwise, you might end up defeating the purpose of a workout.
Listen to your body - Sometimes you won’t feel like working out. Here’s my rule: Get out of bed and head to the gym before you decide to take it easy. It’s easy to say, “I’m not feeling it today,” when you wake up and your body is sore. It’s more likely that you’re way too comfortable in bed and you want to find an excuse not to get up. Once you get to the gym and you feel a little off, then it’s fine. Take it easy. You’re doing two things this way: 1) You’re maintaining your habit of regular exercise 2) You’re avoiding injury by not overexerting yourself.
Hire a personal trainer - They’re expensive. Yes. They also sound like gimmicks. Sure. Some don’t know what they’re doing, but many do. It took me a while to find a personal trainer I liked, but when I finally did, it was well worth the money. A personal trainer will make sure to send you down the right path for physical and mental wellbeing. It’s way better to spend $100 learning how to do things properly than to save that money and do it wrong forever.
Relax - Physical fitness has become quite trendy lately, hasn’t it? It might seem like you’re never good enough. Never strong enough, fast enough, skinny enough. Marketing sure has ways to make you feel like crap. We must remind ourselves why we exercise. I do it to make my life better. The last thing I need is to have exercise be another source of stress. To be honest, I usually feel more relaxed after a workout. My mind is clear and I feel like I did something with my day, rather than sit in front of the computer all day watching YouTube videos.
These are all things that work for me and I hope they work for you. If you are in the San Francisco area and you need recommendations for any trainers or rehab clinics, feel free to reach out and I’ll point you to all the right people. At the end of the day, fitness is a very personal journey and you need to figure out what works for you. I hope the tips I shared above will send you the right direction.
by Jason Lam
At the end of every rainbow is only yourself
And your own willingness to face your fears and go after what you truly want in life
There are no pots of gold
Only you
And the limited time and energy you have here on earth
What you do with it is up to you
It always has been
And always will
by Jason Lam
Honesty is elusive
Because honesty is scary
Honesty will do its best to protect itself
Than to allow its tears and scars rear its ugly head
To be an artist is to be willing to be scared
To be scared by yourself
And of yourself
To dive deeper into who you are
And face the potentials of who you could be
Instead of who you think you should be
To create is to make attempts at telling the truth
To tell the truth is to live forthrightly ahead despite the chaos in life
Despite the chaos in your mind
To tell the truth is to admit your imperfection
That all could go wrong
But to try anyway
And to make the world a better place
Even when all is burning around you
by Jason Lam
You have to fail a couple times before you start to find your stroke.
Notice I didn’t say success. Nor did I say recognition.
Finding your rhythm is something that needs to be discovered through countless leaps, many of which will turn into failure and disappointment.
It took me a long time trying to take photographs like so and so, before I finally found my style.
It took me a long time making YouTube videos, before finally being able to just sink in and “do me”.
Writing has also been an absolute adventure in being ok with bad grammar and run-on sentences.
Finding your rhythm means taking chances, but it also means letting go of previous attempts and having the courage to admit when you are wrong.
Finding your rhythm means letting go. It means tapping into the deeper parts of you that knows when something is right, even if you can’t explain it with words and intellect.
Finding your rhythm is elusive, that is until you find it. Then it seems as if everything just falls into place.
I’ve learned, in finding my own rhythm, that you need to reach out for feedback, just as much as you need to reach in.
Eventually, what sets you apart is not what others can teach you, but what you can let out from the deeper depths of who you are.
In this way, finding your rhythm is just as much about letting your true self reveal itself to you, as it is about simply noticing it when it arrives.
by Jason Lam
This might sound like hoopla, but there is immense power in having a vision for your life. Your vision can manifest as an image in your mind, or be as detailed as a handwritten story posted on your bedroom wall. Whichever way you go about it, having a vision provides your life with direction, keeps you motivated, and gives a sense of belief that you can achieve what you set out to do.
The counterargument would be that perhaps, a vision doesn’t help, so don’t have a vision at all, but then you leave everything to chance and may end up just drifting aimlessly and going nowhere.
I notice there are two kinds of people in this world, those who take matters into their own hands and act, and those who end up following the plans of others. For me, I’m happiest when I have control of my own time, so my vision has in large part an element of being able to decide what I do whenever I want to do it.
Here are 5 exercises that helped me come up with my vision in life:
Write a manifesto - Who are you and what are you about? What do you aim to do? What is the ultimate result? How do you get there? How will you feel when you get there? Write it out by hand and tape it somewhere you can see it every day as a reminder of your direction in life.
Describe your perfect day - Sit down with a pen and paper and write out exactly how you want your life to look like from the moment you wake up to the moment you go back to sleep. Each and every day makes up a page in the story of your life, so it serves you to be intentional about it. Be as detailed as you can be. Where you are living? Who’s the first person you see when you wake up? What are you doing for work? What kind of work are you doing? What are you eating for breakfast? Don’t hold back. This is your moment to allow yourself to acknowledge the life you want to live and to truly illustrate what your life can look like one day.
Ask your friends - Sometimes we don’t know what we’re good at. We can also be very bad at knowing what we suck at. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and asking your friends for their honest opinions can be very helpful. Stick to those you trust, and be selective about the advice you take. You don’t have to listen to everyone. Focus on the ones that will help you most. You might find that you are good at a lot of things that you can then turn into a career. You will also discover the things that you should work on, or avoid completely.
Write yourself a million-dollar check - This one’s a little silly, but also one of my favorites. Take out a blank check and write it out to yourself for a million dollars. That’s right, $1,000,000. That’s six zeros. Who’s paying you? Why are they paying you? Who is your dream client? What is the positive impact you have on their lives? Money is a tool we all need to help realize our visions. Tape this check on your wall to further realize your vision as a possibility. Sure, a million dollars might be a little much, but better to aim too high than to aim too low.
Embed your vision into a daily ritual - It’s one thing to spend an afternoon doing these exercises, it’s another to remind yourself of your vision and to solidify it as a real possibility in your life on a daily basis. I remind myself of my vision every day by integrating it into my morning routine. Seeing my manifesto on my wall sets the tone for my entire day and provides me with the belief and energy to seize every opportunity. If I can do that every day for the rest of my life, then each and every second of my day is directed towards getting one step closer until, of course, I get there.
It might take some time to develop a vision for your life. Your vision might even change as you learn more about yourself. But regardless of the energy required to discover your vision, it still serves you to have one. From my experience, it’s the difference between those to make it far and those who end up drifting through life. Your vision is your own personal roadmap to where you want to go. Nobody can do this for you. You must decide for yourself the type of life you want to live and the ultimate impact you want to have in this world. Don’t hold yourself back. You are much more capable than you believe. Go out there and get after it.
I would like to end with a quote by Dale Carnegie:
“Two men looked out from prison bars, One saw the mud, the other saw stars.”
by Jason Lam
Creative work sometimes gets boring
That’s when you need a rotation
Creative rotation is not unlike workout drills
You switch it up every once in a while so your body can react to new stimuli and stay engaged
Sometimes I get bored of making videos
Other times I get bored of writing
Sometimes I want to take pictures
Other times I don’t
Put another way, creation is like food, I just can’t eat the same thing all the time
Switch it up
And you might find you feel full, once again
Creative rotations
by Jason Lam
Perhaps life really is devoid of any inherent meaning
But while this conclusion may be true, it is not helpful
To take on this perspective is to then not have any reason to do anything at all
Or at worse, to tend towards making things worse, because to hell with it, nothing matters anyway
But you still need to get up in the mornings
You still have to live your life
Which approach would you rather choose?
While there is a great romance in finding your purpose
Some spend entire lifetimes looking and never find
Instead of hoping to stumble upon what you’re meant to do with your life
Perhaps it’s something you can create for yourself
If you can’t find meaning in your life, create meaning
by Jason Lam
