success

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(photo by Elaine A. Russell)



I often have very vivid dreams. As a kid/ teen/ young adult... I often had premonitions that came to me in my dreams. This came to an abrupt end; when a close friend passed away in a horrible fire...
just as I had dreamed only a few hours previously.

And so... as a result... I tend to have these very vivid dreams...
but they fade from memory almost as soon as I wake up. Gone. Lost.

Last night I actually remembered part of a dream... probably only because I was relaying it to my daughter as soon as I got up. It revolved around talking to this guy about art. I was in this pagoda type building... in a park... talking to someone casually about art and having this as my "calling." For some reason... I had 3 dogs with me *2 of which are dogs that I had in the past who have since passed on*... and my little Sabrina. All of the sudden, there was some chaos in the park. A "gang" of people had come to the area; sporting a cheetah on a leash. They were scooping up several roaming pets and dragging them off to a nearby house... drugging them... and letting them back loose as "sport" for their cheetah to chase and kill. I immediately began frantically searching for my dogs... focusing mainly (ironically?)... on Sabrina... the one pet who is in actuality... still alive. Finding her in the clutches of one of the people trying to drug her ... I smashed into the house... fearlessly punching 2 guys in the face, not even frazzled by the snarling cheetah... and rescuing my puppy.

I woke up in a cold sweat.

Relaying the dream... my daughter remarked that I seemed focused on the scary aspects of the dream... the cheetah... the fear of losing my dog, etc. She instead, seemed interested in the symbolic interpretation of me talking about art as my "calling"... and "punching" any nay-sayers who may be dissuading me...facing imminent failure... or harm... to rescue myself and those I love... for a lifestyle I wanted. I never saw that coming. But I think she is right.
Sometimes, as with the dream... it is all a matter of perspective. So...


Change your view... realize your potential... spread your wings... and FLY...

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Looking at yet another article on "how to succeed"... I noticed that it outlined several steps. Now... I really don't know if I completely agree with all of them per se... but in a nutshell... here they are:

1. Positive thinking. Lots of plans that plot avenues to take towards success in life tout the importance of positive thinking. In fact; the whole SECRET phenomenon wraps itself around the power of intention... which is similar. Now... this is not to say that you should become blind to the reality of the situation at hand.

2. Stay fit. The article states the importance of eating as well as you can afford... and exercising regularly. Nuf said.

3. Upgrade your value. This one talks about increasing your own value by continuing education in your chosen field... constantly trying to improve your techniques, etc. Not sure I feel like my self-worth is wrapped up in my education or talents alone... but ... I do understand the importance of continuing to improve and learn.

4. Evaluate the status quo. I think this one goes back to step #1... where you get the occasional reality check so to speak...

5. Take action. Ie: success won't come to you... you have to go out and get it. And if you really really want it... you will keep going after it.

6. Persist. As in try, try, again.


Looking thru these articles... has been a learning process for me. It's not that the information is new to me... in fact... alot of it is simply common sense. However, what I did learn was from taking these concepts to heart... and really sitting down and applying them to my current situation and figuring out how that applies to ME. NoW.


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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OK. Now you've broken your goal down into a list of "easy" tasks. Now comes the relatively hard part (at least for me)... which is staying motivated and energized enough to get the tasks done.

Accoring to one website; now is when you nee to call in your reserves of:

1. Determination and Commitment
2. Will and Desire
3. Do and Dare
4. Vision
5. Go-get-it-ness

And... you also need to be prepared to cut yourself some slack. Allow yourself to "fail." Several of the articles make a point of mentioning how crucial failure can be if you allow it. After all, you have to stumble and fall a grazillion times before you actually learn to walk... why would this be any different? Rare is the person who actually gets things perfect "straight out of the gate."
So ... allow yourself to slip a little... slide a little... fall into the abyss a little if it happens... just remember to get back up and TRY AGAIN.


(photo by Elaine A. Russell)

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OK... So... you have an idea of how you define success for you in your life.
You know what you want to do... but how to do it?

First... set a goal. It could be just a small one at first... say... I want to get "project x" done.
Break it down. What are the little steps that lead up to getting this project done?
I make a list...

For example (I have used my latest solo show project at CCMH in PA as an example):

1. select photos for the project
2. print photos ( can be further broken down... get ink, get paper, make sure printer is working)
3. cut mattes ( get matte board, find cutter, get ruler )
4. Package products ( get paper, archival tape, archival sleeves, boxes, cover sheet, etc)
5. mail (get insurance)


Things always seem much more manageable once you break it down...
(photos by Elaine A. Russell)

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“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.” ~ John Wooden

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what success means to me.” ~ Steve Jobs

“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be” ~ George Sheehan

~~~~~

But wait... let's go back a minute. What is success?
According to Wikipedia... Success may mean, but is not limited to:

-a level of social status
-achievement of an objective/goal
-the opposite of failure

~~~~~


Basically... there are as many definitions and markers of what is successful... as there are different kinds of donuts. ie: ALOT.

So... how do you determine what success means to you? That is the real question. And it definitely takes some thought. Do you measure success by the dollars in your checking account? By the number of people you help on a day to day basis? By how many times you are published? By who collects your work? or by how many galleries you are featured in?

Think about it. Long and hard. This will ultimately steer you in the direction of your goal. For instance... if you measure success by having a photo featured in National Geographic Magazine... then you set your goal around the ultimate prize of getting published in an oncoming issue. The steps to that, then lay themselves out in a clear and logical pattern towards submission of a great photo and hopeful acceptance for publication.

If your definition of success revolves around a more *cough* balanced checking account... then... there are steps that one would logically follow in increasing your marketing exposure... the number of people who are able to view and purchase your product... and making the best possible product that will be wanted by the most amount of people.

Or is it: being able to do what you love AND make a little money? This is a little more complicated... but certainly do-able in the grand scheme of things. It will take a little more tweaking of your goals so that there is a balance between making money... and making time for doing what you love...but it can be done.


Assignment #1: What does success mean to you...


*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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Seems like we are all moving on towards something... even if we don't always really know what that something is. I have a dear friend who is moving away. And while I don't want her to move... I completely understand why she is. Things are not working out for her here in New Mexico, and she feels it is time to move on. She is moving towards her goals.

And so I began to think about what success is... and what makes one successful. (...because I believe she will be successful in what she wants to do... no matter where that takes her).

1. First of all... you need to have a goal. Without a goal... we just wander through life... and perhaps that is enough... but for those of you for whom it's not...

Various motivational speakers will lay out a plan on how to proceed from there. All day... off and on... I have been perusing the net looking at some of these sites, and through some books I have in my own library... and I have narrowed things down to a few steps that they all seem to ((mostly)) agree on.

And so... over the next few days... I hope to lay out some of those ideas. How to succeed... what does success mean to you... how does one proceed towards what really wants in life... (as noted by these various motivational experts and authorities on the subject)...

SO... first. Pick a goal. What is it you really want to achieve? As artists and lovers of life... sometimes we can be spread way too thin by enjoying way to much... and perhaps even... by being talented in way too much... that we can't decide what it is we actually want. This may actually be the hardest part of the whole thing. So .... think about it. Make sure it is the right thing for you. Make sure it fits in with your lifestyle, your particular talents, your true desires...but... pick a goal. Big or small.



((the photos for today's post are based on the theme: Planes, trains, and automobiles. All photos I took over the past year or so. I picked them because they seemed to speak on "moving on" in life. Metaphorically... and perhaps even... in reality))

*photos by Elaine A. Russell

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January has simply flown by. This new year is moving so quickly.
I have had a lot of blessings this month...

For this year, 2010... I declared that the word I was going to focus on was the word "Potential." Who knew it would already have such a huge impact on me? By simply narrowing my focus a bit... so many wonderful happenings came into view. ..and keep on coming...

I have been asked to participate in a book that is being published... an account of photos from 2009 .. sort of a "day in the life" kind of thing. I was asked to include several of my photos; and I really couldn't be more honored. More news on this as things progress along....

I was invited to participate in 52 Weeks of Creations; an art project/ challenge...started by Julia D'Arcy. Each week, each of the participants is asked to submit a photo of an art piece that they have worked on. I am submitting photos... that will eventually be published in a book. I am concentrating these photos on the theme, "an exploration of religion, philosophy and spirituality.... through photography."

I am continuing with the ECHO project... a bi-weekly photo challenge where the theme changes every 2 weeks. I am partnered with the wonderful Brenda Seaholm-Wampler (an artist in Texas). Here is our latest submission... the theme was "Face."


And I have joined the 365: Daily Photo/ 2010 Year in Pictures photo challenge on FlickR. I am taking a photo each and every day for the year 2010. So far; some days are easier than others... but the point (at least for me) is to spend time on my photography every day. Having only a simple Kodak... sometimes the challenge is to get what I want to express within the confines of a point and shoot camera.... but ... even that is causing me to expand and grow as a photographer.
And I am grateful.

I revamped this blog-site... and have had lots of wonderful feedback from my readers. I had my first ever "Give-Away" in celebration of having posted each and every day for the past year....and I started a weekly review of local art galleries here in ABQ. You can see those posts listed in the sidebar to the left.

The windows of opportunity have expanded for me locally as well. I have been approached by several local businesses and organizations that want to use my photos for advertising and promos. It has been simply overwhelming... and I am so completely honored and thankful. As an artist... the most important thing for me is that people actually see my work, and through these organizations and businesses; more people will be able to see what I am creating.. and that is awesome.

I had the opportunity and pleasure of helping to teach and give demonstrations at an art venue. I haven't taught in a long time; and it was alot of fun.

And-- I had the awesome pleasure of taking some fabulous classes through the Harwood Art Center. Teaching and learning.... they go hand in hand.

On a more personal level... we have been fixing up our house with plans to sell later on in the year. It is going very well so far, and we are right on track with our goal to move to a more ideal house for just the hubby and I.

We have also made great strides in tweaking our finances, downsizing our belongings... and in general; lightening our "load."


...PLUS... I have had the opportunity to take a roadtrip or two. I am (after all).. a gypsy at heart. And I love to travel and see new places.. even if those places aren't really that far away at all. This month I got to go to Socorro, Bosque del Apache, and the VLA. Who knows where I will go next month... but ... I know I will be going.

Wonderful January..... thank you so much.

*all photos by Elaine A. Russell