Find Your Enthusiasm
[by Judy Herrmann]
I recently stumbled upon a fascinating essay by venture capitalist, Paul Graham, called What Business Can Learn from Open Source . Written almost exactly five years ago (!), the essay offers remarkable insights about business, many of which have played out with startling accuracy. One key point Graham raises is that amateurs (in this case bloggers and hackers) bring so much passion to what they’re doing that they’re frequently able to out-perform people doing the same work as a job. This observation has huge implications. As he notes:
“Users don’t switch from Explorer to Firefox because they want to hack the source. They switch because it’s a better browser. It’s not that Microsoft isn’t trying. They know controlling the browser is one of the keys to retaining their monopoly. The problem is the same they face in operating systems: they can’t pay people enough to build something better than a group of inspired hackers will build for free.”
Many photographers complain that amateurs are stealing assignments because they’re willing to work for little to no money. But I’m not so sure that’s the core problem. Sure there are certain clients for whom cost is the only deciding factor but let’s face it, if someone really wants something, they’ll pony up. Look at how well the new iPhone is doing in the midst of a global recession of epic proportions. It’s hard to find a more discretionary purchase than a new cell phone when your old one still works and yet it’s flying off the shelves.
As people who earn a living performing work that we’re passionate about, photographers have a rare opportunity to act like amateurs but earn like professionals. Far too often, though, photographers I meet have let their passion become a job. It shows in their faces when they talk about their businesses and it shows in the images they’re using to promote themselves. If I can see it, clients can too.
Albert Einstein once said “We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” As I work on adapting to business realities that seem to change daily, this has become one area I refuse to compromise on. Not because I’m unwilling to do drudgery but because I’ve learned that the moment I lose my enthusiasm, I’ve lost so much more.
Judy Herrmann uses her 21 years of experience as a photographer, business owner and digital technology educator to help small businesses grow. http://consultations.HSstudio.com
One Response to 'Find Your Enthusiasm'
Subscribe to comments with RSS or TrackBack to 'Find Your Enthusiasm'.
Very interesting argument and comparison to the open source community. I partially understand the Pro Photographers feelings about amateurs undermining the business but I agree with the assessment of “is that the real problem”.