The Mindset of the BROKE Photographer 😭

Summary

The video script discusses the mindset of a struggling photographer and the importance of setting high standards to drive success. It emphasizes the need to break free from a 'broke' mindset, prepare for catastrophic events, and use traumatic experiences as catalysts for change. The speaker encourages raising personal standards to notice and seize money-making opportunities, and suggests that adopting the habits and mindset of successful individuals can lead to a more fulfilling and prosperous life in photography and beyond.

Takeaways

• 💡 The 'broke photographer' mindset can lead to a cycle of normalizing and being comfortable with financial instability, which increases vulnerability to catastrophic events.
• 🚫 Lack of foresight and preparation can result in a narrow view of one's career, making it difficult to break out of routine and adapt to unexpected challenges.
• 🔑 Successful individuals use traumatic events as catalysts for change, redefining their identity, values, and standards to create a new foundation for growth.
• 🎯 Raising personal standards can lead to perceiving problems as opportunities for creative solutions, which in turn opens up a mindset to notice more money-making opportunities.
• 🌐 The universe seems to conspire in one's favor when there's a clear problem to solve, as it influences one's information absorption and problem-solving creativity.
• 🧠 Our brains naturally rewire based on new goals and intentions, influencing our thinking patterns and the information we seek out to address new challenges.
• 🤝 Surrounding oneself with successful individuals can elevate one's standards and increase the likelihood of achieving similar success.
• 🔄 It's important to change the habits and the company one keeps to learn new things that can propel life forward and avoid stagnation.
• 🛠 Adopting high standards requires recognizing and outsourcing or automating low-level tasks, focusing on developing complex and creative skill sets.
• 📈 Having a plan and sticking to it can make the journey more enjoyable and lead to a more meaningful existence beyond mere survival.
• 🤔 Questioning the information and worldview we've inherited is crucial for personal growth and breaking free from the Matrix of societal expectations.

Q & A

What is the 'broke photographer' mindset described in the transcript?

The 'broke photographer' mindset refers to a state of being financially unstable and unprepared for catastrophic events, which can lead to a cycle of complacency and lack of foresight in improving one's financial situation.

Why is it more likely for catastrophic events to happen to someone with a 'broke mindset'?

A 'broke mindset' often leads to neglect in areas like car maintenance or living in less secure areas due to financial constraints, which in turn makes one more susceptible to unfortunate events like car breakdowns or theft.

What does the transcript suggest as a catalyst for changing the 'broke mindset'?

The transcript suggests that a traumatic event or a series of unfortunate incidents can serve as a catalyst for change, prompting individuals to reassess their financial situation and seek ways to improve it.

How do successful people use traumatic events to their advantage according to the script?

Successful people use traumatic events as an opportunity to change their core identity, which in turn influences their standards and values, leading to small choices that compound into significant results.

What is the relationship between one's financial standards and their perception of problems?

The script explains that if one's financial standards are low, they are less likely to perceive financial issues as problems. Conversely, higher standards make one more aware of financial problems and motivate them to seek solutions.

How does the mindset of having a problem to solve influence one's actions and opportunities?

When one has a problem to solve, it opens their mind to notice and absorb information related to that problem, leading to creative solutions and an increased awareness of opportunities to address the issue.

What role does the consumption of information play in shaping one's identity and standards?

The information one consumes greatly influences their identity and standards. Being exposed to successful individuals, whether through social media or other means, can help raise one's standards and aspirations over time.

Why is it important to surround oneself with successful individuals or content?

Surrounding oneself with successful individuals or content helps in adopting higher standards and learning new ways to improve one's life and business, as opposed to being in environments that normalize mediocrity or failure.

What is the significance of outsourcing and automation in the context of the transcript?

Outsourcing and automation are highlighted as tools for those with high standards to delegate low-level tasks, allowing them to focus on more complex and creative aspects of their work, thus elevating their professional identity.

How does the transcript define the importance of having a plan and a purpose in life?

The transcript emphasizes that having a plan and a purpose provides direction and enjoyment in life's journey. It helps in making meaningful choices and committing to actions that align with one's long-term goals and identity.

What is the 'Matrix' metaphor used in the script to describe?

The 'Matrix' metaphor is used to describe the web of societal expectations and norms that shape one's identity and worldview, often limiting their awareness and understanding of broader possibilities.

Outlines

00:00

📷 The Broke Photographer's Mindset

This paragraph delves into the struggles and mindset of a broke photographer, highlighting the complacency that can lead to catastrophic events due to a lack of preparation. The speaker emphasizes the importance of setting high standards and values to drive change and create opportunities. By raising one's standards, even small financial issues become significant problems that require creative solutions. The speaker suggests that adopting the mindset of successful individuals, engaging with the right information, and surrounding oneself with successful peers can lead to a more prosperous and fulfilling life in photography.

05:02

🚀 Escaping the Broke Mindset: Embracing High Standards

The second paragraph focuses on the necessity of adopting high standards to elevate one's identity and actions. It discusses the transformative power of having a plan and a vision for long-term success, as opposed to seeking quick fixes. The speaker encourages learning all aspects of the photography business and seeking help to master skills. They stress the importance of having a purpose behind actions and making choices that align with one's ideal future. The paragraph also touches on the limitations of our worldview, shaped by our upbringing and environment, and the need to question and expand this worldview to achieve success.

10:03

🌱 Cultivating Knowledge and Identity for Success

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of consuming empowering knowledge to foster action and growth. It discusses the power of the internet as a tool for personal development, either as a 'digital guard garden' or a 'digital swamp,' depending on how it is used. The speaker encourages viewers to be mindful of the information they consume, as it shapes their identity and actions. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to seek out content that inspires and empowers them, aligning with the traits of successful professionals.

Keywords

💡Broke mindset

The 'broke mindset' refers to a state of thinking where an individual is comfortable with being financially unstable and unprepared for any catastrophic events. In the video's context, it is associated with a lack of foresight and a narrow vision that can lead to a series of unfortunate circumstances, such as car breakdowns or thefts, which are seen as normal and acceptable within this mindset.

💡Catastrophic event

A 'catastrophic event' is a significant and usually sudden occurrence that has a severe negative impact. The video discusses how living with a broke mindset makes one more susceptible to such events, as they often lack the resources to prevent or recover from them, like not being able to help sick parents due to financial constraints.

💡Normalization

Normalization is the process of accepting or becoming accustomed to a situation, even if it is undesirable. The video script mentions how people with a broke mindset normalize negative experiences like theft or living in a bad neighborhood, which can lead to complacency and a lack of motivation to change their circumstances.

💡Standards

In the video, 'standards' are the levels of quality or value that a person accepts as satisfactory or desirable. The speaker emphasizes that raising one's standards can lead to recognizing problems and seeking solutions, such as aiming for a higher amount of savings in the bank, which can motivate financial growth and stability.

💡Survival

'Survival' in the script is used to describe the basic state of existence that some people are content with, without striving for more. It is contrasted with having a higher standard of living, where the individual sees their current situation as a problem that needs to be addressed, thus prompting action towards improvement.

💡Opportunities

Opportunities are chances or possibilities for advancement or progress. The video suggests that having higher standards and an open mind allows individuals to notice and seize money-making opportunities that they might otherwise overlook if they are comfortable with their current, less-than-ideal circumstances.

💡Identity

Identity in the video is the sense of self or personal identity that is shaped by one's standards, values, and the information they consume. It is closely tied to the concept that if one surrounds themselves with successful individuals or ideas, their identity will shift to align with those higher standards, leading to success.

💡Outsourcing

Outsourcing is the practice of hiring an outside company or individual to perform tasks or services that were traditionally performed in-house. The video mentions the power of outsourcing as a means to elevate one's business and identity to a CEO level, allowing for the delegation of low-level tasks and focusing on higher-level creative and strategic work.

💡Automation

Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention. The script discusses how automation is taking over low-level jobs because those jobs do not require the high standards and complex skill sets that cannot be easily automated, such as creative and business mindsets.

💡Learning

Learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge, skills, or understanding. The video emphasizes the importance of continuous learning as a means to break free from a broke mindset and to adopt the identity of a successful person. It suggests that learning is the main human drive and a key to unlocking new opportunities and advancing in life.

💡Purpose

Purpose is the reason for which something exists or is done. The video script talks about the importance of having a purpose behind one's actions, especially in the context of starting a photography business. It suggests that having a clear purpose can lead to more meaningful and successful outcomes in life.

Highlights

The 'broke photographer' mindset can lead to a higher likelihood of catastrophic events due to lack of preparation.

Living with low financial standards can normalize and even justify negative situations, preventing proactive change.

Successful individuals use traumatic events as catalysts for change, redefining their identity and values.

Raising personal financial standards can create a sense of urgency and drive to improve one's situation.

Problems shape perception and can lead to noticing more money-making opportunities when one's mind is open to creative solutions.

Adopting higher standards can naturally rewire thinking patterns and lead to seeking specific information related to new goals.

The power of outsourcing and automation is highlighted as a way to elevate one's identity and focus on higher-level tasks.

Surrounding oneself with successful individuals can influence one's standards and increase the likelihood of success.

The importance of having a plan and aim to enjoy the journey towards success rather than just the outcome.

Adopting the standards of the person you aspire to become can help in setting and achieving higher goals.

The necessity of committing to a purposeful career and understanding the 'why' behind one's actions.

Learning is a fundamental human drive, and questioning the information we consume is crucial for personal growth.

The 'Matrix' of societal expectations shapes identity, and breaking free from it can lead to a more fulfilling life.

The power of the internet as a tool for personal growth, emphasizing the importance of consuming empowering knowledge.

The idea that we are shaped by the information we consume, and the need to be selective about our 'digital diet'.

The importance of not just surviving but thriving, and the role of setting high standards in achieving a meaningful existence.

The final message emphasizes the power of choice and the responsibility each individual has over their life's direction.

Transcripts

do you know about the mindset of the

broke photographer no one knows the

story more than me I've lived it like an

idiot for about a third of my life it

goes like this people are okay with

being broke until something catastrophic

happens the sad thing is if you're

living in a broke mindset it's much more

likely for that catastrophic event to

actually happen to you your car blows up

because it's old and unmaintained or

someone breaks into your house and

steals your gear or into your car

because you live in a bad neighborhood

your parents get sick and you can't help

them because you're not making real

money seems then you'd have the

motivation to make money because

something catastropic has happened the

reason that this scenario is even a

possibility is because you didn't

prepare and I've been there I was not

prepared I didn't have the foresight or

the vision for a possible catastrophic

event I couldn't break out of the narrow

mind that I had adopted about the

photography business because of the

narrow routine that I was stuck in a

traumatic event happens because because

of our current situation and even then

we normalize someone breaks into your

car and you're pissed but soon stress

comes down and it becomes normal and

even worse still you're comfortable with

it I don't have to do anything I'm fine

I'm safe my survival isn't at stake and

you just wait for another event to

happen successful people use these

traumatic events to change the

foundations of who they actually are who

they are determines their standards and

their values and their standards and

values determine the small choices that

they make if you're okay with having

five bucks in your bank account you

won't see that five bucks as a problem

if your standards have raised and you're

only okay with having 100K in your bank

account then you'll see anything less as

a big problem that needs to be fixed

problems frame your perception when your

mind is open it has the standards that

allow you to create smart problems that

require creativity to solve then you

start to begin noticing more

money-making opportunities in every

situation if you have five bucks in your

account and you don't see that as a

problem you're not going to notice any

opportunities that help you fix your

finances because it's not on your mind

it's not on your radar it's not framing

your perception of yourself when you set

your standards to not okay with anything

less than 100K in your account then even

if you have 50k in your account your

actual survival is at stake you're going

to see that 50k as a huge problem and

it's going to bring a youthful stress to

your life that good kind of stress

you're going to get off your ass and

think of a way to wisely double your

money this part might sound flaky but

the universe starts to conspire in your

favor it's The Logical outcome of having

a problem on your mind that you need to

solve creatively you start absorbing

information without even being aware of

it your Google searches start to change

how to make an extra $1,000 a month and

of course you find me in this channel

trying to become a better person is how

you live with purpose you start having

conversations about money with your

friends all of these these small choices

begin to compound into results your

brain naturally rewires your thinking

patterns based on your new goals and

your new intentions and you find

yourself searching for specific

information relating to these new

problems that you're facing the

information that we consume highly

influences our identity and therefore

our standards if you're in a social

media space or if you're reading books

or you're immersed you're conditioning

Pro programming you're training your

mind like I talk about in my video about

the three traits that every successful

photographer has you're slowly allowing

these higher standards to form over time

if you surround yourself with a group of

successful photographers who are all on

their road to start them no matter what

you think of them you realize you kind

of got to keep up with them you got to

use them ask all the questions that you

need to in order to make your photo

business successful there's goods and

bads about comparison if if you adopt

what successful Shooters are doing as a

standard the likelihood of you actually

reaching that point is a thousand times

higher than someone who doesn't have

those high standards in their mind if

you don't change the habits of who you

surround yourself with you're not

learning anything new that could Propel

your life forward if you surround

yourself with people whether it's

physical or digital that makes it seem

like it's okay to be 100 lb overweight

or have no money or work at a job that

they hate or stay with a partner that

they hate or get drunk every night how

do you think that your life will end up

this is how our standards intertwine

with our identity if you're interested

in making money with photography or

changing your life then you're also

interested in adopting the identity of a

person that's going to help you reach

that ideal future if your standards

require you to work like a CEO you'll

see the low-level grunt work as a

problem that needs to be outsourced or

automated or taken over by software I'm

just now learning the power of

Outsourcing which is why Ai and

automation is coming in and taking away

low-level jobs it's because the people

with those jobs don't have the high

standards that allow them to bridge

their understanding and actions to a

higher identity AI can't come in and

take away the complex creative skill set

the business mindset that you're

creating for yourself you can't take

away your creative photography business

you obviously can't solve all the

problems in your life immediately you

can't escape your situ ation right now

right this second but you need a plan

you need an aim by sticking to a plan I

promise you that the journey along that

plan will be more enjoyable than the

outcome a good way to adopt a higher

standard is to adopt the standards of

the person or the creative that you want

to become the ideal version of yourself

most people take the bare minimum

approach to life quick money quick sex

no commitment no depth no failure as a

new photographer in business there is no

quick there has to be a vision of Long

Money of ongoing success a full

commitment a depth of purpose sprinkled

in with lots of failure you need to

learn all aspects of your current and

your future photography business learn

what you're good at learn what you need

to do to succeed but you don't yet have

the skills to master maybe it's post-

production maybe it's brand design in

order to do everything at the highest

level it's smart money to get help the

easier you try to make your life the

harder it's going to be the way out of

mindless living is to adopt the

standards of who you want to become how

much money do you want to make what kind

of work will bring you fulfillment

what's your ideal relationship for

friends or a partner how do you want to

look and feel we must go beyond the bare

minimum of survival in order to set

ourselves up for Success commit to

having a reason behind your actions if

you don't know why you're doing

something thing why are you doing it and

if you know why you need to do something

why are you ignoring it why haven't you

begun pursuing a more purposeful career

by starting your photography business

most don't see the small choices that

they make daily is actually how you

reach your ideal outcome as I said

earlier some have closed their minds off

to me already and that's the choice that

they've decided to make but you only get

one shot at this thing called life I

know it's a cliche but those people

who've tuned out they've already stopped

watching this video already the only

person that can stop you from living a

meaningless existence is you what

creates better choices learning learning

is the main human drive at Birth we are

information sponges our parents our

friends Society teachers bosses they all

project their worldview on us where did

they get their worldview from from from

their parents their teachers bosses

society and their friends unless we

question it this is all we know when you

reach the end of high school if you

could put a number on it less than 1% of

the information in available in the

world I would say less than 1% of 1% of

the information in the world is known

and it's that same less than 1% of 1%

that every other single person in the

world knows because it was passed down

by every other single person The Matrix

is real it's the web of expectations and

those web of expectations create your

identity which is the same identity as

everyone else's they get locked into the

same routines the same Cycles day in day

out School teaches us how to work

silently for other people regurgitate

back what we're told never really

learning anything about how to be an

independent thinker we get locked into

the known and we become slaves to it our

identity limits what information we

notice you won't notice certain things

if you haven't learned the information

that bridges that Gap you won't

understand intermediate or Advanced

information if you haven't learned

beginner information with this

professional photography career you

can't advance from level one to level

three if you're trying to you're missing

out on 99% of life you don't want to

suffer with that one thing that one

photography related thing sadly that's

the thing that'll lead you to doing

exactly what you want when we're young

we have a cycle of emotional states we

go through we drown ourselves in

information that leads to the identity

we want often that identity isn't a

positive one it's full of empty

celebrities and memes that give us a

giggle but distract us from the higher

learning that we could be seeking this

brings up the power of the internet we

could tend our own personal internet to

be a digital guard Garden or we can

allow it to turn into a digital swamp we

are who we eat make sure who you're

eating up is giving you the right

knowledge consume knowledge that feels

empowering and makes you feel like

acting by the way that's the only

content I care to make thank you so much

for watching watch this one next if this

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