10 Daily Success Habits For Creatives With BIG Ambitions

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Growing up, I was a creative, sensitive, free spirit trapped in a super organized, controlled environment full of rules. Now, don´t get me wrong, my childhood was good, and my parents loved me.

But being put in such a strict, disciplined zone made me feel like I was the black sheep of the family. I was always the problem, the trouble maker, the rebellion, the rule-breaker.

It turned me into a person who hated discipline, and at the same time, I had to show extreme self-discipline to get attention and love from my parents. It was hard work, to be honest, and my mind was always on overwork.

I firmly believe I was born to do creative work. From a very young age, I constantly had a ton of ideas and creative projects lined up in my head. And when I wasn’t in school I would spend all my time creating, drawing, painting, designing, writing, photographing, dancing and the list goes on.

My parents did not believe it was possible to make a living as an artist or creative entrepreneur, so I had no support when it came to my artistic abilities. They believed in hard work and high education – and they also believed that you should be happy for whatever job you could get.

I knew in my heart that I wanted more for myself. I wanted a fabulous life and a career I would be madly in love with – nothing less. For me, it was all or nothing.

As a young adult, my life turned into a battle field between my creative self and my inner perfectionist. Instead of setting myself free of my childhood, I started to think, live and do as my parents taught me. It totally killed my creativity, and I ended up being super depressed.

Later in my twenties, while I was studying psychology, human behavior and coaching I began to see the world differently. And I discovered two things that changed my life:

1. To be happy I had to let go of the desire to please everybody and stop following other people’s vision of the perfect life. I was born to honor my heart’s desire and follow my dreams.

2. Discipline, planning, and rules are not enemies to fight, they are resources. By using these resources to my advantage, I became more creative, happy and satisfied. I was able to blend my creative soul with the resources of discipline and create my dream life super fast.

Since then I´ve used self-discipline, healthy routines, and planning to design my dream life, build a 6-figure business and live a happy life with my family.

You see, here´s the thing: success comes with a price called self-discipline – especially for creative solo-entrepreneurs and reality is that many creatives hate the idea of self-discipline, routines, and planning.

Nevertheless, embracing positive, healthy lifestyle habits can help you achieve incredible success with your business.

So if you have BIG ambitions (as many creatives do because they dare to dream big), then here’s some SUPER POWERFUL habits to include in your daily routine:

#1: Wake Up Early

I know it’s tempting to stay in bed for as long as possible, but getting up just one hour earlier gives you 7 hours more a week and 28 hours more a month to work on your creative business. Imagine what you can do with those extra hours.

Let your competition sleep while you build your empire at high speed. Most people work more efficiently and focused in the morning, so you will be able to double your productivity.

#2: Eat For Optimal Mind Performance

What you put into your body first thing in the morning will impact your whole day. Feed your brain and your body only the best. I recommend drinking lemon water, or green juice and take some supplements. Personally, I´m a super fan of Omega 3, for optimum brain function and a positive mood. And just to be clear – there´s no need to live a strict diet or be fanatic.

Go for the 80/20 rule. 80% healthy, well prepared food and 20% well..not so healthy. I love wine, gourmet food, and lazy days in bed with Netflix eating chocolate, and for me allowing myself to do this from time to time, are important aspects of living a quality life.

But, I also know that the brain and body needs POWER FOOD to help you be the happiest and the most successful I can be. It´s about finding the balance and eating for optimal mind performance.

#3. Do Your Most Important Task First

Before you go to bed at night plan what 1-3 things you will prioritize the next day. Then when you start working in the morning go straight to that list.

Follow through because this is truly the key to building a successful business. Make sure your most important tasks are related to your goals. For optimal focus shut down social media + phone while you work.

#4. Take a Break Every 90 Minutes

Psychologists have discovered that people can only focus on tasks for about 90 minutes at a time. This explains why we’re prone to falling into the social media vortex after working for awhile.

Instead of attempting to push through, go for a walk, stretch your body, jump on a trampoline, eat a healthy snack, drink water, meditate or dance to some funky music. You will come back with a fresh mind and a happy body.

#5. Study Something Every Day

Close the gap between where you are and where you want to be by learning something new every day. Choose topics related to your creative field and type of niche.

Take courses, read blogs, and books. Look for ways to incorporate learning into your daily routines. For example, I like to listen to podcasts when I walk my dogs, it´s the perfect way for me to grow my knowledge while getting some fresh air.

#6. Move Your Body

Many tests have shown that the most innovative, creative ideas come to you while exercising – especially with endurance training. When you move your body, your creative mind will automatically follow. All the endorphins that release during exercise will help you stay focused, happy and get great ideas.

#7. Look at Your Goals Daily

This is super important. People who look at their goals daily are 70% more likely to reach them. Looking at your goals daily will ensure a sharp focus and keep you on the right track. Where attention goes, energy flows.

#8. Organize and Systemize

Find ways to organize and simplify your life. Make it easy for yourself to get the right things done. Find systems that can run by themselves so you can focus on more important things.

Prepare in advance, delegate what you can delegate and say no to all things that´s not inspiring to you or increase your income.

#9. Make Celebration Your Fuel

If you don´t take the time to celebrate and live a fabulous life, you will lose motivation and momentum. Celebration is the fuel you need to keep going.

Find ways to turn your life into a party. Laugh, go out, eat gourmet, drink champagne, travel, go to a spa, a hotel, give yourself a present, buy flowers and so on. SPOIL yourself! You deserve it.

#10. Be Your Own Best Friend

Be mindful about how you talk to yourself. This is crucial. If you´re always criticizing yourself, you´ll never ever be able to create the successful life you desire.

So no matter how you feel about yourself, make sure to TALK nicely and kindly with your inner voice. Think of yourself as your own coach.

How would a coach talk to you? Find that supportive voice within yourself. It changes everything!

26 Powerful And Motivating Tips for Photographers

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The purpose of this list is to inspire you to think differently and to help you focus on what´s most important in your photography journey. We all need to be reminded of good habits, and positive thinking from time to time, right 🙂

Are you ready? Okay, let’s get started…

1. No matter the situation, there is always a way to make it beautiful. Sometimes you just need to look at the world from a different view, and suddenly it will all make sense.

2. You don’t need, to tell the truth in a picture, but you need to be true to yourself when you shoot it.

3. Focus on being you and bring YOU into your pictures. If you look too much at others work, you will bring too much of their vision into your own work.

4. Most photographers are not born great. They become great by growing into their potential. When you put in the effort, put in the work, when you keep experimenting, learning, testing and when you keep playing with your camera – you will grow, and you will become better.

5. Failing is not failing – it´s learning. Failure mostly happens when you step out into unknown territory and experiment with things – what you learn from this is valuable. The sooner you fail, the sooner you can not fail.

6. In a portfolio, a few beautiful photographs will have a better impact, than 100 average pictures with a few winners. Make sure your portfolio only showcases your best work.

7. You don’t need to be an annoying sales person to get people to book you, all you have to do is to express enthusiasm and excitement. Nothing is more attractive than a person who oozes passion and energy.

8. Don’t be scared to start something you don’t know how to do (yet). You´ll learn along the way.

9. To run a successful business, you need to avoid stress and make sure that you are happy and relaxed. Remember, an over-stressed mind cannot think creatively, and your inner passion/creativity battery will shut down.

10. Trust that the answers are coming to you; sitting in a workspace isn’t necessarily the best place for that to happen. Get up, get out, and maybe your big break is outside waiting for you.

11. Have fun. You always find a way, even when you think you won’t.

12. Specialize! It not only helps you become more skilled, but it also allows you to increase your prices and charge accordingly for the services that you offer.

13. When there is trouble coming your way, the best way to handle it is to do something about it right away! The best time to solve a problem is now – not tomorrow or in a few weeks – but right now.

14. Help those who are starting out. Nothing you do is precious enough to be kept hidden: the real value is in the way you do it.

15. When something doesn’t feel right, that’s reason enough. And that is the only reason you need.

16. Being the best also requires you to take breaks when needed. Make sure you rest when needed. Doing so lets you walk the longer mile ahead.

17. Learn to say “I’m a photographer” out loud with a straight face. If you can’t say it and believe it, you can’t expect anyone else to, either.

18. Spend money on equipment only when you’ve outgrown your current equipment, and you’re being limited by it.

19. Don’t try to sell yourself. Focus on serving and adding value and your business will grow.

20. The moment you realize that being creative is about enjoying the process – not the end result, then you´ll truly boost your creative mind! Getting caught up in perfectionism will slowly drain you of creative energy!

21. Don’t photograph for perfection – photograph for emotions. The emotions people feel when they see your work, is what makes them buy.

22. Do not undervalue your work (selling yourself to cheap won´t give you success – only the wrong clients). Make sure you charge what your worth + charge for your time.

23. Love your network. Don’t ask what your network can do for you, but what you can do for them.

24. Be sure to shoot what YOU love. Do what you feel in your heart to get it right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.

25. Never compare your journey with someone else’s. It’s a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every photographer has his/her own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never “arrive.” No one ever does.

26. Being grateful boosts happiness. Happiness enhances creativity. Make sure to count your blessings and do activities that put a smile on your face.

I hope you enjoyed reading this inspiring list. Now it’s time for a little assignment!

I challenge you to pick the 3 statements that actually speaks to you.

Write them down on a post-it and hang them on your wall or computer screen. Get used to them and repeat them daily so you can become stronger and more confident.

I promise it will make an impact!

Much love,

What To Do When You Feel Like Throwing In The Towel

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Sometimes life hits you hard in the face. Difficult life circumstances brings you to your knees making you feel an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

Setbacks, heartbreaks, stress, depression, losses, lack of passion and meaning. It´s something we can´t escape – it´s part of life! Oh, how wonderful it would be to control our life journey, and avoid pain for ourselves and our loved ones. The hard truth: some experiences in life is out of our control.

The good news is, that what you can control is how you react. How you deal with your life circumstances are your choice and 100% in your control.

So how can you help yourself when you explore pain and frustration?

How can you minimize chaos, drama and unbearable emotions when life tests you the most?

How can you pull yourself up when you are down facing the darkness?

What To Do When You Feel Like Throwing In The Towel

#1: Don’t Isolate Yourself – Give Your Pain A VOICE

When I´m hurt, I want to isolate myself BIG time; in my bed, behind a closed door, phone off avoiding all calls. I also know that doing so will quickly make me feel much worse since I will be alone with my thoughts and pain. So I made this rule that I´m allowed to do it for one day – one day only! Then I force myself to reach out to someone in my life that I know will care. It always helps.

The key is to give your pain a voice. From years working as a coach and therapist, I know the number one most important factor to release emotional pain is to put words to what you feel. If you keep all your negative thoughts and emotions to yourself, they will own you – rob you of your power and bring you further down into misery.

Putting words to your pain will be healing in it-selves. Don´t worry about making sense, or sounding crazy – just say it out loudly. If you lock your feelings up inside of you, it can lead to depression and anxiety.

What actually happens when we are in pain, is that we believe we are the only one in the world feeling like this and thinking these negative thoughts. We think that no one will understand us.

The truth is that everyone on this planet knows what emotional pain is and everyone will recognize your negative thoughts and feelings. So in reality you are not alone. Even if you find yourself rambling for a while embrace it – speak up and let the pain out!

#2: Pull The Plug From ALL Drama In Your Life

We can all be lured into some unhealthy drama or evil game, which is extremely hurtful for you and other people playing along. If you find yourself in the role of a drama-queen or a victim of one, pull out of that game NOW! I promise you, nothing good will come of it!

Take your pride and stuff it down the drain. No matter how hurt you are, be strong and decide that you will not play this awful game. The drama can´t continue if you pull out. Put your best foot forward and show the world how to solve conflicts with kindness.

Whatever drama-situation you find yourself in, your strongest assets will always be kindness and peace. Know that you are too good to be part of any drama! Don´t let anyone lure you in that direction. Consciously choose to let all drama slip right past you – in the end people will stop playing games with you.

You teach people how to treat you. Stand up for yourself, don’t play games, be true to your core values and kill drama with kindness and peace. When you decide to end the drama in your life, you will be in control again.

Surround yourself with kind, drama-free people who lift you up and support you. Diss the rest!

#3: Turn Failure Into Transformation

The positive thing about your struggles is that it will change you, make you stronger and more caring about others. It develops sympathy and compassion in us. We become better friends, parents and partners when we have experienced pain and setbacks.

Sometimes the best gifts in life come in ugly wrapping paper. The struggle you’re dealing with in the present may make you more receptive to the needs of someone else who needs you down the road.

For example, I started my photography training business back in 2010 out of frustrations of not finding a safe place to learn myself. All I met was photographers laughing at me when I asked a “simple” question. The humiliation and rejection I felt back then helped me build a 6-figure business.

No matter what kind of pain you are in. No matter what failure you are experiencing you can always ask yourself this:

“What can I learn from this experience? And how can I use this knowledge to my advantage in the future?”

You will always learn more from your setbacks, than from your success. It´s during your most challenging times you develop the most as a human being. Focus on the learning experience in the process and release all worries and all drama.

Next time you feel like throwing in the towel, know that you are a powerful + wonderful human being, who are able to control how you react in any circumstance in life. Be strong. Be kind. Speak up. Stand up for yourself and embrace the change that comes with the ups and downs in your life.

You can do it!

Much love,