The Talent Paradox
I am consistently reminded that the “best” are not the ones who actually reach the pinnacle of success.
You probably know someone who is outstanding and talented in a particular field or interest. But, to their (and your) chagrin they are having a difficult time succeeding (monetarily) with their career. There could be a number of things contributing to this conundrum. Let’s rule out personality, hygiene and office politics. What’s left?
Being in “Music City USA” I see this in the music industry. Some of the most talented musicians are waiting tables to make ends meet. I see this phenomenon in the creative industry with photographers and illustrators as well. There is a lot of see-are-ay-pee out there and people getting paid to produce it.
In photography we are seeing a huge insurgence of hobbyists and amateurs doing “professional” work. This makes many longtime professional photographers nervous. Should I be afraid that a 16 year old is going to take paying jobs out from under me? The answer is “probably.”
There is hope.
In a word … “marketing.”
The best (most talented) don’t always get the work, however, the best at marketing (self promotion) do get the work. You must market relentlessly. I know, I know … easier said that done. I personally fight to find the time to market my own skills/services. Rather than “find” the time I must “make” the time.
The follow up questions then becomes “How do I market myself? I’ll work on an answer to that in subsequent blog entries. For now, stop focusing on the competition and focus on your goal … getting more work.
– Kyle Dreier