Strategy to success: Random thoughts

Trying to design a strategy to success, no matter what field you work in, is more tricky now than it has ever been in the past. Everything is changing so fast that the vision you use for your plan can be outdated in just a few months. The more specific you are in your plan the more risky it becomes. You can reach tremendous success but it can also lead you to a massive failure. It's like there is no middle point.

So what if your strategy is not working? Should you try a back up plan? or try to find another job maybe? I don't think so. In order to plan a strategy and execute it all the way to the end, you have to base your plan on things you can control, no matter how fast things are changing outside. For example, I can see photographers chasing the last technology because they think the new camera or gadget is gonna do the work for them. Or maybe they are trying to outwork the competition with better packages or goodies instead of paying attention in what should be the core of a creative work: The content. The uniqueness of your work can elevate your value and put you in a different place, separating your work from others.

Look the old days for example, I miss 35mm film photography so much. The fact that you have only 36 shots available forces you to think about every single shot. Remember, you can't see them in the moment, so you better make each one count. Then, digital cameras flooded the world, and with this new technology came the apocalypse of good content. You can totally see this in the movies also. They are so focused on the special effects that it seems they forgot all the good stories like in the 80's and 90's. Some of Michel Bay films are the perfect example to me. Amazing Fx, amazing cinematography... zero content.

A couple of days ago I was chatting with a friend who is reading "The Alchemist" from Coelho, a book that I read long time ago. It reminded me how important is the pursuit of your personal legend. Like everybody I guess I want my work be different, something that makes me happy and proud. So I'm gonna keep pursuing that dream. After all these years of a constant learning I'm gonna keep my decision to make good content the core of my strategy, and raise the bar as high as I can. Talent and technology can give you the chance, but success is gonna be based on how you apply it in your favour. 

Mauricio