It reminded me of the experience that I use to bolster my confidence on many occasions. I remember walking into The Bob Poe Gallery in Bergamont Station in Los Angeles with a girlfriend several years ago. We went up to see a show on Lillan Bassman. Bassman was a fashion photographer from the 1940's through the 60's, working with the likes of Richard Avedon and Robert Frank. (Helloooo!!) She essentially got fed up with fashion and quit for a while, but in the 90's her work was rediscovered--when she was in her EIGHTIES. Not only was her work beautiful, but in her 80's, she and her work experienced a resurgence of popularity. Her story spoke to me and I wanted to see her show hanging at the Peter Fetterman gallery.“Move before you are ready…Most people wait too long to go into action, generally out of fear. They want more money or better circumstances. you must go the opposite direction and move before you think you are ready. It is as if you are making it a little more difficult for yourself, deliberately creating obstacles in your path. But it is a law of power that your energy will always rise to the appropriate level. When you feel that you must work harder to get to your goal because you are not quite prepared, you are more alert and inventive. This venture has to succeed and so it will.”
After we saw the Bassman show, we wandered around Bergamont Station, and came upon the Bob Poe gallery. Poe produces large scale canvas using his iPhone to create abstract and very painterly images. We chatted with the gallery manager and I asked several a questions about Poe's images. He asked if I was a photographer and when I said yes, asked if I had a portfolio. They were looking for one final artist to complete an upcoming show. He gave me the submission information and asked if I was interested. Umm. In all of Los Angeles, you haven't found a photographer? His response? In a nutshell: Most people don't follow through. They say they will submit, but they don't. It's not perfect, it's not this or it's not that. Fear.
"It is as if you are making it a little more difficult for yourself, deliberately creating obstacles in your path."
My girlfriend and I went to lunch and she talked me into submitting. We sat giggling and imaging the opening night of the show....Then I still had to go back home and gather my images and push the SEND button. Lots of opportunities to back out. I hadn't had my personal work in a gallery setting since college! But, somehow, I pushed past the huge amount of fear and push send I did.
"But it is a law of power that your energy will always rise to the appropriate level. When you feel that you must work harder to get to your goal because you are not quite prepared, you are more alert and inventive. This venture has to succeed and so it will."
And my work was chosen. Was it perfect? No. Was I ready? Definitely not. But it was going to be up in a Los Angeles gallery in a matter of months, ready or not.
Since then, I have used the memory of that experience on many occasion in which I have felt fearful, unsure and unready. Deep breaths, push send.
"...the law of power that your energy will always rise to the appropriate level."
What do you do to push past the fear and put yourself out there?
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