Original subtitles

We never know how to finish a three

-day workshop, let alone a 14-week journey

like this.

But we're gonna try our best here this

week to land this ship safely down somewhere

special.

So Erica is going to share a story

with you and I'm going to share a

message here that really resonates with me.

I owe credit to all kinds of inspirations

who've sort of helped formulate this idea.

Everywhere from like Tony Robbins to one of

the most recent books I've read is The

Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by

Mark Manson and various other podcasts and things

that have really kind of solidified this message

in my mind.

And this feels fitting because hopefully right now

many of you are feeling like you have

goals in mind.

You're feeling you've got a fire and you're

going for these goals.

But here's the thing, the world couldn't care

less about your goals.

Your goals don't determine your life.

Your goals don't determine your work.

Your photography, your life, is an absolute reflection

of one thing.

Not your goals.

Not your desires.

But your values and your standards.

Because goals don't determine what you actually do.

Values do.

Standards do.

Because goals are shoulds.

I should get fit.

I should floss my teeth.

But shoulds don't happen.

If they do, great.

But if they don't, which is most of

the time, it's a little disappointing but we

kind of knew it wasn't gonna happen.

Because goals rely on willpower.

But willpower, and this has been scientifically physiologically

proven, is finite.

Okay, it's a limited resource.

But when we know that something is a

core value, a standard for us, it's not

a should.

It's an absolute must.

We find a way or we make a

way.

We say, this is how it's gonna be.

And so we follow through on it because

now we've attached it to our very identity.

And that changes everything.

How we live.

How we raise our kids.

How we run our business.

How we shoot.

It's our values and our standards that make

us commit to our compositions so stubbornly.

And shoot through the moments so tenaciously.

And wait for the rebounds.

And curate so ruthlessly.

That's why we get in there close.

We value trust.

We value emotion.

That's why we'll keep our cameras up for

15, 16, 17 hours straight and make 15

,000 exposures at a wedding.

We value hard work.

These things reflect the values that have become

us.

And the standards we expect from ourselves.

And if you look at the best in

any field, they have a set of values

they are going to find a way to

live up to.

Okay, it's not that they want it more.

Everybody wants it.

Or better, they think they do.

But what are they willing to suffer through

to get it?

So you have to want the reward and

the struggle.

It's those values and those standards that moves

us to the next level.

We can't just want the result.

You have to want everything that comes with

climbing to achieve it.

It's like if you want the beach body.

You've got to want the sweat, the soreness,

the cravings, hours in a gym.

The people who enjoy those struggles achieve results.

Photographers who enjoy physical shooting, tireless editing, demoralizing

self-critiques, disappointment, pressure, stress, uncertainty, have a

set of values they're willing to struggle for.

It's not just the results that they want.

It's all the discomforts they have to endure

to get it.

So think about the values you absolutely stand

for.

The things you value so much you're willing

to suffer for them.

You are the values you're willing to struggle

for.

That's what determines your successes.

That's what brings you to your goals, not

willpower, values, and standards.