Play to your strengths
Something just struck me when it comes to capturing people's attention in the modern age. That is, playing to your strengths. I'm a photographer, and I'd like to think I'm proficient at my job and hobby. However, in today's world, being excellent at our work isn't sufficient for success as a freelancer. We have to promote our work, our companies, workshops, or services. We need to find a way to get the word out there, digitally raising our hands and saying, 'Hey, look at me, over here.'
Over the past month or so, I've been experimenting with various methods besides photography to promote myself. Through trial and error, I've aimed to spread the word effectively. My objective is to educate people about what I've learned and to share ideas, philosophy, and the creative process of photography. I've attempted to write a blog post every week for a year. I've been posting photos almost daily on Instagram for the past few years. I've tried using ads and YouTube (once or twice), though I haven't yet delved into audio. What I've discovered is that my strength lies in the area where I've already gained the most traction, writing. Writing comes naturally to me and is my preferred mode of expression. In short, my strengths lie in capturing images and writing.
Now, I'm not the finest writer, and I'm not the best photographer. What I'm conveying is that taking pictures and writing are second nature to me. They are things I engage in most frequently; it's my default mode. To provide a bit of context, I'm an introvert who rarely speaks and dislikes being the center of attention. I'm not charismatic, so I don't appear interesting or appealing when speaking in front of a camera. I'm a man of few words when it comes to speaking; I mostly reside within my thoughts. So I'm aware of my weaknesses. I do jot down notes and ideas frequently, which is something I've taken note of. Consequently, I've recognized that writing could be my strength, not because I excel at it, but because it's something I do regularly.
Ask yourself, 'What are your strengths?' What comes naturally to you? Perhaps you're great at speaking or passionately discussing a topic (YouTube). Maybe you excel at asking questions and actively listening (Podcasts). Or, like me, you take notes and articulate your thoughts through the written word (blog posts). Instead of considering what you're good at, ponder what flows naturally for you. When it comes to disseminating your message, whether it's your work or recent activities, remember to play to your strengths.
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