Ever have that feeling like people are taking advantage of your knowledge for their own benefit?
I am not extremely smart in many areas of life. I lack the ability to remember names ( celebrities or not), I lack knowledge in history, I lack knowledge in politics and the government because I just dont care, its all screwed up anyway, and I am horrible with dates. I'm lucky I can remember my own birthday let alone a date of when a certain event happened, major or not. I definitely have no smarts when it comes to fashion, I can dress well but could care less about knowing Prada, Gucci, etc...too expensive for my taste and normally I find them Ugly as hell so I stay away.
I do however have certain aspects of my life I consume myself in. And if I do say so myself... am pretty smart in. I am a very creative individual, always thinking up ideas, daydreaming etc. Interior design, kitchen design, and photography are my main areas of "drive" as you may call it. My weakness....allowing others to take advantage of my knowledge in these areas. My biggest fear is I am going to give away too much information and one day "my advice and/or knowledge" is going to wind up under some one else's umbrella with their name on it making it big time and Ill be sitting here pissed off at them and myself. WTH!!
I love having conversations where ideas are brewing, doesn't even have to be in the main 3 areas I thrive in. The problem is, I take something and just run my mouth with how to make it better.
SCENARIO #1 - So lets just say Im sitting at a bar with friends and one of them starts discussing a future investment or business....here I go asking questions and then spouting off all these great ideas to add to this potential business/investment. Am I crazy!!? What do I get out of this? and if one day I wake up and all of a sudden this person is flying high with this business/investment that incorporated all my ideas per that one conversation....scary scary thought for me. If I was smart...I would just keep my mouth shut. Or just step up and stop being a pansy and go after these ideas myself before they get to them!
SCENARIO#2- "Hey, so I am thinking of remodeling my kitchen...you think you can come over and give me a few ideas?" or " what do you think about this?" or " Do you think you can draw something up for me"....and what do I do? More often then not I answer their questions and give them advice. They treat it almost as if, I don't do this for a living and its just a hobby and my time and knowledge is worth nothing but free advice. Next thing I know, my ideas are up in someones kitchen and someone else is taking credit for it.
SCENARIO#3- "wow! you take really good pictures!", "How did you do that?", "what software do you use", "what camera brand would you suggest?"....suddenly they are inspired and want to be a photographer and start their own business using any knowledge they can suck out of you so they can replicate it. How about you do your own research on the internet and teach yourself like I did and put your own twist onto things? do I say this? No...I am too nice and give out valuable information about how I do things. Photographers have to be unique, giving out this information would potentially no longer allow them to stand out from the rest.The whole point is to utilize photography as your own unique way of how you see the world. So figure it out on your own. I spent many many hours researching and getting me to where I am, why give that information up to someone else who should be putting just as much work into it as I did? If you are serious and want to do it, DO IT... but don't be asking for other photographers secrets. Or if I was smart, I would just shut my mouth and tell them to figure it out on their own...right?
WHY IS IT SOO HARD FOR ME!!!? These 3 areas are my babies, its how I make a living...you know like all of us out there are trying to do. I take pride in what I do and its seems because these areas are purely "artistic" they mean nothing to the rest of the world...
I once thought being the "nice" person got you further in life. I am now learning its a target to take advantage of you. Its unfortunate. If I was not good at what I did, People wouldn't be asking me for my advice, ideas, and how to do things in these areas.
