Leap of Faith

Indulging my compulsion to express myself and share my own evolution. It is almost too irresistible and has come to me this morning as the same desire to eat or drink coffee.

Imagine Look See

I named my website with this, I suppose term of inspiration or maybe even a mission statement, years ago. With no real meaning or context as such, just a glimmer of inspiration and maybe like looking through a shard of a broken mirror looking at a prophecy of a future me.
From such irrelevance it provides so much relevant inspiration to me.

Imaging and having lots of ideas can be a burden. I can literally think and imagine my life away. 
It was said by Thomas Edison 

"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration".

The real work comes in taking those dreams in to fruition.

The Bible Hebrews 11:1 talks about "Faith" 
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen"

I compare hope to being able to see something better but then faith is the belief and the fulfilling of hope. Faith is the leap we take off a cliff to prove our hope is real.

So LOOKING is about embracing the inspiration and SEEING is about the actual physical manifestation.

Being enthusiastic in my work had me in no end of trouble, effectively got me nowhere and for all my effort I had nothing to show for it.
When the opportunity came along to do what I love, it was not all flowers and roses.
It meant leaving a comfort zone, looking seriously at myself and my work.
I sometimes come across as jovial and not very serious but as the famous photographer Richard Avedon said

"About my work I am serious"

My leap of faith meant leaving behind my safety nets. 
Having experienced some awful lows, I would not like to say poverty but at times it was a struggle but also the kindness of people and a discovery of the most beautiful friendships.

For almost 2 years I having been soaring blindly experiencing the most excitingly frightful journey. It is contrary that the thing I love is that I do not know exactly how it is going to all pan out but it is this unknown that scares the life out of me. It makes me anxious at times.

So I think what it is I wanted to say is, no leap of faith comes without fear. 
If there is no fear you probably ain't pushing yourself or your just plain crazy. 
Jim Carey's Father said 
"You can fail at what you don't like so you may as well risk failing at something you love instead.

Networking for the SME's and Start Up's in South Central Manchester

Year 2 of Business and 6 Months

Apparently the first year of business is the hardest year, for me the hardness has only multiplied with my resolve and determination.

So here I am wanting yet another creative outlet but also an outlet to maybe help some other new start ups.

Welcome to my blog

Hopefully this will be a help and encouragement to anyone starting up a business.

For 8 years I have been photographing and developing my skills. When the opportunity came along and the yellow brick road laid out before me I was like "Dude, where's my ruby slippers?".

At times the road was not so yellow, I would say it was quite foggy at points......a lot of points.

An interesting point I'm touching on, being revealed as I type. 

#revelation 

#ahhhhhhmoment #thebeautyofwriting #momentsofreflection

I never set out with clear vision of my business or even who I was / am as a (creative) person. 

So regarding this blog I will provide as much useful info, about events etc but it will probably be at points quite personal and real.

On the topic of authenticity developing my own ideas and taking my time I have been able to explore how creatively to express myself but also explore how I want to live. 

More on these points at a later date.

Please like, share, retweet or whatever the latest social media buzz requires you to do, then do that too

Networking

Some love it some hate. For someone slightly introverted like me it was not the first choice remedy for why there was not much money or enquiries coming in.

Developing a clear focus market is where I have not been effective and in hindsight I should have concentrated on commercial photography or portraiture. One segment at a time. I did it all in typical Tobias style, I defend my choice because it was all practical experience.

Without too much more blurb I wanted to share with you some of the events and resources around for you to tap in to that are free or events that look quite useful.

Take a look at this calendar below

Date	Time	Event	Location
24th&25th	13:00-16:00	Lil n Sams BBQ	Altrincham, Greenwood St
26th	18:30-20:00	M&S Wine tasting	George St
26th	18:00-21:00	Northern Soho	Rosylee Tea Rooms
27th	9:30-12:30	SEO Master Class	Manchester MMU
31st	11:00-15:00	Cresta Court, Fun Day	Altrincham
30th-31st		West Fest	Burton Road, Manchester, M20
31st	12:00	Josh Armstrong Memorial Cup and Family Fun Day	Timpson Road, M23 9RT

In the end it is all about finding out about events and networking opportunities that matter to you. A lot of these events I found last night and this afternoon. A lot of the events are free and some of them even have free food. You can usually entice me anywhere with free food and booze.

I will update you all with some September events very soon but why not keep an eye out for yourself at these excellent resources;

Trafford Council
Altrincham Forward
Forever Manchester

Also Meetup have some great groups I have been attending the CING which I have found to be relaxed and fun to attend.

Remember if you don't get out there and share what you love how will anyone ever know about you.

Check me out
www.imaginelooksee.com
https://twitter.com/tobiaspearson