@rickmatharu: I might get some hate for saying this, but I think my generation approached work a little differently. And I’m not saying that to knock the younger generation. It’s just something I’ve noticed. When I started out as a photographer, I used to do gigs for free. Sometimes I’d get paid next to nothing. Why? Because I had nothing to show anybody. No portfolio. No clients. No reputation. So I went out there and built one. I took photos. I did free shoots. I put myself in uncomfortable situations. I learned, I made mistakes, and I got better. Eventually, I could go to somebody and say, “Hey, here’s my work. I’ll charge you $500.” Then it became $1,000. And eventually, I was charging tens of thousands of dollars for projects. But that didn’t happen overnight. It took years of showing up, putting in the work, and proving myself. And I think that’s something we sometimes forget today. You can’t just say you’re good at something. You’ve got to show people. And listen, I’m not saying everybody should work for free. Know your worth. But understand that sometimes you’ve got to invest in yourself before anybody else is willing to invest in you. Be consistent. Be persistent. Take risks. And stop trying to tell somebody else’s story. Get inspired by people, absolutely. But tell your own story through your own lens. You’re going to fail. You’re going to get rejected. You’re going to be uncomfortable. That’s part of it. I’ve bet on myself my entire life. Sometimes it’s worked out, sometimes it hasn’t. But every single time, I’ve learned something. So if there’s one thing I can leave you with, it’s this: Don’t wait for somebody to give you an opportunity. Go create one. Bet on yourself. #entrepreneurship #betonyourself #followyourpassion #rickmatharu

Rick Matharu

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Region: CA

Wednesday 14 October 2026 22:32:02 GMT