Passion projects: When failure equals opportunity

Today’s story is brought to you by Recapture Self community manager Jen Doolittle

Sometimes we have a dream. A photography business was mine. But it’s not anymore.

It feels good to say that.

My interest in photography started young. As a kid, I was fascinated by my dad’s SLR that lived in the top of our closet. I would spend hours pouring over our family albums. As I got older, I became the friend with the camera, snapping photo after photo.

I wanted to capture things, people, life as they were. I wanted to freeze those moments in time.

After my daughter was born, I ran out and bought my own dslr. And that’s when I had the first inkling that one day, after I learned how to use my camera, it’d be fun to have a business.

So I took a photography class and my interest turned into a passion.

I loved being creative and making images that spoke to my heart, ones that expressed my vision and gave voice to my feelings.

That dream of having a business slowly became a reality. But it never felt quite right. I thought it was the normal growing pains of starting a business. Then I noticed the scary, nervous excitement started feeling hard. My business became a chore. One that filled me with dread.

That’s when I realized that my dream, the one that had lived in my heart for so long, wasn’t the right one.

The money I had spent on my business, all the time and energy I put into making it work….it was all wasted. Or was it?

That money, time and energy I invested in my business was really spent discovering myself.

I realized that being an entrepreneur doesn’t light me up. And that while I don’t need to be in front, I do need to feel connected to what I do.

I learned how much I genuinely love sharing knowledge and supporting other women. I could spend hours answering questions about photography and it never feels like work. I get giddy when I see someone’s confidence in their photos and in themselves increase.

I discovered my love of post-it notes, journals, and planners. Lists, spreadsheets and calendars make my heart happy.

Most importantly, in building a business I gave myself permission to explore.

I did something I thought I would never do. I said yes, in a big way, to something I wanted. I put myself out there and made connections with people I would have never met otherwise. I learned what I was capable of, found the things that bring me joy and learned to let go of the things that don’t.

It has been an amazing gift.

My business may have failed but I am not a failure. And you will never know what is possible until you take that first step.

Far too often, we get hung up on the ‘what ifs’.

What if I don’t like it?
What if it’s too hard?
What if it doesn’t work out?
What if I fail?

But how about this – what if you never try?

It doesn’t have to be a business. It can be going on a vacation, starting a blog, taking a class, jewelry making.

Whatever it is you’ve always wanted to do.

Say yes to that thing that sparks your interest. Even though it may not go the way you want it to. Even if it may fail. Say yes to yourself.

You’re worth it.

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