What's Your Dream?

Originally this blog was posted on the alumni network for Washington Business Week. I attended the program, which simply put is a business camp for teens, while I was in high school and now support the program as a volunteer, donor, and board member. You can learn more about Washington Business Week on their Cool Works profile.

Recently I finished a book called The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I suppose it's possible that some of you reading this may have seen the movie by the same name last summer. The story, for those familiar with neither, is simple. A young girl seeks information about her dead mother in the 1960s just as the Civil Rights laws are being passed. She ends up living with a family of black women, one of whom is a beekeeper, and does eventually learn the information she sought.

In the interview with the author at the end of the book, there is a quote from Sue Monk Kidd that I just love. She said, "I think there must be a place inside of us where dreams go and wait their turn." I love it because it gives me hope that dreams are never forgotten and if they're meant to come true, they'll be right there waiting for the right time.

So what's your dream?

I'll tell you mine. I started a small photography business in 2007 and my dream is that someday I'll make enough to cover the costs associated with my habit or even better make a profit! And, I'm realistic. I don't need to make millions, although that would be nice, but really I just want to cover my expenses so I can keep doing what I love. And, I know that to make this dream come true it takes work.

As Henry David Thoreau said, "If you have built your castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."

So how am I doing this? What's my foundation? Well, it's a bunch of different things.

• I have my own website - Kari Quaas Photography.
• I read blogs and books about photography.
• I attend lectures by my favorite photographers like Sam Abell.
• I helped organize and participated in a group photography show.
• I give things away to non-profits like Washington Business Week, Family Works Seattle, and St. Catherine's School.
• I put on my first solo photography show.
• I created a line of greeting cards.
• I enter art festivals like the Shoreline Arts Festival and the Edmonds Art Festival.
• I often meet with my photographer friends.
• I tell whoever I meet that I am a photographer so that maybe they'll remember me when it comes time to need one.
• I write consistently for my photography blog - Kari's Musings About Photography
• I created a logo with something I drew as a child.

I guess my goal with all of these tasks is that something will catch someone's eye or ear, and they'll find me to hire me to photograph their family or pet, or maybe even buy some of my photographs. I am also simply pleased if someone says that they like my work.

Business isn't necessarily easy, but it is something that each of us can do. The only limit is our creativity and dreams. The sky is the limit!

Where will your dreams take you? What is your dream? What are you doing about it?

DREAM BIG!