2026 03 17
Clayton Hauck Clayton Hauck

2026 03 17

Yesterday was a tough day in the sense that I became firmly aware that I am stretching myself too thin, doing too many things, without enough support being applied to the main branches of my life. It’s tough because I want to do so many things, and explore all of the ideas stewing in my brain, but I need to learn that it’s better to focus on a few of them at time to ensure I’m giving them enough support to stand on their own.

The catalyst for this feeling was Kevin Coval’s City So Real podcast, which I was a guest on. I was honored to be asked and mostly enjoyed the conversation, however, in typical me fashion was also left regretting much of what was said and not said. There were answers I wish I could revisit and topics I’d wanted to dive into but, as is often the case in the moment, were missed. It’s likely I’m over-thinking things and the conversations was fine, if not even good. But the anxiety I felt afterwards was real nonetheless. So real!

My lasting takeaway is that I need to improve my abilities to fluidly discuss topics I am choosing to focus my energies on. Learning to talk as an artist is as important (if not, realistically, even far more important) than making the art.

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2026 01 22: Age of Agency
Clayton Hauck Clayton Hauck

2026 01 22: Age of Agency

Previously, I posted a link to an article about agency and how we’re now in the “Age of Agency” (See: 2025 08 20). These days, human intelligence is being commoditized and replaced by computer, while agency is what may give you an edge. My friend Jack has since sent me another link about agency, which I thought was also worth sharing. The author, George Mack, has gone ahead and made a whole website to host his article, which is… quite agentic of him.

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2026 01 14: Simplify in 2026
Clayton Hauck Clayton Hauck

2026 01 14: Simplify in 2026

Simplifying My Life in 2026

In doing some deeper thinking on what I should focus on this year, it came to my mind that perhaps less is more. Last year was a throw-evertyhing-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks year. That approach can be fun but is not sustainable. Knowing myself as I do, avoiding the mundane organizational logistics of life in favor of fun new adventures is my standard operating procedure; opening a photo studio but not figuring out how to efficiently operate it; opening a photobook shop but neglecting the backend paperwork; making a million photos but failing to tell people I’m a photographer… these practices are unsustainable and will eventually catch up with you. In hopes of avoiding the repercussions, this year will be spent doing the Not Fun things required of us.

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