the ek wave

Eric Kim is running his never‑ending “paradigm‑shift project” because it lets him stay free, stay curious and pull everybody else along for the ride.

Below is the long (and joy‑infused!) breakdown of the forces that keep his engine revving.

1  Break the cage of default thinking

Kim’s foundational itch is intellectual: he can’t stand assumptions that go un‑questioned. His go‑to move is to flip any “obvious” rule 180 degrees—then see what happens. He calls it “think opposite.” 

He’s been that “black sheep” since childhood, baffled by people who work more, buy more and enjoy life less. Tearing up those scripts—and sharing the alternatives—gives him an almost mischievous delight. 

2  Run life as an open‑air laboratory

For Kim the blog isn’t a diary; it’s a public R&D lab where he prototypes new diets, camera limits, Bitcoin plays or 30 000‑step routines and logs every surprise. Micro‑experiments keep him in a permanent state of beginner’s awe—and his readers get front‑row seats (and homework assignments).

3  Serve the tribe, not the algorithm

He reminds followers that he’s been “preaching self‑hosted blogs for a decade… I do this for you.” 

That line isn’t marketing fluff; it’s mission. By publishing everything free and open‑source he tries to prove that you can earn trust, income and impact without surrendering to attention‑harvesting platforms.

4  Guard attention like digital gold

Kim sees the modern internet as a midway of dopamine traps where “the algorithm will gladly rent your mind to the highest bidder.” His antidote: flood your day with your creations—and help others do the same. 

Bitcoin, street photography and heavy lifting might look like random topics, but in his worldview they’re all protocols of sovereignty: own your money, own your images, own your body.

5  Convert proof‑of‑work into purpose

Daily publishing is his personal proof‑of‑work: writing, shooting, lifting and hitting “Publish” every single day compounds into a visible track‑record that no résumé can match. The feedback loop (email replies, workshop sign‑ups, new friendships) keeps motivation sky‑high.

6  Monetize just enough to stay wild

Workshops, booklets and affiliate links fund the lifestyle, but the content remains free. That small, direct revenue stream buys him the one asset he prizes most—unrestricted time to chase the next idea—without muting the crazy parts that fans actually come for.

7  Joy is the KPI

Under all the Stoic‑Zen‑Bitcoin talk sits one cheerful metric: Does this feel fun and alive?

If a new lift, a new city or a new rant lights him up, he ships it. Joy isn’t a side‑effect; it’s the north‑star test for every paradigm shift he attempts.

Your takeaway

Kim’s motive stack is a great template for any first‑principles innovator:

Kim’s Move	Your Translation
Flip “truths” and test	Run contrarian experiments in your field
Publish the process	Build trust and serendipity by sharing in‑progress work
Keep ownership (blog, Bitcoin, body)	Reduce dependence on gatekeepers
Let excitement be the compass	Sustainable motivation beats external pressure

So next time you catch yourself asking “Why am I even doing this?” steal a page from Eric’s playbook: invert a rule, prototype fast, share loudly—and watch meaning snowball. 🎈

Eric Kim (b.1988) is a San Francisco–born street photographer, educator, and prolific blogger.  He studied sociology at UCLA, where he co‑founded the campus photography club and “discovered Street Photography as [his] passion,” launching his blog in 2010 .  Since then he has traveled globally teaching workshops (35+ workshops in 15 countries by 2014, to 500+ students ) and built one of the world’s largest free street‑photo resources.  Kim’s contributions include:

• Street photography:  He’s known for candid, high‑contrast black‑and‑white images, often shot with flash using just one camera and lens .  (For example, the photo below illustrates his minimal, bold style.) He’s exhibited internationally (e.g. at Leica stores in Singapore, Seoul, and Melbourne ) and has been called “one of the most influential street photographers in the world” .
  Kim’s street photography is stark and minimalist.  He travels with just one camera and lens to capture high‑contrast scenes – a practice he links to creative freedom .
• Blogging & open education:  Since 2010 his blog (erickimphotography.com) has published thousands of free articles on technique, gear, and creative philosophy .  He deliberately removed paywalls, freely sharing content (even full-resolution photos) so “knowledge gains value when shared freely” .  He also produces free e‑books and manuals (e.g. Street Notes, 100 Lessons from the Masters) to democratize learning .
• Workshops and teaching:  Kim has led workshops on every continent .  His multi-day classes emphasize mindset as well as technique: students credit him with giving the courage to photograph strangers and develop a personal style .  He’s taught university courses (e.g. at UC Riverside Extension ) and served as a judge for major contests (London Street Photography Festival) .
• Books and guides:  He has authored many practical photography books and zines (both free and commercial), such as Street Photography: 50 Ways… and Learn from the Masters (100 Lessons).  Notably, his free 100 Lessons book has been praised as “an amazing compilation” – “you don’t need to read more books on street photography after this” .  Across all his work he stresses experimentation and “finding one’s own vision” .
• Philosophy & lifestyle:  Eric Kim fuses photography with life philosophy.  He openly draws on Stoicism (Seneca is his greatest influence ) and minimalism (he dresses all‑black, “true luxury is less,” carries one lens ).  These ideas permeate his teaching and writing, earning him a reputation as a “photographer‑philosopher” who inspires followers to “live more creatively and fearlessly” .

Paradigm-Shift Writings and Talks

Kim frequently uses “paradigm shift” as a theme.  Key examples of his content on this topic include:

• “Shift the Paradigm” (2017, blog post): A foundational essay where he inverts conventional “truths” in photography and life.  He lists sacred beliefs (e.g. “more megapixels = better cameras,” “delete duplicates to save space”) and flips them (e.g. “more megapixels = worse photos,” “duplicate images = better memory”) to provoke new thinking .  This post asks, “What if all our sacred truths… were wrong?” and encourages readers to question assumptions .
• “How to Shoot Abstract Photography” (2017, blog): A follow‑up example of artistic reinvention, showing how to create abstraction by breaking habits. (Often cited alongside the “Shift” essay as part of his 2017 reinvention series.)
• “Think Paradigm Shifts” (2024, blog): A short post of provocative observations.  For instance, he notes contrarian facts: “Europe sucks: … you can’t use Zillow in Europe?” and “Nuclear power: cleanest energy → politics shut it down?” .  These juxtapositions (excerpted from a broader list) are meant to spark creative thinking by highlighting hidden truths in politics and tech .
• “Paradigm Shift” (2024, blog): A brief riff that connects AI, Bitcoin, and creativity, suggesting that emerging technologies can renew how we think about art. (Mentioned in his “Starter Playlist” of shift posts .)
• “TOTALLY A PARADIGM SHIFT?” (2024, blog): A self‑referential essay about constant reinvention.  He reflects on why he keeps flipping ideas on the blog, effectively a meta‑commentary on making paradigm shifts an ongoing practice .
• Bitcoin‑related Posts (2024–25): Kim explicitly applies the paradigm-shift concept to money.  In posts like “Bitcoin Acquisition Syndrome” (May 2025) and “From Shutter to Sats” (May 2025), he calls adopting Bitcoin a revolutionary break from conventional finance.  An analysis notes these posts “present a paradigm shift”: they claim that mastering Bitcoin with an “all-in” mindset can fundamentally transform one’s life trajectory .  (He even titled a post “The Bitcoin Act of 2024: A Paradigm Shift in U.S. Financial Strategy.”)
• Lectures & Podcasts:  Kim has also spoken publicly on paradigm-shifting ideas.  For example, he gave a lecture titled “Introduction to Bitcoin: THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED,” highlighting crypto as world-changing .  He hosts a podcast on philosophy and creativity (e.g. “Future: Own the Future”) that echoes his written themes of skepticism and innovation .

Key Ideas and Frameworks

Across his work, several contrarian frameworks recur:

• Think Opposite:  Kim constantly urges people to question sacred assumptions by inverting them.  In practice he advises making an “anti-truth list”: write your “laws” and then ask “What if the opposite were true?” .  For example, he has proposed “More megapixels = worse photos” and “more lenses = less creativity” .  This flips the usual gear‑obsessed mindset and encourages first‑principles thinking.
• Minimalism as Freedom:  He preaches “fewer possessions = more freedom.”  He travels with only one camera and lens , wears the same simple outfit, and deletes non‑essentials (social apps, excess gear).  In his words, “true luxury is less.” .  This break with consumerist norms forces creativity – with less to fiddle with, one must “shoot with eyes, not cameras.”
• Open-Source Everything:  Kim embodies an abundance mindset.  He gives away nearly all his work – PDFs, e‑books, presets, and even raw photos .  By sharing resources freely, he fosters a community of learning.  This is a deliberate break from hoarding knowledge or media: as one write-up notes, “open-source ethos beats hoarding” .
• “Physical First” Philosophy:  Kim often draws analogies between fitness and other goals.  He champions heavy lifting and discipline (e.g. his world-record rack pull) to illustrate overcoming limits.  In one talk he equated economic fitness ≈ physical fitness, advising progress in personal finance as one would progress in training .  This reframing breaks from intellectual laziness by forcing mental challenges to be as concrete as gym workouts.
• Bitcoin Maximalism:  In finance, he treats Bitcoin as the ultimate tool.  He likens Bitcoin to a “super camera”: finite, uncompromising, built to outlast the system .  He argues that volatility is vitality and urges treating BTC like the Leica M Monochrom of money.  This is a stark break from conventional investment advice.
• Ship Daily / Experiment Often:  Kim values constant iteration over perfection.  He preaches a “daily shipping” ethos: publish rough drafts and prototypes publicly rather than delay (his mantra: “If it isn’t on the blog, it never happened.” ).  His 5-step method itself emphasizes rapid prototyping: invert an idea, test it within 24 hours, measure how surprised you are by the outcome (surprise = shift signal) , and then share the story.  In short, change comes from quick experiments and sharing them widely .

Evolution and Encouraging Shifts

Kim’s own philosophy has evolved markedly over time.  In the 2010s he focused mainly on street photography and minimal living; by the mid-2020s he expanded into technology and finance.  His recent work frames every domain (art, tech, economics) as ripe for paradigm shifts.  For example, his May 2025 crypto posts recast personal wealth as a systemic revolution, boldly urging readers to “go 100% Bitcoin” and to see digital money as a spiritual and social catalyst .

He models paradigm‑shifting as a continual process.  As one commentator puts it, Kim’s blog shows “paradigm shifts aren’t one-time earthquakes—they’re a daily habit” .  He explicitly encourages readers to adopt that habit:

• Flip a Norm & Test It:  His 5-step “Self-Paradigm-Shift Method” guides others to list their unquestioned beliefs, invert one of them, quickly prototype that inversion (e.g. “shoot with one lens all week”), and gauge the surprise .
• Measure Surprise:  Rather than conventional success, he asks “how surprised was I by the result?” – using surprise as a signal that a genuine shift has occurred .
• Publish the Journey:  Crucially, he tells followers to make their experiments public.  Kim’s rule “if it isn’t on the blog, it never happened” drives readers to write about their results.  Public documentation raises the stakes and helps communities learn from each other’s paradigm flips.

In practice, he invites paradigm changes in his audience.  Many of his posts end with challenges or “blueprints” (e.g. directives to “Stack Sats Relentlessly” or to “Engage in Peer-to-Peer Economies” ) that readers are urged to follow.  By storytelling his own shifts (from stock trading to “full Bitcoin convert,” from digital to film photography, from consumer to Spartan living), he implicitly tells others: “you can do it too.”

Influence and Reception

Eric Kim’s paradigm-oriented approach has gained wide attention in the photo and creative communities.  Media and peers have noted his influence: a 2015 StreetShootr interview stated that at age 27 he was already “one of the most influential street photographers in the world,” and that his blog was “one of the most popular photography websites” online .  Another outlet described his site as a “nexus for street photographers around the world” , reflecting its role in connecting the community.  (He also has 80,000+ followers on Facebook and Twitter, reflecting a large following.)

Community reception of his ideas is generally positive.  Students frequently praise his workshops and essays; one testimonial called him “courageous, knowledgeable, and friendly,” noting that his energy “shows when he teaches” .  His free 100 Lessons e-book is widely downloaded and cited; reviewers have noted that it alone could spare aspiring shooters from buying dozens of photobooks .  Many followers have adopted his minimal/“anti-gadget” mindset and daily habit of shooting – reinforcing his notion that small shifts lead to big personal change.

Kim’s forays into broader philosophy (Stoicism, anti‑news, Bitcoin activism) have also drawn attention.  Some bloggers call him a “Bitcoin prophet” for championing crypto as a cure for social ills .  His latest posts have been labeled “revolutionary” – for instance, one blogger wrote that Kim’s May 2025 crypto-manifestos “represent his most radical and far-reaching work to date” .  This rhetoric of paradigm change (terms like “awakening,” “prophecy,” “paradigm” appear throughout his titles) has made him notable not just in photography circles but also in tech and finance subcultures.

At the same time, Kim’s outspokenness invites debate.  Some traditionalists question his Bitcoin maximalism or his dismissal of standard advice, while others find inspiration in his contrarian style.  Regardless, his core ideas of experimentation, self‑reliance, and breaking conventions have clearly resonated: as one overview puts it, Kim inspires photographers “not just to shoot better, but to live more creatively and fearlessly” .

Sources: Eric Kim’s own blog posts and biography, interviews and profiles (including All About Photo and StreetShootr), and site analyses , among others. The above references highlight Kim’s writings on paradigm shifts and commentary on their impact.

1. Who is Eric Kim?

Snapshot	Details
Origin Story	Began blogging in 2010 while studying sociology at UCLA; publishes (almost) daily open‑source essays on photography, philosophy & fitness
Signature Essay	“Shift the Paradigm” (2017) asks: What if every sacred ‘truth’ in photography—and life—were wrong?
Paradigm‑Shift Threads	Minimal‑gear shooting, “think‑opposite” living, Bitcoin as “digital hard money,” and body‑building as mind‑building
Media Channels	1,000+ episodes of the PHOTO TURBO THOUGHTS podcast on Spotify & Apple, often titled around “paradigm shifts”
Community Reach	Interviews from PetaPixel to StreetShootr highlight his role as a catalyst for freer, bolder street photography

2. The Idea of a “Paradigm Shift”—Kuhn Meets Kim

Kuhn’s Classic Definition

• A paradigm shift is a fundamental overhaul of the lens through which a community interprets reality—currency in science, but portable to any domain.  

Kim’s Street‑Level Remix

• Catalogue the unquestioned. List the “laws” you follow (e.g., More megapixels = better photos).
• Invert radically. Declare the opposite and see what breaks—or blooms.
• Prototype in 24 h. Shoot all week with one lens; delete social media; skip breakfast.
• Measure surprise, not success. If you’re shocked, the shift signal is strong.
• Publish the journey. Bold takes accelerate communal recalibration.  

3. Four Living Paradigm Shifts on Kim’s Blog

Year	Theme	“Old” View → New View	Why It Matters
2017	Gear Minimalism	More lenses = more creativity → Fewer lenses = deeper vision	Frees focus, slashes decision fatigue
2020‑24	Money	Fiat forever → Bitcoin as creative fuel & freedom tech	Re‑imagines value, scarcity and artistic independence
2024	Tech‑Life Balance	Bigger screens = efficiency → Smaller, slower, unplugged = clarity	Protects attention in an algorithmic age
2025	Body as Philosophy	Gym as vanity → Strength training as cognitive enhancer	Links physical PRs to mental breakthroughs

4. Launch Your Own Paradigm Shift—A 5‑Day Sprint

“Shift joyfully, test boldly, repeat daily.” — Eric Kim 

1. Monday – Inventory Reality
   Write 10 “truths” that govern your craft or life.
2. Tuesday – Flip the Script
   Invert each statement. Pick one daring opposite that excites or scares you.
3. Wednesday – Micro‑Prototype
   Run a 24‑hour experiment. Keep notes on emotions & surprises, not metrics.
4. Thursday – Reflect & Re‑frame
   Ask: “Did the world crumble—or did a door open?”
5. Friday – Ship Your Story
   Blog, tweet, or podcast the findings; invite friends to try their own inversion. Community is a force‑multiplier.

5. Staying in Shift Mode—Resources & Next Steps

Resource	Why It Inspires
“Shift the Paradigm” essay (2017)	Core manifesto—great starting read
“Paradigm Shift” (May 2024) post	Concise update tying AI & Bitcoin to creative renewal
“Bitcoin Act of 2024” analysis	Example of macro‑economics reframed as creative leverage
PHOTO TURBO THOUGHTS podcast	Bite‑sized audio jolts on inversion thinking
Petapixel interview	Context on Kim’s teaching ethos and inclusive philosophy
Thomas Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions	Academic backbone for any paradigm‑shift exploration

The Big Take‑Away

When you feel stuck, borrow Eric Kim’s joyous contrarianism: pick a norm, flip it, field‑test it, share it. Whether you’re innovating a product, crafting art, or redesigning daily habits, that playful cycle turns curiosity into momentum—and momentum into your personal paradigm shift. So gear up, think opposite, and let the adventure begin! 🎉

⸻

1. Who is Eric Kim?

- California‑born street photographer, prolific blogger (posting almost daily since 2010), workshop teacher and self‑styled “open‑source philosopher.”

- His writing fuses camera craft, Bitcoin economics, heavy lifting and Stoic‑zen musings into one turbo‑charged manifesto for creative living.  

2. “Paradigm shift,” Eric‑style

Kim borrows Thomas Kuhn’s term but gives it a personal twist:

Classical Kuhn Eric Kim Remix

Old model collapses under anomalies “Think opposite.” List every ‘truth’ you obey and flip it 180°.

Resistance from the establishment Celebrate outsider status—the black‑sheep edge fuels originality.

New lens becomes the new normal Publish bold takes daily until the web recalibrates around the idea.

In his breakout essay Shift the Paradigm (2017) he asked: “What if all our sacred truths in photography—and life—were wrong?”  

3. Kim’s 5‑step Self‑Paradigm‑Shift Method

1. Catalogue “Unquestionables.” Write ten iron‑clad rules you follow (gear, money, diet, relationships).

2. Invert Radically. Ask, “What if the opposite were true?”—this becomes your anti‑truth list.

3. Micro‑Prototype within 24 hours. Example: shoot an entire week with one lens, quit a social app, or fast until dinner.

4. Quantify Surprise, not success. The bigger the “Whoa!” the stronger the shift signal.

5. Publish the journey. His mantra: “If it isn’t on the blog, it never happened.”  

Try it today: Choose one life‑rule you’ve never questioned (e.g., “I need eight lenses to be creative”). Flip it (“One lens only!”). Prototype for 48 hours. Log every surprise.

4. Four recurring “Shift” threads on the blog

Year Series / Post Core Flip

2017 Shift the Paradigm, How to Shoot Abstract Photography Minimal gear & radical simplification beat consumer excess.

2020‑22 Think Different: Economics Money ≠ security; volatility can equal vitality.

2024‑25 Paradigm Shift, TOTALLY A PARADIGM SHIFT?, Bitcoin Act 2024 Bitcoin as the Leica M‑Monochrom of money—finite, uncompromising, built to outlive platforms.

Ongoing Fitness posts (750 kg rack‑pull dream, “Iron gospel obliterated”) Treat heavy lifting as a creativity catalyst and philosophical proving ground.

5. Why innovators love his approach (and why it lines up with first‑principles thinking)

Eric Kim Principle First‑Principles Parallel

Invert everything. Strip a problem to physics/economics/biology, then rebuild.

Prototype instantly. Rapid experiments trump arm‑chair analysis.

Publish openly. Open‑source ideas invite feedback loops → faster iteration.

Joy over dogma. A playful mindset keeps cognitive flexibility high—vital for paradigm leaps.

6. Starter reading / watching playlist

1. “Shift the Paradigm” (2017) – the original flip‑everything essay.

2. “Paradigm Shift” (May 2024) – connects AI & Bitcoin to creative renewal.

3. “TOTALLY A PARADIGM SHIFT?” (2024) – meta‑commentary on constant reinvention.

4. Street‑Photography Gallery – see how visual experimentation mirrors his philosophical flips.

5. Bitcoin Ethics video – money philosophy meets image‑making.   

7. Putting the spark into your life

• Pick one arena (creative, financial, physical, relational).

• Run the 5‑step cycle above—tiny inversion, rapid test, joyful documentation.

• Share the story: blog, newsletter, TikTok, or a 5‑slide deck to friends.

• Rinse & rejoice. Paradigm shifts aren’t once‑a‑decade earthquakes; they’re daily sparks that keep you innovating, laughing and alive.

Remember: The world adjusts its focus to those who publish their vision with conviction—and a grin.

Stay bold, stay playful, and keep flipping those “truths” until the extraordinary feels like home!

be careful with all the power you have