Author Stephen King tells a great story about a chance to meet his idol, science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. The teenaged King hitchhiked to a college in Maine and talked his way into a reception honoring Asimov. Summoning his courage, he walked up to the legendary author and introduced himself.

“Mr. Asimov, you’ve always been a hero of mine and I’ve always wanted to write,” King said.

Asimov looked at the young man with disdain.

“Bullshit kid,” he said. “If you really wanted to write you’d be home writing and not here bothering me.” Then he walked away, leaving the star struck teenager devastated.

King went home, got over the hurt and started writing, becoming one of the country’s most prolific and successful authors. Asimov’s rudeness, he would later say, “was just the kick the ass I needed.”

I think about the King story whenever I run across someone who frets over what to do with his or her life. A lot of second-guessers out there. Too much timidity. Too much indecision on “should I or shouldn’t I” take a specific step, make a career change, or finally do something that they’ve claimed they’ve always wanted to do.

People wander into my studio every week and talk about how “they’ve always wanted to be a photographer.” When I asked about the last time they picked up a camera, they will either claim it has been a while or say something like “well, I don’t have nice equipment like you so I can’t take good pictures.”

That’s a crock. The only tool a real photographer needs is his or her eyes and a willingness to look for good pictures and shoot them. Seventy-seven of the Pulitzer Prizes awarded for photography over the years have gone to people who used equipment that the photo magazines call “amateur” or “prosumer” gear.

A woman with a young boy approached Alfred Eisenstaedt while the famous Life photographer shot an assignment in Times Square.

“Mr. Eisenstaedt,” she asked, “if I buy my son a camera like yours can he take wonderful photographs like you?”

Eisenstaedt didn’t even look up from his viewfinder as he replied: “If you buy him a Steinway can he play like Van Cliburn?”

Wannabe photographers use lack of equipment as an excuse. Excuses come into play often for those who talk about what they “always wanted to do” but always find some reason not to do it.

“God I envy you,” an email said the other day. “I wish I had the guts to bag everything and move to the country.”

My response? “Don’t talk about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t dwell on whether or not you should do it. Just do it.”

The same goes for any lifestyle decision. Don’t waste everyone’s time fretting over whether or not to do it. Life’s too short for hesitation. Those who spend their time analyzing and “considering their options” will always find an excuse for not doing what they claim they always wanted to do.

Just do it.