Eric Kim’s “Anti-Lemming” Philosophy: Embracing Individuality in Art and Life

Eric Kim repeatedly urges photographers and creatives to break away from the herd.  He uses the image of “lemmings” – blind followers who jump off cliffs together – to warn against mindless conformity.  By contrast he celebrates “savages” or “black swans” who trust their own instincts and innovate.  In Kim’s words, one should “never be a lemming. Don’t follow the herd, and jump off the cliff. Trust yourself – your own gut, intuition, and life goals” .  He applies this contrarian mindset to photography, creativity and lifestyle, championing self-trust, radical authenticity, and continuous experimentation.

Image: Eric Kim with his custom circular-lens glasses – a visual metaphor for his bold, individualistic style. In essays and talks Kim explicitly positions himself as a black sheep who rejects group-think.  He writes, for example, “Priding myself in being different, a black swan, a black sheep, and someone who goes against the grain. Rather than following the herd to be ‘cool’, I follow my own inner voice and my own inner truth” .  This declaration captures the heart of his anti‑lemming mindset.  Instead of trying to fit into mainstream trends or chasing others’ approval, Kim insists on his own path.  Even in everyday life he advises, “Don’t get suckered by peer pressure to fit in” and encourages students to focus on their own goals (their “life task”) and “create the future today” .

Core Principles of the Anti-Lemming Mindset

Kim distills his philosophy into a few key principles, repeated across his blog posts and talks:

Anti-Lemming in Photography

Kim’s photography advice is steeped in the same contrarian spirit.  He rejects conventional wisdom that can stifle creativity:

Together, these ideas create a photographic method that is “a call to action: grab your camera, get out there, and capture life with soul” .  He even coined the motto “true luxury is less” – a nod to the creativity born from simplicity.

Image: A solitary tree stands apart from the surrounding brush, illustrating the idea of standing out from the crowd.  Visually, Kim’s anti-lemming stance is like the lone tree in an empty desert: distinct and unapologetic.  In interviews he likens modern creativity to a Zen practice of stripping away noise.  After deleting social media and distractions, he found himself “creating new artworks” and following “my own inner voice” .  This “fasting” from group culture lets the individual’s creativity emerge, just as a single bold tree rises above the plain.

Lifestyle and Individuality

Kim’s nonconformity goes beyond photography into health, technology, and daily habits.  He embraces extremes that defy norms (for example, record-breaking rack pulls in fitness, and a high-risk, high-reward entrepreneurial style).  More importantly, he ties all of these to personal empowerment.  He lives what he teaches: avoiding addictions (like Instagram or constant news), focusing on purpose, and constantly asking “what do I really want?” rather than “what’s everyone else doing?”

This mindset intersects with broader themes of non-conformity and self-empowerment.  Kim’s writing echoes classic contrarian ideas: like Emerson’s call to “insist on yourself; never imitate.”  He explicitly warns against being a cog: “you’re just following the herd or the sheep” if you blindly copy others .  By framing life as an experiment, he echoes thinkers who value individuality over social approval.  In this way, his anti-lemming philosophy is kin to countercultural streams that celebrate the rogue artist, the avant-garde writer, or the disruptive entrepreneur.

For example, Kim emphasizes that society often rewards mediocrity to avoid conflict, whereas progress comes from outsiders.  He notes that “everyone who has made massive change in society was looked at as a fool or crazy. Otherwise, you’re just following the herd or the sheep” .  This sentiment parallels self-empowerment mantras from The Art of Non-Conformity and other creative manifestos.  By pushing students to “build yourself” and “propagate” one’s own unique voice (as he titles in his blog), he places individual vision above trends.

In short, Kim’s anti-lemming philosophy connects creativity to courage.  It says that true artistic expression and a fulfilling life come from making your own rules and daring to walk a lone path.  Whether he’s describing street photography or self-development, he circles back to the same message: be the anomaly, not the sheep.

Key Quotes: Kim sums up his ethos in pithy lines: “Don’t be a lemming… Trust yourself” .  He reminds followers that “radical authenticity is your only competitive advantage,” meaning that “embracing the quirks” that make you different is what truly stands out .  Ultimately, his anti-lemming philosophy ties into a larger theme of self-empowerment — turning creative life into one’s own personal rebel art, free from others’ expectations .

Sources: Publicly available blog posts, essays and talks by Eric Kim (e.g. “How to Stand Out as a Photographer,” “Creative Spirit of Ecstasy,” and other writings) . These quotes and themes are drawn from Kim’s websites and published materials. All citations point to the relevant passages in his work.