Note: I'm not sure what's gotten me on this reoccurring theme of "time" lately - maybe it's because the year is coming to a close. There are so many photographers who I've talked to lately who seem to be caught in "analysis paralysis" and panic about what to do for a strong finish, as well as start the new year.

In 2008 Sheila and I were wandering around Laguna Niguel in California and walked into one of the shops on the main drag. I loved this print by Brian Andreas, and over the years we added two more. But the fun of this one goes to what's become my philosophy on life, and it's on my mind this morning. 

We all spend so much time chasing time. We stress over the little stuff. We respond to interruptions all day long by people and things that don't matter. We often chase them like the never-ending growth of weeds in a garden.

Many of you spend time in Facebook forums arguing meaningless points, most of the time with people you don't know. Over and again I see a troll throw out the bait and you take it and run with it. Then, I'm guessing at the end of the day you're aggravated you didn't get as much done as you had hoped - all because you stressed over what some jackass said that you didn't agree with.

Well, that same jackass is hiding behind the anonymity of his or her computer screen, and loving every minute of the battle. They're more than likely quite pleased with themselves, and your loss of control just fed their egos!

And that brings me to a quote by an unknown author. I shared it yesterday morning on Twitter. 

Here's the solution - so many of you need to grow a thicker skin. Stop letting people steal your time and attention. And yes, I'm guilty too. It's hard to walk away from a fight when you know the other person is so wrong, but as my buddy, Levi Sim has said, and I've quoted him dozens of times - "Act as if your grandmother is watching!"

We're headed into the true seasonality of the fourth quarter, and you need to focus on your marketing, creativity and skill set. There's plenty of time to still make 2018 a spectacular year, but only if you focus on what really matters.

All of you understand depth of field in your camera - so, it's time to work on the depth of field in your life - stop trying to be everything to everybody. Narrow your depth of field to what's most important in your life and business, and then enjoy the results in the spectacular image you're going to capture!

​Most people who walk their dogs always have a poop bag with them. Wherever your dog does his/her business, you respect your neighbors and pick it up. However, now and then there's one fool who thinks if the dog poops in the street, it's no big deal and we've got one of those in our neighborhood.

Well, the analogy of pet owners and poop got me thinking about business owners and how, instead of taking responsibility for the problem, point the finger the other way. If it's not their fault then why try and fix it?

Here are some typical scenarios:

• A client contacted you via email. You saw the correspondence but never replied. Now they're upset to have not heard from you and in an attempt to dodge the problem your spam filter gets blamed.
• You were already booked on the date a potential client asked you about, but you promised them a referral. Weeks later you find out the photographer you contacted about them never followed up. 
• Business has been slow, but you blame the challenges on the competition, customer trends and some less than ethical competitors.

Well, let's solve all three scenarios, with or without a poop bag!

• These days blaming your spam filter on anything is the equivalent of the dog ate my term paper. Spam filters do create a problem but get in the habit of a fast run-through every day - before you delete everything.
• You contacted another photographer and gave them a referral - so, it's still your client, and you have the potential for so much goodwill. All it takes is a phone call a day or two later to find out if they heard from the photographer you suggested, and if not follow up.
• There are obviously times when business is slow, and the problem is outside your control, but it's rare there isn't something proactive you can do. Take responsibility for your business and marketing - it's the face in the mirror each morning that has the responsibility to be creative and look for help when there's a problem.

It's only a little rant this morning, but the comparison between photographers who blame every challenge on somebody or something else fits right in with people who don't pick up after their pets! 

Responsibility finds a way. Irresponsibility makes excuses.
Gene Bedley

Photo Credit: Cantrell Portrait Design

It's Sunday morning, and as usual, I have no idea where this post is going. I love staying away from the topic of business, taking the time to write about something outside photography.  This post each Sunday morning is often more for my benefit than you, my readers. It's therapeutic to step away from the business and write about something different. What always surprises me is how much Sunday Morning Reflections hits on things you're all feeling.
 
Sheila and I are having a spectacular weekend but there's absolutely nothing particularly unique; we just wanted to spend time together. In fact, it's an entirely boring weekend by most of your standards. It's the appreciation for our ability to slow the world down and savor our time that makes it unique. If I listed what we've done over the last couple of days it would put a rock to sleep!

And that brings me right to today's point - when was the last time you took time out to enjoy whoever that very best friend in your life is? When did you last shut off the outside world and savor time with that one person who's most special in your life?  

The best kind of people are the ones who come into your life and make you see the sun, where you once saw clouds. The people that believe in you so much, you start to believe in you too.
The people who love you simply for being you.
The once in a lifetime kind of people.
Author Unknown

Time is our most valuable commodity, but as I shared last weekend, it's not wasted time if you enjoy wasting it. So, take the time today and block out everything that pulls you away from that person or people most special in your life. Make today's schedule boring by everybody else's standards but yours.

Clear your head of everything to do with business. It will all be there tomorrow. The same way you can block a troll on Facebook - block all those thoughts that get in the way of your smile.  Celebrate your life, your friends and family. Let's make this a day where we do nothing except smile and cherish somebody special. 

Wishing everybody a perfect day defined by whatever definition is in your heart exclusively - nobody else's. Go for those therapeutic eleven-second hugs, and appreciate the deafening smile and twinkle in your eyes when you take the time to appreciate those people most special in your life.

​Happy Sunday everybody!

"You don't become what you want, you become what you believe."
Oprah

I don't usually post on Saturday, but while doing a little work for next week, I ran across the quote above. Just recently I've had a couple of conversations with photographers who are frustrated with success not coming fast enough. They're thinking about making a career change, and the issue is purely timing and they're ready to give up.

Whatever your goal in life, short-term or long, you've got to believe in yourself, and to believe in yourself you have to love the journey. You have to recognize the importance of patience, and at the same time NEVER slow down on building your skill set. Last but not least, get rid of the naysayers in your life and surround yourself with positive people. Which brings me to another great quote I found from Oprah:

Every morning on Twitter, usually at 7:30, I share a quote generally about something related to the challenges of being in business. The idea of sharing quotes started years ago when it was a great way to build followers on Twitter, but today, it's become part of my morning routine. Reading a quote that's inspirational helps charge my battery for the day ahead. 

For those of you who can't start the day without a cup of coffee, my scroll through cyberspace, and reading great quotes has become my Starbucks! Each quote gets me thinking about some aspect of my life and business. And, the inspiration gets me in the mood for whatever the day ahead is about to bring.  

A few years back I spoke to a group of photographers at a local association and was excited to catch up to an old friend who I'd met years before through PPA. He was a great photographer specializing in portraiture, mostly seniors. Well, I was shocked to talk to him and found out he'd given up on photography as a career and gone back to working for a local retailer, completely outside imaging. When I read today's quote, it took me right back to talking with him and sensing his loss of creativity and definitely an aging soul.

I know there are times when we're all faced with situations we need to walk away from, but when it's something you're passionate about, you need to weigh all the alternatives. 

I have looked in the mirror every day and asked myself,
"If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I'm about to do today?"
And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row,
I know I need to change something!"
Steve Jobs

There's nothing more I can add to Steve Jobs helping me make the point. Wishing everybody a terrific Wednesday and a day filled with projects and people who help make your life richer.

Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.
John Lennon

Well, here I am on another Sunday when it seems like I just wrote last Sunday's "Reflections" post yesterday. How fast time flies takes me right to my topic this morning - time.

Now and then Facebook does something thought-provoking. On Thursday I got a congratulations post for ten years on Facebook. I remember getting started and being told by my kids it was creepy seeing their old man on Facebook. Now, we're all on it!

But my thoughts aren't about FB but looking back over the last ten years. The older you get, the faster time seems to fly by, and there are two things I'm thinking about.

First, look back over the last ten years. Think about your life in 2008 versus today and all the things that have changed in your personal life, business and your passion and skill set as an artist. So often we get so involved in chasing our dreams we miss all the progress we've made along the way. 
 
Second, what are you doing to make the most of the time you've got in front of you?

Just about three weeks ago Sheila and I lost a great friend, Tony Ballionis. He and his wife Dana have been in our lives since we moved down here in 2011. He went to sleep the night before and just didn't wake up. It was a complete surprise, and we were crushed, but Tony's passing makes the point that we never know when the clock is going to stop.

And there it is - full circle on my thoughts this morning. What are you going to do to stay focused on whatever journey is in your heart? We all procrastinate and waste time. There are even times when wasting time is the right thing to do because it's part of the decision-making process. 

So, take a little time this morning with a short look in the rear view mirror. Look at how far you've come over the last ten years and then let yourself daydream a little over the path ahead of you for the next decade. In 2028 what do you want to see in your life as you look back?

Chamira Young and I did our "Mind Your Own Business" podcast on Photofocus.com a short time ago with Jen Rozenbaum, who talked about her philosophy to live her life backwards, picturing the end of her life and wanting her trip down Memory Lane to be filled with things she wanted to do and no regrets. It might seem abstract for me to explain here, but listen to Jen's explanation.

Wishing everybody a day filled with the people you love the most who make every minute of every day worth being alive. Take the time for those eleven-second hugs with those friends and family who merely make life beautiful. It's really that simple...stop wasting time on the naysayers, projects that don't make sense, and the energy drainers that leave you exhausted. There's a point in life where you need to stop watering dead plants.

Happy Sunday everybody!

Life is all about timing...the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable becomes available, the unattainable...attainable. Have the patience. Wait it out. It's all about timing.
Stacy Charter

We live south of Sarasota, Florida a mile from Nokomis Beach. I've written about the beautiful sunsets and last week even a sunrise. Well, this summer because of the red tide and thousands of dead fish, we never made it to the beach. Stimulated by man's pollution, the red tide took over the ocean this summer, and while it's usually a couple of weeks, this year it's gone for months. The smell of dead fish up and down our favorite beach takes away from going over there, even to photograph a sunset.

Well, last night after a summer of being absent, I headed over to catch a sunset and missed it! As I got there the sun had already dropped below the horizon. As I walked down the path to the water with a couple of cameras, a couple who was leaving said to me, "You missed the most beautiful sunset by fifteen minutes!"

True, I missed the "main event" but the image above was looking south-east and the sunset was still in its glory. The couple who wanted to let me know what I'd missed, never even looked up as they walked to their car. Then, ten minutes later it was gone, with just a hint of the previous light show. 

Years ago I wrote an article for PDN, interviewing Kirk Voclain about his work with seniors. One of his secrets is to get them talking about their friends, goals, and dreams. As they relax and talk more, he looks for that sparkle in their eyes when they hit something they genuinely love - *click*, and he starts to get the beautiful expressions his work is known for. 

Joe Buissink talks about the same thing with bridal couples. The engagement session isn't about expanded coverage, but getting to know the couple and they, in turn, get to know him. Building trust and a relationship make him a welcome addition on the wedding day.  At a time that's always chaotic, he's a welcome friend. The couple knows Joe already, and their trust becomes a pivotal ingredient to natural expressions in the images Joe captures to tell their story.

Back in the film days, photographers hung in their longer to make sure they got the shot. Well, digital came along, and a quick chimp and too many people move on. They think they got the shot, but the best one might still be coming!

So, here's my point...timing is everything and together with remembering to stay with a scene to make sure you captured the decisive moment add to the formula for success. 

It seems like I just wrote a Sunday Reflections post yesterday, and here I am on another quiet morning, and as always, off track from the business of photography. In my Fast Food Friday post, I wrote, "You can't capture images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it."

Well, it applies to everything we do. On a personal level, for the last two weeks, I've been dealing with some challenges with a couple of my own family members. The issues themselves aren't relevant, and too personal to share in a blog. However, some of the things I did to stay focused are relevant to today's post.

My parents always taught us to "do our own dirty laundry." You never shared anything personal with a friend, and often I'm not sure they shared stressful issues with each other. I remember being shocked but also proud of my Dad when he'd go with me to the Caregiver's Support Group meetings while we were dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's. Opening up about what he was feeling to a group of people he didn't know wasn't something his generation ever did, let alone cry during the process.

So, when it comes to your own "dirty laundry," what do you do?  Here are three things that helped me get back on track:

• Share with your partner: I've written a lot over the years about my relationship with Sheila. So, when something happens that's entirely off the charts in internal pain, there's no one better than my wife. I don't have to keep the old stiff upper lip with her. Whether you're married or not, everybody has that one person you can talk to without hitting a wall of judgment. 

• Phone a friend: For me, it was all timing. "Vanelli" and I had planned on hanging out for a guy's weekend, and the timing couldn't have been better. I wrote about it in last Sunday's post, but here's my point. The best thing for me was stepping away from my business, and directly into the fun of photography accompanied by a lot of laughs with a good friend. The image with today's post was captured during a couple of hours of us watching butterflies with a few cameras in our hands.

​

• Expand your skill set: Over the years many of you have talked about how being a photographer has helped you through difficult times, and essentially saved your sanity. Well, this past week I had a one-hour conference call with "Abba" at Skylum. He took two of us through a demo of Luminar, which is remarkable. I'm now hooked and a complete believer. I had experienced a small demo watching Vanelli when he was working on his images of Molly and me, but getting into it myself was another thing altogether. Again, it kept my mind off the pain I was feeling and into the pure joy of creativity.

Here's my point this morning - I grew up as a right-fighter from a long line of genetically dominant right-fighters. I'm still work in progress, and while old habits die hard, my life is richer letting go of the need to prove I'm right. There's a terrific Dr. Phil line, "Would you rather be happy or right?" The last couple of weeks reminded me, the need to be right is a cumbersome commodity. It accomplishes nothing but takes away from the energy you need to be happy. 

The next time you're in an emotional crisis and digging deep to find the strength to focus on your own well-being rather than the challenge itself, do your best to step back and remind yourself of all the good things in your life. Start with that one person you trust the most to help you through the moment then focus on the one person you always forget about trusting, yourself!

Wishing everybody a day filled with peace, and respect for the love you have for your family and friends. And, if coincidentally you're in crisis mode like I am now, take the time to look back at the good times. Run your own "Throwback Thursday" moments through your head and enjoy the process. As always, go for those eleven-second hugs, but during the embrace, think about how much that person means in your life.

Happy Sunday everybody...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world!

​When Sheila and I moved to Sarasota almost seven years ago, we drove both cars down. During the drive, my car was filled literally to the top. It wasn’t what I planned, but at the last minute, I discovered a bunch of framed prints that hadn’t been packed. The only way to take them was to load them on top of everything in the back seat.  I was left without a rear view mirror and had to rely on my side view mirrors for the entire drive from Ohio.

Trust me there’s a point here! 

Because I was relying entirely on my side mirrors, I found myself using them differently. You usually use your side mirrors when changing lanes, relying on your rearview mirror most of the time. Instead, I found myself using the side views to see who or what was coming up behind me or who/what was on either side of me throughout the trip.

Here’s the link to what got me thinking about business. There are times when we focus too much on what’s immediately behind us. We don’t look to the side to see what’s coming up next but spend our time more in a “wish-I-hadn’t-done-that” mode. We look back too often wishing we could change something, but we’d be so much stronger focusing on what’s in front of us while keeping an eye on what’s coming up behind us next.

Here’s an example: We're coming up on the fourth quarter and it doesn’t matter what you didn’t get done in the last few months. Using your "side view mirror", you can see your competitors, other programs coming up. Looking forward you know what’s coming up for business in the last quarter. You know which conventions and workshops you need to attend next year. You know what equipment** you need and what you need to do to strengthen your skill set.

You can’t do anything to change the path you chose in the past, but you can make a difference in where you go next and in what direction.

I’m a huge fan of diversity in your skill set. So let’s assume the path you need to take is to develop at least one more skill set to help your business be stronger in 2019.  That’s the view of where you need to go. Your side view mirrors will help you see what your competitors might be doing and what’s going on in your market. 

The bottom line goes right back to the control you have for your future. Stop worrying about things you can’t change and focus on the incredible potential in whatever path you choose going forward.

One of my favorite quotes is from Zig Ziglar and it's entirely based on moving forward - not looking back.

​Every time I think we've run out of creative ideas for Fast Food Friday blue plate specials in the SCU diner I find one more series of ingredients to whip something up! LOL Remember, this is a very special diner serving up things for you to think about to help make this one of your best years in business.

Well, today's is a very special combination of ingredients and I'm betting EVERYBODY is going to find something they can relate to and enjoy. Here's a phenomenon that seems to be more unique to the photographic industry than most other career fields - people tend to help each other.  Over and again I'm amazed at people who ask for help on a photographic or business challenge and find themselves buried in answers.

​We're coming up to what traditionally is the busiest time of the year. It's guaranteed that some time over the next four months you're going to hit the wall with a challenge you need help with. There are so many resources for you to get help - you're not alone!

Here's what started today's rant, which was later fueled by a couple of stupid statements in one of the photography forums. I get a great magazine called The Week. It's a weekly summary of the news around the world. As I was looking through a back issue, I saw a story in their regular feature, "Only in America."

"Netflix is reportedly asking employees not to look at one another for more than five consecutive seconds. The gaze limit is part of new sexual harassment guidelines, issued in response to #MeToo, that also bars employees from flirting, "lingering hugs," and asking each other for their personal phone numbers."

I look back over the last ten years, and I keep asking the same question when did society run amuck? When did we become so serious? When did we all wind up under the microscope?  

Here are some examples within photography:

I spend a good part of my day reading comments on Facebook in the various forums and so often, sometime around the sixth comment on a specific topic, somebody gets a little too sensitive. The next thing you read is a battle of semantics as people start to fight through the sensitivities of how somebody has expressed their opinion. Then the floodgates open and I've seen suggestions on how to improve a truly bad image suddenly go down the accusation path of every prejudice you can imagine.

Maybe just learning to laugh more is part of the solution. When did we forget to laugh or in this business forget that beauty is in the eyes of the checkbook holder? It doesn't matter what everybody else thinks.

I already imagine the trolls out there rolling their eyes and getting ready to shred me. The problem is bigger than the challenges with digital workflow; Uncle Harry stealing your business; photographers not knowing enough about photography; print competition not judging your prints fairly, and people copying other artist's photographs. 
 
Okay gang, let's pick a week during the year where for seven days in a row we laugh at just about everything! We'll laugh at images that are out of focus. We'll laugh at all the challenges in our business. We'll laugh at people who disappoint us. We'll laugh at growing older.   

By the time we get to the second week, it'll be catching, and we'll laugh with our family and friends. We'll laugh with our clients. We'll laugh with our vendors, and the world might start to loosen up. Then, once it's loose enough, maybe we can really accomplish something - talk more to each other, share ideas, grow our businesses and live healthier more productive lives.

I thought I had a unique thought with all of this - all mine until I went looking for a quote with Google that would wrap up this rant.  With a big smile on my face, I'm proud to announce the topic of this blog is hardly original and has been bouncing around the world for centuries, but I'm in good company!

And to quote my good buddy Terry Clark,

It's a quote from "Life's Little Instruction Book Volume II,  and it's one of my favorites. Weeds, like dandelions, are pretty to photograph, but ever notice how they take over a beautiful lawn when not controlled?

Well, it's Marketing Monday, and I found this post in the archives from many years ago. It's perfect to kick off the week as a reminder to so many of who are dealing with "weeds" in your life. Maybe it's time to get them under control. 

Weed 1: Stop worrying about how much you still have to learn and pat yourself on the back for how much you know already. Photography is an art form, and nobody ever picked it up overnight. All your heroes started the same place you did, at the beginning.

Weed 2: It's time to shut off the negative people in your life. Not everybody is going to understand your dreams, but that doesn't give them the right to keep taking one second away from the joy of yours.

Weed 3: Stop worrying about having the right gear. Do the best you can with what you've got. If there really is something you desperately need to help raise the bar on your images, but you can't afford it, then find a good rental house.

Weed 4: Stop thinking you're alone in your frustrations as a photographer and small business owner. Here's where getting involved in a local guild or PPA chapter is going to help. You need to be involved in the local network, not just know about it. Join whatever/whoever is in your community and start getting to know other photographers, as well as them getting to know you.

Weed 5: Take some time to think through your definition of success. Most of you are halfway there, but since you've only defined success in monetary terms, you have no idea how much you've accomplished just by being happy.

Weed 6: Get out from behind your computer...often! Your business is going to be built on relationships, and you won't get to know the people who can help you the most if you're at the computer all day. Scott Bourne and I have talked a lot over the years about "owning your zip code." That means getting out, knocking on doors and introducing yourself to all the business owners in your community.

Weed 7: Stop talking and listen. There's that old saying about having two ears and only one mouth, so you've got to listen twice as much as you talk.

You've got so much to be proud of, but you've got to take it one day at a time, keep procrastination to a minimum and keep working to build a stronger skill set.  And, I guess this is the right place to remind you to stop thinking the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!  (Sorry, just couldn't help it.)

Make it a great day everybody. Get control of those weeds!



​

I've written a lot about friendships over the years. In fact, I've repeatedly said, "The best thing about this industry has nothing to do with photography, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft." 

Going back almost ten years ago, Sheila got me into reading Melody Beattie. While her book, The Language of Letting Go is daily meditations on codependency, I've found so many of her thoughts inspirational. I find whenever I hit a low spot in creativity or problem solving, it's time to take a break and step away from the business. I'll often pick up one of her books, turn to that day's date and see what she's written.

Yesterday I hit a dry stretch and couldn't seem to focus on what I needed to do. So, I grabbed Melody's book and took a short break. It was just what I needed, but I went one step further and took her advice. I picked up the phone and called an old friend. While it wasn't necessarily for the purpose she suggested, it gave me the lift I needed.

We're all so wrapped up in the challenges of business combined with the many hats we wear. Learn to recognize when you need a little lift. Many of you are coffee drinkers, and you love that feeling when the first cup of coffee kicks in each morning. Your spirit is no different, and getting in the habit of reading something inspirational from time to time is going to feed your brain...and heart too.

by Melody Beattie

Friends - August 13

"Don't overlook the value of friendship. Don't neglect friends. Friends are a joy. Adult friendships can be a good place for us to learn to have fun and to appreciate how much fun we can have with a friend. 

Friends can be a comfort. Who knows us better, or is more able to give us support, than a good friend? A friendship is a comfortable place to be ourselves. Often, our choice of friends will reflect the issues we're working on. Giving and receiving support will help both people grow.

Some friendship wax and wane, going through cycles throughout the years. Some trail off when one person out-grows the other. Certainly, we will have trials and tests in friendships and, at times, be called on to practice our recovery behaviors. 

But some friendships will last a lifetime. There are special love relationships, and there are friendships. Sometimes, our friendships - especially recovery friendships - can be special love relationships too.

Today, I will reach out to a friend. I will let myself enjoy the comfort, joys and enduring quality of my friendships."

If you think back to the best books you've read, your favorite movies, TV series or streaming programs there's always a hero. There's that one character we love who's taking on a challenge and inspiring us. Recently Chamira Young and I had Jen Rozenbaum join us on "Mind Your Own Business." 

Well, Jen is that warrior starring in whatever show we're watching, only in this case it's real life and business. And, while there are a lot of women and men who are warriors battling some serious health challenges, it's Jen's outlook on her entire life that's so inspirational. Plus, it's her approach to business, a new podcast series, a new book, getting back on the road teaching, and all with an unbelievably positive attitude and an unbeatable zest for life.

And speaking of Jen hitting the road:
​

• NYC - August 17:  You can see it in person or online but you have to register!  Sign up here: Posing and Lighting to Flatter Any Woman
• Ohio: September 6/7: At the Westcott Headquarters. Sign up here for Sept. 6th: Light: The Ultimate Storyteller – An Evening With Jen Rozenbaum - Sign up here for Sept. 7th: Posing & Lighting For Boudoir With Jen Rozenbaum
• Austin, TX - October 12/14: Precision Camera University. Sign up here: Precision Camera University Weekend 2018

​
And, whether you attend any of her programs or not, take the time to listen to this podcast. Jen shares a lot of incredible insight into her priorities about life, all as a result of what she's learned over the years in business, fighting cancer and all while staying focused on being "Shamelessly Feminine," (her new podcast and book!)

A house is built of walls and beams, a home is built of love and dreams.
Unknown

For the last half an hour I've been struggling with what to write about on this gorgeous Sunday morning in South Florida. The house is quiet and as I wandered from room to room trying to come up with a topic, it hit me. We don't have a big house, but we do have a big home. Stay with me on this, because it's my whole point this morning.

As I wandered around the house it occurred to me how important our friends are and even more relevant how important Sheila and I are to each other. Our house is built like any house, but our home is filled with memories and love. It's a combination of everything Sheila and I both brought into the relationship and then added over the last ten years.

A number of times in the past, I've described our home as a gallery with photographs from so many friends over the years, but it's much more. There isn't a corner that doesn't represent another chapter in our lives individually or together.

My home office is probably the most intense, filled with memorabilia as recent as last week to forty+ years ago at Polaroid, and beyond. From Ansel Adams' rear license plate framed to my grandfather's pocket watch; a portrait of my Dad and me from four years ago to a crystal bowl that was a gift from friends at Minolta, which holds reading glasses - everything has a story behind it.

And here's my point...

My favorite quote is from Tennyson, "I am a part of all that I have met."  Well, Sheila and I as a couple and individually are here together and living a fantastic life thanks to all the experiences, good and bad, along with all the people who have come in and out of our lives. Even at times when we might have been alone, we were never a solo act - influenced by family, friends, associates and our environments.

I guess this is a Throwback Sunday kind of post. Take five minutes and look around you. I'm betting just like me this morning you're going to realize how much you take for granted in all the people who have come into your life over the years. Together they've all contributed to making you who you are today. 

Nothing earthshaking or even particularly astute this morning, just an appreciation for everything that's made our house a home. I love Sunday mornings because it's the one day of the week where we have no solid agenda. I wake up appreciating a gift all of you have given me - a time to go off track and share some piece of life outside the business of photography.

Wishing all of you a terrific Sunday and time to appreciate things in your life that have helped to make you who you are today. We didn't just grow on our own, but with a lot of company along the way. As always hit the eleven-second therapeutic hugs with those people most important to you. 

"The ache for home lives in all of us,
the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."
Maya Angelou

Happy Sunday everybody!

Close to thirty years ago I met John Isaac at an industry dinner in NYC. At that time he was Chief of Photography for the United Nations. Although I haven't caught up to him in a long time, my admiration is the same as it was then. So, yesterday when a good friend sent me the link to this TEDxIHEParis Talk from last year, after watching it, I had to share it with you.

Many of you are relatively new to photography. You don't know very many of the artists who have blazed a trail of creativity, respect, and integrity before you. John is all about empathy, honor and compassion, and this quote by Emerson seems like it was written about him.

The purpose of life is not to be happy.
It is to be useful, to be honorable,
to be compassionate,
to have it make some difference
that you have lived and lived well.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Over five years ago I wrote most of this post, and as I prepare to take a couple of days off at the end of this week, I realized how important it is to recognize when you need a break.

When I started my own business nine years ago, I was worried about not having the discipline to stay focused in a home office. Instead, I learned the challenge was taking the time to step away from the business. Even checking email before going to bed became an obsession for another hour of work. I found myself yelling to Sheila, "I'll be right there," and then not realizing how quickly an hour passed.

Well, I'm better at recognizing my need to recharge my battery today than I was years ago, but like so many of you, I'm still work in progress. It's hard to shut off the business, but each time I do I come back with a new level of energy.

Shakespeare gets the credit for the title to today's post, but you have to take credit for walking the talk!  

I found a great little article in Psychology Today many years ago that started out: "To thine own self be true" is one of the underlying tenets of recovery. But how do we honor this wise sentiment by Shakespeare? One way is to check in with the "me" that I'm trying to be true to. Checking in can involve slowing down, writing, meditating, and noticing what we are experiencing rather than running on autopilot. Checking in tends to involve tuning in to our body or to our "higher self," rather than tuning in to our "monkey mind" (the running commentary that we are telling ourselves.)"

Whether you realize you're in "recovery" or not, from my perspective we're ALL in recovery. About the challenges of business, technology, the economy and marketing, anybody who says they don't sometimes feel the stress and on occasion has considered running away and joining the circus is lying. (Actually, with the circus shutting down last year, where do we run away to now?)

Running your own business is tough, especially in photography. At the same time, you're trying to fine tune your skills as an artist; you're being forced to learn the operational aspects of running a business. Your left brain is fighting it out with your right brain almost daily. You know you need more help, but as a small business owner who hasn't been at this very long, you've got to keep an eye on your costs because you're still a one-man-band.

Well, we're coming up to the fourth quarter, the strongest seasonality of the year. Now is the time to be reviewing your plans for the Fall, and building a stronger business through the holidays. You want to thrive, not just survive. 

There's a great line - instead of,  If it ain't broke don't fix it, it should be If it ain't broke you haven't looked hard enough.  The reality is we can all use fine-tuning, but we have to first recognize where things aren't working as smoothly as they should. Maybe you're in better shape than you think, but I'm betting you haven't taken a break and stepped away from the business in a long time.
 
No matter how good or bad business was last year, you can't be creative if you're living in a pressure cooker.  You've got to recognize your own weaknesses and take a break, recharge your battery and do something that's away from the direct challenges of each day. Do something you love to do that doesn't push the edge of the envelope on those weakest links in your skill set or running the business.

If you've been feeling frustrated, remember you're not alone. But, if you're looking to stand out and be more competitive, taking a break, might clear your head and create enough space on your mental hard drive for more ideas.

Julieanne Kost, from Adobe, gave me a great line once when I asked her to get involved in a project I was working on. "I'd love to, but I'm just out of bandwidth!"  That said it all and we moved the date of the project to a time when she knew she could give it 100%.

If you don't recognize when you're out of bandwidth and the need to step away from the business now and then, what's the good of working this hard?   To thine own self be true...recognize when you need a break...shut off the computer and your phone for a little while and enjoy your family and friends - you've earned it!

My Sunday mornings always kick off with me sharing whatever is on my mind, and it's rarely about photography. Often I've had the honor of feedback from many of you who were feeling the same way. So, here I am about to go completely off track from imaging.

The topic is giving up on a dream. Big ones, little ones, it doesn't matter - the point is we all get to a point with our dreams where we start to doubt ourselves, the idea and even the relationships that support our quest. We get frustrated with results that aren't coming fast enough. In short, feel, like we're trapped in PinkFloyd's The Wall, "Is anybody out there?" (And if you're too young to have heard the album - go buy it today. It's one of the greats!)

It's a short post this morning and I need a little help from the outside world: 

 Age wrinkles the body, quitting wrinkles the soul.
Douglas MacArthur

Giving up on your goal because of one setback, is like slashing your other three tires because you got a flat.
Anon

Never give up, for that is just the place and time the tide will turn.
Harriet Beecher Stowe

Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.
Earl Nightingale

Here's my point this morning - NEVER give up on your dreams. When you get to the point where you're questioning something you're trying to do, step back and take the time to think it through. More than likely you'll remember what it was that started the dream in the first place. So often people give up on the touchdown, just when they're on the one-yard line! (With help from Vince Lombardi on that one.)

Wishing everybody a beautiful Sunday and a day filled with peace and love, just like a flower child from the 70's. Life is too short to waste energy on sadness or letting go of dreams. Always go for those eleven-second hugs and do something today that's different. Even it's just taking a little time to look in the mirror and appreciate the heart of the face staring back at you.

Happy Sunday everybody - or for those readers who remind me now and then it's Monday on the other side of the world - Happy Monday!

It's Sunday morning and as always I'm off track from marketing, business and photography. This is the time when I just kick back and let my thoughts go anyplace they choose. As always Molly the Wonder Dog is asleep at my feet and I can't help but wonder how great it would be if we were all the kind of people our dogs think we are!

For some reason that quote above popped into my head this morning as I read three "Chicken Little" posts and emails this morning. A "Chicken Little" issue is from somebody who every day finds something to worry about and does their best to rally everybody around them into believing the "sky is falling."

Over the years In photography we've had some big ones: Photographers in the fifties who felt photography was going to hell because of color! They had children who believed life photography was ending when auto-focus came into play. (Anybody remember when one of the biggest retailers in photography, Calumet, in the late 80's threw Nikon out because they stopped making manual focus lenses?) But it doesn't stop there because the same people upset over autofocus had kids who complained that imaging was over with the invention of the digital camera! And I'm sure we can find a link to today's challenges with social media, digital files, and the list goes on and on.

Okay, so I stepped back into photography for one paragraph, but here's how it applies to life. I'm so tired of having a conversation with somebody that starts out with me asking, "Hey, how have you been?" and then hearing how the sky is falling! And while we all have friends who truly have endured some horrific days - they recognize that it's just that; a bad day and they wouldn't trade their life with anybody.

So here's my point this morning - let's help those people who have mastered the art of pessimism to morph into something else. Instead of asking them how they're doing let's open the conversation with, "Wow, you sound great today - what's going on?" Let's help them to keep life's daily challenges in perspective and get them to stop writing their lives off because there are too many speed bumps along the way.

I spent a lot of time in Japan in the 80's, and when having a lot of differences in a negotiating session, there's an expression which translated means, "there are too many pebbles in the stream." So, one by one you work to remove each pebble, but nobody ever looks at the stream as a dried up creek bed!

Wishing everybody a Sunday, or Monday if you're on the other side of the world, that's filled with optimism and time with the people most special to you. Always go for those eleven-second hugs and think about how much the person in that hug means to you. And definitely, keep each day in perspective. Not every day is the one you're going to base your life story on, but without those days that are off a little how would you ever appreciate the ones that are stellar!

Over the last few years I've written a lot about the "Rules of Engagement." Each time it's because I've watched a conversation go completely off track, usually on Facebook. It's one thing to disagree with what somebody's posted, but another altogether to try and rip their heart out. 

I've repeatedly watched as photographers battle it out over semantics, politics, and beliefs until finally an administrator in the forum comes along and deletes the entire thread. As the thread disappears, often the members who thought they had a right to bully their way through the argument, wind up being removed from the forum as well. 

A few years ago I was following a thread on Linkedin in one of the discussion groups.  A member of the group had a black-tie wedding coming up and threw a question out about what was appropriate attire, wondering if he could get by in a dark suit and not a tux.
 
The question was great and certainly appropriate. It was answered right away, but twelve days later the banter was still going on. The volley continued as two photographers argued their points about beach weddings versus the rest of the world, when the only answer that really mattered was to "dress appropriately".  The question was answered right from the beginning, yet people wanted to keep giving input and it got emotional and ugly.

When things heat up in a forum I'm amazed at what happens next. Hiding behind the anonymity of their computer screens, there are always photographers who morph into trolls and bullies, insisting everyone buy in on their opinions.

Last week I had the same type of challenge in a forum I administrate. It got ugly because a couple of people wanted to play troll and simply didn't know how to behave, let alone communicate. Once a thread goes off track, there is absolutely NO WAY to get it back. We wound up deleting the thread and permanently removing the trolls.

So, here's what I wish we could all agree to and I'm including myself in this. It's an extension of the "Rules of Engagement" I've written about before and it's pretty simple. 

• If the question has already been answered by at least three people, then don't bother to respond if you don't have anything new to contribute.  

• Don't get hung up with semantics and the challenges of communicating via the written word. Too often we sound emotional when we don't mean to. Somebody throws out an inflammatory barb and it starts a sidebar battle that's unnecessary. 

• Don't take the bait! If the conversation seems to be getting heated, just walk away.
• Don't write anything you wouldn't want to share with the world!  Forums are available to everybody who can read. I've heard some truly sad and unethical stories about competitors who have shared information from a forum with another photographer's clients. I've also heard about clients who are in some of the forums and have been shocked by some of the comments from their own photographers. You don't have to sugar coat anything, just be professional when you comment. Remember, there are no erasers on the Internet!
• And as always, from good buddy, Levi Sim..."Act as if your grandmother is watching you!"

Don't get me wrong, I love forum/group discussions. The Internet is a remarkable tool and helps so many photographers every day, but there's no telling how much stronger we could all become if we were simply more selective when commenting in any group. 

The endless volleys that come up over and again would rarely happen if we were all together in one room talking to each other.

“Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t want plastered on a billboard with your face on it.” 
                                                                                                Erin Bury