A "Hump Day" Reflection

What fools call wasting time is most often the best investment.
Nassim Taleb

by Skip Cohen

​Three years ago I started the "Hump Day" series. Most of today's post is from that first post, which started by wandering through cyberspace to check out when the expression got started. Here's what Google gave me:

Wednesday first came to be known as hump day since at least the 1950s. The expression figures Wednesday, the middle of the workweek, as the hump people get over to coast into the weekend. Throughout the 20th century, Wednesday was especially referred to as hump day in an effort to liven up the drudgery of the workweek.

If you think about it, there's no middle of the workweek any longer. In the 50s, Saturday was a coast day, and no businesses were open on Sunday. Today, most retailers operate 7 days a week. Plus, if you're a wedding and event photographer working Friday - Sunday, there is no "coasting" into the weekend.

But here's how I use "Hump Day:" I have several ongoing projects. On Wednesdays, I like to waste time. "First and second Tuesdays" (see my previous post) are always a little insane. By Wednesday, I want to look at what I've done and what I have coming up, and I'll often take time to kick back a little to think through my game plan.

​I review my calendar, check for any deadlines, and then do some prep work for specific projects I'm working on. It's a day to reflect a little, then ramp up to complete what I want to finish by Friday's end.

We all should have our routines, but sadly, for those of you just starting out, it's natural to be reactionary. You're trying to be all things to everybody. You'll eventually lose focus, and that's when something gets missed. It took me a long time to recognize my own limitations given the time I had available. I had no choice but to work to get a little more organized.

Learn from my mistakes so that you can make new ones of your own. Establish a few standard routines you do each day that involve various aspects of your business. And while marketing is an ongoing category, remember: your greatest marketing tool is relationship building. Make sure you have time allotted for customer contacts and building a brand that demonstrates your accessibility and passion for the craft.

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