by Skip Cohen

​I started this series to share short ideas that seemed to fit into the middle of the week scenario. Plus, I love the shot of the camels! 

Well, it's Hump Day* and the perfect time to hit on one of the biggest benefits of attending workshops, conferences, and conventions - they help you recharge your battery!

Yesterday, I presented a two-hour program to a passionate group of pet photographers, thanks to the Hair of the Dog Accademy founder, Nicole Begley. Over the last few weeks, I spent a lot of time pulling information about one of the biggest challenges in business - finding new customers and expanding your reach.

But my point today isn't about marketing and promotion but a side benefit of attending a conference like this: it recharges your battery!

I'm always writing about taking a break and recognizing the signs of burnout, but God forbid I should practice what I preach! I didn't realize how much I needed a recharge myself. Throughout my presentation, I felt like the Energizer Rabbit. There were just over 200 people in the program, and their energy, comments, and questions reminded me of how much I appreciate the true entrepreneurial spirit of so many artists. 

From the attendee comments, the enthusiasm was infectious, not just in my program but in two other programs I was able to attend by Anne Thomas on Storytelling and Zoe Hiljemark on The Power of PR. The energy I felt yesterday was spread throughout the attendees. Plus, something unique happens at small conferences like this - everybody supports each other, working towards a common goal to find new ways to grow.

So, to Nicole Begley, thank you for the invite and for sharing your Hair of the Dog family. To the attendees, what a kick getting to "mee" so many of you. As I've already said and written - you know where to find me if I can ever help. And to all of you, my readers - as you lay out your calendar for 2024, pay attention to the dates of local workshops, conferences, and national conventions - just like our phones when the battery's low, we all need a recharge now and then. You should attend every possible program you can, whether LIVE or online.

Nothing beats hanging out with people in our industry. The energy is incredible, and sometimes, it's just what you need to revitalize your spirit and passion for the craft.

by Skip Cohen

Normally  on Sunday, I slow down after posting Sunday Morning Reflections, but I've got a day full of projects to complete, including a final review of my upcoming Hair of the Dog Summit presentation. (Apologies for the little infomercial, but it's a great program, and at $17 or $117, it's a no-brainer for photographers to attend.) At 5:15 AM I started thinking about today's post and it hit me how the older I get, the faster time seems to fly right by.

​I went off in search of some quotes about time and I stumbled on this one:

Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity. 
​Jean De La Bruyere

ed​I'm complaining about time's brevity but never considered whether I'm part of the cause. That led me to think through how I've been using my time. I did an inventory of my actions recently and realized I waste too much time on things that don't matter.

For example, I can't win a fight with Comcast, but I'll waste time I can never get back, waiting on hold for Tech Support to fix something that might not even be that relevant at the time. Then there are times in social media answering an I.M. from somebody I don't know who wants to pitch me on something I don't want. Instead of deleting or blocking them, I respond with a sentence or two. What is it that makes me feel like they deserve a response and more of my time? 

It's not that I intentionally waste time, just that I've become A.D.D. over things that don't matter. I get easily distracted and waste time and energy. Like weeds in a garden - you can pull all the weeds you want, but it won't make a difference if you don't water and fertilize the flowers!

And there's my point - Too many of us spend time focused on the wrong things. We chase issues that don't matter. We spend time, our most valuable commodity, on things with little or no return value. We're investing time in things with no R.O.I.

Thinking through how I wanted to spend today, I made a list of what I want to accomplish. It's given me an almost tack-sharp focus on the day ahead - starting with getting this post up early. 

Wishing everybody a day with time to spend on truly important things. They don't have to be earth-shaking, just those things that have an impact. I define things with "impact" as whatever makes me smile and feel a sense of accomplishment. From an eleven-second therapeutic hug with Sheila to various projects around the house and even a touch on some business things to make the week ahead a little smoother - if it makes me smile, it's on the list for today.

Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world.

Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift.
That’s why it’s called the present. 
Bil Keane

by Skip Cohen

After posting at least six days a week for the last ten years, missing the previous few days has felt strange. But the reason is a kick and points to a topic I've written a lot about over the years - special projects.

I'm honored and excited to be teaching at the Hair of the Dog Online Summit next week. Over the last month or two, since being asked, I've been pulling material for my program, and it was finally time to put it all together. From sharing the experiences/ideas of friends and associates to new material I've pulled together, it will be a jam-packed presentation with plenty of "low-hanging fruit" attendees can start to implement almost immediately.

And there are bonuses from some of the speakers when you purchase an All-Access registration. For example, I'll be holding an online bonus program on November 7 as a follow-up to my presentation. The whole idea is to help attendees stay focused on marketing and growing their business right through the holiday season.

But there's another aspect to the Summit that makes it special - I've worked with Nicole Begley, the founder, in the past. She's talented and totally focused on the goal for the two-day event - helping artists raise the bar on the skills. Plus, it's a fundraiser for the Hair of the Dog Conservation fund.

“Your customers won’t love you if you give bad service, your competitors will.” 
Kate Zabiskie

by Skip Cohen

So many of you could do a better job when it comes to Customer Service basics. That quote above says it all; stop helping your competitors!

​It's Marketing Monday, and after a recent battle with an online sales company, the importance of Customer Service is fresh on my mind. The only silver lining is that each bad experience I have, becomes the foundation to remind you about one of your best marketing tools, providing outstanding service.

There's no need for this to be a long post today. The basic ingredients for providing excellent Customer Service couldn't be easier to remember:

• Listen: You've got two ears and one mouth - so listen twice as much as you talk. Along with "listen," also goes "read and comprehend" when you get an email from an existing or potential customer.
• Empathize: When the issue is something negative, let the customer know you understand their concern. Let them know, "the buck stops here." In other words, you're going to be the one to resolve their issue.
• Don't leave customers on hold any longer than you'd be willing to wait. This isn't just about the hold button but not responding in a reasonable amount of time.
• Solve problems quickly! You can't always resolve a challenge with the first contact, but make that your goal. You only fuel the customer's skepticism when things drag on and on.
• Exceed expectations!
• Always give customers more information than what they ask for. I've used this example in other posts - Disney is the best at this. If you ask any Disney staff member, "When is the electric light parade?" They'll not only answer you, but they'll give you a great suggestion on where to watch it. Be engaging!

​
Obviously, the quality of the services/products you're providing has to be outstanding, but don't underestimate the power of offering a great experience for your clients as well! It's one of the most powerful tools you have to separate your business from the competition.

Either you run the day or the day runs you!
Jim Rohn

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and as always, I'm stepping away from business and marketing. My thoughts this morning are about some not-so-secret ingredients to finding happiness each day.

The younger you are, the more the day tends to run you. It's inevitable because you're still establishing your goals. New projects, networking, discovering your passions, risk-taking, and building your skillset are all in the works together, along with dozens of other components of your journey to being an adult, or at least acting like one.

This is Sunday Morning Reflections, and it's meant to be short - so here's one suggestion - establish a routine for your day. I'm pretty much in my office for most of the day, but we always start with 20-30 minutes of exercise whether walking or swimming laps. I take breaks for breakfast together with Sheila, time with the pups, and "Nap-Time" for all four of us. In fact, it's always a laugh when one of us yells "Nap-Time," and even the pups know to jump on the bed. It's a 30-45 minute break, and I even shut the phones off.

When I went off on my own, I was worried about being able to stay focused working at home. The truth is, it was the opposite. The hardest thing for many years was shutting down. We'd go to bed, and I'd stop to check email or social media for "just a minute"...and an hour later, I'd emerge. Now, everything, including my cell phone, gets shut down at the end of the day.

Here's my point this morning - the significant components of our daily routine are exercising every day, those power naps, eating right and getting a good night's sleep. Sheila and I especially wanted exercise to become a habit. I hit cyberspace to find out how long it takes for something to become a habit. Most of what I read had it as 8-10 weeks.

Wishing everybody a day ahead that's filled with nothing but good habits, starting with those long therapeutic hugs with the people you care most about. Find a routine that works for you and then stick with it...but leave time to break the routine too - for us it's the weekend. Saturday is the Farmer's Market with the pups and Sunday is just a great day to chill.

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

by Skip Cohen

​I'm sticking with my "clean up" theme until I run out of things to suggest. Too many of you never think about how the photographs you capture, especially portraits, might be of value later on.

How often have we all worked on something and, whether rushed or exhausted, said to ourselves, "That's good enough?" We've all done it, and maybe it's acceptable when you're fixing something at home, but when it comes to a client, only your best is good enough.

In 2016, Bob Coates shared one of his favorite portraits with me, "Randy," shown on the right. I hope you listen to the short podcast with the photograph, but here's the summary. Randy was struck by a car and died two to three weeks after capturing the images. Bob's portrait was one of the last photographs ever taken of him.

One more major example, and it's so timely following the anniversary of 9/11 this week. Remember the tragedy and the photographs posted as people searched for lost family members and friends. Because so many of the victims were relatively young, there were hundreds of professional portraits, usually bridal or college, even high school senior shots. 

Throughout the industry, there are stories from professional photographers who captured the last images taken of a specific subject. 

Here's my point - NEVER compromise on the quality of an image. Your clients trust you to capture the best photos, and you owe them your full attention. You never know how important today's photographs are going to be tomorrow!

by Skip Cohen

​As I started my weekly hunt for throwback images this morning, on my Facebook notifications page, they posted my memories from today going back the last few years. The very first one was a comment from a friend in the industry about Terry Deglau passing away on September 14, 2019.

Off I went in search of grab-shots with Terry, and with each one, the smile on my face got bigger. Yeah, there was a tear here and there, but throwbacks are about reliving memories that make your heart soar. The ones I pulled together above are the tip of the iceberg. We did so many things together, and as you can tell, the four musketeers were Terry, Tony Corbell, Don Blair, and yours truly. Rarely was there a convention that the four of us weren't creating chaos.

But my favorite is the one here of the four of us. And while Don and Terry might have "left the building," Tony and I are the keepers of the memories and stories! 

Nothing beats great memories. Old photographs are the mortar that keeps all the bricks of friendships together. And while we all miss people we've lost, it's those throwback photos that help create a very special immortality and testimonial to the impact they had on our lives.

​Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen
​
It's Hump Day, and here's a suggestion to keep in mind as you put together future promotions. I've heard so many stories from photographers over the years who put together what they considered a great promotion, but it failed with minimal response. Most often, it was because the perceived value of the promotion wasn't as strong as they thought it would be. Whatever you offer, it has to have VALUE.
 
Value-added marketing is defined as delivering more than your customers are expecting through content and experiences. https://blog.duda.co/

For example, if you've put together a promotion for free goods when a specific service or product is purchased, you've got to make sure your target audience understands the true value of the promotion. We all know when a company pitches us for something they're giving away that has a $299 retail value, you can buy the product for half that through regular retail.

Years ago, my daughter, as a fifth grader, wound up on a kid's TV gameshow and won $2000 in prizes, which were taxable at that amount. But the real value was, at best, around $800! It didn't change the fun or the value of the experience, but it does make a point about value.

Your challenge is to establish promotional value that exceeds customer expectations. They need to understand the offer, what the product or service does, and how it fulfills a need they have. This is why I love cross-promotions between non-competing companies.

A promotion between a wedding photographer and a florist, for example, both have products the client needs. They also have money to spend with both companies. Last but not least, the consumer understands both the florist's and photographer's product line and has a need for both.

Hey, it's Hump Day, and these posts are always meant to be short and easy to think about - and if you're stuck for promotional ideas, you know where to find me if I can help.

Happy Hump Day!

by Skip Cohen

Platypod has been a leader in helping artists expand their creativity since the company's first product was introduced eight years ago. From the original Platypod to Platyball, the eXtreme, and just recently introduced Handle - the complete Platypod line, with multiple accessories, has grown to be the Platypod Ecosystem.

But Platypod isn't slowing down - Have you subscribed to their YouTube channel? There's now a selection of NEW short how-to videos thanks to a remarkable team of respected industry educators. Each video hits a specific specialty and then a no-nonsense presentation, giving the viewer a solid educational base to build on and, with practice, expand their expertise.

The company's plan is to continue to support the imaging community with more short presentations, each one unique in its application. There are now six videos in the series, of which I pulled three in the click-on links below. ​

Platypod's YouTube channel is loaded with great information and ideas to help you expand your creativity. There's no limit to how you can put Platypod gear to great use - but there's also no limit to the company's goals to help more artists raise the bar on their skillset.

by Skip Cohen

​I'm excited about being asked to speak at the upcoming online Hair of the Dog Summit at the end of this month. I'm in great company with nine other speakers; all focused on helping you build a stronger skill set and grow your business. Click on the banner above for more information and then to register.

What good is creating the finest images of your career if nobody knows who you are? And if they do know you, are they knocking on your door? I'll be sharing dozens of ideas on promotions, building awareness, partnerships, and ways to expand your reach beyond your existing customer base. Plus, there's a special bonus - in November, date to be announced - I'll be hosting a follow-up coaching program for VIP pass attendees, helping you keep the momentum going right through the holiday season.

Why you should attend: In the hierarchy of why consumers hire a professional photographer, the top three are brides, babies, and pets. This is from a survey Kodak did at least thirty years ago, and I don't believe it's changed. During the pandemic, weddings were down, along with photographing babies and maternity. The order might have shifted, but here's my point. 

Seventy percent of U.S. households, or about 90.5 million families, own a pet, according to the 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA).

Think about those numbers. Seven out of ten families have at least one pet, and the average per household is estimated at 1.6 -1.8. Like our house, many families have two fur-balls. So, the big question is, are you including pet photography in your business?

​Check out the one-minute video below from the Hair of the Dog Summit Host, Nicole Begley for more info.

See you at the Summit!

by Skip Cohen

​This is one of the shortest posts I've written, but the topic doesn't need a lot of words to make a point. For most of us, looking back on 9/11 is a vivid memory. We all remember where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt. The sadness borders on overwhelming.

For me, we were living in NJ at the time. Data shared a couple of months later suggested if you lived within an hour of NYC, there were no more than 2 degrees of separation between you and knowing somebody who lost family or friends in the tragedy. 

There's only one way I can look back at that time - a period of sitting in silence. I went outside a few minutes ago, just sat, and thought back to that day. The tagline we see and hear repeatedly regarding today is "Never Forget." How could we...nor should we.

Wishing you a day of peace and quiet reflection.

by Skip Cohen

As I've written about in the past, Sunday Morning Reflections is never about marketing and business, and I never know what I'm going to write about until I sit down at the computer. 

Today's journey in blogging started with a comment on Facebook, by Dani Brewer, my good buddy Duncan MacNab's daughter. I shared a shot of Duncan in my Thursday throwback post, and she added another photo to the growing images in my MacNab "collection." Her post got me thinking about the power of old photographs.

Off I went in search of images for a collage of very special people who have been in my life. The more I searched, the more I started to tear up until I finally took a short break just to cry. Yeah, I'm admitting it, but while the sadness of missing some extraordinary friends started the emotional avalanche, it finished with a smile over the pure joy of the memories they created.

I replied to Dani's comment - It's our photographs and videos that add to the immortality of those very special and so loved people who will always be in our lives, even when they aren't. 

And there it is, my point this morning: We're part of an amazing industry, but to often we get so caught up in the stress of business and the speed of life that we miss savoring the look in the rearview mirror. It's all those old photographs that allow us to return to those special moments in the past. They give friends we've lost a degree of immortality - and through the tears, just like the sun coming out at the end of a storm, those memories recharge our spirit and, for me, my love for imaging. I'd be lost without my photographs!

Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead and time to make new memories, and don't forget to capture them with a camera! Remember, today's photographs and videos will become tomorrow's most cherished memories. And if a picture is worth a thousand words, don't slow down on building your "library!"

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

by Skip Cohen

I wish it was mandatory for EVERY small business owner to pay more attention to building a stronger brand based on exceeding consumer expectations. So many of you underestimate the power of exceptional service, not just to create a more substantial business but to sustain it.

This is a short post in the continued series of Friday cleanup ideas - One of the very best tools you have to make 2023 your best year yet is your database of past customers.

A few years back, I stumbled upon groovehq.com. It was packed with statistics supporting the importance of Customer Service. And how it was presented made so much sense - unlike statistical sites that could put a rock to sleep. For example, I pulled three key points from their information:

• Everyone is always in search of new databases to grow their business. Too often, you forget the goldmine right at your fingertips with your past clients. Selling to a happy existing customer is fourteen times easier than to a new one!*
• Customer retention is essential. Your past clients should be part of an ongoing network you work hard to support because they're already believers in your skillset, and they can increase your profitability. A 5% retention of past customers can increase profit by 25-95%!*
• Revenue growth is directly related to happy customers who recognize excellent service; 86% of customers will pay more for better service.*

There is NO substitute for excellent service, and nothing will improve your brand more. It's about more than great products and on-time deliveries but the entire customer experience. It starts and ends with you!

How can you exceed expectations and make yourself habit-forming?

*https://www.groovehq.com/blog/

This is what I like about photographs.
They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat,
everything was perfect.
Jodi Picoult

by Skip Cohen

​I know I've often promised I'd never use that quote again, but I lied! The truth is, there isn't another one better suited to the moment. 

It's my favorite day of the week, and today's post is a perfect example of why throwbacks are important. I rarely have any idea what I'm going to share in advance. Most of my posts are written the same day they're published, and throwback themes are no exception. This morning, I went off searching for "buried treasure" and found these shots of my good buddy Duncan MacNab in an old file on Shutterfly.

Photographs bring back memories - Duncan may have "left the building," but not my heart. And while I miss my buddy, it doesn't change the smile on my face looking at the grabshot on his boat from twenty+ years ago. Duncan had a boat on Lake Mead in Las Vegas, and we spent a few hours together on the water. It was a perfect day, and when I spotted this photograph, it brought back so many times we caught up to each other.

We used to laugh about the line, "He who dies with the most toys wins!" Well, Duncan had the most toys of anybody I know. From his stereo system to snowmobiles, to the Harley, his gun collection, dive gear, camera collection, woodworking tools, and even a gas grill on runners for snowmobile trips - if something was missing, none of us could figure out what it was.

But with all those toys, what I remember most is Dunc's heart - it was bigger than life itself, and his focus on people he considered friends never wavered. He had an amazing zest for life. If you were a friend, then you also knew that he always had your back. He was ALWAYS there if you needed help.
​
Another good buddy, Bob Thompson, and I visited Duncan a year ago today. For those of you who never knew Duncan, I shared a more in-depth post when he passed away. Here's the link.

Here's my point: Where would we be without imaging? The fun and power of Throwback Thursday is in the memories old photographs and videos bring back. Whether they result in tears or laughter makes no difference. We're all part of a fantastic industry that turns intangible moments into something we can hold and savor.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

​We've all grown up knowing the importance of a good breakfast, but we rarely think about feeding our minds daily. Sheila and I have a couple of motivational books we read each morning. And yes, we read these short pieces out loud to each other and talk about what we just read. While to some of you, it might seem a little hokey - it helps us both focus and know what we each have on our plate for the day ahead.

My reading this morning was perfect for this topic:

by Emily Silva, Sunrise Gratitude - Before you begin your day, take some time to plan the way you want your day to go. Allow your mind to focus on this intention and visualize how you can incorporate it today. See yourself as you want to act, respond, and communicate. As your day progresses, remind yourself of your intention. An intention can be a guidepost for each day. If you feel off course, remember your vision and act, respond, or communicate from the guidepost.
 
Happy Hump Day!

​“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home...
it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.”
Chuck Palahniuk

by Skip Cohen

WARNING: SAPPY ALERT!

Ever had a day that just started out perfect? Welcome to my Tuesday - and while I'm not questioning the day so far, I am trying to understand the ingredients that have me so content and simply happy. I'm off on a quest...
​

• It all starts with a decent night's sleep. Individuals vary in their sleep needs but most adults require between 7 and 9 hours a night to feel properly refreshed and function at their best the next day. Many try to get away with less sleep. There are some who are genuine short sleepers while others may require considerably more than the average requirement. -SleepHealthFoundation.org​​​​

I know it's sappy, but life is good and way better than the alternative! LOL 

No pun intended following "Idalia" last week, but this really is the calm before the storm. Thanks to Labor Day, it's a short week, and holiday seasonality is still a little way away. That means you have time to do a little fine-tuning on this year's promotional efforts.

Last but not least is all of you...Barring the frustration of dealing with Facebook's algorithm and the continued challenge of how they now limit our reach - so many of you have contributed new ideas and feedback through IMs, email, and phone calls. You're responsible for a big part of my smile every morning when I get out of bed.

​Thank you for your support, feedback, passion for the craft, and especially your friendship.  

Time and good friends are two things that become more valuable the older you get.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday morning, and as usual, I'm a long way from writing about business and marketing. But not far away from something we too often take for granted - great friends.

For the third time since we moved to the Sarasota area in 2011, a hurricane rolled through the area this past week. Irma was our first, followed by Ian and then Idalia this week. All were at the same time of year, confirming that it's hurricane season.

But I'm not writing about the weather, but the outpouring of support and prayers from friends, mainly through social media. We're a remarkable industry, and while I've been accused of being sappy and hokey over the years, it really is a family. We watch each other's backs, and whether it's storms, fires, floods, or something more personal - social media keeps us connected.

Last night, Sheila and I were watching a movie. It was around 8:00 PM, and my office phone rang. I rarely answer it on the weekend, but it was from a good buddy, and it was instinct to think something was wrong. We hit the pause button on the movie, and I called him back. 

Nothing was wrong - he just hadn't caught up to me and wanted to see if everything was okay. The night before, I had another call from a friend out west doing a similar check. And I still have a call to return that's on my cellphone. Each one of these calls has been from a friend who simply wanted to check on Sheila, me, and the pups.​

Good friends help you find important things when you have lost them...
things like your smile, your hope and your courage.
Doe Zantamata

by Skip Cohen

Several times, I've written about my favorite thing about this industry. It's not about imaging directly, but the friendships that come out of everyone's love for the craft. 

Chef Alex Cearns joins us this month. Alex and I first met through a Tamron Recipes feature in 2019. It was great to catch up to her for this new episode. She's an artist, author, educator, and friend to so many artists in this industry.

She's a leader in her niche and is the recipient of 350+ awards for her photography, business, and philanthropy, including an Order of Australia medal in 2019 for services to animal charities through photography. Based out of Perth, Australia, she's also a talented "chef" with a love for wildlife. And that analogy between great chefs and photographers couldn't be more appropriate with Alex.

Her favorite cuisine is, without question, critters. And on a recent trip to the Serengeti, she spent some time focusing on eyes. There's very little more powerful than an animal looking right down your lens barrel.

We've all heard that expression, "The eyes are the gateway to the soul." I went looking to who gets credit for the quote and found Shakespeare, Leonardo Da Vinci, the philosopher Cicero and even the bible, according to Google. In each image, from the killer eyelashes on the giraffe to the two cubs feeding, you can feel the spirit of the animals. And in the case of the two cubs, Alex wrote:

My aim when photographing animals is always to try to get an image of a subject people are familiar with, and to capture it in a fresh and unique way which hasn’t been seen before – or in a once in a lifetime way if I’m lucky! It’s not easy to do as I can only ever work with what’s happening in front of me, and then if something does kick off I have to be ready for it, which is where skills and fast camera and lens combinations come in.

They were amongst a group of 18 lions feeding and found their best meal time vantage point when they crawled into the middle of it and began to feed. I was photographing from our jeep, slightly elevated from my subjects, and was able to zoom in and fill the frame with the carcass. It’s a glimpse into the brutality of mother nature and there’s a juxtaposition in this image between the cute feeding cubs and their graphic meaty cocoon.

Alex needs to be on your radar. Click on any of her images featured in this post to link to her website, but don't stop there. Remember, she's also a sought after educator - after years of mentoring and coaching other photographers, she launched Black Cat Consulting and released her now sought after "Business Acceleration Program for Pet Photographers."  You'll also enjoy her Facebook and Instagram posts. She's always sharing great images and information.

by Skip Cohen

​Sheila and I share a motivational reading every morning, and I cracked up when today, Hump Day, the reading referenced camels!

Out in the desert, a camel can sustain itself without food or water for weeks. To survive, it stores up energy for the harsh environment. A camel's ability to conserve energy and water helps it make journeys and sometimes carry heavy loads. This is a reminder that we all have inner resources. If we tap into our intuition, we can make difficult decisions, heal, and thrive. Even when we are going through something hard, what we need is available to us. - Emily Silva, Sunrise Gratitude

It's a straightforward point today and a reminder I wanted to share. We all have challenges to deal with, but so often, we forget to take the time, slow down, and think through a solution. We tend to panic first and act later after forgetting everything we've learned over the years.

We also forget to pull in the key people at the core of our network, or we go to the other extreme and pull them in immediately when the solution to whatever the problem was right there in our intuition all along. So the next time you run into the wall - take a timeout. Kick back a little and think through the challenge first. 

​Most important of all, don't give up.

Happy Hump Day!

by Skip Cohen

​This is a very short post today because I live south of Sarasota, FL, and the hurricane is about to land on our doorstep. I've still got a few things to bring into the garage, but going through the process again (having lived here for both "Irma" and "Ian"), there are some observations I want to share about how much I appreciate our industry and imaging. 

• To start, I've taken pictures of everything in the house, along with the front, back, and sides of the house itself. If we get hit hard, I'll need photographs when it comes to dealing with the insurance company.
• Next observation - we've been glued to the weather channel as well as local reporting and online. We're following weather maps and images from other areas that have experienced a hurricane of this magnitude and the impact of storm surge, wind damage, etc.
• Last on the list - all of our family photographs. I took a few minutes yesterday - the sun was out, and it was beautiful. I found myself thinking about the contents of our home, and the only thing that could never be replaced were all the pre-digital photographs - some in albums, others in boxes.

But there's one more aspect to facing a fight with Mother Nature that I've been thinking about - It's the power of social media and keeping in touch with friends and associates. I posted a short post on my Facebook page yesterday about the storm coming in. Within minutes, a few dozen friends had commented. At the same time, I could keep in touch with what was going on with other friends dealing with similar challenges.

As much as I hate Facebook at times - so often, it's the mortar holding the bricks of friendships together.

Here's my point - we're part of a fantastic industry. Where would we be, or the world for that matter, without imaging, without our ability to share photographs and videos, and without the ability to document each event in our lives?

Stay safe, everybody, and prayers for everyone north of us as "Idalia" hits the coast.