  by Skip Cohen
When I shared this post eleven years ago today, I should have been embarrassed. Well, I wasn't then, and I'm not now. I miss the days when I could eat just about anything and wasn't concerned about nutrition! The post was first shared in 2014, but the lunch at Bun Boy took place ten years earlier. There are so many times in our lives when we've all done things that were simply stupid. When it came to ordering half the menu at Bun Boy's - we knew better, but it didn't matter. You've got to be able to laugh at yourself and your friends! Bob Rose has been my partner in so many culinary crimes. He's been with me on a lot of adventures around the world. No matter what the trip or where we were, there's always been at least one thing I've done that wasn't particularly smart. And, when it came to food, nothing we ever did was really smart! There was a time in my life when I really believed I could eat anything I wanted. I'm a foodie and, numerous times, have referred to myself as the number one lunch slut in the industry. Well, hanging out with Bob for so many years, the two of us have packed away some pretty amazing and not-so-amazing meals. Bun Boy in Baker, California, between Los Angeles and Vegas, is a prime example. In the group shot above, Bob's the one crouched down, and that's me and my neighbor, George, who just came along for the fun of it. We were all headed back from Las Vegas after the CES show with a short stop at Bun Boy. At the restaurant, we caught up to another partner in crime, Phillip Able. There are few things more fun or worse for your health than a fully loaded Bun Boy burger, fries, Coke, and strawberry pie. Sadly, Bun Boy closed, but not before we consumed a few thousand calories. Here's my point: every convention, workshop, meeting, and presentation you attend is a memory-maker. Get those images of you with friends and don't forget the ones when you make a fool of yourself, because years later they're going to make you laugh, often until you cry. This is about friendships, and often it's those stories from the past that are the most fun to share. These days, there's no excuse for not capturing those priceless moments - everyone has a phone. Whenever you're with friends, take a moment to grab a few shots. Get those selfies and throw them in a file somewhere just to let them age. Oh, and about being healthy. I can't and don't eat like that anymore. As you get older, you really do get smarter, and you start to pay attention to your family history. Joe Buissink once said to me, "You can hide from a lot of things, but not bad genes!" However, even though it's been a long time since Bob Rose and I caught up to each other for a meal, "moderation" is just another word in the dictionary and will never be in our vocabulary! Happy Throwback Thursday!
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  by Skip Cohen
After many years of blogging and writing about the seasonality countdown, there isn't much new to share. So, I'm digging back through my archives and sharing benchmark reminders of things you should be doing to have a greater impact on making 2025 one of your best years ever!
You snooze, you lose! You'll miss out if you keep procrastinating and waiting for the business fairy to sprinkle magic dust on your doorstep! There are no unicorns when it comes to building your business, just hard work and your ability to create top-of-mind awareness with your target audience. No one blog post can cover all the ideas out there, but it's a great topic for Hump Day, and then pick at least one idea off the above list to implement over the next week. There's still time for you to have an impact on this year's sales. I want to help you THRIVE, not just survive!  by Skip Cohen
It's Sunday, and I never write about business. Reflections is about life outside of what we do for a living. This morning, I started out thinking about current events, but it was too much of a rant*. Plus, it's an abused topic we're all tired of hearing about - so here's where my mind went next. First, after nearly sixteen years of blogging and at least ten of those years doing Sunday Morning Reflections, it's impossible not to revisit topics. Second, just because I've written about something in the past doesn't make it less relevant today. Years ago, I discovered the quote above. I've used it dozens of times at retirement parties, in eulogies, and in blog posts. I define the statement as everything we experience and the people in our lives shape who we are today. Each of us is a giant puzzle. Every piece of our "puzzle" comes from someone or something in our past, combined with our own twist and style. Sheila called me on something absurd I did recently, and simply said, "That's so Ralph!" We both laughed, and I thought about how much I'm like my Dad, and not always the good stuff. Now, think about who you are today. Think about things you like, hate, feelings you have when doing something different...the list goes on and on. In every case, you'll find you can trace it back to something or someone in your past. There's an expression in psychology, "Hysterical is historical," which means things that upset you can be traced back to something in your past. I'm not here to play amateur shrink, but it is interesting when you start thinking about how you approach the challenges in life today. Think of everybody you've ever met, and everything you've ever done as another piece of the puzzle - put them all together, and there you are. For example, when my good friend Frank passed away several years ago, I spoke at his memorial service and quoted Tennyson. Frank had become the older brother I never had. Frequently spending time with him, I admired his style and the amount I learned just by knowing him. Since most of my readership is from the imaging side of life, think about how you light a portrait. Your style is a combination of the influence of artists you admire, classes you've taken, videos you've watched and then all combined with your own twist — much like a cover artist modifying a great song with their own changes. I hope you'll take a few minutes now and think about who you are today and how you got here. There are dozens of people and events that have made their contributions to everything you do. The best part of an exercise like this is realizing that people you've loved and lost never really leave us - their immortality is inescapable and an integral part of who we've become. Wishing everybody a terrific day ahead. Take the time and think about the people in your life, going back to when you were a kid. You'll find you can connect so many of the dots that make you who you are. As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs with the people who mean most to you, realizing they're a nonstop contributor to your own personal puzzle. Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world! * And about that original rant...if any of us ran our businesses and did our jobs the way the government is doing theirs, we'd be fired! I would like to know if at tax time next year I can tell the IRS, "Sorry, Sheila and I haven't agreed on our budget for the new year, and paying my taxes is on indefinite hold!"  The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. Pablo Picasso by Skip Cohen Over the years, I've written nearly 200 blog posts on the importance of giving back to one's community. One thing I always write: you're looking for the community to be good to you, so you need to be good to your community. My point today is about timing. At least in my lifetime, there has never been a greater need to support one's community. It doesn't matter which "side" you're on in politics; the challenge is the same for all of us. We have a government that can't get its act together. At the same time, more people are out of work, costs for everything have increased, and programs that were previously in place to help have been cut back or discontinued altogether. The fourth quarter officially begins tomorrow, and with it come numerous local opportunities for you to give back. From helping to feed the homeless to national programs like NILMDTS, the Alzheimer's Walk, and Toys for Tots, as well as volunteers participating in community events and special programs in schools, there's no shortage of ways for you to get more involved. The challenge is that so many of you continue to procrastinate about getting involved. What's sad is that it's so easy to get started - it's not rocket science. It just takes a little focus...which you know all about when there's a camera in your hands! I hope you'll take some time today and think about how you can give back and then take the first step...get involved! Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.
Mohammed Ali  Do not suffer in silence. Somebody somewhere is willing and prepared to help in any way to encourage, empower, and support you. Germany Kent by Skip Cohen As always on Sunday, I refrain from writing about business or marketing and strive to cover a topic that everyone can relate to. It's my time to share something more personal, and in the process, over the years, it's become therapeutic. Four months ago, I wrote my first blog post for the Alzheimer's Organization's Florida newsletter. Going through this horrible disease for three generations of grandmothers, I wanted to give back to a community that was always there for us. Here's the link to the four posts as of today, and hopefully, my next installment will be coming in October. Even though in 2025 there are an estimated 7.2 million people with Alzheimer's in the US and 55 million worldwide, when you're fighting the battle you feel so alone. So, I called the series The You're Not Alone Chronicles. But as I sat down to write today's post, it occurred to me that feeling alone is universal to so many of our frustrations. I was thinking about the challenges and the state of the world right now. The reality is, with whatever challenges any of us face, we're only alone if we choose to be. Pick the toughest, most frustrating thing you're feeling right now, and if there isn't already a formal support group out there, you'll always find friends who can relate to what you're going through. But here's my point - you're only alone if you choose silence. Over the years, from personal issues to business challenges, social media has become the mortar that often holds us all together. So whether you're fighting Alzheimer's personally or as a caregiver, frustrated over politics, worried about financial, health, or relationship issues, dealing with the death of your dog, or a thousand other challenges, there are people ready to come to your aid, the minute you say, "Help!" Wishing you a day ahead that's filled with reminders of all the support you have around you. You're truly not alone in anything, unless you let pride get in the way. Those people ready to give and receive an eleven-second hug are there, but nobody's a mindreader. You have to share the love and ask for help, even if it's just for a friend to be a sounding board and get you through the storm. Happy Sunday...or Monday, on the other side of the world. However, if you find you can’t help yourself, there’s no shame in asking others for help.
Sometimes asking for help is just as heroic as giving it. There are treatments and therapies and counselors that you could benefit from-- but no one finds answers if they’re too afraid to ask the questions. Don’t let your pride tell you otherwise. Chris Colfer  Click to view in the SCU Lightbox  by Skip Cohen
It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. This morning, as I searched for images I hadn't shared before, I ran across a post from nine years ago. The message makes even more sense today! We're living in a that's-good-enough world! Many products are manufactured with planned obsolescence, and they often have a shorter lifespan than what we're accustomed to. For example, in our own kitchen, since moving into this house nine years ago, appliances that used to last a lifetime have been replaced several times. And consider the Ford Mustang - you can't buy one right now because of three different recalls on the 2025 models that won't be resolved until 2026. Ford's slogan of "Quality is job one!" doesn't apply to very many products these days, including their own vehicles. My good buddy Scott Bourne said once, "Shoot as if this is the last photograph of yours anybody will ever see!" Here's the question of the day...What are people going to be saying about your photography years from now? How will your work be perceived? Even though I've shared them before, I thought it would be fun to share a few classics of both my folks. Both of the older photographs were hand-colored and captured eighty to ninety years ago. The two more contemporary images were captured by Bambi Cantrell around 2008. But one of my favorite images out of the session she did with my folks is this one on the right. It was captured before Alzheimer's took control. We had no idea what the next few years would bring, but the love my folks had for each other is clearly what Bambi focused on. Here's the bottom line - you owe your subjects the very best you can be. Never compromise on the quality of your work. The photographers we respect the most are the ones who capture the intangible spirit of the subject in addition to outstanding technical skills in exposure, composition and lighting. Over the years, Beverly and Tim Walden have talked a lot about the value of a portrait. They're not creating a photograph, but a family heirloom to be handed down for generations to come. And the portrait session needs to be an experience, not just a few clicks of the shutter! Their advice to new photographers deserves repeating: Our advice to new photographers? Do less and do it exceptionally well! Narrow your focus to gain appeal. All great artists are known for a style, a look that is their own. As you begin in this wonderful profession, be original, do what your heart loves, do it well and work towards mastering it. So, what's the answer to the question of the day? Are you creating images that, years from now, your clients will look back on and smile, remembering the day you took their portrait? And will future generations look at your work and cherish the photographs, like I do of the portraits of my folks?  by Skip Cohen Even with seasonality ramping up, most of us are starting to think about the new year, now less than 100 days away. Along with a new year, there's a wide variety of things most business owners think about changing. From new pricing and extended services to website design and advertising, just to name a few, there's very little that doesn't get reviewed. Advertising is one of those key areas that is always being monitored. In the corporate world, a great ad often gets dropped because the manufacturer was tired of looking at it. What everyone forgets is how many times you have to hit a consumer before they remember your ad or your product. Often, there are still thousands of people out there who haven't seen the message. Let's scale down the scope of possible changes and consider your logo. Years ago, there was a professional photographer who changed her logo three times over three years because she was tired of it. It wasn't as effective in building her brand as she thought it should be. Meanwhile, every time she was starting to build up brand identity and a little momentum, she pulled the plug and essentially started over. All because she was tired of the logo, but her fans weren't, and neither were all those people who had never seen it before. It's a great thought for those moments when you have a little downtime, which is about to become few and far between with the seasonal ramp-up. So, if you're thinking about creating a new look for your brand, seriously consider how much exposure you've given your brand to date. Perhaps it's time to make a slight adjustment in your approach to the market, but then again, if you're doing it only because you're tired of it, remember that you're not your target audience.  Even more important is thinking about what your brand represents, far beyond just your logo. Check out these eight A.I. points from Google on the qualities of a strong brand:
You might need to make some changes, but the reality is that there's so much more to building strong brand awareness than just your logo!  by Skip Cohen It's Sunday morning, and as always, I like to post about anything but marketing. It's my time to step away from business, and hopefully, it's a break you need as well. We've all heard the expression, "You can never go back!" I realized this week that it's not entirely accurate, as you can revisit the journey when it's emotional and filled with memories. Like just about everybody I know, we're Robert Redford fans. His passing this week took me on a quest to watch one of my favorite movies, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. We watched it on Friday night. When it first aired in 1969, I saw it in a theater. Even though it's been close to fifty years, I remembered every scene, and often the lines! I sat on the couch with all the enthusiasm of a little kid waiting in line for his favorite ride at Disney. The news media did a piece with short cuts of his most recognized films. Well, like a spin-off of a sitcom, the list of his films put me on a quest to watch other films of both his and Paul Newman's. Next up will be The Sting and then Cool Hand Luke - two great actors who gave us outstanding movies and, in turn, memories. I've shared Jodi Picoult's quote so many times: "This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect." Here's my point - imaging whether photographs, video, or full feature films have the ability to turn back time and take us on an emotional journey that often can make our hearts soar, smile, and even cheer! Wishing everybody a day ahead to turn back time to any moment in your past where you laughed, loved, and felt terrific. Don't let the craziness of the world outside interfere and take time away from the people most important to you. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've been writing about for the last ten years and cherish every second with the people you love most. Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world. Go back. Go back in time. Everyone's life is a chain of memories.
In each chain there are shining links, happenings where this element of wonder...was very strong. Why don't you reach out and relive some of those memories? If you work at it, remembering the wonder can revive your ability to live life as it should be lived. Arthur Gordon Webster  Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. Don Marquis by Skip Cohen
I like to keep it relatively short on Fridays, and the quote above was today's reading from Lou Mitchell's book, Mastering Positive Thinking...One Day at a Time. It's particularly fitting this time of year, as many of you are still in a mañana mode with your key marketing ideas for this year's seasonality, which is just around the corner. But you'll continue to procrastinate and let things slide right up until there's virtually no time left for impact. Lou Mitchell went on to write: ...When we delay action, we find ourselves perpetually stuck in the past, trying to complete tasks that have already become overdue...Think about a task or project you've been putting off. What has prevented you from starting it, and how is it impacting your progress? There's really nothing I can add to his point. You don't have to take giant steps to beat procrastination. Taking baby steps in the right direction is all the progress you need to slowly break the habit and get on track for great impact. Happy Friday!  by Skip Cohen
It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday, and every time I think I've run out of images to share, I find a few new ones. But the fun of #TBT is always in the hunt, and in turn, being reminded of the value of photography. The three images above were captured approximately 100 years ago. Those are my grandparents above, with my mother around two years old. They captured a lot of images like this, always with a car in the shot. Even in the shot of my grandfather by himself, the automotive theme is going strong - that's a gas pump he's leaning on. But besides the fun of sharing old photographs, there's a bigger, more important point I want to make. I never sat down with my folks or grandparents while they were still alive to talk about the backstories with each photograph. Today, I have hundreds of images and no idea where they were taken or, for that matter, who's in each picture! Building a Legacy Program: There's an old expression that goes, "Shoemaker's children need shoes!" As photographers, don't be a shoemaker. As we approach the holiday season and family gatherings, take the time to gather those backstories from the senior members of your family. And if you don't have the time, then it's a perfect project for your kids! Whether it's simply taking notes on old images or video, capturing the stories, all of you have the ability to record your family's history! Happy Throwback Thursday!   "by Skip Cohen
I consider today's post a "Public Service Message" and hope everyone will read it and pass it on... Yesterday I was simply in an awful mood. I was sad, quiet, depressed, even a little jumpy and anxious. When I was a kid, my grandmother would refer to it as "getting up on the wrong side of the bed." Those of you who know me well know that I'm rarely anything but pretty upbeat. Even if I'm procrastinating on getting a project completed, I'm still a knucklehead, and the laugh level in our house is, for the most part, never-ending. I couldn't put my finger on why I was feeling so down until John Paul Caponigro posted a link to a National Geographic article, "The surprising way doomscrolling rewires our brain." On Facebook, he wrote: "We knew doomscrolling rewires our brains. But who knew it was this much? 6 hours of media offers more PTSD than the actual events! But wait, it gets worse...Take breaks. Feed your mind and heart with inspiration." I felt like a cartoon character with a lightbulb shining brightly over my head. It all made sense, and I went on a more in-depth search through cyberspace! Doomscrolling refers to the act of continuously consuming negative or distressing news and information online, often to the point of feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. Courtesy of Google The world is screwed up right now, especially our country. I repeatedly found myself scrolling through Facebook notifications from one opinionated jackass after another. Sadly, many of those who post the most are people I've respected most of my career. And it doesn't matter what "side" they're on, they've become obsessed with sharing content to prove their point...often based on fake news! So, I shut down my computer and went off to talk with my wife, Sheila. We put on some great music and sat outside. For over an hour, we talked about what's been happening and how I was on overload with social media. By the time we were done, I had a full stock of positivity. Without question, I had contracted doomscrolling, and the "vaccine" is a reduction in social media! Here's my point - don't underestimate the power of negativity in the news today. It's important to stay up to date, but most of us have become obsessed with current events. Social media has become a plague of potentially PTSD inducing stories. The result is our brains are being rewired...and in my case, it's been taking its toll. It's Hump Day, and it's the perfect time for many of us to cut the cord on social media and the nonstop flow of negative information. Stay informed, but do it in moderation. Don't believe everything you read or watch, and as John Paul Caponigro wrote... Feed your mind and heart with inspiration!  A.I. Image from Adobe Stock You may delay, but time will not! Benjamin Franklin by Skip Cohen We're halfway through September. It's getting dark earlier, kids are back in school, and Halloween is in the air, along with plenty of Fall activities. The countdown to seasonality has started! From the obvious holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, to events like homecoming, the changing seasons, and community fundraisers, opportunities are everywhere for you to build your business. So many of you will watch the clock and the calendar and think..."No big deal, I've got plenty of time!" But the truth is, you're almost out of time.
It's Marketing Monday, and no single post can cover everything. But this isn't the first reminder I've posted about the countdown. I've got one goal this morning - to get more of you thinking about what you can do to create a solid finish for "The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot"
Michael Altshuler  Don't believe everything you read on the Internet. Abraham Lincoln by Skip Cohen For years, exclusively on Sunday mornings, I've written Reflections. They're never about business, but my time to share something more personal that's on my mind. I've never had a problem finding a topic, and I've pretty much covered just about everything. But this morning, as I read quotes, scrolled through Facebook notifications, and even sat and just thought about life, I came up empty. Sometimes my creativity is sparked by wandering through Adobe Stock. The four images above all came up, with hundreds more, when I searched the word "chaos." My challenge in writing today isn't because there's nothing to write about, but because I'm simply tired--Tired of a world that's filled with so much bullshit. It comes in all shapes and sizes, from friends and foes alike. It doesn't matter what race, religion, or pronoun you identify with. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor...there's a very high percentage likelihood that you don't have all the facts when you express your opinion and quote something you've read on the Internet, heard from a friend, or even watched on the news. When it comes to our country and, for that matter, the world, this was one of the worst, most violent weeks in history, certainly in my lifetime. And with each tragedy, the only undeniable truth is the way people have turned finger-pointing into an art form. Here's the bottom line today...I simply want to wish all of you a day of peace. I hope you have time to simply appreciate the people you love the most. Those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've always written about need to be a whole lot longer. They won't fix the problems in the world, but the love you feel will bring a very special quality into your world, and maybe for a few minutes, even peace and a smile. "What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."
Jane Goodall  by Skip Cohen Although I shared this a few years back, the message in the short video below is perfect for the "calm before the storm" in seasonality happening right now. This has been a tough year for everyone. Between the economy, politics, Mother Nature's wrath, the challenge of A.I., and war around the world, there's no place you can hide from the news. Over the years, so many artists have talked about the healing qualities of their craft when dealing with stress and sadness. Throw in the pressure of being in business today, and this is the perfect time to escape and reestablish your priorities. In 2009, I started Skip's Summer School. For five years, it ran every summer for three days, beginning in Las Vegas and then in the Chicago Area for the last two years. My good buddy Ron Dawson created the video for that year's upcoming session. The point I make in the video is all about respite. You can't run your business effectively if you don't keep your battery charged. I'm not talking about your gear, but your heart! Just like a flight attendant reminding you, if you're traveling with a child or someone who needs assistance, in the event of an emergency, put your mask on first! Your business is no different...you've got to step away when you need to and rekindle your love for the craft. You've got to put your mask on first to keep your creativity flowing and the joy you had with your first camera! Happy Throwback Thursday...and to Ron Dawson, thanks, buddy!  You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You've got to get out there and make it happen for yourself. Diana Ross  by Skip Cohen
It's Hump Day and time for a short post that hopefully gets you thinking about another aspect of your career, your vision for the future. Last week I shared a post related to goal-setting, but the quote above is about taking action! We all get caught up in the day-in-day-out challenge of putting out fires and cleaning up potential messes. Like many of you, there are days when I feel like the guy with the broom and shovel behind the elephants in the Circus Day Parade! On those days, I rarely get a chance to think about my dreams. And yes, even old farts like me still have dreams and a bucket list of things we want to do. But here's my point today - the only one who can make your dreams come true is you! Sure, you can sit and wait for the tooth fairy, but you'll achieve a lot more if you take action. When sharing the quote above, author Lou Mitchell wrote: Achieving your dreams requires more than patience and hope; it demands action, determination, and perseverance. Waiting for opportunities to come to you can lead to missed chances and unfulfilled potential...set clear intentions, take concrete steps forward, and remain resilient in the face of challenges. By creating your own path, you not only empower yourself but you also open doors to new possibilities and experience. Taking initiative is a powerful way to turn dreams into reality. Remember, doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will!  by Skip Cohen Whether you're having a good time or not, there are few statements more true than "time flies when you're having a good time!" And as you get older, time seems to fly by even faster. Here's my point in today's post: in 3 1/2 months, 2025 will come to a close. Which means you only have 16 weeks (112 days) to wrap up the year! Too many of you operate your business on a foundation of "I'll do it mañana!" So, knowing that, I've put together a basic check-off list to consider for your business:
It's just seven items to check, and if you feel I've missed some, let me know in the comments section, and we'll expand the list. Just remember, everybody is working against the same clock. Procrastination is NOT a marketing strategy. You snooze, you lose! And if you're stuck for ideas, you know where to find me!   One minute you're young and fun. And the next, you're turning down the stereo in your car to see better! Unknown Author  by Skip Cohen It's Sunday and my day to share whatever's on my mind, and it's NEVER about the business and marketing of photography. Today's post is a perfect example. Last night we went to a Bradenton Marauders game. The Marauders are a High-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates that plays in the Florida State League. We had an early dinner with our son and daughter-in-law, and then we headed to the game. We got home late (well, late for us), going to sleep just after 11:00 pm, and today we both feel like we ran a marathon. And there's my point, when did we become our parents? When did aging become a challenge that we need a slug day following an evening out? So, to further make my point, you might be a true senior if you can relate to any of the following:
I could go on with lots more, but the bottom line is we laugh a lot. We're growing old, and in all honesty, it's pretty terrific. It's anything but easy, and we both creak for ten minutes when we get up in the morning, but each day is like a sitcom. So what if now and then it's like "Fifty First Dates?" Wishing all of you a day ahead that's filled with laughter and smiles with the people you cherish the most in your life. Take a minute or two to think back to the funniest thing you've ever done with your spouse or a best friend. Then, don't listen to people who tell you that you can never go back. The reality is, you can go anywhere you want, and the older you get, the easier it is to get away with it! Happy Sunday...or Monday on the other side of the world. I'm at an age where my back goes out more than I do!
Phyllis Diller  There is one thing Alzheimer’s cannot take away, and that is love. Love is not a memory – it’s a feeling that resides in your heart and soul. Author Unknown by Skip Cohen I just had my fourth article published in the Florida Alzheimer's newsletter. The You're Not Alone Chronicles is about different things we learned in dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's. Most of what we learned was thanks to the Senior Friendship Center's caregiver support group. If you're dealing with Alzheimer's, find a support group in your community and then NEVER miss a meeting! But my point isn't just about Alzheimer's, but about being involved in your community, a topic I write about often. In my case, it's my way of thanking a community that helped us so much during our own fight with the disease. In your case, if you're a working professional photographer, you're a business owner, and you need to give back to your community. People like buying products/services from companies that give back! Regardless of why you decide to get more involved...it simply feels good. I don't know if my articles are making a difference to a lot of people or just a few. It's a horrible disease, and if what I share helps just a few readers realize they're not alone, then I've accomplished my goal! Here's this month's chapter, which ran this past Wednesday. If you're interested in reading more, they're all just a click away, along with dozens of other authors and a mountain of support! Wishing everybody a terrific weekend ahead! Thanks for being a reader and joining me on my journey. Learning to ListenWhen Alzheimer's knocks on the door of a loved one, your role in life changes to becoming either a caregiver or a "supporting cast member." It's not just a change challenging everything you know about relationships, but a complete transformation in lifestyle. Rarely is anybody prepared for the changes they need to make. As a result, you draw from everything you've learned in life, or at the very least think you understand. In her early stages of Alzheimer's, most of us found ourselves correcting Mom. She might say something like "The sky is so green today." While my Dad and I would remind her that it was blue, my wife, Sheila, just went with it and would say, "It's beautiful!" “You’ve got two ears and one mouth, so listen twice as much as you speak!” Author Unknown Even though my grandmother and great-grandmother had Alzheimer's, I was much younger at the time and not directly involved in either of their care. But with my mother, Sheila, and I were on the front line. My mother met Sheila around year four of the disease. For whatever reason, my mother was convinced that she'd known Sheila for most of her life. She used to introduce her to people as a friend with whom she did volunteer work when she was younger. She'd hold Sheila's hand and say, "This woman is such a hard worker." Sheila never challenged anything Mom shared or said, just supported what she was sharing. What was interesting was that there was always some logic in her thoughts…for example, Mom became whatever she watched on television. I walked into my folks' place one Sunday evening, and Dad was in a panic. He and Mom had watched Father of the Bride II. With the scene of the daughter and mother both giving birth, Mom, sitting in her recliner, went into heavy Lamaze breathing. I came into the den and there she was, 85 years old and about to give birth! I looked at Mom, kissed her on the top of her head, and asked, "How ya doin'?" Her response, "Get your father, you're about to have a baby brother!" I started arguing with her, using my best logic, and then gave up. I was there by myself and called Sheila for advice. "Just go with it for a few minutes," she said. So, like a bad Hollywood movie, I sent Dad off to boil water. We shut the TV off, and a few minutes later, the whole scene had faded away. On another occasion, we had all watched a Lakers game, and when they lost, Mom asked, "What exactly do you do for the Lakers?" I responded, "Nothing, Mom, they just pay me to watch!" She sounded almost indignant and said, "Go to the kitchen and make some pasta. The boys lost tonight, and I want to make them something comforting." Off I went for a few minutes, preparing for the Lakers to show up in Sarasota for pasta. With Sheila's help, the support group, and anything we could read about Alzheimer's, we learned to listen without reacting when Mom was "off course". I'm not suggesting it was easy, but the only choice was to go with the flow. One more advantage of being in our support group was the continued realization that we weren't alone. Everybody was dealing with the same kind of challenges, and the more bizarre the situation with Mom, the more we seemed to learn and understand. Stories like the two above became benchmarks on our journey. After one support group meeting, when everyone had shared some of their most challenging stories, Dad said to me, "Wow, we have the good kind of Alzheimer's!" Everyone else's problems seemed bigger than our own. Nothing takes away the pain of this horrible disease, but Dad made the best of it. The stories became crazier, but Dad turned them into something to squeeze out a small smile, always accompanied by a tear or two. There was nothing we could do, but as Dad said so many times, "Your Mom took care of me my whole life, now it's my turn to take care of her." Before Alzheimer's, Dad was never known for his listening skills. In fact, his favorite joke was talking about the secret to being married to my mother for all those years…he always slept on his good ear! He learned to listen to Mom without challenging the craziness. And no matter how much it hurt, he never lost sight of the importance of being by Mom's side.  Have goals so big your problems pale in comparison. Grant Cardone  by Skip Cohen
It's Hump Day, and I'm going to keep it short. I wasn't sure what I wanted to share until I read the quote above. Then I found the goldfish shot in Adobe Stock, and together they fit so well with this time of year: the calm before the storm of seasonality. Too many of you compromise your short and long term dreams, toning them down to what your brain is telling you is more realistic. The issue is you're not listening to your heart! The quote is thanks to author Lou Mitchell and his book Mastering Positive Thinking, One Day at a Time. He went on to write: Reflect on the goals you've set for yourself. Are they big enough to inspire you and minimize your worries? What steps can you take today to expand your vision and focus on the bigger picture? It's a short Hump Day point - take a moment to think about your goals and dreams. Don't compromise, no matter how far away you think success might be. There's that old line...if you shoot for the tops of the trees, you won't get off the ground, but if you shoot for the stars, you'll get to the top of the trees!  by Skip Cohen Years ago, my good buddy Scott Bourne started talking about the importance of owning your zip code. In other words, making sure that all the retailers in your area knew who you were and what you did for a living. It's an easy concept, known to most of us through expressions like pounding the pavement or knocking on doors. The Adobe Stock image above is Bourbon Street in New Orleans. - It's not even close to being like the stores in most of your neighborhoods, but it's still a great representation of the potential for making sure all the businesses in your area know who you are. Your greatest marketing tool continues to be relationship building. Introducing yourself to the businesses in your community is a great way to start and can lead to some incredibly beneficial relationships. Knocking on Doors: There are still too many artists who don't see the benefit. For example, wedding photographers will often tell me, "I photograph weddings. I have nothing to offer a real estate office!" Well, how about this...you visit a realtor and say, "I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm a wedding photographer, but I have an incredible network. If I can ever help you with any of your imaging needs, regardless of whether or not you need event coverage, give me a call." Leave your business card or brochure and move on to the next establishment. Open Houses: Whether you have a bricks and mortar studio or not, you have access to locations to show off your skills and make a strong introduction to the community. Look for a place with good business frontage that can be rented for an evening. Here's the link to the story about an open house Chamira Young did many years ago when moving to a new community in the Detroit area. She rented a place in a local office complex and hosted an event similar to a gallery opening. She had wine and cheese, her brochures, and was set up to take individual portraits of all the attendees. The event was all about relationship building, and it kicked off friendships that are still in place today, years later. Direct Mail and Partnerships: I've written so much about the importance of not flying solo! You don't need to do everything in marketing on your own. Teaming up with two other partners and sharing the cost of an oversized postcard mailing is an ideal way to own your zip code and then some! Plus, each partner becomes an ambassador for the other two companies involved, and your costs are reduced to a third of what they'd be if you did it all yourself. Networking Luncheons: I'm a big fan of networking luncheons. First, join the local organizations that host networking events. If you're stuck on where these might be held, contact your local Chamber of Commerce. Second, do one of your own with businesses in your community that share the same target audience. For example, a wedding photographer has access to bridal salons, caterers, tux shops, florists, venues, music promoters, wedding planners, and the list goes on and on. Find a small restaurant with a private room and an easy menu. You're organizing the event, but everyone covers their own lunch costs. Imagine the strength your network will gain as you get to know the other vendors in your space who also focus on brides. The Power of Three: Marathon Press offers two different programs for family marketing and high school seniors. They're called The Power of Three because they set you up for three different mailings over several months, each one with a stronger reminder that time never stands still. But the reason I wanted to list it here is because of their program of limited exposure regarding zip codes. From Marathon's website: The available design for this 3-part mailing is limited to only one studio per marketing area—call (800) 228.0629 to reserve your preferred ZIP Codes. ZIP Codes are protected on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is the perfect time of year to be knocking on doors and building top-of-mind awareness for your business. Kids are back in school, and Mom has time to think about the upcoming holidays. And you're looking towards fourth quarter seasonality and hopefully a terrific holiday season... Time to start knocking on doors!  |
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