I am not a product of my circumstances. 
I am a product of my decisions.
Stephen Covey

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S. Lewis

by Skip Cohen

I try and keep it light on Fridays, although I don't often succeed. But I am going to keep it short. I found the quote above in a book by Lou Mitchell, who went on to write:

Reflect on your own life. Is there a dream you've put off because you thought it was too late? What can you do today to get back on track or set a new goal that excites you? Consider the experiences and knowledge you've gained over the years, and use them as a foundation to build new paths.

All of us had dreams when we were kids. Many of them disappeared as we got older and the quest for achieving them became buried under the stress of what we chose to accept as reality. But the truth is, dreams don't go away. They fade and then get moved to a back burner.

And there's my point - you're never too old to chase another goal or fulfill a dream. The key is not to let time get in the way. Whether there's something you've always wanted to do, a place you always wanted to go, or simply a skill you wish you'd learn, there's time...but you're the only one who can decide the direction of your next adventure.

Wishing everybody a weekend ahead with time to chase your dreams and start a new adventure. Nothing is outside your reach.

"You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it."
Charles Buxton

by Skip Cohen

​I always try and keep it light as we head into the weekend, especially in the "slow season." Here's a thought as we hit the last weekend in February:

A photographer I've known for a fairly long time asked me for some help in determining where his business needs the most attention. I was happy to give him a hand, but he never came back with what he needed me to look at in his business. When I contacted him to see what had happened a few months later, his response was, "I just haven't had the time."

This is a short post today: While we can't stop time or hit a magical rewind button, we do have control of our time, but it doesn't just happen. When there's something we want to do, it's only going to happen if we MAKE the time.

Lou Mitchell, in his book Positive Thinking - One Day at a Time, wrote:

... time is one of our most precious resources, yet it often feels scarce. Waiting to find time for important activities and goals is futile...Reflect on your daily routine. Are there activities you wish you had more time for? How can you adjust your schedule to make time for these priorities? What steps can you take today to start making time for what matters most?

Just two points today: Take a little time and review your priorities. So often, just when we start to get a little momentum on something, we're distracted. We take our foot off the gas and slow down - like a gaper's block driving past an accident on the freeway. 

You can't do big things if you're distracted by little things!
Unknown

Second, by staying overly focused on our cell phones, we're always reachable. Put phones together with email and social media, there's no place we can hide. Too many of us take every call and never say "No," when asked for help. I'm not suggesting you say "No" all the time, just prioritize better. You can't be everything to everybody, but you can find balance. You can be present for the things that matter most.

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend with time for the things that are most important in your life!

Everything changed the day he figured out
there was exactly enough time for the important things in his life.
The StoryPeople

by Skip Cohen

I know I shared the quote above a few years ago, but when something inspires us, our perspective can change as time goes by. Sheila and I have a collection of StoryPeople art, and this morning, I read the quote above.

This post is for those of you "Chicken Littles" who spend your life worrying about time. You can't slow it down and you can't stop it, but if you get it in the right perspective, the speed that time flies by becomes an asset. I admit, being an old fart helps in the way I look at time today, and here's my point...

I've learned to appreciate my goals and not be restricted by the time needed to accomplish what's important in my life. Over the years, I wasted so much time worrying about what I wanted to accomplish on any given day. I wasted time picking low-hanging fruit, not because it was easy to pick, but because my loftier goals might use up too much time. Life became about the quantity of things I got done, not always the quality!

This is a short post this morning. Stop worrying about time and just focus on the task at hand. I've learned that everything always works out for the better, and while some goals and tasks are more difficult than others, once you accept that you really can have it all, everything falls into place.

​Happy Tuesday!

PS And if you're looking for some great inspiration, thoughts on romance or simply a different perspective on life, check out the StoryPeople's website. (Please note: I do NOT work for them. They are not a client - I just love the way they seem to know exactly what's in my head and how to write it down.)

by Skip Cohen

​​It's January 21, and I'm betting most of you are still not back in the groove and are running in low gear. There's no sense of urgency. After all, it's the "slow season," and you've rationalized your right to procrastinate just a little longer. Sound familiar?

Most of us go through the same process every year - We think about the previous year, set goals for the new year, and then kick back for as long as we can...just to recharge a little longer. Too often, we think we need to make significant changes in the new year, but the truth is what most businesses need most is more consistency in all aspects of quality - not just what they deliver but how they market, communicate, and interact with their target audience. 

Maybe everything was done right last year, but you need to expand to a broader audience and offer more diverse products/services this year. Perhaps the product line is fine, but you need to find more ways to reach your target audience.

Let's make 2025 the year to maximize potential...

Happiness is a Journey, Not a Destination...

For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life.
But there was always some obstacle in the way.
Something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, 
time still to be served, a debt to be paid.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.  Happiness is the way.
So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.
​
Souza

by Skip Cohen
​
The wisdom above is from a refrigerator magnet that's been on my whiteboard for many years. I know I shared it in a post or two over ten years ago, but it deserves to be shared again.

So many of us waste time looking for happiness, when all along it's right there in front of us. Sometimes, it's hidden under the emotional baggage we all carry around. Most of the time, if you haven't found happiness, you just haven't looked hard enough.

It's January and in most parts of the country it's the "slow season." So, while you're working on your plans for the year ahead, this is the perfect time to think about your journey and make sure it's running on being happy. You can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your own heart isn't in it.

Wishing everybody a great week ahead.

by Skip Cohen

We're officially into the "slow season." Normally, I suggest that just because business slows down, that doesn't mean you can. At the same time, everyone needs to recharge their battery, and this weekend is the time.

But, there's an art to kickin' back...you can only enjoy it if you've got a relatively clear head. That means tying up loose ends, reviewing any deadlines you're chasing, and, in summary - getting the monkey off your back!

A clear head sets the tone for relaxing, appreciating your family and friends, and daydreaming a little. What do you want 2025 to look like—not just from a business point of view but also from a personal one? 

Years ago, I gave up on New Year's resolutions. Instead, I find setting a few goals far more productive. A few times, I've even written them down on my calendar and tracked my progress. Rather than set rigid deadlines for completing specific tasks or projects, if it's personal, I just pick times in the future to check on my progress. 

Here's my point on this first Friday of the new year - Now is the time to take a short break and do whatever it takes to make your heart soar! This isn't directly about business but building up your attitude for the future. Remember, as artists, you can't create images that tug at people's heartstrings if your heart isn't in it.

So, this is the time to take a break, kick back and chill. Smile more, and spend time with the people you appreciate the most, especially yourself!

by Skip Cohen

​Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, it's a family time of year and always special. It's a time to make memories with the people who mean the most to you. And here's my reminder: When you're together with older members of your family, DON'T FORGET TO VIDEO THEIR STORIES.

I've written a lot about legacy programs and documenting the stories of older relatives before they're no longer with you. Whether with your phone or camera doesn't make a difference. Take the time to corner those senior members of the family over the holidays.  

Now, take it one step further - if you've got kids in the house - assign them to be the family historians. If they're young, get the camera set up for them - and if they're older, give them some assignments. Stories like, "Sit down with Grandma and Grandpa and ask them how they met." Anything relevant in capturing those beautiful backstories that will disappear when older members of your family pass on.

Wishing everybody a wonderful holiday! Thank you for all your support, friendship, and feedback. It hasn't been the easiest year, but it's been one filled with memories, and as sappy as it sounds, it has been filled with a whole lot of love!

Happy Holidays! 

Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day...
unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear.
Saint Diamonds

by Skip Cohen

It's Hump Day, two weeks before the holidays. For most people it's the busiest time of year. Everyone gets so wrapped up in the holidays, that too many of us miss the magic!

"It'll be my luck that when my ship comes in, I'll be at the airport!"
Unknown

by Skip Cohen

​It's Marketing Monday, and it's very close to the last few days to do anything that will impact 2024. Yet many of you still act like the train doesn't leave for weeks, and you have all the time in the world. The reality is that you're just about out of time.

There are still a few things you can do to have an impact on what's left of this year and start a little foundation work on 2025!

• Business Expenses: Talk with your accountant first to confirm - but until December 31 at midnight, if there are business expenses you need to make that are deductible, NOW is the time to invest. And with gear, while I usually suggest waiting until closeout sales in January, there are some remarkable deals going on right now.
• Donations: Everyone is always thinking about cash, but what about gear you no longer use? There are so many schools and organizations that need equipment but don't have the budget. Again, check with your accountant to understand what might be tax-deductible.
• Travel Planning: Are you headed to IUSA or WPPI in 2025? Get your hotel and travel reservations if needed, and start to plan a few lunches or dinners with friends and associates. Once at the convention, it's always hard to pull people together - so look at the schedule now and put a few plans in motion.
• Holiday Cards: This is the week to get them in the mail. They should NOT be store-bought cards but your own images. On the back, your logo and contact information should be displayed, just like on a Hallmark card.
• Social Media Updates: Whether it's your website or social media pages, if you have dated material expiring at yearend, then let's get things set up to be up-to-date on January 1!
• Photojournalism: There's so much going on in every community this time of year...and you're a photographer! It's the perfect time to build your own stash of images to share when you're wearing the hat of being your own content creator. 
• Community Involvement: From food banks to soup kitchens to Meals on Wheels and everything in between, every nonprofit needs help this time of year. It's not too late for you to help...and while you're there, add a few photographs of you being involved. They're perfect for posts later in the new year, as well as showing support for some of the events in your community.
• January Events Calendar: One great way to keep involved in your community is to have an events calendar on your website. Being like the old town crier is a role each of you should be playing with the nonprofits in your area. With each event you capture and share, you create an ambassador role for yourself and build a profile that says, "This is my community, and I'm NOT just another retailer!"

Here's my point today - Procrastination is NOT a strategy! You've still got time to tie up a few loose ends and add to your foundation for success in the new year, as well as impact your brand for 2024. But, sit on your ass, and you'll miss the train - it's no fun watching it go by and not knowing when the next one's coming along!

by Skip Cohen

​Sometimes, inspiration shows up in the most unlikely places—like the back of a T-shirt! But it was the perfect sentiment at the Walk to End Alzheimer's last month.

"There is always light if only we're brave enough to see it ...if only we're brave enough to be it."

I wrote about Alzheimer's in a post a few weeks back. Losing my Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a great-uncle to the horrible disease is a cause near and dear to my heart. It's the foundation for my newest "adventure," working with the Memory Care Alliance to help caregivers dealing with Alzheimer's.

But today's post isn't just about Alzheimer's; it's about finding a non-profit cause you believe in. Between Mother Nature's wrath and politics, the world has become a very scary, at times terrifying place. I know we're not the only ones who watch the news and want to go to bed and pull the covers over our heads!

The one way to beat dealing with those challenges we have no control over is to get involved in something that, by giving back, lifts your spirits and makes a difference. I loved this guy's t-shirt because it says so much in the simplicity of the message - brave enough to see the light and strong enough to help be the light!

It's December and holiday time - every non-profit needs help. Plus, you're looking for your community to be good to you - so you need to be good to your community. You're not just another retailer; one way to stand out even more is to be involved.

​Think about it for just a second - if everybody we know just gave back a little to their favorite non-profit, how much could we all help change the world?

YOU ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE
Fitting in is overrated. You are not for everyone, don't strive to be.
Cyndie Spiegel

by Skip Cohen

​With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up this week, it's a short week, but certainly not light on being busy. While there's not a lot of time left for any business to do very much to capture more of 2024's seasonality, there's still a great point to make about your artistic and business philosophy.

In early October, I shared a blog about being comfortable with the word "No." Not everyone is your client, which makes turning some business down necessary when the request is too far outside your goal or even your comfort zone. But I want to share a more profound message in today's post, and it's all packaged in Cyndie Spiegel's quote above.

A few years back, my good buddy, Terry Clark, made a point about success: "The best thing to do to survive and thrive is find what everyone else isn't doing and do that thing." Stop doing what everyone else is doing, and use your creativity and passion for the craft to stand out from the herd!

We all desire to fit in, but when everybody fits in, most activity becomes a commodity! Your goal as an artist and small business owner is to be unique, exceed customer expectations, and make yourself habit-forming!

Don't compromise your goals and aspirations for the sake of being in line with what everybody else is doing!

I thought fitting in was something I had to fix. Now I see it as my superpower!
Maxime Legacé

by Skip Cohen

​In yesterday's post, I mentioned the importance of not being afraid to "hit the help button" when you need it. Since then, I've encountered multiple references to asking for help. The best was from author Cyndie Spiegel.

"ASKING FOR HELP IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH...Learn to ask for help. There is no prize for being the most independent. Asking for what you need is a sign of strength: it demonstrates a willingness to take better care of yourself and those you love by seeking the best possible help. In the same you'd willingly advocate for others, do the same for yourself."

We're ramping up into the 2024 peak of seasonality in imaging, and everyone will face unexpected challenges at some point. When that happens, stop thinking you have to solve every problem flying solo.​

"You are not alone: There is a great big world out there waiting to champion you and help you live your very best life."

by Skip Cohen

Forty years ago, at a Polaroid meeting, one of the managers was late. Someone yelled, "The power went out People were asking where he was when someone yelled out, "He's stuck on the escalator!" That set off a lot of chuckles. 

While looking through some old posts this morning, I ran across the escalator story I shared ten years ago. It's still so relevant, especially when I found the original video on YouTube. And while the quality isn't as great as what we're used to, it still makes the point!

Most of you know where I'm going on this one...

If we learned nothing else through the pandemic, learning to pivot is one of your most valuable business skills. Stop acting like you're stuck on the escalator when something doesn't go as planned! Over and over again, I keep running into new and well-seasoned photographers who simply hit the panic button when something doesn't go as planned. We're an industry with too many "Chicken Littles," and the sky is NEVER falling.

When you don't get the results you hoped for, you get to take a "mulligan" and another swing at the ball. It's not your only shot. Yes, there are some projects with more on the line than others, but the most remarkable thing about being an entrepreneur is having a chance to try things a different way.

One more analogy: Learning how to scuba dive isn't about swimming underwater. In fact, it's a relatively easy sport to pick up.  Learning to dive is really about knowing what to do when something goes wrong. In the same respect, being a professional photographer is all about knowing what to do when something doesn't go as planned - it's the reason to ensure your skill set is the best. f

You will make mistakes with marketing, promotions, social media, your blog, your website, and running a business. People are going to let you down. You're going to have moments of disappointment. Here's where all those trite one-liners about falling and getting up come into play.

Even more important is the way your network can be involved. Keep building your network and, in turn, utilize it when you need support. Don't be afraid to hit the "help button" and, oh yeah...I'm in your network, too. If you're stuck and need help, ask for it!

The only limitations you have are the ones you've imposed on yourself.
Cyndie Spiegel

by Skip Cohen

​TGOO...(Thank God October's Over!) 

It's November, and that sense of wonder that comes with holiday seasonality is definitely in the air. Plus, it's Friday and the perfect time for a quick thing to think about—it's all in that quote above. The majority of our limitations are self-imposed!

Years ago, a young photographer said to me, "I'm a little guy and just getting started." As he continued to talk, he highlighted how much he still had to learn, what equipment he didn't have yet, and his limited network. In all honesty, it was one of the most frustrating presentations I've ever heard, as he then asked me to look at his portfolio.

He was missing self-confidence and remembering that everybody had to start somewhere. And what makes great artists even greater is all about their passion. I found myself responding by quoting Zig Ziglar: 

Here's my point - Too many of you, as both artists and small business owners, put limits on what you can and can't do. For example, financial issues like investing more in marketing, often become a lifeboat drill as you worry about the return on your investment. Yet, if instead of flying solo, you brought in two partners for a blow-out direct mail campaign, you'd cut your costs to 1/3.

Imaging as my buddy Scott Bourne once wrote, dis an equal opportunity employer - in other words, you're judged on the quality of your images, not on your pedigree! It doesn't matter how much you're worth, your race, or your age - people are going to first look at your work and know nothing about you.

So, if your dreams seem a little out of reach lately, take a break. Step back, think about what's slowing you down, and then start working on solutions.

Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.
Farrah Gray

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend. If you're in Sarasota, the Alzheimer's walk is tomorrow. Here's the link for more information.

by Skip Cohen

​It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday, but I wanted to look back at more than just a few old photographs.

When we were kids, nothing could surpass our imaginations. A new refrigerator meant the box it came in was the perfect fort. Blankets over a table became a castle. We improvised with whatever was available and simply created one Hollywood set after another. There was no limit to how far we could travel on our magic carpet.

As we got older, we learned to color inside the lines, and Peter Pan had to grow up sooner or later. We learned to keep things "real" and dreaming of becoming whoever and whatever we aspired to needed to be within reason. Dreams became "visions" - a vision being on the practical side of accomplishments. And when asked what you want to be when you grow up, responses like "a cowboy" or "run away and join the circus" morphed into more practical vocations.

Note: That's me at four years old. I never got to join the circus, but managing a rodeo team for Polaroid in the 80s was pretty damn close to becoming a cowboy. And for you older rodeo fans, that's world champion bull-rider, the legendaryTuff Hedeman next to me, and the big guy in the middle of the back row is Rod Lyman, who years later became president of the PRCA.

Somewhere in the aging process, creativity returned. Driven by time, we realized that being practical and following the rules was hampering our creative juices. In the world of imaging, technology seems to have heard our cry for help. Sitting down at a computer with an image, we could tweak it and break all the rules of lighting, composition, and exposure. 

Social media gave us the ability to expand our reach with new friends and concepts and literally go to the ends of the earth whenever we wanted. Dreams of what our life could be like came back into focus as we became increasingly aware that life was whatever we made of it.

"You have to color outside the lines once in awhile, if you want to make your life a masterpiece."
Albert Einstein

Happy Throwback Thursday!

by Skip Cohen

I started to write a long post about being better prepared for any kind of disaster. Following "Milton," we were without power for longer than any storm previously; our cells had no signal; I didn't have enough gas to run the generator without having to search for a gas station with both electricity and fuel; and there was a lot of clean-up needed outside the house.

I worked on the blog post for about an hour and then trashed it. I was embarrassed to be whining about the importance of being better prepared when so many people are in far worse shape. From the horrific tragedy in North Carolina to homes that were destroyed just eight miles from here - Mother Nature's been on a rampage, and that's only in the last couple of weeks in this area. 

When talking with friends about the various tragedies, my buddy Bob Coates mentioned the World Central Kitchen. The link is below, but I also did some searching and found three other organizations that are doing a lot to support each crisis. More information is just a click away below.​

And don't forget the local chapters of nonprofit support groups specific to your area. There's no such thing as too much support!

At some point, I'll probably write a more detailed post about protecting your business from a disaster, but for now, there are so many people who need our help. We all rationalize in a disaster, recognizing that if we're alive and our family is safe, that's what's most important. That's definitely number one, but rebuilding, recovery and survival are next in line behind the safety of the people we love. 

It doesn't matter what you give, how big or small—the point is that you're giving back to people who need help more than you do.