by Skip Cohen

​It's my first Reflections post of the new year, and after watching the news last night, I knew exactly what I wanted to right about...the art of optimism!

For most of my life, I've been one of those "the glass is half full" kind of guys, but I couldn't wait to close the door on 2024. It was a tough year, and I welcomed '25 with open arms. But with the horrific attack in New Orleans, the continued "Luigi" saga, the CDC warning on flu season ramping up, and an arctic cold front with fifty-seven million people in its path, optimism is getting hard to come by!

Just five days into the new year, the world has gone upside down. Chicken Little's proclamation that the sky was falling seems to be jam-packed with foresight and wisdom instead of a kid's folk tale. 

So, I went off in search of all the things that continue to make me smile and realized it's just a matter of selective focus. It's time to flip the switch to focus confirmation in our brains, just like we have on our cameras and phones.

Thanksgiving is ten months away, but I'm not waiting to think about everything I'm grateful for. It all starts with the furnace working this morning as Florida hits temperatures in the forties. Next comes our health; despite both of us creaking for ten minutes when we get up in the morning, we're feeling pretty damn good for old farts. We laugh a lot, even though there are a few rounds of tears here and there. And then there are the two pups, who, even though they're five years old, will always be puppies - they make us laugh and remind us every day of the importance of unconditional love.

Here's my point, and it's all explained in my opening quote: Sure, roses have thorns, but how cool is it that thorns have roses? No matter what I might want to complain about, somebody out there has it a whole lot worse. I'm a work in progress, but the art of optimism is all tied to developing an Alfred E. Neuman philosophy about life and then staying true to his "What, me worry?" persona.

Yesterday is gone, and we've no control over tomorrow, but we do have today right now! So, I'm throwing Chicken Little out on his ass and giving Alfred E. Neuman power of attorney!

Wishing everybody a great day filled with peace, laughter and smiles that are more infectious than anything the CDC warns about. Make it a day to focus on things and people you love. You've got no control over how screwed up the world is, but you do have control over your little piece of life - don't waste it worrying about things you can't control. And ALWAYS go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've been writing about for the last ten years!

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

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and if you've followed me for even the shortest time, you already know I never talk about business when I write Reflections. I also throw caution to the wind when it comes to topics the "experts" say you should never write about. Sunday is my day to get more personal; today is no exception.

I want to preface today's post by admitting that I'm a hopeless romantic. I also get a little sappy, especially around the holidays. Fitting right in with that trait, I'm a huge fan of the Story People. I'm sure most of you have seen them, but have you been on their website?

Please keep in mind that I'm just a fan and NOT paid or endorsed in any way by this company. But like those times when you find just the right message in a greeting card, the Story People always come through.

Sheila and I have been fans since we bought our first one in Laguna, CA, sixteen years ago. Later, discovering their online presence, I started adding to the collection. Each message has resonated with something special in how I feel about our life together and shares a thought that normally would be hard to express.

Here's a perfect example: In March, Sheila's brother Randy had a brain aneurysm blow. After surgery and months of rehab, he seemed to be improving and getting better, but passed away in September.

​There are no words to describe the feeling of being helpless for somebody you care about when there's nothing you can really do to help except be there. I wanted to remind her that I'm so proud she's a warrior and that I've always got her back. Once again, the Story People came through. I added another one to our collection:

by Skip Cohen

​Today's Reflections post is miles away from business and marketing but right on target for a challenge each of us has faced or will face at some point. It's a topic people rarely write or talk about. It's also a testimony to one of the benefits of social media: the educational and spiritual side of sharing great information.

Lee Estridge and I have been friends for over thirty years. We first met when she used to attend WPPI and I was at Hasselblad. We keep in touch primarily through Facebook. Recently she shared the post below with one statement, "This is powerful and right on in my experience." So, I read it. Posted originally on Empaths and Old Souls by Durgawati Dari, it hit me hard. It's the kind of advice we all need to hear, but rarely do people talk about it. As Lee wrote when she shared it, it's so powerful!

I know dealing with death is a dark subject, but this is the first piece I've ever read that puts it in perspective. It's a topic that is eventually familiar to everyone. 

Wishing everybody a day ahead filled with nothing but life and as many smiles as you can pack into each moment. Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about, remembering that the "huggee" is somebody very special in your life.

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

When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.
Anon ​

You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.
Anon

It's a "thorn" when you lose a friend, but the "rose" is their presence and the memories we're blessed to have because they were with us.

Wishing everybody a day ahead with time to appreciate everyone you've lost and cherish those special people with you now. Go for those eleven-second hugs with the people you love the most, and don't be afraid to lean on them a little when working on a hole in your heart—it's part of what they're there for!

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

by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday, and it's always my day to step away from business and write about whatever's in my heart. This has been one of the best Thanksgiving weekends I can remember. As always at holiday time, I tend to get a little reflective, pondering how I got here—not just in Florida but emotionally. It's all about living a good life.

Cyndie Spiegel was right on target when she wrote her November 30 motivational piece, reflecting on how I've tried to live my life for a long time...

The only thing I'd add is that when falling, don't waste time on regrets. Life is not a rehearsal—this is the only one we've got.

Wishing everyone a day to grow, laugh, and never let go of your dreams! From those eleven-second hugs with the people you love most to simply appreciating each step of your journey---wherever it takes you. 

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

Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment
 until it becomes a memory.
Dr. Seuss

by Skip Cohen

​Sunday Morning Reflections are never directly about business. It's my time to head off in whatever direction my heart's pointing. Right now, it's pointing north as I head to the airport in a few hours to spend time with good friends as we remember a member of our imaging family, Karen Hart. After a battle with various cancers that lasted at least five years, the industry lost one of its most enthusiastic supporters.

I first met Karen in the early '90s when she joined the Hasselblad sales force. She was a phenomenal hard-working businesswoman who knew how to close a sale. She was also a photographer, diver, golfer, and good friend to so many people in the industry.

But my purpose in writing about Karen this morning isn't to write a eulogy but to celebrate my pride in having her as a buddy! It's also a testimonial to the memories I have of hanging out with her over the years. 

I've written a lot about the value of photographs and their ability to take intangible memories and turn them into tangible moments we can hold forever. All those photographs and videos in our cameras, on our phones and computer, in files, or even in shoeboxes help keep us focused on how we love the people who influence us most in life. And when we lose them, it's the photographs that create a very special kind of mortality...we can look at a photo and hear the laughter that took place as the shutter was clicked.

As you get older, time speeds up. You start to recognize how small the world is getting, especially because of the loss of great friends. I'm at that point where I've learned that time really does fly when you're having a good time. I savor each day, each memory, and the people who have come into my life and touched my heart.

I wish everybody a day filled with more memorable moments. Capture as many memories as you can with a camera because years from now, you'll be able to touch them, close your eyes, and hear them, too.

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

As long as there's grief, I will endure it because it means that you were here and it mattered.
Unknown Author

One of the hardest things you'll ever have to do is grieve the loss of someone who's still alive.
Unknown

by Skip Cohen

For years, I've written about the importance of being involved in your community. After all, you're looking for your community to be good to you, so you need to make sure you're returning the love! My point on involvement has always been focused on its importance from a marketing perspective. But today's post is about being involved as a benefit to your heart and that feeling when you're hoping to make a difference.

My mother died of Alzheimer's, as well as my grandmother, great grandmother, and one great uncle. It's in my family, and it scared me so much that I went to see one of Sarasota's most respected neurologists, Dr. Mauricio Concha. He put me through all the tests, and the intermittent forgetfulness I was worried about was normal aging. In short, going into the kitchen and forgetting why isn't Alzheimer's - going into the kitchen and not knowing what the kitchen is used for is Alzheimer's!

Yesterday, Sheila and I attended the Alzheimer's Walk here in Sarasota. The turnout was terrific, and the attendees' sense of hope, focus, and dedication was amazing. To date, there is no cure for the disease, but the spirit in the air added so much fuel to the fight! Plus, everyone there had a connection to grieving a friend or family member's fight with Alzheimer's.​

Checking in with Google, I found the following: In 2023, an estimated 6.7 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease...10.8% of people aged 65 and older have Alzheimer's, 5.0% aged 65 to 74, 13.1% aged 75 to 84 and 33.3% aged 85 and older. Click here for the complete A.I. overview.

Here are excerpts from an announcement made by Dr. Concha a few months ago:

...The concept for the Memory Care Alliance is based on my vision to offer maximum support for Alzheimer’s patients and especially their families and caregivers. Most of you already know my passion for doing everything I can to put an end to this horrible disease.
 
My challenge is time to build the Alliance, but with all of your help we’re going to set a standard of support that currently doesn’t exist anywhere in the area. To that goal, meet Skip Cohen...Skip has volunteered to join the team to manage the Memory Care Alliance and help us move to the next level of support. His involvement will include being a contact point for both the public and support companies involved in the various areas defined previously in what we hope to offer....Skip’s going to hit the ground running and will be contacting each member of the Memory Care Alliance to learn how we can maximize our effectiveness and grow the concept.
 
Welcome aboard Skip.

Here's my point...

Being involved in something that fills your heart, while cause-related marketing benefits your business, this is about your soul. Sheila and I don't have the skill set to be on the technical side of finding a cure. But, we sure can help pave the way for awareness and support to help ease the challenges other families are facing in coping with the heartbreak of this terrible disease.

Those of you who know me well realized long ago that I'd never fully retire. Even though my bones creak for ten minutes when I wake up in the morning, I'm not ready to slow down! I'm not changing my role in imaging—I love photography too much—but I do want to make room to find more ways to help in the fight against Alzheimer's.

Yesterday, at the Alzheimer's Walk, April McNamara posted images from the event, including the picture of me and Sheila. But this one on the right was one of my favorites.

Wishing everybody an outstanding day ahead. Take the time for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with the people you're closest to. If you're not involved in a cause that makes your heart soar, it's time to kick back and consider all the possibilities. There are so many challenges in this world that need help and support...and together we can all make a difference.

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.
Unknown Author

by Skip Cohen

​Sunday Morning Reflections are always off the topic of marketing. For me, it's therapeutic to share something going on that's not directly related to imaging and business. It helps me recharge my battery for the new week ahead. 

Sheila and I read something motivational to each other every morning over breakfast. She picks her book for the year, and I pick mine. While not every day has a thought that hits home, there's always something motivational. My book for this year has been by Cyndie Spiegel. Just click on the thumbnail if you'd like more information.

Today's reading hit me hard, in part because of its simplicity. It got me thinking about my life and friends over the years who made both right and wrong choices. The key word here is "choice."  Living a good life doesn't mean it's without challenges, but how you handle those challenges sets the stage for everything else.

​Speaking of challenges, Mother Nature is about to drop another one on our doorstep. Hurricane Milton is gathering strength, and it's bizarre to prepare for another one while we're still cleaning up after Helene. 

While we have control over many aspects of our destiny, it doesn't include the weather. We're doing our best to be "big kids" about this - we'll prepare like we always do, and we've got good friends inland who have a room ready for us. We'll evacuate if necessary, but that doesn't change the stress of the unknown, especially the storm surge, since we're at 9 1/2 feet elevation, and only two houses from the inland waterway!

Wishing everybody a day ahead to live the best life you can. Focus on the positive and "stand tall...shift...grow and create." Go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with the people you love the most - they're a big part of what makes a good life!

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

by Skip Cohen

​Although Sunday Morning Reflections are rarely about business and marketing, I suppose I'm crossing that line this morning by whining about Facebook. As their A.I.-driven robots deleted a post of mine on Friday, I feel like the character above— not knowing whether to just give up or listen to Pink Floyd's Tear Down the Wall. 

Sadly, there doesn't seem to be an easy alternative with Facebook. Over the last few years, their algorithms and policies have become increasingly unreasonable, as A.I. has become more and more misdirected. My post last Friday was a great example—nothing whatsoever deceptive—just a short post wishing everybody a terrific weekend. And while I protested their wrong call, I have no confidence that anything will change.

Just like the challenges with Twitter that I've given up on, along with so many of you, F.B. will eventually become another "I-remember-when" story. I picture a few of us sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch of a nursing home with stories of the past and things we miss in how we used to communicate.

I miss those days when...

• I could post something on social media and know it made it to the people I wanted to share it with
• A troll was a character in a children's story
• The Internet "Police" were real people who you could contact and actually talk to if necessary
• You knew most of the people who followed you
• A stolen identity meant you lost your wallet
• When our phone rang, it was somebody we knew, or, at the very least, a company I wanted to talk to - NOT an idiot outside the U.S. trying to sell me an extended warranty on my car, health care, or extension of the Geek Squad's coverage!

The list goes on and on, with the cold, hard reality of simply knowing I have to grow up. I still want to be Peter Pan at heart, but it gets tougher and tougher not to become a curmudgeon flying around in green tights, helping Chicken Little spread the word that the sky really is falling! LOL

And on that note, it's time to wrap up what's turned into a rant. My solution to the problem is focused on saving my own sanity. This is when your family and friends become so valuable - I can't change F.B., and the serenity prayer becomes so remarkably appropriate:

Wishing you a day ahead without the challenges of technology. Make it a day to spend time with the people you love the most. Go for those old-fashioned eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about and put all your frustrations in a box with a very tight lid not to be opened until tomorrow. Today's a perfect day to kick back and recharge your battery, which is what I originally wrote about in the post FB's robots pulled.

Weekends are not for catching up with work; they are meant for catching up with yourself!
N. Singhal

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

by Skip Cohen
​
Sunday Morning Reflections are rarely about business.  After writing about marketing and business all week, it's therapeutic to just sit down and share whatever's on my mind. It's my time to share something I appreciate about life and hope you do as well.

I ran across the quote above in a post I shared at least ten years ago. There's nothing I want to add except... 
we all waste too much time on things that don't matter.  

Wishing everybody a day ahead to have time with the people you love the most. Create new memories, or kick back and appreciate the old ones. You're not wasting time with short looks in your rearview mirror - they help remind you of where you've been and where you're headed on life's journey.

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

by Skip Cohen

​Sunday Morning Reflections is never about business and marketing. I usually never know what I want to write until I sit at the computer, but this morning is different. I knew when I tried to write something about losing Kay Eskridge a few days ago, today would be the day. Last week, I couldn't find the words.

Like so many of us in the industry, I'm trying to understand Kay's passing. There have been thousands of comments from artists all over the world about the news. The common theme is sadness combined with bittersweet memories of time with her—in short; she was a powerhouse of passion, enthusiasm, and pride in being a photographer.

The Google dictionary defines "love" as an intense feeling of deep affection. Along with thousands of people whose lives she touched, we all loved her. She lit up the room wherever she was. For me one of the things I loved most about her, was her honesty about her life. She hid nothing.

In 2020 and again in 2021, Chamira Young and I hosted Kay on the "Mind Your Own Business" podcast. Both podcasts are below. As I thought about sharing these today, I hesitated. For some it might seem too early, but when I started listening, the memories of working with Kay over the years made me smile. 

She was so dynamic and open about ways to help other artists build a stronger business. She was also completely open about the demons she'd battled with over the years. In fact, after we were off the air on one of the podcasts, Kay let me know she'd love to do a podcast on sobriety and her journey—she wanted to find more ways to help more people.

​I know everyone has their own memories/stories about Kay, but for me, it was non-stop trash-talk after she outbid me at a PPA Charities fundraiser for an Arnold Palmer autographed putter. It was around 2000, and she had the high bid, fair and square - but the fun of trying to beat her up was the same every time we talked. She had this laugh and twinkle whenever she reminded me that the putter was hung over her fireplace, NOT mine!

I just read over what I've written, and I'm having such a hard time expressing the hole in my heart...there's even a little regret for not keeping in better contact with her. We all take so much for granted, which was the thing about my friendship with Kay. I had never thought about a time when she wouldn't be around. In fact, looking back on my career, I don't remember a time when she wasn't around or even when or how we first met... and I'm betting I'm not alone.

One of my favorite quotes used many times over the years, is "I am a part of all that I have met" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. We're all unique because of the people who have come into our lives. Kay touched all of our lives, making her one of the common denominators we share. While technically, her life is over, her light will continue to shine because of the energy we share with her memory.

​by Skip Cohen

It's Sunday morning, and as so often happens, I woke up without a clue about what I wanted to write about for Reflections. For inspiration, I wandered through my Facebook Albums. The more images I looked at, the more I smiled. A picture really is worth a thousand words because every image has a story, a tangible trip back in time to old friends, challenges, trips, workshops, and events that are a part of my personal "family" album.

Most of us have a love/hate relationship with Facebook, but Facebook has become the keeper of so many photographs and, in turn, memories. But we get so busy that we forget to look in the rearview mirror. Sometimes, the best way to appreciate where you're going is to remember where you've been.

I pulled some pictures for a collage that told a few stories ranging from my buddy Brent Watkins helping me get my page back on FB when they told me my name wasn't really "Skip," to Dean Collins and Nick Vedros hamming it up...and everything in between. And like the three degrees of separation game with Kevin Bacon, all the photographs can be connected.

It's not Throwback Thursday, but have some fun and take a walk through one of your online albums. We take so much for granted and rarely the time for a quick look back. We're part of an amazing industry that allows the world to stop time and revisit moments from the past that are as vivid as if they were just captured minutes ago!

It's another Jodi Picoult moment..."This is what I like about photographs: They're proof that once, even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect!" 

Wishing everybody a day ahead worthy of shutter-clicking moments with the people you care about the most. Capture those memories so they can become tomorrow's throwbacks and tell your story. Go for those eleven-second hugs I always write about, and make it a day to remember.

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

by Skip Cohen

I started out today deciding I wouldn't write a Sunday Morning Reflections post, but old habits die hard, and here I am. Part of the reason was simply being fed up with the trolls and morons on social media. It's tough for this not to sound like a rant, but here's what got me here...

I'm a member of a local hometown website and have posted many throwbacks of friends in the community over the last few years. One of those photographs was of my wife's great-grandmother, who was Cherokee. I shared it at least four years ago, but somebody brought it back. Then, one of the members in this group came after me, claiming I was "shilling to get people to another Facebook page," followed by claiming many of my photographs were stolen.

While I know trolls love to hide behind the anonymity of their computer screens, I couldn't let this one slide by. I picked up a phone and called the guy—needless to say, he never called me back. Fortunately, the group admin took the post down, recognizing it was about to get ugly.

Here's my point—like so many of you, there are days when I just want to walk away from social media. Too many people don't know how to act or "play well with others!" And if you know anything about me at all, you know I've been a supporter of photographer's rights since the 1980s. I never use an image without permission or I pay for illustrations on Adobe Stock, like the one above.

I've written a few posts suggesting my own version of the rules of engagement...but here's a simple one, thanks to my buddy Levi Sim - "Act like your grandmother is watching!" Don't start rumors --Don't talk behind people's backs--and if you want to challenge somebody's credibility, then have enough of a backbone to contact them directly.

Thanks for letting me rant a little—LOL.

Wishing everybody a great day ahead and time to appreciate the people most important in your life. Take the time for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about. And if you question something posted on the Internet, take the time to confront the author BEFORE you draw your own conclusions! Social media has changed all of our lives, but for it to always be an asset everybody has to do their part.

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

by Skip Cohen

When I sit down to write Sunday Morning Reflections, I rarely start out knowing what I'd like to share. But this morning is different. I knew what was on my mind the minute the computer came on.  In a few hours, we'll be headed to the airport for a flight to Detroit, and everything this morning is about hitting the "anticipation" button. There's this wonderful sense of controlled chaos in the air.

Like most people, we stopped traveling when the pandemic hit. When it was over, we still limited travel, but by then, it was more related to changes in our activities. We decided to stay local, take the pups with us, and get to know Florida. While I attended a couple of conventions, air travel and preparation for a long trip was almost non-existent.

I've written a lot over the years about the importance of conferences and attending every one that you can. One of the main reasons is exactly what I'm feeling right now - we're not even at ClickCon yet, and the anticipation is boiling over. A convention/conference, when it's in your own industry, starts recharging your battery the minute you make the commitment to attend.

I'm all energy right now, and it's all coming from the excitement of seeing old friends, making new ones, and being around a group of people who all share a passion for imaging. And while getting ready for a trip these days, especially when you're flying, creates a lot of apprehension (we're on Delta!), nothing changes the smile on my face over catching up to people we care about.

I've been in this industry my entire adult life, or at least that time I was supposed to be acting like an adult, and I'm just as excited this morning as I was for my very first PMA Show back in the late 1970s! I know I'm not alone, and many of you are right there with me!

So, to those of you headed to ClickCon, safe travels - see you in a few hours. To the ClickCon team, thanks for what I know is going to be one of your best shows yet. And to those of you still on the fence, come on and join us—it's going to be memorable. 

How I love the career path I stumbled into 54 years ago! What a kick - See you in Detroit!

by Skip Cohen

As I sat down to write Reflections this morning, I had no idea what I wanted to share. I started by pondering what was happening in the world; overwhelmed, I switched gears and decided to focus on what was happening in my head. My first thought was the excitement of heading to Detroit for ClickCon two weeks from today.

For over thirty years of speaking at conferences and workshops, I've always recommended that people attend as many events as possible. Why? Even the smallest workshop is about recharging your battery. It's about expanding your skill set, exchanging ideas, being inspired, and, oh yeah, having FUN!

"Fun" is one of those words too often lost under the stress of running a business. We simply forget to have fun, and it's usually not until it's too late that we realize it's the missing ingredient. A great conference as a photographer is about reinforcing why you went down the imaging path in the first place.

For me personally, my keynote on July 29 is especially exciting—it's going to be one of my last presentations. I want it to be the best I can make it and packed with ideas to help attendees get closer to the success they imagined when they started their journey. I'm not ready to fully retire, but it is time to slow down and smell the roses.

I don't want to turn today's post into one about aging. While I creak for ten minutes when I get out of bed in the morning, according to Sheila, I'm no more mature. And when we look at the two of us, we seem younger than most people our age. We're certainly younger than our parents were when they were our age!

Here's my point - it's the presence of anticipation that keeps us young. It's the energy I feel as I put together my program. It's the pure joy of thinking about catching up with old friends, making new ones, and being in an environment of passionate people. 

Many years ago, I wrote, "You can't create images that tug at people's hearts if your own heart isn't in it." Well, it's not just about capturing photographs, but in everything we do. I am the quintessential example of a guy with an excess of Peter Pan genes - you know, the ones that, throughout our lives, keep screaming, "Don't grow up."  Fifty-four years ago, I stumbled into this industry at Polaroid, and it's been a kick, every day since.

Wishing you a day filled with anticipation for whatever you see on the horizon. Take the time for an occasional look in your rearview mirror - it's one of the best ways to appreciate how far you've come. Looking forward is how you draw from the power of anticipation, especially when the word "fun" is in the mix.  Always go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I've written about for the last ten years, and whoever your "huggee" is, think about how much richer your life is because of them!

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

PS I hope to see many of you in Detroit - what a kick this conference will be.
 

​

by Skip Cohen

​It's Reflections, and I always try and get a little more personal on Sunday mornings. This morning, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about; I've been working on my opening keynote presentation for ClickCon at the end of this month. While I've done hundreds of presentations in my career, this one is special because it's one of the last programs I plan on doing.

If you've followed me for even the shortest time, then you know I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in imaging. I've had a career filled with working with amazing people, experiences, and a never-ending flow of ah-ha moments. At a time when most people my age have retired, I'm not ready to hang up my guns, but it is time to slow down.

I came up with a terrific theme for my program. I want to play off of key things I've learned in my fifty-four-year journey in photography. As I've put the program together, each lesson has had somebody initially responsible for the concept. 

Take a second and think about the roots of things you do today. Everything you do has roots in some past experience. An event or somebody came into your life and left their mark. From a teacher to an associate to a family member, client, friend, or even adversary, they've all played a role.

One of my favorite quotes over the years is from Alfred Lord Tennyson:

​And here's my point and the fun of this presentation—each of us is a composite of our experiences. In photography, for example, all those experiences and people are responsible for the passion we have today. Everyone's passion is unique in its direction, with the common denominator being our love for the craft.

Here's something to think about this morning...Where and when did your love for imaging start? Who supported your vision and your dream? Even better, who didn't offer support, indirectly pushing you harder to succeed?

On July 29, I'm going to have fun sharing the lessons I've learned over the years and channeling them into ideas to help artists build a stronger business model and contribute to making 2024, hopefully, an incredible year. While I'm the one presenting, it will be thanks to so many people who have set the standard for creativity in business, marketing, and even technology.

I am definitely a part of all that I have met!

Wishing you a day ahead filled with the people most important in your life along with more ah-ha moments. Dont' forget those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about. Make it a day jam-packed with everything that makes your heart soar.

​PS Hope to see you at ClickCon in Detroit!

Sometimes, the real wonder and beauty in life are in the simplicity of it all. Here's what got me thinking about the topic. For our anniversary, we decided to go to one of our favorite restaurants, Sardinia, here in Sarasota. We decided to enjoy a slug day floating in the pool and then an early dinner.

At some point on Friday, we both had the same idea—let's just say home, chill for the day, and make a pizza on the grill—never getting out of bathing suits, sharing our thoughts, and savoring the day. We made a special pizza with fresh pesto that Sheila made the night before. So, it was a pesto pizza with diced fresh tomatoes—cooked on the grill and eaten while watching one of the early Jack Reacher movies.

Here's my point—the beauty of the day was in its simplicity making it perfect. We love Sardinia, but the restaurant couldn't match the fun and pure joy of just hanging out together. We're pretty much together 24/7, but there are always things to do, appointments, etc. This was a day with nothing scheduled and jam-packed with conversation resulting from multiple trips down Memory Lane.

Sheila and I have been active in each other's lives for seventeen years. "We've packed in a lot of great memories over such a short time," she said while floating in the pool. And as time seems to fly by at warp speed, the appreciation for all the laughs and tears gets more and more intense.

I found another quote that sums it all up:

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”
Hans Hofmann

So many of us waste so much time making things more complicated than they need to be. The "necessary" of yesterday was all about savoring time and our appreciation for life and each other. Going out to dinner would have only cramped our style and limited the fun of a memory-making anniversary focused on our time together. Our favorite memories have been built on a foundation of simplicity. 

Wishing all of you a day ahead that runs on simplicity. Put the complications of life on the back-burner. So often, we make life more complicated than it has to be. We forget that the people we love the most also appreciate simplicity. They want to cherish time together, just like we do. And those eleven-second therapeutic hugs are even better with the people you love the most.

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

by Skip Cohen

When I start writing on Sunday mornings, I always feel compelled to warn you - I'm way off the topic of business and marketing. And today, Father's Day brings out a lot of personal stuff - many of which the "experts" say is inappropriate to share on social media. Oops! LOL

I want to kick off today with a BIG Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. According to Google, there are an estimated seventy-two million Dads across the US. I wish you all a day with smiles and moments when your heart screams louder than your kids when they were little. And to you new Dads out there, cherish every minute because you wake up one day and they're grown - You don't want to feel like the lyrics in a Harry Chapin song.

Next comes looking back on my own life as a Dad. When I was twelve and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I'd always answer the same way: "A DAD!" Well, my wish came true, and although I'm estranged from my kids today, nothing changes the smile that comes from the memories of watching them grow up. 

And to my own Dad, who passed away almost nine years ago, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you. Poor Sheila's heard every story and still laughs over the best ones. They're all classics, each one representing your love for your family, your humor and your ability to laugh until you cried! I sure miss you Pop.

​It's a perfect day to share a guest post Dad wrote for me in 2010.

Wishing everybody a terrific Sunday and Father's Day. I hope you get the time to create a few new memories to cherish and savor in the future. Go for those eleven-second hugs with your family and if get time to kick back and just chill - take a look in your rearview mirror and notice how your kids seemed to have grown up overnight!

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

by Skip Cohen

​I rarely know what I want to share in advance when writing Sunday Morning Reflections, but today is very different. Yesterday, Sheila and I attended an event that was new to us, and raised our awareness for an incredible fundraiser. The event was Hockey Heals 22.

Every day, 22 veterans commit suicide. Joining the hosting team, the Lighting Warriors together with other hockey teams from the Tampa Bay area are playing 22 hours of continuous hockey, still going on this morning. They're raising awareness and funding to help our nation's veterans fight the invisible war of mental health that combats our country's heroes. 

The program kicked off with a few short presentations, but the most moving was the introduction of a dozen Gold Star families who have lost a son or daughter to veteran suicide.  As each family of a fallen warrior was introduced and came out on the red carpet, I found myself thinking about their sadness. Their pain is unimaginable. I couldn't help but recognize their bravery and dedication to help fight veteran suicide.

We were drawn into the emotion of the event as adult hockey players of all ages hit the ice - all of them sharing the quest to raise funding and awareness.