Quick Thoughts: The Quality of Your Life

I was shooting "neurochromes" when I decided to have some fun with my iphone in panoramic mode. The slight tilt in the horizon was me - not the phone! Yes, the person on the far right is meant to be there - it's Sheila and the only way she'd let me do her portrait!

by Skip Cohen

Not sure what's brought it on, but I'm feeling reflective today, Having hiked all over Sedona these last few days, maybe all that stuff about the power of a vortex is true. One thing I know for sure is Sedona is an amazingly beautiful place. The good news about reading a blog like mine is that if I get too reflective for you, you've got the option to walk away and do something else.   But, before you do...give me four more paragraphs.

I've spent the last six weeks working to launch this new site and blog. I've written about different aspects of your business, from marketing to customer service to the importance of quality in the final image - but what about the quality of your life?  What about time for your family, friends and just doing the things you love to do most?   The biggest problem today seems that we've all gotten so caught up in the day in day out challenges that we don't know how to just kick back and relax.

I'm the worst one to pitch the concept, because it's only recently I've learned it for myself. It's also recently that I've spent hours working on a dream of mine, SCU.   But, even though I don't always practice what I preach, here's what I've learned. 

First, I'm the only one who can set my priorities.  For those of you who know me personally, I couldn't be more Type-A and just staying mellow is not an easy thing to do.  Second, I've found I really have to concentrate on shutting off business.  If you love what you do too much, your work becomes your life and in the end you actually don't have a life!  It's ironic and trite sounding, but that's the way it works.   Third, think about everything that you could categorize as a passion.  Now take all those passions and the ones at the top of the list are the ones that make you smile the most!  Just like a vitamin every morning - you need that smile ingredient!
 
In future posts, along with the help of a whole bunch of good friends, we're going to share all the ingredients to help you set the priorities, learn how to shut off business and focus on developing your passions. I may not always have the answers, but I hang out with a whole bunch of people who do!