Fail Forward

One of my favorite terms, Fail Forward, didn’t come from this book, but I sure was happy to see this!  I didn’t know about the book until my mom brought a stack of inspiring books for me to read.  I was so excited about its title that I chose this one first.  I love this term because it means taking your mistakes and using them as lessons to move forward.  It can apply to business and personal lives.  I learned of this concept many years ago when I worked for Wells Fargo Bank and went through training as a mortgage loan consultant.  Portions of the classes were videos recorded specifically for Wells Fargo by  Todd Duncan.  His passion and drive is incredible and his organization is awesome.  So, I heard him use the phrase Fail Forward and loved it.  Since then, I continue to use this phrase as a regular part of business and life.  The book, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success, is powerful and inspiring and the author is John C. Maxwell.  I haven’t read any of his other books but don’t worry, it is in the stack.  His insights are worth pondering and implementing!  Another book worth reading! 

Another great read | Queen Creek Photographer

Have I already mentioned this book?  I probably should go back and look but I like it so much that I am willing to talk about it again (if indeed, this is round 2)!  I read this (okay, honesty is getting to me… I bought the book on CD) at the beginning sometime of 2010 and I have listened to bits and pieces throughout the last few months.  I love to follow Melissa Jill, and she mentioned this book the other day.  It reminded me how awesome it really is.  If you are in the car for more time than you are able to read, buy it on CD and listen while you drive.  It’s better than trying to talk or text since that is dangerous anyway. : )

One of my 2010 goals was to read 3 books about the business.  So, another addition to the collection for 2010!

Happy Trails? | Florida Photography

I am reaching out to those in business (for themselves).  Let’s chat about the business path!  I heard something fantastic today!  A business owner told me, “I always complain to my wife that I am behind.  She responds by telling me I am doing something right to always have business.”  I thought about that.  I thought more about that.  She is right.  If you are in business and doing well, you will never be caught up!  You will continue to drive business so when one project is done, you have the next one waiting in the foyer.  : )  (kind of sounds like laundry… never ahead, always filling up what you have finished!)

I see these pictures and it reminds me of the paths we take in life or in business as we build up what we want to have waiting in our foyers… 

Are you on the straight path?  You know exactly where you are going and how to get there?  You have a clear view and although obstacles may get in the way, you are proactive and prepared?  Maybe you even have gutter guards so you don’t fall off?  ; )  Even on a cloudy day, you path in business is straight and unobstructed…  Maybe your peripheral vision isn’t the greatest since you are focused on the straight ahead?

Or maybe you are struggling and it seems like an uphill climb. You can’t really see what is ahead and maybe you don’t want to?  Or, you sort of like taking it a few steps at a time…  It’s not a clear path but an adventure!  Maybe you can see the top of the hill but the steps to get there seem a little scary?

Or maybe you like the round about path…  the path that eventually gets you where you want to be but learning along the way and taking all sorts of turns (both wrong and right) help you still continue in the direction you want to go.  Sometimes this path takes extra time but maybe you see more and learn more along the way?  This is the scenic route even if there isn’t much to see.  ; ) 

I am a firm believer in continual growth regardless of your plan.  I try to not say never but I really want to use it here… we should never think we have it all down, know all there is to know and our path is complete.  Our paths change, our desires change and the seasons of life change.   Enjoy the journey!

Business errors | Queen Creek Photographer

Have you ever called a business, emailed a business and had no response or reply? Annoying huh!  Well, I have an error to confess and correct but I can’t.  I had a phone call on Thursday when I was headed out of town and promised to call back after the weekend.  So far, so good…  By the way, I am super fantastic (typically) at returning business phone calls and emails.  Anyhow, I grabbed the first paper I could find, jotted the information down and promised to call back.  The weekend passed and I was taking note of Monday’s to-do.  I remembered the phone call and couldn’t locate the paper anywhere.  It probably didn’t help that we were shuffling papers all weekend BUT I went through my trash, I went through my stash.   NOTHING.  I feel awful, I’m not sure what to do but maybe by apologizing here, she will call me again!   I don’t want to be THAT kind of business! (I’m not-do you believe me?)  I am sorry, please call again!  : )

Headshots | Queen Creek Photography

Another opportunity to do some real life grown-ups!  Sasha has a heart of gold, I could see that the first time we met!  Her devotion to family is incredible, I sorta wished she was in my family!  ; )  Our goal was to capture her true self, her real smile and her relaxed approach to business and friendship.  She made the session so simple and unique, I was able to get to know her and a little bit of her background.  You know what was even more amazing?  …Her ability to make a decision!  WOW!  I liked her goofiness, her light heartedness and her real-life-ed-ness.  I know, my words are sometimes questionable but how else do you describe it? 

Breaking those rules

Those DANG compositional rules are always getting in my way.  But, here is a little truth about me-I am a rule breaker!  I am the type to question rules and go outside the rules just to see what happens and photography is no different.  I think those compositional “guidelines” actually make images/art more attractive and sometimes we just don’t know why.  During my class with Wendy Schultz, I learned all about the rules and definitely what I was doing wrong.  (don’t you hate to know what you did wrong, then you look back with a more critical eye!)  She challenged me to incorporate as many rules as possible.  I came up with something lame but it got me thinking. 

I love that there is ART in everything!  The best part it that it is all subjective… what I like may not be what you like.  What I think is amazing and perfectly balanced and wonderful may look terrible to you-not possible.  : )  Anyhow, style is everything.  My style is a little funky and not so traditional.  I try to capture the original, unique, and clever-something that displays YOU. 

Tax information for photographers | AZ Photography

AZ Photographers: did you know that TPT is assessed on everything?  Yes, that means services/session are taxed!  I didn’t believe it, I questioned it, I looked it up and its true.  My accountant didn’t believe it so he did research as well and we both came to the same conclusion!!!!  You don’t want to not be in the know and have to figure it out the hard way!  Just sayin’

business to business sharing | Queen Creek Photography

I’m so confused, please help me understand… why would somebody NOT want to share business info?  Here is what I mean:

ME:  Hi, Mr. Retailer.  Can you let me know where you get your suckers?

Retailer: Ummm, no.

ME:  (completely baffled)  I am curious to know why you wouldn’t want to help another business grow.  I am interested in giving those suckers to photography clients.  I am not selling them (and then my mind went on to say, “and this is not what you business is about so why do you care?  people don’t come here to buy suckers, they come for what your core business is about.  those suckers are an after thought.”

Retailer: well, I order them for the store in bulk and the company is not interested in new clients.

I began to ask more and more questions so that I could narrow my search to find those suckers.  So, instead of giving me the name of the company, I learned all that I need to know about the company to find out who the company was.  Like a game of Guess Who?  Anyhow, when I hung up the phone, I found the manufacturer within 2 minutes.  I called-yes they love new clients and they like anybody want to be profitable and see success!

Why do people NOT want to share?  Isn’t that how we get ahead in the long run?  In any business, we can share!  There is so much to learn from one another.  We all have our own tweaked version but knowledge is power.  I love to learn and I love to share. 

Being fairly new to the business of photography, I found THIS ARTICLE to be so helpful and inspiring.  What a wonderful woman to want to SHARE what she knows and has learned.  I find tidbits like this, ideas for growth, ideas for success and support and I feel inspired to reach out myself (until I run across someone who doesn’t want to share the information about suckers).

We all learn that you need to give to get ahead.  What is a way that you can be remarkable in your business?  

I have to share something…  I learned today how important it is to be charging taxes and paying transaction privilege taxes on a monthly basis (to avoid problems along with late penalties).  You can find out more at AZtaxes.gov.  I filed for my TPT license which means I am officially and truly in business.  I am for real.  : )  I am a real business.  : )  The picture is to illustrate what it feels like to not know what to do about taxes and how to charge and what to file.  BUT ah-hah, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

You say its your birthday

I just finished making these last night at Scrapbooks, Etc. in Mesa.  I started off the year being super excited about birthdays for my clients’ kids.  BUT, since I didn’t get started before January 1st, I am simply behind.  I had fun incorporating my colors and making them a bit more fun than a card-ish card.  : )  So, if you have given me your kids’ birthday, shout hooray! because your little darling will be getting his/her personal note in the mail with something super special inside!  I can’t tell you the secret but I hope your kids will like it!  Sorry to all the January birthdays… I am sending them today!

Time away

Whenever I have time away from the computer (a necessary evil) I have a chance to evaluate, consider, think and be excited all over again.  Sometimes too much thinking is well, just too much.  : )  But we went away on vacation without laptop and camera, technically I had the camera but weather did not permit its use. I managed to bring it along on one day’s adventure but the rain was so bad I decided to leave it back at the hotel.  Anyhow, when I am here-“in the office” I get locked on what am I supposed to be doing, how behind am I on stuff and keeping up with all of it.  When away, I have to let go.  I can’t be where I am not and I can’t do what I cannot.  So, back at the day, still in my PJ’s I am playing catch up to nothing but my own expectations and assignments!  Funny how that happens!  I am glad to be back, sitting here and feeling inspired all over again.

I am still pulling pictures from last year’s stuff.  I probably will since my blog was nothing short of shameful last year.  I wanted to start new so I am pretending like this is the first time it is out there!  I have reserved January as the month to work on the business, not in the business.  I am all about proactive (try to be), not reactive.  I wanted to have systems in place, stuff in order so I can continue to run the rest of my life and not let this and everything else run me.  It is a work in process and something on my mind most of the time but I am excited about what I have been able to address and accomplish in January. 

This… it was all Todd.  We were dying to get some emotion out of him.  His face was stationary in what he thought was the perfect smile for family photos.  He was doing a fairly good job.  : )  I was hoping to see something more and it happened when I asked him what else he wanted to do or what else he had in mind.  He got his family on board, lined them up and finally something real was shown on his face (and everyone else’s).   In this photo, you can just see the kids thinking he is a little funny and there is Courtney barely agreeing to his cleverness.  In the end, I think this is what they wanted, not the first 30 minutes…