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From the category archives:
Motivation
What else can you say.
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How did it make you feel when you first saw it?
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It seems that every where we go and the people we speak to always bring up the topic of debt. A few years ago I spoke to a multimillionaire on the topic of debt. In case you were wondering, he does know me and my name. He told me that one of the few things that made him so successful was the fact he didn’t have any debt. It gave him the freedom to buy deals and the freedom to not have to worry about a company coming after him as well as the additional interest that he would be charged. In fact, the only reason purchasing anything on a credit card would be a good ideas was if there was a guaranteed increase in value by 10 times the sum of the original purchase price and the total amount of interest that you will pay when you pay it in full. In short, when you pay it off in full did you gain more money than you paid to have it?
Well, this isn’t the thesis of my post. What it’s really about is the fact that I paid off another debt! So rejoice with me! I’m a little aggressive (in the words of Dave Ramsey GAZELLE INTENSITY) about paying off my business debt because the fact of the matter is that the more debt my business has the less opportunity I have to take care of my clients. I don’t think this is talked about very much in the business or at least in the photography industry as much as it should. Maybe I’ll pick up that subject later but for now. I’m rejoicing that another debt has been paid which means more opportunity to add value to my customer’s experience.
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For the past couple of years now I’ve traveled over to Rutledge Ga. to photograph the campers of Camp Twin Lakes. This usually happens in the summer so it’s really hot, humid and just one long day (mostly because of the drive). Every time I go I am so encouraged by the kids. If you didn’t click on the link for Twin Lakes:
It’s a not-for-profit organization that offers year-round recreational, therapeutic, and educational programs for children facing serious illnesses and other physical, emotional and life challenges.
I cannot express to you what a great opportunity this camp gives parents and disabled children. Children with disabilities often do not have the opportunity to go to summer camp to walk the trails, conquer the ropes course, or even travel on a zip line. Well Camp Twin Lakes does and our story begins at the top of the climbing wall with the zip line. Camper Alex (not her real name) was the next camper in line to go down the zip line. She walked up the steps to the top and as soon as she got to the top in the open air she started crying. She was crying because not only the height but also because there were no walls to keep you from falling. Everyone (including myself had to latch into ropes to keep you from falling off. Heights really don’t bother me but the first time I got up there I was a little disoriented too. To put it in perspective. It’s easy to walk on a board that is a foot wide 6 inches off the ground it’s not so easy because of your perspective at 10 feet even though it’s the same piece of board.
At the top there were two camp counselors who encouraged her. This was her time to conquer her fears and they were going to be beside her the entire time. She cried and cried and then said she wanted to come down but one of the counselors reminded Alex that her goal for the day to was to go down that zip line. It took some time but she got strapped in and went down screaming for joy the entire way. In fact, I saw her after that and asked her if she had a good time and if she was glad she did it. SHE DID!
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Making sure the helmet is on right"]
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="You can see all the ropes needed to keep her secure"]
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="You can see how high it is"]
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="A little encourgement can go a long way"]
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Won't be falling with this many ropes"]
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[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!"]
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Thank you to photographer mike colon for passing this story along
You know I have been sitting here for more than an hour trying to put words together about this story of a Father’s love for his son. I mean the father is willing to hurt his body for the pleasure and betterment of his son. Every time Dick speaks about his son it is with the words that describe Rick competing. Dick even said that he lends his arms and legs to Rick so that he may get the pleasure of running. We emotionally bond to this story because we all know that love and relationships are about creating an environment in which the other person becomes better. In short, the main result of love is the “betterment of the one being loved.” If you disagree then please let me know.
Every time I read, hear and see these stories I am reminded that humanity was created in the image of God evidenced in our capacity and desire to love. Conversely, it is also evidenced when love is taken away such as when the doctor advised Dick to just let nature take its course with Rick and let him die in a forgotten building. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Oh, don’t forget to visit Team Hoyt for more information and what this duo is doing.
Here’s a focus on the Ironman:
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I have certainly brought Jesus’ words, you can not have two masters. you will either hate one and love the other but you can’t love them both. So it has been for me for the past few weeks. I have focused most of my work on clients and Project Storyboard and the To Have & To Hold 2010 photo shoot. This years project is going to be so much more bigger and so many more vendors. We could easily reach 50-70 vendors who will contribute to this project. I have been busy namely with preparing to go to Haiti in about a week. I’m excited and terrified all at the same time. I don’t have cable because I don’t have enough time to sit down to watch AND I don’t think that spending almost 1400.00 for the year just for cable is a wise investment into myself.
One thing that I have been thinking about is time management and goals. Gary Vaynerchuk once said, “Legacy is greater than currency.” It’s true and just like a business plan we should all have some semblance of a life plan. Without it you really don’t know where you are, going, or what it will take to get you to reach your goal. I think we all want to matter or have some legacy that we can leave behind even if it’s with our friends and family. So this post has been more of a rambling than anything else but at least I got it out there. Oh, I finished up a photo shoot for an album cover in downtown Atlanta and man was it cold and …. DiMaggio never got back to me so I don’t know.
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I write this post because there have been so many friends and family that have determined to live a better lifestyle, be a better spouse or husband/wife, read more books, or even save up money to get our of debt or to travel but haven’t and network more.
We all know what it means when we hear, “this is the year, this is the year” on January 1 from our friends and family. It means we’re going to hear it again next year. The reason this happens every year is because we have always been taught to make goals but not necessarily how reach them. Think about it. If you didn’t do well in school your parents and teachers just told you to study harder or do better. But what do the words “harder and better” mean? They don’t mean anything because you never know when you to reach the or even how to do so. The answer isn’t, “study smarter not harder” but what is your specific plan to reach your goal and who is going to keep you accountable for them.
1. Write down your specific goal?
When you define a goal you need to be very specific in your description of it. Sit back and picture in your mind what it is, what it feels like, how would you describe your life after reaching it. This, of course means goals described as, “I want to make a lot of money” or “I want a bigger house” or even “I want to be successful” doesn’t cut it because you can never know when you reached it. It’s not specific enough.
Example: If you need $24,000.00 to pay off a debt or buy a new car then your goal needs to be , “I will make $24,000.00 in 12 months.”
2. Write down your specific plans in reaching your goal.
You must have specific plans on what you are going to do to reach your goal and what you are going to do to reach that goal. For example, how many extra hours will you have to work to reach your plan. You know what you have to do to reach your goal so plan according.
Example: I will make an extra $2,000.00 per month by working eight hours of overtime per week and every other week paint and clean homes.
3. Stay motivated by memorizing your goal and have preset reference points.
Failure often comes from focusing on the immediate feelings or short sighted winnings rather than the returns of a long term investment. There are times when we are tired emotionally and physically. Memorizing your goal will serve as a reminder that the short sightedness stopping prematurely will delay you reaching your goal. In addition, creating preset reference points will keep you on schedule. Remember that a farmer reaches the goal of a good crop by working hard morning, noon, and night on a return that he won’t see for months but knows it’s coming.
Example: Every month I will tell myself that I need $24,000.00 by years end. Every new month I will focus on earning $2,000.00 and not the thousands I have already earned until the sum is $24,000.00.
4. Create an accountability group.
Accountability group should be composed of those people whom you trust and have your interests in mind. They are willing to remind you of your goal.
Example: My accountability group will be those that I trust and will keep me accountable that I will not spend the money I earn until I reach $24,000.00 and that I am on task to earn $2,000.00 every month.
5. START IT!
Those who are serious and resolute in reaching their goal start where they stand. You can create and write out your goal and your specific plan to accomplish your goal. You can even create an accountability group but the fact of the matter is that if you don’t start then everything you did is going to be meaningless and you will be revisiting these steps next January 1. Start Today, Start Now.
Example: If I am serious and resolute in making $24,000.00 in 12 months then I will give up spending money on wants. I will change my habit of bad time management. I will plan lunches accordingly so that I can take half lunches instead of hour lunches in order to only work an hour and half after work. I won’t wait until Monday or the first on next month. I will start today, I will start now.
BOOKS THAT HAVE HELPED ME!
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