I have some critical information about self-image for entrepreneurs. Why is self-image critical? Because I believe that part of what we project as our self- image is what we want for others. If deep down, I see myself as wanting what is best for you, you will see that too. If I honestly believe that what I have to offer is in your best interest, you will see that as well.

A coaching call I had recently resulted in my trying to help my client understand the importance of self-image. But not necessarily in the traditional way we think of self-image. Not so much about confidence or even one’s image of themself. But to understand that how we see ourself on the inside is how other people see us.  We are so much more transparent than we think. People around us see exactly what we believe to be our image of ourself on the inside. If we hold ourselves as being confident. Others will see that. Like they say, sexy is not about how you look. It’s about how you feel about yourself. It’s about what you project. And as much as you might try, you can’t keep others from seeing how you see yourself. Why would you want to if what they are going to see is in their best interest?

Knowing this, it is vitally important to know what you want for others. In business, it’s being confident that what you have to offer has value. Know what you want for people! I mean REALLY know it. Truly know what services and products you offer are best for your clients. If you don’t know, how can you expect anyone else to see it? Going back to the idea of self-image, if YOU know what you want for others, they will see that you know what is best for them. It’s what creates confidence, trust and relationships.

Anyone that knows me even fairly well knows that one of my core beliefs is that synchronicity is a sign you’re on purpose. They aren’t coincidences at all but signs that you’re on track. Enter Coach Dan LeFave. Within hours of the above mentioned coaching call, I had a phone call scheduled with Dan. I had never spoken to him before. We met via a Facebook group.

In speaking with Dan I quickly realized his coaching specialty was around self-image. How fortuitous! I shared with Dan a bit about the experience I just had and the importance of an entrepreneur’s self-image. I knew instantly we were on the same wave length.

So I asked Dan to produce a video for this month’s Business Buddy Lounge. Each month, we have a special guest in Business Buddy Lounge which is usually for subscribers and those in a 30-day trial. But this is such valuable information I want to introduce Dan LeFave to everyone and provide a taste of just one of the benefits of subscribing to Business Buddy (If you’re not currently in a free 30-day trial, what are you waiting for? Sign up now–it’s free).

So, please met Dan LeFave. My favorite take away from Dan is this– “Self image is born from within”.

Dan is also offering a couple of awesome gifts. He’s offering a chapter in his book “Stepping Stones to Success” with Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield and Dr. Denis Waitley. Be sure to grab it while you can at www.danlefavecoaching.com. You’ll receive it in your inbox immediately. If you’re looking for a deeper understanding of how to develop an unbreakable mindset for your success, he’s also offering a 30 minute complementary Skyrocket Your Business Success Strategy Session for the first 12 to respond. Enjoy!

I am often asked, “What is the difference between a coach and a mentor”? In fact, just the other day I received an email from someone inquiring about that very question who described his feeling that “the lines have been blurred”. So that you are well taken care of and don’t waste your hard-earned money, I want to offer you some distinctions between coaching and mentoring.

First, understand that coaching as a profession does not require certification. So anyone can go into business and call themselves a coach. That does not mean they have any training as a coach. Many industries, like photography, are now fraught with people within their industry offering what they refer to as coaching services. Some with remarkably little experience. It makes sense from the perspective that obviously it’s easier to teach in your current area of expertise and call it coaching. But is it coaching?

There are many differences between a coach and a mentor. Perhaps the greatest difference is a philosophical one. A mentor is best described as someone who teaches in their area of expertise. A mentor gives information, passes down their experience and provides as role model you could say. Don’t get me wrong. Mentors play a valuable role. Especially in the arts. Whereas mentoring used to provide an important role in handing down ones craft and art, today it seems most mentoring is business related.

Where a mentor “gives” information, a coach supports and co-creates with the client to realize the client’s particular objectives. The coaching relationship is not based on the coach having all the answers. It’s client focused and with proper training calls forward the client’s full potential. I personally believe one of the greatest roles I play as a coach is to “hold space” for a client. To know their intentions and objectives as if they are my own for the duration of the coaching relationship. Keep the progress steady in the direction of their dreams while meandering around obstacles and distractions.  To hold them accountable for their progress.

As I mentioned, fundamentally the biggest difference between a coach and a mentor is a philosophical one. It’s like the old adage, “You can give someone a fish and they can eat for a day (mentor) or you can teach them to fish and they can eat for a lifetime (coach)”.

Simply said, coaching empowers people. Shifts in ways of thinking, concepts, best business practices. These are all changes a trained coach facilitates but the clients OWNS. The growth is their own.

Having said that, you might imagine then that being a coach is a serious responsibility. You are literally holding someone’s expectations, dare to say even their dreams, and likely the sustainability of their business in your hand. That’s why it is important to know that a coach is trained by a reputable program and other Master coaches. My advice is to always ask about a coaches training. And be clear on what you’re looking for. If you are looking to emulate someone, then you may be looking for a mentor. If you’re seeking more in yourself because you know it’s possible but you just don’t know how it’s going to happen yet, then you are looking for a coach. A good coach, a trained coach, will bring it out in you.

If you can imagine coaching being beneficial for you, I have a simple and easy suggestion for you. Reach out and have a conversation. And by the way, I have had a coach or been in training almost every moment for over ten years. Clearly it’s something I see huge benefit in.

 

 

I believe it’s true that people are attracted to what they see IN us. I also believe it’s true that people are inspired to take action by what we can do FOR them. In other words, if what I see in you is something I want, I am inspired to want you. Hire you. Date you. You get the idea.

What the world sees in you is also up to you. It’s the direct result of your willingness to do deep inner work. The clearer you can get about what you value, what’s important to you, what your life purpose is, and what you “stand for”, the easier it is for others to see it. This is true in business, in personal relationships and in most every area of life.

It’s like clearing away the fog.

There was recently a video trending on social media of the singer Pharrell Williams being interviewed by Oprah. Pharrell broke down sobbing after seeing a compilation of video clips of people from around the world singing his insanely popular song, “Happy”. What struck me was how well Oprah understand exactly what was going on for him. Where the emotions were coming from. She kept saying,”I get it. I get it”. It was more than understanding the emotions.

What Oprah got, and said as much, was that the song took on a life of it’s own because it came from a clear channel. The song is so simple and pure it resonates to people’s “truth” and it’s what people want. They want Happy.  Pharrell Williams delivered a message people wanted to hear. Worldwide, people saw in him and the song what they wanted.  it’s popularity is astonishing.

(click here to see the video)

That’s why you do the inner work to clear the channels so people can see clearly what you have. What your message is. What’s IN you.

To assist you in cutting through your own fog and getting clear on your purpose, I’d love for you to have my FREE eGuide, “7 Insights to Harness Your Creative Thinking and Diversify Your Income.” It’s an inspiring guide and workbook. It is designed to get you thinking about what your core purpose is. Once you’re clear, a world of opportunities can open up for you in ways you can’t even imagine. And it comes with a corresponding mobile app so that you can have these thought-provoking messages with you on the go.

“7 Insights” is a pre-cursor to my upcoming book, “The New Niche– Leverage Your Creative Thinking and Profit From Your Passions”.

A couple of weeks ago I was deeply honored to have been asked to speak at the memorial service of a very special man in my life. So many lessons about life and photography came out of the experience, I can think of no better way to kick off the launch of my new blog than by sharing this story and hope you find benefit in it as well.

Paul Turnbull was the president of The Hallmark Institute of Photography when I attended there. His time at Hallmark spanned nearly 20 years so he influenced thousands of photographers. His passing on March 11th was felt by many.

When I was asked by his wife, Janice, to speak as a representative of the Hallmark alumni it was a weighty responsibility. One I was honored to hold and grateful to accept.

It brought up a big question that I think we all can benefit from considering. Who am I there to serve?

Am I there to serve Janice and comfort her during her time of loss? Am I there to serve the Hallmark community as requested? Or is it that I am there to serve everyone that will be gathered. I even wondered about serving myself. I am grieving as well and perhaps I should express my personal reflection. If one has ever given a eulogy or anything of the sort, in a way you could say the intention is to serve all of the above.

After all the consideration, the thing that stood out to me the most was that I was there to serve the moment.

I believe this is very different than being in the moment, although relatable. In serving the moment it meant going beyond the awareness of the moment and being willing to be of service to the moment. Think about this. For all you photographers, isn’t that really what we do, in the moment, at a fraction of a second? Awareness of what’s happening in the moment and then an action to be of service. The service of documenting that moment.

I realized when preparing for what I was going to say at the service I had no choice but to be willing to be brave enough to serve the moment. Without knowing who or what was going to be present. Would there be sorrow or joy in that moment? Would there be a lot of alumni who could recall some funny stories or not? The fact is I didn’t know. How often do we really know who’s going to show up in life? We may know who by name, but are they having a bad day? A good day? Something else on their mind? Perhaps they’re showing up with their own judgments. We don’t really ever know what is showing up at any given moment. Coming home from work, or school, standing beside us in the checkout line or passing us on the street.

I like to be prepared. For everything. All the time. For me, and perhaps for many others, this experience can provide a lesson in a deeper level of service than I’ve known before. Not service to the person(s). While that’s good and perhaps our default, serving the moment has a more acute sense of feeling what is present and then responding to it in a way that will be of most service. That may mean going in a direction we hadn’t intended. Or patience we didn’t know we had. Perhaps compassion for what is unknown.

In that moment. With our choice of words. The actions we choose. The thoughts we hold. Or the release of a shutter.

Paul Turnbull. The man who taught me and countless others about photography and so much more. Still teaching about life and photography.

I’m working on an eGuide which will be a precursor to my book, “The New Niche–Harness Your Creative Thinking and Diversify Your Income”. I love when thoughts just pop into my head as I’m writing, as this quote did. It’s a sure sign of being “in flow” and spirit coming through you.

It’s one of the things I most rely on when coaching clients. I’ve done plenty of training and have armed myself with a treasure trove of wisdom from master trainers and coaches. Often I have to let go of feeling like I must have the answers and simply trust that the right tool will be handed to me when I need it.

Often that “tool” is in the form of saying just what someone needed to hear in that moment. Many times I’ve had the experience of being surprised at what just came out of my mouth.

This thought, that business should feel like a higher calling and not a hurdle, came in a moment of specifically thinking about how challenging it is for many creative thinkers to be in business.

Yes, this is a story about a garbage can. Well….sort of. More importantly it’s a story about determination and the innate desire to do the right thing.

As I was walking home on this blustery, bitter cold afternoon, I sat down on a bench for a quick moment to write an email. Far too cold to walk and type. It’s days like this I realize I basically live in a wind tunnel on this little island in the East River of NYC. The bench I sat down on was in front of a small fenced (caged?) in playground. In the playground there were a few parents and a bunch of little kids. A whole pack of 2 ft high people.

I noticed this one little boy escaping. He was working really hard at undoing the latch which was out of his reach. When another adult happened to walk in he made a run for it. Of course his alarmed mother yelled out to him and he promptly responded, “I need to throw this out”.
With that he made his way to the garbage can which was just beside the bench I was sitting on. Up he tossed what was left of a quarter of an orange peel. Of course the hole at the top of the can was out of his sight and certainly out of his reach. So he gave the orange his best shot which landed on top of the can but not in the hole.

The look on his face was priceless. His sweet profile trying to figure out what to do now. With that he turned to me and without needing to say a word, he asked for help. Of course I got up and nudged the orange into the can. He smiled and off he ran.

All I could think about was “A” for effort. The amount of determination this little guy showed in getting out of the playground, over to the can and the look of dismay when he missed the shot. But he wasn’t done. He had a problem to solve and with almost no hesitation he asked for help from a stranger. It was clearly very important to this little man that he not litter and the orange peel needed to be properly disposed of.

He was determined to complete his task. And so he did. Just one of those little moments in life that makes you smile, teaches you a lesson and offers an opportunity to never look at some things ever the same again. Even a garbage can.

Every creative person I’ve ever met claims to be a perfectionist. With pride. It’s one of the characteristics I find very endearing about creatives. My hope for every creative genius– the artists, designers, healers, coaches, innovators and creative thinkers, is that they give themselves credit for the bigger masterpiece they are creating.

The world appreciates the strive for perfection in the work they are creating. But even bigger than any singular work or a lifetime collection of work is that the creative person represents something even greater. At the heart of every creative master is a desire to leave the world better than when they found it.

Every painter, photographer, designer, architect, inventor, etc., shares this intention. It’s at the very soul of being an artist. To express yourself, leave your mark, create a legacy and let the world know you’ve been here. The art of life you could say. To live your life with such great desire is a noble act if there ever was one.

With this grandiose vision in mind, sometimes ‘creating’ is more important than how perfect the creation. It’s not easy to accept less than perfect from ourselves but the mere act of creating, driven by an intention to leave the world a better place, can be more than enough. You are more than “enough”. My artist friend, you are brilliant.

Shine on. The world needs the creatives.

That’s a bold statement. Why would I make such a bold claim? Because I just sat through the most painful 1 1/2 hours of listening to a speaker at a photo convention lay out one insult after another and who I believe to be marketing the most dangerous message one can attempt to deliver. Marketing the importance of authenticity when you are completely inauthentic.

About 4 years ago, upon hearing of some of his success as a business manager, I contacted this speaker and invited him to lunch while he was visiting NYC. It didn’t take long for me to feel his abrasive style was not a fit for me. But more important was his claim that “the last thing the photo industry needs is a middle-aged man on the speaking circuit”. He went on to compare me to another well known and respected speaker saying, “they’ve already got so and so. The last thing the photo industry needs is another _______.”

Several months later, he announced the formation of his own photography business consulting practice. Coincidence? And yes, he’s a middle-aged man.

Not one to hold sour grapes, I went to hear him speak today, open-minded and hopeful. A couple people had mentioned recently that we seemed to express some similar business philosophies. While I found the program overall to be completely discombobulated, early on there were a couple nuggets of wisdom that resonated with me. But then it all went down hill.

First there was a tirade about how the print judges at the convention couldn’t tell a good photograph from a bad one. Knowing several of the judges I’m sure they would have been deeply insulted.

Then there was the comment that if he were looking for a photographer and found one with more than 20 years of experience he would want to find one that knew how to use modern day equipment. WOOOWW! Did I hear that right? Because I’ve been in business 30 years means I don’t know how to use modern equipment? But wait…there’s a bigger issue here. Isn’t the essence of this program supposed to be that WHO you are is more important than WHAT you do? If so, than what the hell does whether I know how to use modern equipment have to do with it? A complete breakdown in the authenticity of his program in my opinion. Oh, by the way, I’m quite capable of using modern equipment. But he is right about one thing. Who I am IS more important than what I do. That’s why I’ve had and continue to have a thriving photography business (20% increase in my 29th year last year).

It got worse when an attendee asked why all but one of the members of his team are women. His reply was that the industry is becoming all women because men don’t have the empathy to be effective photographers of people. In fact, according to him, 80% of the attendees at the convention are women. He went on to say that if it was to him it would be 90%. I thought my lid would blow off. You have got to be kidding. Now mind you, this is a middle-aged MAN who consults/coaches young women on their photography businesses. I guess he is far superior than all other men and somehow has mustered up more empathy than the rest of us men in order to guide women in building their businesses. Yet another demonstration of inauthenticity.

The irony is just an hour before while on break there was a young dad playing with a baby about 6 months old. From across the terrace, this baby locked eye contact with me and wouldn’t let loose. Babies and children have always been drawn to me. That’s why I love photographing kids and have been successful at it. Must be that they see some ‘empathy’ in me. Even as a man. To say nothing of the fact, if I want to get really frank, I am blessed with a career as a photographer that is probably more successful than 95% of the photographers in the room. Even as a middle aged man in business more than 20 years.

While I was personally insulted by his comments, my concern was the negative effect such inaccurate statements can have by being put into a room full of photographers eager to learn and who were being misled. An authentic and responsible speaker takes their role very seriously.

The accurate answer as to why the photo industry has become dominated by woman, particularly young women, is it is increasingly difficult to sustain a family on the business of photography. Certainly not impossible and I fortunately coach many that do. But it’s fair to say it’s more challenging than it used to be. If you’re going to buy into social stereotypes, therefore it is increasingly more difficult for a man to support his family as a photographer. So the industry is showing a trend towards part timers and women. Let me clarify. I personally don’t buy into social stereotypes. I know plenty of women supporting their entire family as photographers. And as I said, plenty of men support their families as well.

What concerns me most is the effect this misleading information and inauthentic behavior could have on our industry. How do you say that the last thing the photo industry needs is a middle-aged man teaching and then launch a consulting practice to do just that? Here’s what really gets me. I find it incredibly offensive when people call themselves “coaches” but aren’t trained as coaches. You have a right to call yourself a consultant or a mentor. These are appropriate titles when dispensing vast, accumulated knowledge. Make no mistake, I give this guy credit for that. He has considerable business experience. But to call a handful of young photographers that he has taught and refer to them as “coaches” is frighteningly irresponsible. Apparently a select few people that go through his program become “coaches” to other photographers. One young lady “coach” (he put several on display as a platform to sell his services) is going into her third year as a photographer. I’m sure she’s lovely but with just three years experience and likely no professional coach training, a coach she is not.

What’s concerning is that photographers may not make the comparison to our own industry and buy into this nonsense he’s selling. Like the photography industry, coaching is an uncertified professional. Anyone can hang up a shingle and call themselves a professional photographer. Same in the coaching industry. Photographers should take the same offense to just anyone calling themselves a coach as they do about anyone with a camera calling themselves a professional photographer. It’s not authentic.

As you can tell I am really fired up about this. Nothing irks me more than inauthentically selling a message of authenticity. It’s a marketing ploy. It sends people down the wrong road. To say things like there’s no room for men in the portrait photography business is irresponsible to the industry as a whole. To offer coaching services without proper professional training is potentially damaging and out of integrity of what it means to be a professional. I’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars in training as a coach and know the importance of holding someones growth in high regard and the power of responsible communication.

I simply can’t stand by and risk the damage to an industry that has supported me so well that could be done from such irresponsible rhetoric.

The order in which the words appear in this quote were very carefully considered to make a certain point. I was on a business coaching call and give the simplest, cut to the chaise answer, that I could about how to build a successful business. It was intended to give a particular feeling. Let’s consider some alternates and what they imply. Then I’ll explain why I carefully said it as I did so you too can build a successful business and life. The concept here certainly does not only apply to business.

It could just have easily been said, “The more you stand up for people, the more they stand up for you.” There’s a lot I like about this way of saying it too. It shows deep commitment to people. And trusting in turn that they will stand up for you. Sort of karma in action. Why I don’t think it represents the way to build a business is because it implies a one-to-one relationship. It takes more than that build a business.

Alternatively, it could have been said, “The more people you stand up for, more people will stand up for you.” This can be a good thing in business. Volume. You are standing up for a lot of people and therefore MORE people are standing up for you. Not a bad alternative. It feels fragile to me though. It doesn’t feel like it has a good foundation. It’s a bit based on “celebrity” and having mass appeal.

So why did I say it as I did? “The more people you stand up for, the more people will stand up for you.” To me, it demonstrates a willingness to be a leader. To stand up for lots of people. To take on the challenge of full commitment to others even on a large scale. It results in individuals standing up for you with increased commitment to your mission. Not focusing on the masses, but each individual becoming an evangelist for your cause or your business. We’ve seen this time and again with successful leaders. How one strong believer, one committed follower, can rally the masses. People respond with deep commitment to those they see helping other people. The greater they see your influence, the more they want to help. These are sometimes know as your first followers. I have many in my life who I treasure tremendously. It has shown me how the support of a few, because they stand behind what you’re doing, can have life changing results.

This is how you build a successful business or expand a cause. Instead of APPEALING to the masses, SERVE the masses to get the support of those who get behind you 100% and are eager to spread the word.

This is why you need to know about my upcoming 5 WebLive Photography Business Workshop Series

This is why I’ve created my 5 WebLive Workshop series. Often you just have to get into action. Not always easy for the self employed! We get distracted, procrastinate, even lazy sometimes. The 5 WebLive Workshops I’ve created are the 5 BEST ACTION STEPS I have taken over the past 30 years to have an incredibly successful photography business. To not want to steal these from me is crazy! I am literally giving away the “kitchen sink”. Why? Because I care about supporting other photographers. I don’t live in fear of competition. I believe all our businesses can be as unique as we are as individuals so competition doesn’t exist.

And I know for many people it is easier to get into action now than to do the deeper work first. To get out from the financial stress so that then, and only then, can the creative entrepreneur be fully creative, work from a sense of purpose and serve for the greater good.

Check out the entire 5 WebLive Workshop series here.

As a business coach, most of my work with creative entrepreneurs begins with helping them get very clear on where they want their business and life to go. Their vision. Vision is different than a goal. A goal is more like a road map with a definite course whereas a vision is more like a compass with an intended direction. A vision is more long term. A goal is short term. So where I begin with my clients is getting them to paint a picture of what they want their life to look like in a year which will set the foundation of the much bigger vision of years ahead. Designing your own life. Because if you don’t, other people and circumstances will.

Our coaching work also focuses on getting old limiting beliefs out of the way to step into empowering beliefs about the much “bigger” you that resides in all of us. I call it the hidden potential. It can lie dormant much like undeveloped film or a digital raw file. That once processed can be seen in all it’s beauty.

While these two areas of purpose and empowering beliefs are the anchors of my coaching work, taking POSITIVE ACTION is crucial. The fact of the matter is that you can be very clear on your vision and miraculously free from any limiting beliefs and never get where you want to go if you don’t work for it.

I invite you to allow me to help you help yourself. These 5 key topics will transform your photography business. They start Wednesday February 12th 2014 so there’s no time to waste. Signing up is your first step in taking action towards what you want.

Here’s a complete description of the workshops

I didn’t get to where I am because of only what I dreamed. I worked really hard. I’d like to fast track the process for you and offer you my best practices.

Be well and be prosperous,

Jeff