Bev's Blog

STOP…CAUTION…GO!

We must learn when to stop, when to go and when to proceed with caution. If we do nothing, paralyzed by fear or indecision, we will not move forward nor succeed, but will move backwards There is no such thing as standing still!

After nearly three decades in this industry, one thing I know today is that we are moving at breakneck speed through an ever-changing landscape which we must navigate with great wisdom in order to succeed.

Every Tuesday, from ten o’clock until noon or later, we have a marketing and brainstorming meeting with our staff. Ideas are discussed at length, dreams are laid out for inspection, goals are set, final decisions are journaled in Evernote and tasks are assigned to those whom it will take to proceed with the plans. Why do this every week? Very simply, because we need to move at the speed of light to keep up with the industry! Missing just one week can have devastating ramifications. Those who are not willing to put time into understanding the landscape of photography and today’s changing marketplace will certainly find themselves falling behind. Think about the old saying, “Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” There is no magic bullet and  hard work is certainly part of the puzzle, but not all of it. We need to learn how to successfully make decisions.

“The big fish are no longer eating the little fish. The fast fish are eating the slow. To succeed today, you must think quickly, act quickly.” Roy H. Williams

I once asked Tim about how he made business decisions and he compared it to surfing. Surfing? As he explained further, he said balancing in order to stay standing upright was a matter of understanding what was happening underneath the surfboard, in the water. Constant adjustments to the undercurrents had to be made, some big and some very small. If not understood, they would cause a fall. “One has to perceive with great sensitivity what direction to lean to keep your balance; it takes experience and wisdom to successfully ride the waves to the safety of the shore.” said Tim.

That is why education is critical for success for those new to the profession. And, that is why education is critical for those of us who are seasoned “veterans.” We are never in a place where we can sit back and stop learning. Click on the Coaching Community button on the right to learn about our online learning center.

Just as important as knowing when to go is knowing when to stop! Knowing when to stop requires a person with amazing decision-making skills!

“More decisions are lost by indecision than poor decision.” We have always heard that saying and we live by it. We make decisions and live with the consequences, but we have the experience to back them up. For those new in the business, it would be wise to connect with others who have more experience and learn from each other. Those new to the business bring a fresh perspective. Those who have been in the business awhile bring wisdom and experience. Now, more than ever before, opportunities seem endless. But, along with the opportunities, come challenges. We need each other to help sort through the massive amounts of information we take in daily in order to make the right decisions.

“Never has there been a time that I can remember where wisdom is not in knowing what to do, but what to pass up!” Tim Walden

When we go to a convention and visit the trade show, never it this statement more meaningful. With digital technology came hundreds…no, thousands of new products and ways of doing things. However, you must decide what fits you and what doesn’t.  Turn away from anything that muddy the waters around your brand and stick with fewer offerings. Simplicity is always the winner. Make a wise decision!

As more and more opportunities come your way, polish up your decision making skills so you know when to say no (STOP), when to proceed with (CAUTION) and when to (GO)!

Steps to help  you…

1. Evaluate all of the options first. Think outside of the box; get a little crazy. This is why we include our staff in the marketing meetings we have weekly. They have a different perspective and it is always helpful.

2. Think about the decision from all angles and weigh the outcomes. Talk it out or write it out. Do not be ruled by FEAR (False Evidence Altering Reality). “Fear makes its own plans.” Tim Walden

3. What is your “gut” feeling about the decision? Don’t ignore it.

4. Implement the decision. This is where Evernote comes in as we can assign tasks to various staff members and track progress. It helps us not to lose steam or let details fall through the cracks.

5. Evaluate your decision afterwards. Learn from it; draw insight and wisdom from it. Change it up if you need to and adjust as required. We usually have to tweak our decisions as we go along and it’s ok to do!

Have a great week, everyone! Bev

PS-Check out my Book Loft too! Just click on it at the top to see what books have impacted our business the most. Message me on Facebook.com/waldens education for photographers to see what I am reading right this very minute:-)

www.timandbevwalden.com