Friends in photography,
I bumped into an acquaintance a few days ago while at StarBucks dosing up on caffeine.
His name is Al. He’s an amazing dude, full of life, full of enthusiasm.
We chatted for about 30 minutes.
His biz card had his smiling face, name, website and tagline: “I love life”.
Very appropriate. You’d agree, I’m sure, if you met him.
This guy loves life.
He owns a local bar/restaurant/family oriented pool hall.
He loves what he does.
When his two boys, way back about 15 yrs ago, got into hockey
he called it quits on his pro pool career and focused 100% on his family, and his business.
He tells me he was ranked in the top 20 snooker players.
He’s 52. He looks 35.
When you look at this guy, when you look at life and society and think
to yourself “what does it all mean”, I can’t help but wonder if this guy
doesn’t hold some of the answers.
He’s the embodiment of solid, timeless principles. Perhaps one of the reasons
I feel connected to him and these principles, is I have some of them too.
I hope so. This dude is cool, in a Buddha like, zen way. Very genuine, centered,
non-ego way.
Gotta dig it. I do.
One of the convos we dug into was the idea that every day was like Friday.
We both agreed on that idea.
You know, that whole idea that society hangs onto with desperation and hope….
Monday…ugh! Get through Tuesday, and then “hump day”, Wednesday….Thursday!….almost there!
Friday….yeaaaaa…we made it….relief. The weekend.
He says: “Every day is like Friday to me…” as he smiles a big genuine grin.
You know he means it.
I told him how in my life, in my business, Monday was always my favorite day.
I ain’t sh*tting you. (this became true for me after I sobered up in January 1991 and got my sh*t together)
I always loved Mondays….Why? I love what I do. After a busy week, and taking Sunday off,
Monday’s I always felt invigorated, alive, focused.
Monday was like Friday. Every day is like Friday.
This, to me, is the core fundamental pursuit of any business. Never mind everything else.
Build on these principles and you build a solid foundation. Screw the equipment, file types,
whatever love affair you have with your computer brand, whichever celeb photographer you put on a pedestal…
…yada yada yada….
When you pursue health, wealth and happiness and everyday is a Friday….or a Monday….
you made it.
It’s holistic in a sense. It’s what I believe we all ought to push for and pursue.
It’s a worthy goal, above and beyond all the photography marketing and the technical stuff.
And it’s a great feeling, a great place to be…..
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
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