The spring of 1984 found me unemployed. I had been a seasonal school photographer.
Hard work, great pay, but not steady. Unless you’re the boss.
What I hated more about being unemployed, besides not working, was living off the government.
This drove me nuts. Besides, given too much time and too little money I might get into major trouble.
This, in the end, led to more opportunity. I had $250.00 to my name and started my first studio.
More balls than brains I had. But I did it anyways. Innocence gave me confidence.
This, in turn, led to another huge opportunity. Which, eventually led to even more opportunity and to where I am today.
Life is good. As I look back, I can connect the dots. It all makes sense.
Wouldn’t it be cool to connect the dots, so to speak, ahead of time?
But alas, it wouldn’t work. Mainly because the lessons learned were from the struggles and hardships. You can’t predict or outsource those. You can only learn and apply down the road.
You get to earn a badge of honour when you’re in the fight, bruised, beaten, but winning.
When I started out way back, it took me a few years to tap into conferences, other photographers and the lessons learned from them. I was stubborn, thought I knew it all.
And I still learn from others. Warne Noyce being one of them.
Here’s a guy who moved into a community where no one knew him. Where everyone said: “You can’t do that! That won’t work!”
He proved them all wrong. His business is crazy busy.
He has a lake front home, studio out back and more work than he knows what to do with.
His biggest problem right now is finding the right people.
But I know he and his wife Paula will succeed. Why? Because they have the right stuff.
And he’s going to talk shop and marketing this Thursday, Feb 20 at 7:00PM CT
as part of The Collective.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
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