I heard this the other day: “You retire from a job, not from a mission…”

Me digz it. And can relate.

Retirement seems to be a thing that rears its ugly head when, well, you hit the magic number. It appears I am at that number now having turned 60 last summer.

Should I pack it in? Should you?

Get a real job? Give up this photography nonsense? The stress, the uncertainty, the abuse.

Better yet, retire completely? I don’t think so. I like the fight. The struggle. The pain and excitement that comes with being self employed……..as a photographer.

Maybe I’m a masochist. Truth be told, I like the adrenaline and the challenge. Like going out on a mission.

We thrive for certainty. Which is an illusion. What would the navy seals feel and look like if 100% of their operations were guaranteed to go 100% each time.

That is a total fantasy of course.

I know many folks who have officially retired from decades of successfully working for larger companies, all tucked away into a secure, steady and padded room. They buy little dogs, go our for walks everyday. Talk about the weather.

Every time I have these thoughts I come back to earth.

Honesty. What am I really after? Am I getting old and tired?

What DOES it take to succeed in photography?

Turn it into a mission. Any business ought to be a mission. Like the SEALS going out on a secret high level op.

Why not? Why would I, you, want it any other way?

And you don’t build on wishful thinking or fluff. You need real honest focus, plans and strategy.

It’s a mission.

My wife Tina and I are heading out to Costa Rica for three months. It’s too cold here. And way too warm and sunny there.

I always thought the idea of leaving my business for three months to be insane. For several reasons…..

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  one…..I’m leaving my business. (that alone is reason enough) Smart? Maybe not. But I’m willing to take the risk. And when I get back fire it up again like as if I never left. That’s worked out fine for the last six years.
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  two……the boredom. I call it my existential beach crisis. I am way too adhd, restless and entrepreneurial to sit on a beach for too long. I realized this two years into this game. But I still want to be there. I suppose bigger problems have been had.

My wife knows what happens to me when I get bored, down and struggling into the depths of this crisis.

So when I say I need to do something, she’s with me. When I say I need to bring more gear down, she’s with me. When I invest in an expensive housing for my Sony A7s so I can shoot wave photography, she’s with me.

This year we’re on a new adventure to sell art prints to tourists and local expats. Start a small display and miniature storefront without the huge hassle and expense. She’s with me.

We have a plan, we’re putting ourselves out there and testing the waters so to speak. Starting small, but in time we’ll have an idea of what the market is, who it is and if there actually is a market.

No market, no business. It’s that simple.

That’s why I like starting small, bootstrapping my way up, creating ideas, plans and strategies around the kitchen table.

I plan on getting everyone up to date while down there, running the usual mastermind meetings for lighting and marketing.

Plus bringing in some credible guests for more webinars on how they do what they do.

It’s a new year, a new plan, a new adventure.

And retirement is not even on the radar.

Stay chilly my friends, more to come.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer

“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”

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