Time to Adjust Your Sails?

I don’t usually share posts from my blog, but after feedback from a number of readers, along with following the challenges everyone is dealing with after the pandemic, I wanted to share a post from last week here on Marathon’s blog.

“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sail.” William A. Ward

A few months back, Sheila and I got in the habit of each picking a motivational writer and, over breakfast, reading a short thought for the day. While it’s not something I ever thought I’d enjoy doing, it’s terrific. It gives us a daily anchor, especially through the last year of being somewhat isolated.

This morning, Melody Beattie really hit home, tying into something I’ve noticed repeatedly with many of you over the last few months.

“There is always someone else to take the fall if our plans don’t work out: “I would have been more successful, but the economy was slow this year.” “Well, that sounds nice, but my therapist says that I should avoid too much stress.” “I wanted to do that, but my husband didn’t like the idea.”

Take charge of your life. Take responsibility for your actions. Ultimately no one chooses what you will do but you, anyway. Enjoy the freedom. You’ve had it all along.”

​And here’s my point: I’m tired of photographers who blame everything on the pandemic. I’m not suggesting business hasn’t changed, or for that matter, that revenue didn’t disappear. But I’m seeing so many artists who continued to build relationships with their clients, offered support during the toughest of times, and worked to expand their skill set. Now, as things slowly change and we get back a little normalcy, they’re in the perfect position to bring back some of the last year’s business.

Hunkering down is about your health – NOT about your business! And there’s time now to rebuild and regain the momentum you had before the pandemic.