One year ago today I officially crossed the path of no return, resigning from Rangefinder and WPPI.  It was simply time for me to move on and stop living vicariously through all of you.  I’ve admired so many of you for so many years.  As entrepreneurs your visions have been inspirational, especially your daily quest to be in control of your own destiny.

As trite as it sounds, things always do work out for the better.  But, following yesterday’s blog on “Who’s on your team?” inspired by Scott Bourne the day before, there are still a few points to make:

1) Listen to every person you respect when they’re giving you advice, but in the end, only you can make the decisions that affect the path you choose to follow. 

2) Believe in yourself, no matter what your decision.  Trust your gut!

3) Surround yourself with positive people.  Dane Sanders talks about not allowing “grumpies” into his programs.  I’m not as polite as Dane – positive attitudes trump trolls.

4) As you make the decisions for which path to take next, do an inventory of everything in your skill set.   Don’t just look at the things you do well, but consider the things you love to do most.  When you love doing something you’ll do it well, no matter what the degree of difficulty.

5) Do an inventory of your network!  Yeah, that’s right – who’s in your network?  Who are the key players who you’ve worked with, spoken with and respect who can be your sounding board on new ideas going forward.

6) Don’t “should” on yourself!  It doesn’t do any good to look back and reflect, “You know what I “should” have done?”  It’s a waste of time and energy.  Instead put your energy into thinking about what you want to do next and how to get started down the next path.

7) Last but not least, keep one special person in the loop of everything going through your head.  That’s probably going to be a spouse, a boy friend or girl friend or your best friend – or, maybe they’re all one in the same.  This person is the core of that special support team Scott and I both talked about over the last two days.

I’ve told this story before, but it’s such a good “blog closer”…

Don Blair was once asked, “What’s the best picture you’ve ever taken?”  His answer, “I don’t know I haven’t taken it yet!”

If I’ve learned nothing else over the past year it’s that life is an adventure.  There are no failures and disappointments are just speed bumps.  So, we all need to appreciate life, our accomplishments and our setbacks and especially the friends who stand by us, no matter what!  There really is no industry like photography!