BetterPhotoJim

TODAY! TODAY! TODAY!

On a recent trip to Enchantment Resort in Sedona, my wife and I watched a TV show with a comedian named Jake Johannsen. (if you click on the previous link, be sure to check out his blog... pay attention to what happens when you click on the "Blog" link) :)

(Another side note: if you ever get a chance to refresh and recharge in Sedona, seriously consider Enchantment Resort. My friend Jay recommended it to me several years ago and I was thrilled this February to finally be able to give it a try. The spa alone is worth the trip. Seriously... I could live there!)

Okay back to our regular programming... if you get a change to see Jake Johannsen, go. Jake is one of three comedians that have made me laugh so hard I'm crying and clutching my aching belly... for hours. The other two, btw, are Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan (both of whom my wife and I had the pleasure of seeing at the Paramount in Seattle). These are the three that will give you the best healing treatments (it's true that laughter is the best medicine).

Anyway, in Jake's special, he shares how his daughter one day just jumped in the air, exclaiming "Today! Today! Today!" - with the uninhibited abandon and wild, careful, joyful celebration that only kids (and the kid in each of us) can exhibit.

This simple statement has become a kind of mantra in our home. Each of us (and in particular my own daughter) have become experts at starting the day with a completely unrestrained:

TODAY! TODAY! TODAY!

Try it out. If you're like us, you'll find it's fun to do throughout the day.

Celebrate! It's contagious AND it brings you even more to celebrate.

Hey, I Got Details for Ya... on Mastering the Mindset of the Creative Photographer

With time running out, I feel it's my responsibility to give you the complete details of my upcoming 14-day speaking tour. Allow me to share with you a thorough description of the process of my upcoming "Mastering the Mindset" 1-day events.

Here's the plan...

I will be coming to several cities throughout the great USA in April, to share the secrets of my success with BetterPhoto. As you may know, BetterPhoto has grown to become the authority in online photography education, since I launched it in March of 1996, and now reaches over 5 million photography enthusiasts each year.

In my upcoming talks, I'm putting it all out there! The concepts and techniques that have most helped me build the success story we call BetterPhoto. My message is one that will transform your approach to creative photography... and your life.

You probably have great photos in your portfolio.

You likely have a nice camera and good equipment.

You may even have superb skills and techniques.

But do you:

• Sometimes wonder why you hesitate when presented with an opportunity to get a great photo?
• Sometimes wish you could get past that feeling of being unsure?
• Sometimes pass up memorable images that are right in front of you?

Ok, help is here. In one day, you will be provided the tools you need in order to become a consistent, competent, award-winning photographer.

Starting April 14th... I will be leading 1-day seminars in 14 cities – for just $67.00! We’re discounting the price by over HALF, if you sign up today! Each event is limited to only 14 people, and 6 of the 12 talks are already sold out.

http://www.betterphoto.com/mindset/

How the Seminar Will Work

With me as your guide, each small group of 14 people will focus entirely of the psychology of creative success. You will:

• Gain the mindset of the successful, creative photographer.
• Learn to be confident, clear, and experience the joy in taking pictures.
• Learn how you can master the mechanical skills of photography at a greatly accelerated rate.
• Use proven exercises and assignments to get clear.
• Come away with true motivation and change for your photography pursuits.

In an intense session from 10am to 4pm, you'll gain the advantage you've been searching for. You'll realize your best self. Artistic success, respect, recognition for creative excellence... become master of the mindset of the successful creative photographer!

This is about achieving the goals that most excite you, dominating those parts of you that would hold you back, and finding simple solutions to seemingly complex problems.

I will help you identify what's holding you back from the realization of your creative dreams. And I will show you how to work around these things that are holding you back.

Soon, nothing will stop you from having fun and having great success making great photos!

So, what are you waiting for? http://www.betterphoto.com/mindset/

FAQ

How many people are allowed in each event?
Only 14 people. I want to keep each group small so we can make great progress on mastering the mindset.

How much does it cost?
Yes, it's really only $67 if you sign up today. I really want to get this message out. So I am asking only that you help me cover my costs... thus the extremely low price on this special event.

Is this a photography workshop?
To be clear, this is not a photography workshop where you take pictures, discuss aperture, shutter speed, lighting, etc. We will be focusing on the "inner game" - what you need to master in order to experience real and lasting change with your photographic techniques and experiences. However, you’ll be able to make pictures with your fellow BetterPhoto photographers before and after the event.

Is this going to be a motivational speech, like Tony Robbins or Wayne Dyer?
Although I am a big fan of thought-leaders like Tony and Dr. Dyer, and I pull from sources and doctrines from all walks of life, this presentation is different. Yes, we be exploring beliefs, values, goals, and the psychology involved in success. AND these principles will be filtered through my experience with my own photography, with the five books I have written on the subject, and with the growth and development of the great BetterPhoto community.

When again is this event?
The events start in only 2 weeks, and they're already selling out. We only have space remaining in:

• New York
• Chicago
• San Diego
• Monterey
• San Francisco

I hope this detailed entry has provided you with the fine print you need to make an informed decision. If I've managed to miss anything, please let me know. The methods and strategy that I am sharing are hot - and I want YOU to be able to join me on this life-changing event.

Sign up today to get your spot... before all events are filled up!

http://www.betterphoto.com/mindset/

A Great End to My Yesterday... and Start to My Today! Thanks!

Last night, I (broke my new rule and) checked my email just before going to bed. To my pleasant surprise, I saw that my team had sent out an email about my whirlwind speaking tour in April. I knew the email was going out... what surprised me was the funny graphic. I love this composite. Karen took the original picture of me as we were walking across the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, on a scouting day where I inadvertently dragged her and my team 12+ miles around the city! Ricardo combined the original picture with his graphic of the United States.

Karen posted a note about my crazy speaking tour in the Team BetterPhoto blog. Here is the eye-catching graphic again:

Then, I woke up this morning to discover that FOUR OF THE TALKS are already almost sold out! I'm excited! I knew this would be hot, but all the same it's a joyful way to start my day. So, to those of you who have jumped on this, congratulations and thanks and I look forward to rocking your world in April. To those of you still on the fence, now's your chance.

Click on the following link, check it out and if this page seems to speak to you, go for it. Today's the day! I look forward to seeing you on my whirlwind speaking tour:

http://www.betterphoto.com/mindset/

Picasso Had It Right

The great Picasso talked about how one's goal as an artist is to get back to the kind of creativity we expressed as a child... to "unlearn" all of our adult conventions and hang-ups so we can simply express.

I am reminded of this every day by the things my kids create. Lately, my daughter has taken to drawing kitty cats - her favorite thing in the world. Take a look at two examples:

This cat has a thought bubble, like in a cartoon.What is she thinking? Well, this kitty is apparently contemplating where she is going to go outside to go pee - how's that for uninhibited expression, Picasso?

And my wife found this kitty on our chalk board. Don't you love how happy this kitty is?

 

We're thinking about making a line of greeting cards. Our daughter is certainly expressing creativity in a totally unhindered way... and we love it!

Think about it... Relating to yourself or relating to others, don't you feel like we all start artistic. Then comes the bad kind of education. We learn labels. We learn things like:

• I'm not skilled enough
• I'm not the artistic one
• I'm not as good as _______

Our personal relationships, our relationship with ourself, and our "place" in society take priority and cause us to forget our own inherent creative nature.

We have to unlearn what we've learned. We have to have sympathy and love for the little kid in us that knew how to simple "be" when creating beauty or expressing a statement.

And it makes sense why this happens. We want to fit in with our family. We want certainty and a certain feeling of togetherness, caring, and community, and in our efforts to secure this, we lose our uniqueness, our crazy artistic confidence and identity.

It's time to let that hold go a little loose... to relax our grip.

We can feel secure AND embrace our identity without fear.

• I am an artist.
• I am creative.
• I am a photographer.

Right now. Have no fear. You won't be called out like you so often fear. And if someone does call you out, screw 'em!

You are perfect the way you are... right now.

Appreciate Beauty and Appreciate Yourself, A Creator of Beauty

Here's a short video I filmed on Monday, coming home from Orlando.

In a nutshell, my main points are:

1) Appreciate beauty wherever you see it, especially if it's something like an outdoor sitting area at the airport, a mural at a strip mall, an inner city garden project, etc.

2) NEVER devalue what you do. Creating art and beauty is crucial. Be an example... make the world a prettier, more inspiring place than the way you found it.

3) Read Victor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" if you haven't already. (Re-read it if you have).

My video is rough... forgive me for the loud water noise in the background, as well as the other noises of the airport.

Talk so you again soon!

Tony Robbins is a Good Guy

Tony Robbins is a powerhouse, and he really shines with authentic love. If you get an opportunity to see him speak, I recommend that you say "YES!"... no matter what. Don't let anything stop you. Believe me, it's an investment that pays itself off within the first few hours of the event.

Sure, there is some serious influencing going on, but it's selling you on your best possible life, and done with true, loving, and caring motives. If you are skeptical, even before having experienced it, I would ask yourself why.

Envy causes a lot people to feel bad about someone this successful, and it's a destructive, limiting thought-habit. I'm not saying you're envious; perhaps you read or listened to someone who was infected with envy (caused mainly by the lie of scarcity and limitation). If you do have envy knock on your door, don't grant it entrance or audience. With the heel of your boot, kick it back out the door and into the muddy street where it came from.

Instead, embrace abundance, and feel the fact that you are always being provided with everything you need... and then some.

Now open your hymnals to... Okay, okay... thus endeth my spontaneous sermon.

3 Quick Pictures of a Meeting That Will Go Down in History, and 1 Fun Question for You

Picture one:

Picture two:

Picture three:

The photographer on the job had an enormous amount of creative confidence. :) Some photographers might have panicked a bit under the pressure - with Tony's presence, all the security guards, the bad lighting and venue, the fact that it was 2:30 in the morning. But she was shooting like crazy - flash obviously being recycled with an external power supply. (I will Photoshop out the pole in the background later.)

Here's my question to you, to start off the week:

If you had the opportunity to meet someone you really admire (doesn't have to be someone like Tony Robbins... just some famous person you look up to), who would it be and what one question would you ask them?

Okay, I'm off to the airport to start a long 10 or 12 hour travel experience. I'm can write a book in that time!

Let me know your thoughts on the above question and...

Enjoy the start of new, magnificent week!

Meeting Tony Robbins With My Best Friend: A Cool Way to End a Long, Life-Changing Day

As some of you know, I have been in a 4-day Tony Robbins event in Orlando, with my friend since high school. They had a two-for-one special so I asked Gregg to join me. It's been life-changing for both of us - fun, crazy, empowering, and highly enlightening.

After a few incredibly intense days, I just met Tony Robbins for the second time in my life. I met him once 20 years ago when I was a teenager, after a one-day event in San Diego.

I asked him to sign my copy of his book, and after a quick photo, we exchanged a few words. There were security guards everywhere and we had to follow a fairly precise protocol (Pretty reasonable stuff - "Don't try to do business", "Don't try to get direct coaching from him").

Bottom line: He's the real thing. A super guy - genuine, and full of love. When we had our picture taken, it was 2:30am after a 17-hour day with very few breaks. I can't believe the guy can do it. He's has an amazing supply of energy. Gregg and I could barely hang in there as participants.

I'll post the photo as soon as I get it, as long as I look good :)

Now, in the meantime, do you want to see Jim's butt? The video sound is terrible because the music was so loud it overloaded the tiny, poor little mic on my iPhone. In fact, my ears are ringing...

But the visuals in the video are so nice, especially those on the left, that it more than makes up for the sound.

Right?

This is NOT something I should be sharing... but it's late and my filters are perhaps lowered. Be gentle :)

Before and After Videos from First Day at Tony Robbin's UPW Event

Just sharing the fun with a quick check in from this morning, before the doors opened at "Unleash the Power Within" - a 3 1/2 day event with Anthony Robbins. 

And here is one from the end of the day, after my firewalk experience:

If you want more peeks into this first day of this event, check my Twitter comments from the day, where I shared some of the things that stood out the most to me.

Time Keeps On Tickin' Tickin' Tickin'... Into the Future

I was hoping to blog a lot more today but now here I am, with only 18 minutes to finish getting ready, go pick up my friend, and get to the Orlando Convention Center. (And FedEx a bill and get lunch somewhere in there too). I don't seem to have much time.

I'm meeting with Tony Robbins... well, me and about 5000 other people :) We're doing his "Unleash the Power Within" (UPW) workshop. Tonight, if I don't chicken out, I'll walk on hot coals. Tomorrow, Tony's top trainer will lead the day, and Sunday Tony will be viewed on a video mega screen.

I'm interested to see if I am disappointed with not having Tony live and in person for two days. I suspect that I'll enjoy and benefit all the same but I'm not 100% sure. I'll let you know.

Now I have 14 minutes...

Okay so here's the deal: we all have the same amount of time. If you're like me (spontaneous and "living in the now"), you have a habit of trying to pack in every single possible opportunity. If you're more methodical (like about 40% of the population), you prefer to make a plan and stick to it.

BTW, I want to direct you to Amy's recent entry in the new Team BetterPhoto blog. Like Amy, I have found it immeasurably helpful to understand personality types. I like to call them "preferences" because I want to avoid thinking of them as "typecasting" systems. They are more like preferences... akin to you being either right or left handed. You can still write with your left hand, but it's a bit less comfortable. Also, we are all "delightful mixtures", as my friend Bryan Eisenberg likes to say. You may lean toward being an ENTP like me (a competitive, rational, spontaneous type) but you may easily shift into being an INFP where you are more empathetic, guided by feelings and intuition, and a bit introverted (also me, at some times).

Find yourself and use this new knowledge in your efforts to manage your time better. As a "P" (spontaneous, perceiving) type, I know that I have a tendency to live in the now, and my challenge is to see opportunities as something I can selectively choose. Richard Branson says "Opportunities are like buses... there's always another one coming." As I learn to pass on some opportunities and say "No" to lower priority opportunities, I can more effectively manage my time.

And in this way, I can be prompt to meetings with more methodical types, like my friend who I need to go pick up.

5 minutes to go... I think I'll make it :)