So, last night, I went to the John Mayer concert. It. Was. Amaaaaaaaazing!
For some reason, whenever I am at concerts, the lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks and I have these big realizations about life, love and business!
The last song Johnny sang is called 'No Such Thing' and as the song started, my friend Erin (who I went to high school with, but we were never friends-until-after-high-school-sort-of-thing) said to me, "Wow, Eliesa, think of how far you have come..." I didn't know what he meant by that, I mean, yeah, I have a successful business and I love what I do, but he's on a fantastic journey of his own through school, why would he say that?
The lyrics go something like this:
"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve
They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
That something's better
On the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
just a lie you've got to rise above
So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies
I am invincible (x3)
As long as I'm alive
and suddenly it hit me...we are living in a completely different world now.
I am also reading this fabulous book called Linchpin by the one-and-only Seth Godin and it talks all about this new world we are living in. His major point is how we have all been trained to think that our lives are suppose to go a certain way. We go to school (which is very structured), continue on to college, graduate, and go on to work for a company who will determine how much money you make - but alas - they will give you health insurance and really 'take care' of you. We've been raised to think that this process is the way to happiness.
Yesterday I also had a conversation with a friend who told me her father just got laid off from his job and he is having to face a world that he never thought he would have to learn. The world of computers. Her father literally has to go back to take classes to learn about the internet, because that is THE only way to apply for a job. It's not easy for my friend to see her father, who she has always envisioned as a strong leader to be back at the level of a 5 year old - and I am sure terribly aggravating and frustrating for him to be back at square one when he is 'suppose' to be enjoying these years.
As the song above was playing, I kept thinking about the book, my conversation with my friend and the comment that Erin just made about how far I've come and the BIG realization I made was that in other people's eyes, I have constantly gone against the grain. I have always done the opposite of what I was 'suppose' to do and I most definitely did not take the easiest route to get where I am. But I believed in myself, in my craft and in my dream. To other people, I have not just built a business, but I have shown other people that following your dream and being successful at is IS A REALITY!
The world that we are in now is not structured and safe. It is essential for everyone to look inside themselves and figure out how to be indispensable - to be sooooo good at what you do that people can not look away! There is no longer the guarantee of health insurance or a high paycheck out of grad school. This doesn't mean that I think everyone should go and start their own business, just because I did, but whoever you work for - it is still up to you to 'seize-the-day"! Think out of the box, challenge others, get creative and be a leader in everything you do. I'm a big believer the our mindset and world views are going to need to change in order to adapt to the new, fast world as-we-know-it.
There are no longer rules - get use to it and enjoy it.
Embrace the change.
With this new world comes new opportunities for you.
What are you going to do?
LOVEe
For some reason, whenever I am at concerts, the lyrics hit me like a ton of bricks and I have these big realizations about life, love and business!
The last song Johnny sang is called 'No Such Thing' and as the song started, my friend Erin (who I went to high school with, but we were never friends-until-after-high-school-sort-of-thing) said to me, "Wow, Eliesa, think of how far you have come..." I didn't know what he meant by that, I mean, yeah, I have a successful business and I love what I do, but he's on a fantastic journey of his own through school, why would he say that?
The lyrics go something like this:
"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve
They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
That something's better
On the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
just a lie you've got to rise above
So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better
While in their memories
Tiny tragedies
I am invincible (x3)
As long as I'm alive
and suddenly it hit me...we are living in a completely different world now.
I am also reading this fabulous book called Linchpin by the one-and-only Seth Godin and it talks all about this new world we are living in. His major point is how we have all been trained to think that our lives are suppose to go a certain way. We go to school (which is very structured), continue on to college, graduate, and go on to work for a company who will determine how much money you make - but alas - they will give you health insurance and really 'take care' of you. We've been raised to think that this process is the way to happiness.
Yesterday I also had a conversation with a friend who told me her father just got laid off from his job and he is having to face a world that he never thought he would have to learn. The world of computers. Her father literally has to go back to take classes to learn about the internet, because that is THE only way to apply for a job. It's not easy for my friend to see her father, who she has always envisioned as a strong leader to be back at the level of a 5 year old - and I am sure terribly aggravating and frustrating for him to be back at square one when he is 'suppose' to be enjoying these years.
As the song above was playing, I kept thinking about the book, my conversation with my friend and the comment that Erin just made about how far I've come and the BIG realization I made was that in other people's eyes, I have constantly gone against the grain. I have always done the opposite of what I was 'suppose' to do and I most definitely did not take the easiest route to get where I am. But I believed in myself, in my craft and in my dream. To other people, I have not just built a business, but I have shown other people that following your dream and being successful at is IS A REALITY!
The world that we are in now is not structured and safe. It is essential for everyone to look inside themselves and figure out how to be indispensable - to be sooooo good at what you do that people can not look away! There is no longer the guarantee of health insurance or a high paycheck out of grad school. This doesn't mean that I think everyone should go and start their own business, just because I did, but whoever you work for - it is still up to you to 'seize-the-day"! Think out of the box, challenge others, get creative and be a leader in everything you do. I'm a big believer the our mindset and world views are going to need to change in order to adapt to the new, fast world as-we-know-it.
There are no longer rules - get use to it and enjoy it.
Embrace the change.
With this new world comes new opportunities for you.
What are you going to do?
LOVEe
2 comments so far
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We are Invincible!
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I'm in the midst of the 'slow season' - WAIT, let me re-phrase that. I'm suppose to be in the 'slow season', but things are anything but slow around here!
Just an FYI to all of my clients and blog readers...I'll be embarking on a bit of a travel whirlwind for the next three weeks! On the roster is a NYC Engagement Session, Mexican Wedding and the yearly mecca to Las Vegas for WPPI!
Along the way I will be seeing a TON of friends and (hopefully) have some time to blog about it all!
Just an FYI to all of my clients and blog readers...I'll be embarking on a bit of a travel whirlwind for the next three weeks! On the roster is a NYC Engagement Session, Mexican Wedding and the yearly mecca to Las Vegas for WPPI!
Along the way I will be seeing a TON of friends and (hopefully) have some time to blog about it all!
See y'all when I get back! Keep checking back to see updates on my adventures!!
LOVEe
1 comments so far
mary says:
rock on! i have an NYC engaged sesh too! midwest invading the big city! when will you be there?
(02.18.10 @ 04:21 PM)
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Travel Whirlwind!
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I absolutely love my job. Sometimes I can't believe that my work is to create, inspire and empower people! And then I realize, yes, Eliesa, this is your work, but it is also deeper than that - it is my purpose.
This past fall, I launched LOVEe Consults, which is my one-on-one mentor session for photographers (or any small business owner for that matter), and I am simply smitten with these days! Yes, they are all about learning, but again - it's deeper than that. They are more about having conversations, exploring our deepest secrets and dreams and developing a plan to create the best life possible for us! Just as much as I teach the photographers who sign up, they teach me so much more!
This past week, I had a LOVEe Consult with the lovely Emily Steffen. I absolutely love this girl! One of the best things I adore about Emily is the fact that she gathers inspiration from SO much more than images. Many times we talk about looking at magazines, ad campaigns, labels, websites, branding, etc. to be inspired, but in Emily's case, she doesn't seek inspiration through any of those visual aesthetics. Instead, she is majorly inspired by crafting, knitting, sewing, gardening, baking and simply loving. I realized in our conversations that sometimes, as working artists, we forget to be creative in the sense of creating. Maybe that statement doesn't make sense. It is SO important to have other outlets of creativity besides just taking photographs (or painting, drawing, etc - whatever your art might be that you get paid for!) I realized I really haven't had another source as a creative outlet for quite some time, and I am empowered to do so!
The essence of who you are and what you love = happiness.
Another awesome conversation we had was about how stinkin' far behind the Midwest appears sometimes. We are, in fact, not far behind in Minneapolis, but sometimes people's mentalities are when searching for a wedding photographer and how we need to educate our clients on our shooting styles. We talked about how funny it is when (usually the older generation) make comments about your photos, such as, "Oh, isn't that nice." or "Yes, these are sure...different." Emily put it into the perfect quote, " In our state, when people call your photos 'different', that is Minnesotan for 'suck'!" The fabulous part about this statement is that when you do find your perfect clients - the words/feelings/comments about suckage will absolutely never be an issue - ever again! I am also a firm believer that there is some KILLER talent pumping out of the Midwest now that is truly remarkable - and I am SUPER stoked for this revolution!
There is no doubt in my mind that Emily is going to do some really amazing things in her life! In her own words, her goal is...
"To share the love and effect the world in a way that I can to make an impact. I want my life the be simple and I want to live my life to simply inspire people."
LOVEe
My consultations are more than a how-to-be-an-amazing-photographer, they are truly meant to be life-changing.
If you are interested in more information about a LOVEe Consult, click here!
If you are READY for THIS, e-mail me: eliesa@photogen-inc.com
This past fall, I launched LOVEe Consults, which is my one-on-one mentor session for photographers (or any small business owner for that matter), and I am simply smitten with these days! Yes, they are all about learning, but again - it's deeper than that. They are more about having conversations, exploring our deepest secrets and dreams and developing a plan to create the best life possible for us! Just as much as I teach the photographers who sign up, they teach me so much more!
This past week, I had a LOVEe Consult with the lovely Emily Steffen. I absolutely love this girl! One of the best things I adore about Emily is the fact that she gathers inspiration from SO much more than images. Many times we talk about looking at magazines, ad campaigns, labels, websites, branding, etc. to be inspired, but in Emily's case, she doesn't seek inspiration through any of those visual aesthetics. Instead, she is majorly inspired by crafting, knitting, sewing, gardening, baking and simply loving. I realized in our conversations that sometimes, as working artists, we forget to be creative in the sense of creating. Maybe that statement doesn't make sense. It is SO important to have other outlets of creativity besides just taking photographs (or painting, drawing, etc - whatever your art might be that you get paid for!) I realized I really haven't had another source as a creative outlet for quite some time, and I am empowered to do so!
The essence of who you are and what you love = happiness.
Another awesome conversation we had was about how stinkin' far behind the Midwest appears sometimes. We are, in fact, not far behind in Minneapolis, but sometimes people's mentalities are when searching for a wedding photographer and how we need to educate our clients on our shooting styles. We talked about how funny it is when (usually the older generation) make comments about your photos, such as, "Oh, isn't that nice." or "Yes, these are sure...different." Emily put it into the perfect quote, " In our state, when people call your photos 'different', that is Minnesotan for 'suck'!" The fabulous part about this statement is that when you do find your perfect clients - the words/feelings/comments about suckage will absolutely never be an issue - ever again! I am also a firm believer that there is some KILLER talent pumping out of the Midwest now that is truly remarkable - and I am SUPER stoked for this revolution!
There is no doubt in my mind that Emily is going to do some really amazing things in her life! In her own words, her goal is...
"To share the love and effect the world in a way that I can to make an impact. I want my life the be simple and I want to live my life to simply inspire people."
LOVEe
My consultations are more than a how-to-be-an-amazing-photographer, they are truly meant to be life-changing.
If you are interested in more information about a LOVEe Consult, click here!
If you are READY for THIS, e-mail me: eliesa@photogen-inc.com
2 comments so far
Emily Steffen says:
AWE! You rocked my world on Friday and my business and myself are forever changed because of our time together! :)
Ps...what the heck face am I making in that photo!?!? Sheesh, someone needs to tell me to back off on the nerdiness! :)
(02.15.10 @ 11:21 AM)
Priscilla Gragg says:
hey girl... awesome post! i read your pdf.... real cool! i actually just did a mentor session today for another photographer! it is so much fun to share! = )
(02.16.10 @ 12:55 AM)
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LOVEe Consult : Emily Steffen!
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As Valentines Day approaches, the big L.O.V.E. is on the minds of many! Despite if you celebrate the hallmark holiday or not, we can't deny this time of the year makes us reflect on the love that surrounds us!
To me, I see the purest form of love every day from my dogs. Yes, the love me, but more importantly, they love and care for each other and their 'friends'. Yes, my dogs have friends. They have, over time, inherited three stuffed animals that are life-size to them and they looooove these stuffed animals unconditionally! Laugh all you want, it's totally true. They always have to be near by - and if they don't know where they are, they will surely go find them! They bathe them, cuddle them and sleep with them at night - these friends mean absolutely everything to my dogs.
Love is simple.
What is LOVE to you?
Happy Valentines Day!!
LOVEe
To me, I see the purest form of love every day from my dogs. Yes, the love me, but more importantly, they love and care for each other and their 'friends'. Yes, my dogs have friends. They have, over time, inherited three stuffed animals that are life-size to them and they looooove these stuffed animals unconditionally! Laugh all you want, it's totally true. They always have to be near by - and if they don't know where they are, they will surely go find them! They bathe them, cuddle them and sleep with them at night - these friends mean absolutely everything to my dogs.
Love is simple.
What is LOVE to you?
Happy Valentines Day!!
LOVEe
2 comments so far
melissa oholendt says:
Matt saw something at Petsmart this weekend and commented on how much Rick and James would like it. To me THAT is love; my husband taking up the interests of the people we love together and thinking of them when we're not with them.
(02.15.10 @ 04:19 PM)
Laura Biebl says:
Aww... Puppies = LOVE and you've got two really cute ones :)
(02.15.10 @ 09:32 PM)
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Unconditional Love!
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Tonight was one of thooooooooose nights. You know, the nights that are filled with spontaneous fun that turns into an unforgettable event! We hosted an open mixer for photographers tonight at the studio and it was an ABSOLUTE blast...I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of such an amazing community!
Tonight is going down in history for me as one of the funnest nights - ever! Here's some proof below! We have and ENDLESS amount of images from the photo booth, so watch for more photos to come from the entire sha-bang next week!
Thank you to everyone who came and shared the photo-love!
Have a super awesome weekend!
LOVEe
Tonight is going down in history for me as one of the funnest nights - ever! Here's some proof below! We have and ENDLESS amount of images from the photo booth, so watch for more photos to come from the entire sha-bang next week!
Thank you to everyone who came and shared the photo-love!
Have a super awesome weekend!
LOVEe
1 comments so far
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A seriously fun night - MN Photostars!
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Well said E. Love the photo - I think it illustrates your point perfectly.
(03.04.10 @ 10:14 AM)You rule. Well said.
(03.04.10 @ 03:56 PM)