The Directions of 2012

Another peaceful afternoon in my neighborhood coffee shop, just waiting to meet with a client I had done pictures for before. While I sit waiting, I'm making my schedule for the new year's projects.
Finish the cosmetic renos on my condo on the river, organize and archive my last years accounting, digital files, and paperwork. My least favorite part of the business end.

I have a few different projects in the works for my photography that will all be revealed in due time, and making the business plan is pretty fun for me. Much more engaging than filing the last year's paper work. My new assistant Andrea and I having phone meetings making room for her in the bigger picture. By the way, Andrea works when she wants and is strictly administration so no, my dear photographer friends, you may not borrow her. She's busy with her family and in school so she really doesn't have any extra time. Any extra time she has, she very kindly donates to me. Lol! (for a price). PS thanks for the great boots AD and I must say, I think I got the better end of that deal.

As I've mentioned before, my last year, and some of the tough lessons are in the past, but I haven't missed the value in the lessons. Once the paperwork is all signed and the work Visa's are in place, I can announce my major projects for 2012. If I start discussing it before the paperwork is done, it usually ends up in file 13... Lol! I can say, I am slowing down on the non-profit stuff more than I expected in 2012. I have my one favorite client that is a mix of profit and non-profit, so my work with them will continue as usual and the projects I committed to before the financial meltdown of 2010/2011. I am focused on rebuilding my financial empire to what it was in the past life, and once that's in place, I will have more time to help out with all the non-profits that need a hand.

The funniest thing hit me while I was travelling somewhere last year. The flight attendants go through thier safety briefing everytime with the same schpiel, and we all pretend to listen but really, we're all making our own mental check list of our luggage, our trip, etc etc. They know no one is listening but they do it anyway because it's the law and their insurance underwriters insist on it. The WestJet staff on the flight down did not do the safety briefing as usual. They added a little bit of a punch to it and made it interesting. As I looked around, I noticed everyone on the plane was really listening and interested. The witty remarks the flight attendants added were serious in nature but sharp and funny in delivery that they immediately had everyone's attention. With all the miles I've logged on airtravel over the years, I have to say, other than the very first time I flew ( more years ago than I can actually remember ) I listened. Want to know what major revelation I had from that briefest of briefings? .... "put the mask on yourself before you place the mask on your (child, wife, husband, partner, companion)". How simple is that?  Make sure you are in a position to help before you step up.

With that basic bit of safety information, I'm planning my next 4 years of business on that same thread. I can continue to help those that I've already committed to because those groups appreciate and value what I can do for them, and really, it costs me nothing but my time.

The direction for me this year especially... Just because I love everyone and want to help everyone, doesn't mean I can, and I better put my mask on before I try and help everyone else, because they will survive just fine if I take care of them first, but I likely will not. Lesson learned.

PS... Don't forget to check your Compass!
Cole

This was a New Years to remember...

There I was with no plans for New Years ... no personal plans anyway. I had a few job offers but the lack of a proper budget prevented me from accepting the work. It wouldn't have even covered my cab fare there and back with all my gear. Frankly I was insulted at the offers available, so I had an invitation to spend it in a beautiful location with just the girls and a few adorable little people... (and when I say little people, I mean children) .

We left on the Friday afternoon and arrived a short while later. The 'cabin' was magnificent. A place I felt so at home in, like I had been there before but truly had never set eyes on previously. In fact I had drawn a picture of something meant to look exactly so when I was a teenager. The stunning views were ones I had had dreams about over the years since I was a girl. Each corner I turned brought a wave of deja vu, but I know I had never set foot there before.

As our midnight approached, we were all relaxed and really had no plan for the evening. Just us girls and the kids. There were no pretty fluffy dresses, masques, or tuxedos. Just most of us in PJ's and wrapped in warm blankets around a roaring fire, laughing with the kids, playing board games, dinner, and a movie. We were so engrossed in the movie, or perhaps half asleep in our cozy stupor, we didn't mark midnight until the neighbors on the iced over lake shot off fireworks. Startling as it was, it sounded like someone was banging on the windows at first. Then we saw the glittery explosions shoot past the windows like rockets in the night.
We toasted New Years and the texts and emails from loved ones far away arrived to all our phones like a tropical rainstorm, hitting us with all the drops at once.

The past year was a mixed bag of blessings, licking the wounds of my lost dream studio space. Rebuilding from the financial losses, which I am reminded of each time I pay a bill, or see the newly made money disappear like Houdini. The ending of weak and one sided relationships, the strengthening of bonds with clients that become trusted friends, and the blessed appearance of new friends that feel like centuries old connections.

With the passing of the old year comes a bright new future. The endless possibilities of this bright shiny 2012 are yet to be realized. I make my new business plan, budget, and forge ahead. Undeterred by the past mistakes I made, acknowledging them, and swearing to not repeat those same mistakes again. My 2012 looks pretty bright, still I have hope and optimism beating in my heart for success, love, and peace. Regardless of the lack of material wealth, I am blessed with a true circle of friends, regular photography clients I have big Buddha love for, and happiness in abundance. My hope for the future is for financial independence ( perhaps I should have picked a different profession.... Lol!), the ability to travel and use my skills to shed light on the issues of the oppressed, endangered, and cultural differences of the other lands we share the globe with, but don't yet understand. I'd like to experience the countries I've already seen, but this time with the eyes of my grown up self, with more money, more time to learn, and less rushing. I'd like to be a Duchess, a baker, a candlestick maker... Lol! Sorry, too much tea today...

I will live with more compassion, empathy, and understanding. I will forgive those that can't forgive themselves, but most of all, I will squeeze every last drop out of life cause that's what it's for. Here's to 2012, may it be a wealthy year full of good things for us all!

Don't forget to check your Compass!
Cole