Started off with a great walk at Martin Nature Park again. Got to see 3 white tail bucks chasing each other, you know, fightin' over them women deer. Got a few shots with the camera, but they are pretty shaky, because I was pretty shaky. We were definitely in their territory and between them and their womens. One even started walking right towards me, staring me down.

After that excitement, I came home and got my two online stores up and running. They both have some work to do, but are fully operational. Check them out.
www.cokeattic.com and www.thesockattic.com

Yesterday, I shot a bunch of old "piggy bank" trucks for my dad. They were all pretty cool. I even remembered to take a pic of my set up.

This week kicks off the holiday season! We have three thanksgiving parties and even one Christmas party this week in our family. My wife is baking things that make the whole house smell delicious and the kids are out of school for the week. I love this time of year!

A couple of days ago, I went to my favorite local park to go for a walk and all the critters were out getting ready for the upcoming winter season as well.

So tonight I am reading The E-myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. I can't even get though the introduction page when it hits me like a ton of bricks. I have heard it before but never really had any use for the info until now. I'm not sure if this was an AHA! moment or more of DUH! moment.

Let's go back to where this started. It was way back in the, uh, last night. I went to a Meetup called "Coffee with Entrepreneurs". We had lots of great conversations. The E-Myth book was highly recommended. Since I went full time photography last week, I am really focusing all energy on building my business and doing it the right way, whatever that may be. Something I heard throughout the night was the question, "Are you working AT your business or ON your business?" I knew what they were getting at, I just wasn't sure how to answer the question. It's just me and my camera. I am the business. Of course I am working At it. I had created a JOB for me not a business.

So how do I change this?

Back to tonight. I'm reading in the cozy corner this E-myth. I get to thinking about a conversation I had with my last boss. This guy is a boss of bosses, a manager of managers. He was a very higher up at Kraft foods for years and had 100's of people under him. He was telling me one night over a couple of beers about a mid level manager, named Bob, that used to work for him. Bob's job was to hire people to stock shelves with Kraft products in the stores. Bob was struggling to keep good employees and found himself stocking the shelves himself. My old boss goes to Bob and tells him that he is not doing his job. His job is to build a team, not stock shelves. He goes on to tell him that he should stop what he is doing and go find someone to stock the shelves, and train them to do it well.

I still haven't said what this AHA! moment was. I also haven't answered, "How do I change this?". As all this is rushing through my head, I remembered from way back somewhere basic business 101 stuff - Do what what you do best and hire out the rest.

I have never been a good door to door salesman or outside sales guy. That is not my expertise and quite honestly, I abhor it. So how am I going to build my business if I don't go find customers? Hire an outside sales person that does thrive in that environment - DUH!

That, my friends, is working ON the business!

Since you stuck with me through this rambling little story, I give you a pretty picture to admire on your screen. It is Mt. Rainier peeking through the clouds on a recent trip to Seattle. This shot was taken with my trusty cell phone and un-edited.

Posting 2 days in a row! Whoda thunk it? I CAN do this!

So today we all got out there and let our voices be heard. Crazy election year. Now it's time for a beer. Today's beer: Yalobusha Brewing Company's Copperhead Amber Ale. Quite tasty!

Ooh look, you can finally see me too. I promise, not too many of these "selfies" come from me. This one is more about the little sticker you get when you go do your thing in the booth.

     Soooo, hello again. It's been a year and a half since my last post. I think I am getting better at this blogging thing - Ha! Very quick recap. I finally left the new owners of that one job and went to work in Seattle for the last year for a different ownership group within the same franchise. I have done this job for 14 years and it was time to go work for myself.

As of Nov. 1st, I became a self employed photographer/ artist. I had an art show this past weekend and sold several pieces and even won a "Merit Award". Not sure what a merit award is for but it came with a $75 check! Good way to start self-employment. I am also shooting real estate. I have done this on the side for a couple of years and now hope to push it into full gear. I have started a new business venture with a friend of mine  - Oak & Stone Images LLC. I'm so excited that I have the opportunity to earn a living doing what I love. Now just to get out there and make it happen. Part of that process is going to be "sharing" more. That means more blogging, right? It definitely means more art shows! Every time I set up for an art show, I make sales. I have always said I just need more art shows. Now that I am not working retail weekend hours, I will be able to do more art events. Happy me!

What I'm reading in the new cozy corner tonight - Pop Photo magazine and the highly rated "Show Your Work!" by Austin Kleon