So I get a link for this site from David this morning, as an update on the recent happenings... and as one click leads to another only one word comes to mind: WOW! This is great stuff. Ok, that's more than one word, but what wonderful people we have here.

Now, as you all know by now I'm not a photographer. Although I do have some wedding photography experience from, being trucked around by my dad, back in the day when shooting a wedding required carrying a VCR around with you in a "purse" I can remember him telling my mom to keep an eye on the 'white balance' for him. Does that term even exist anymore?
Oh... and while registering for a summer school class at the local community college I discovered that I did get a 'B' in a photography class that I enrolled in the summer before and apparently forgot to drop after only attending, I think, 3 classes. (God help our wonderful educational system)

However, I did find tremendous value in the conversations I did peruse. Especially the one regarding the value of your services, pricing and moral issues etc. Loved every minute of that. And, by the way Peter I've made an attempt to get some feedback from by ¿boss? (who is also a Christian and very successful while maintaining his faith and morality) regarding:

"- Fifth: I continue to search for literature, resources and guidance in general about combining one's faith and morals with business and having success in both areas. Where do you guys go for such guidance? Can you point some of it this way?"

'Cuz you know what... I could use some guidance in that as well.

Anyway, I'm Monica and I'm born and raised Southern California (Ventura Co.). Attended school in Nor Cal at UCDavis. Umm.. Soc (sosh) was the major. I love the Lord and strive to surround myself with others who will encourage, inspire, and challange my spiritual growth. I'm excited to see such individuals here. I'm also excited, because I am in the business of creating and maintaining relationships (aka: sales) and it is refreshing to see that there are individuals who seriously contemplate and value the translation of their work. I'm specifically refering to the "cancellation" conversation. I got a lot from that thanks.


Hmm... enough staring at the screen trying to think of what to write next. G'nite y'all
I look forward to the future conversations and insights.
Monica
(my friends call me Mo)

Hi Monica...yes, Non-Photographers are people too. But it's the people that drew me to this site...great people that just happen to be great photographers. Enjoy your stay!



Floyd

Welcome Monica! I'm so glad you're here!

Blessings!
DJ

Hello & Welcome! This place is full of great people with open minds and a lot of awesome input and suggestions! I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.



Awesome! Please post any recommendations that come up -- I'd love to check them out, and I'm sure others would like to as well!

Hi MOnica! Nice to have you on here! I will give you just a few months before you will want to start shooting with all of us! You will soooo want to be a photographer!!!


Glad to have you!

KK

Sometimes I have weeks where I think to myself, "If I could just make it to Sunday..." those are the weeks I show up to church with a truck load and usually before the service is ending I'm saying "Ok God, thank you... this week was a tough one, but I get it now, thank you." And it's like starting my next week with a clean slate.

And sometimes there are weeks where I've got that bounce in my step and I think "Well Lord, what do you have in store for me this week? I know I need something, I'm not sure what it is but I know that you'll be letting me know here in the next couple of hours." These weeks are great because it's usually something that stays in my mind that I get to practice or be present to during the next week. And I love when I realize that I've been struggling with something and I didn't even know it. It's like AhHa!! I love it!!

Here's what did it. Pastor said "It is not freedom to not be a slave, but to choose what you will serve."

WOW! I could not wipe the smile off my face all day long! I mean, How can I not smile all day long when the persistant thought in my mind is "It is you I seek Lord, through all things."

It's that right there: "through all things."

I guess I've been getting kind of down on myself lately because there are things in my life that I'm excited about. And those things occupy my day, and my thoughts. And I think about why I'm excited about these things or why I 'want' these things. I sometimes feel guilty for wanting these things because I feel like wanting is distracting me from seeking the Lord.

And I say to myself, "Well I want those things...Because I AM seeking the Lord." And then I can't help but think "Who are you trying to kid Monica? You might be able to kid yourself but you're not gonna kid the Lord." It's like I don't even believe my own justification.
But what I realized today is that there is no need for justification if it is the Lord that I truly seek...and it is. And that makes me so... smilely.

So my thought for the week is: "Who or what does this serve?"
I can now wholeheartedly enjoy the exciting things in my life, knowing that through them, I serve the Lord.

Welcome Monica, from halfway across America!

MoPo!!!!!

There is ALOT of stuff!

There is always The Bible. Proverbs, Luke, Acts, and Corinthians are a good plce to start.

Have you ever read See You At The Top by Zig Ziglar?
In fact, Zig's training website is a great place to start some online research. Lots of great tools there.
http://www.ziglartraining.com/

Another great resource is John Maxwell.
I like his LEADERSHIP BIBLE.
http://www.maximumimpact.com/

You can subscribe to email newsletters from Zig and John.

Here is a list of daily devotionals. I have not read most of them.
http://www.woestowows.org/devotionals.html

JBB
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Connection -- Execution -- Simplicity -- Gratitude

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Thanks for all the great info!

welcome! those are the same reasons why i joined this forum - the people!

The last couple of weeks of work have been relatively unfruitful for me. Partly due to disappointing numbers, partly due to work that makes you feel like you're working (making contacts and such) but isn't instant dollars in your pocket. When my manager asks what I've got going on I've had a long list of things to talk about, but then he follows with "what are you at for the week?" and I want to vomit the number out.

So anyway, I've made a lot of calls over the last week or so, scheduled some appointments but didn't end up with much today. I took advantage of the free time, but... also had the pleasure of receiving 4 calls from customers today that wanted service. 4! Just to put things in perspective for you all, I can't remember the last time I received 4 incoming calls in a month!

Anyway I'm stoked!
mp

Monica! That's awesome! I hope tomorrow brings 4 more!!!

Also, I went ahead and combined your threads b/c this is kind of an introduce yourself section of the forum so we've found that the best way to do it is to continue to post in your thread and then you'll have a running dialogue in your thread.

Yeahh...I was kind of wondering about that

Well... here are a few shots for my nephew's first day at the beach
[attachmentid=596]

WOW!! I just started a new devotional and todays read was so refreshing. Check it out:
http://www.woestowows.org/devotionals/New/W1D3.html

I esecially like the part about ...I could either listen or talk all night.

I think I'm in the "talk all night mode"

The prayer is awesome too.

Thank you Peter, these are the fruits of your request.

Hi! Monica I've been away for a while, I'd like to welcome you as well this is one of the best forums I've been on. Totally, totally awesome group of people as you must already know.

Thank you Carlos.
I've definiteluy enjoyedmyself over the last month. I've learned a ton!! This is an amozing group of people. Inspiring.