Just wanted to share what was on my hear, So many of us, we all know spend SO much time working IN our businesses, (not enough time ON our business to streamlin and refine and mature out business) and I was chatting with Tim Halberg tonight, laughing at how sometimes I'll hope the rapture comes so i dont have to do all this stuff.

Earlier this year, we made a goal to only spend 100 days in the office. and to shoot 300 ,000 images. We wanted to develop relationships instead of developing 4x6's & jpegs...

So How wealthy are you, or how wealthy do you want to be?

What do we value more, our freedom, like DJ talks about?

Are we wealthy with our time, can our wifes, families and kids afford to buy our saturdays back or keep up home and not working late at night?

This year, we traded in some of that Financial wealth for an office assistant, so we could travel and spend more time with my wife, its been the best thing I ever did. I want to encourage you guys to set your own goals and create a mission statement to keep on track, when we figure out our own personal purpose, for which we are driven, we find out meaning, our God given talents. Bless you all!

Great post man!

Well, by the stack of bills and taxes I owe - financially I could do better.
But when I look at my beautiful wife, my six amazing children, my new home and the Faith that drives me and my family - I see that I am the richest man in the world!

Niiiice post.

I just started out doing this professionally, and I've found that if I start concentrating on how much money I can (or won't) make, I don't enjoy it as much.

When I'm not concentrating on money, I feel pretty darn wealthy. I chose to go into this profession, because it was really important to me to be able to stay home with my boys (2.5 and 10 mo.) rather than work a 9-5 job I didn't really like (but wasn't terrible) and have someone else care for my children 9 hours a day.

I know there will be stresses with this work - there is with everything - but I feel really blessed to be able to do something creative, something I love to do and to have found a good work/life balance.

This is our first wedding season that we have actually been busy. Things have really been crazy. Especially the last week. I decided about a month ago to take every Monday off work (inspired by the Holritzes). So every Monday this summer, my family and I are going off and doing something fun. Like Carowinds, the beach, to a movie. Every Monday until school starts we will be doing this. I don't think it matters WHICH day you take to be with your family, but I do think it's important to take some time away ever week. I also try to spend dinner time with my kids everynight and go back to work after we put them to bed.

Great Post. I keep coming back to my desire to live in the freedom that this job can afford, but also put in the time and effort to continue a growing business. As a relatively young business I'm struggling with all of the initial financial burdens still, so for me to justify doing less than I am would be a stretch.

I do look forward to what a few years of referrals and a solid business plan will allow - more time to be with those I care about.

Great reminder, Mike.

3:00 in the afternoon yesterday...the whole family (all three of us) go to the tundra lodge water park. Since we can do this during the week: 1. It's half price, 2. There are no people there 3. Since there are no people there...Im not embarrassed to take my shirt off.

I am pointing out the fact that wedding photographers who are set up right, have so many cool opportunities that wouldn't otherwise be available.

Time and Money - Use them both wisely

Dragonfly, you make a good point, i think it can be summed up by trying to compare ourselves to the world. I mean we gotta make money to live, but the true definition of business should be one that brings the opportunity for more LIFE. I think we have an amazing occupation that allows us the flexibility, i say we take more advantage of it! I feel blessed to be sitting here in my office, i needed a sleep in day, and i woke up at 10, (i never do that) and my boss didnt fire me. but more importantly, my wife and i get to hang out. Cheers..

great post Mike. very encouraging!

Great Post.

Financially we have not done well for years. My husband has owned a business that literally drowneded us (he just got out about 6 months ago...but it takes awhile to get back from a near death experience! ) so we have lived on my minimal income. I am a work at home mom of 3 and so I am limited to the amount of weddings I could take in the past (only about 15-20 a year). Well, all I have ever wanted to be is a STAY at home mom...so the amount of time I put in working has been exhaustingly hard. After alot of prayer and a suggestion from another photographer on here, I decided to hire someone to do my editing. I could use the money I am paying her, but I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO SAY HOW MUCH MORE FREEDOM I HAVE!! I feel like a mom again, I feel like a friend again, I feel like a wife again, like I have TIME to do the other things God has called me to do. I was not living life to the fullest before...I am now!

So, financially, things arent a TON better, but I truly believe God will take care of us (as he allllllwwwwaaayyys has) b.c I am chosing my family over my business!

GREAT subject! Melissa

Melissa

that is so awesome, and encouraging to hear, i know I used to think that i HAD to do everything for it to be me, my business, but lets face it, the best businesses and even artists, dont do everything, Steve Jobs, doesnt stay up late soildering parts into our apple computers, or answer emails from customer service at 1am. Nor did picasso or any other true artist, make his clothes, make his brushes, or the paint he used. he even had his apprentices prep the paintings and he did the mastering and final touches, textures and shading. Every artist business is a team, and a team is stronger than one person, and we should always remember that this life isnt about doing it all ourselves, I learned that by paying my office assistant to help me out, i was doing more than creating freedom for me, i was also giving her an income and freeing her from her debt.

I'm wealthy, but it's only because my father is a Saudi prince.

of what country?