Where's your JOY?

It didn’t bring me joy!

So, I did a thing today…. I turned down a very lucrative contract to photograph the seniors at a local high school. This opportunity was handed to me on the proverbial “Silver Platter.” Some say I am crazy, but I had to do it, I just didn’t feel the joy. Even though I have photographed thousands of High School Seniors in my career it wasn’t there for me anymore. I spent the entire weekend wrestling over this, weighing all the pros and cons but I felt it was just going to pull me away from my core mission. Even though the additional money would be nice I just didn’t feel the joy in the work.

For 30+ years (until 2018) I was a Family Portrait Studio that photographed everything under the sun, but I felt the Joy slowly leaving me, until I started to realize where my Joy was leading me, and it is working with Small Business and Business Professionals - photographing them for their Headshots, Business Portraits and Branding images. This is where my Joy was leading me.

So, at the end of 2018 I did another thing, I held my breath, closed my eyes & shut down my Family Portrait Studio, opened up my new studio and moved the business downtown, closer to most of my clients.

Then as you all know the world had a “thing happen”! Although 2019 started off strong 2020 was my worst year ever, but I persevered and 2021 was my best year ever and 2022 is looking great, servicing the Small Business community & Business Professionals – providing them with their Headshots & Branding Images. So, now I’ve opened up my eyes, exhaled, and I’m not looking back!

It’s funny, I know that I thoroughly love what I am doing now, but didn’t realize just how much until I went through this recent process, it was gut wrenching at times, but I realized that if I did go through with this it really wasn’t going to bring me Joy. It really made me realize just how much I love what I am doing now and could not bring myself to “dilute” my brand just to add some extra income. So, did I do the right thing? In my heart I know I did. So, I’ll keep following my joy to see just where it will lead me, but I know it will lead me to great things.

So, what’s your joy? What gets you up in the morning & keeps you going through the day? Are you following your joy & if not why???

Thanks for reading & until next time….

Follow your Joy.

Jeff