04/06/2020
THIS IS YOUR PERMISSION SLIP.
I have had this on my mind so much this past week, and I had to speak up about it.
So many people out there are telling you that you need to work, that you need to go, that you need to spend this time learning, spend it building your business, spend it doing so many things.
THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO DO RIGHT NOW IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
For some of us? This will be getting out of bed in the morning, and getting through the day.
For others, it will be diving deep in to learning, so that they don't think about the news.
Or maybe it is that you need to focus on being the homeschool teacher you never expected to be, and that alone is taking up all that you have to give.
Whatever is right for you? THAT is what you need to be doing right now.
HOW I COPE WITH STRESS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN HOW YOU COPE WITH IT
For me, from the minute that we were told to stay at home (really, from the minute I came home from Social Media Marketing World), I dove right in to action.
This is not surprising - I'm also the person you want around in a crisis, because I'll jump in to action then too. It's part of what I loved about being a wedding photographer - I run to chaos.
My favorite jobs throughout my life have involved problem solving in high energy situations. It's my jam.
I immediately reached out to people I already planned to reach out to - Reframe Success show guests and other friends, and I asked them to help. I invited them to come to the Photographer's Inner Circle community to speak.
That is what I needed to do, for me. That's what helped keep me calm.
WHAT WORKS FOR ME, MAY NOT WORK FOR YOU
I want you to know that I respect that this may not work for you. Not one bit. It might make you feel overwhelmed. It might make you feel frustrated because you don't have time. It might add to your stress because you just can't think about your business right now.
THIS IS YOUR PERMISSION SLIP
If you're a member of Photographer's Inner Circle, or my InstaLocal course, and you never watch a single video, that's ok.
They will always be there for you. I will be there for you.
I want to hear what you need.
I've made it a point that every video we record in Photographer's Inner Circle, with the exception of maybe two of them, are all timeless. They will be there for you, forever. (Rachel Brenke joined me this week to talk about the CARES Act - that's time sensitive.)
I hope that my work here has not come across to people as being tone-deaf. I know that some of you are so busy with your children, your family, with hours on the phone with companies to work out payments, hours on websites trying to figure out loans & grants, the last thing you have time for is the content here.
You're just trying to get by.
Confession: I'm creating videos selfishly for me. If I could record one every single day? I would. (I can't - I've learned my max is 3 per week, and I learned that lesson by burning myself out and hitting a wall and curling up in bed for two days.)
I don't have young kids. Everyone in my house can fend for themselves. I know that might not be the case for you.
Do what you need to do for you. I will be here when you're ready. It's ok.
I'm sending all of you love. I mean it when I said that my gratitude, daily, is my Photographer's Inner Circle and my InstaLocal Communities. YOU. You, right now, reading this email?
YOU keep me going.
My work gives me a purpose. It makes me move. Some days, it is what gets me out of bed. I love what we are building here, and I'm thankful for all of you. ❤️
