After a few conversations lately, in conjunction with the Make Better Pictures & Show the Right People talk I gave in Portland a couple weeks ago, really has drove this point home to me. In the end, it comes down to having a great product/content.

We attended a Creative Minds Salon last night at the Soho House, and was fairly disappointed to say the least. It was a lot of hot air talking about “influencers” and brands. I can’t even say I walked away with any new information of value. What it did help me to do was confirm in my head that it comes down to creating a great product, or content. Not that I didn’t know this before, but it’s sure making me realize that through out all the noise these days, the better product wins. Great successful companies listen to their consumers and strive to make their product/service better and better. Something worth talking about and spreading.

How often do photographers think of their work as a product? Do you ever look at your work as a whole, analyze it, and figure out where you can improve and diversify? I feel like I’m constantly doing this to grow, expand, and attract more potential clients. Making better pictures is about developing a better product. Learning to see better and better. Develop a style, but be a creator of content, and create a lot of it. If you’ve read Seth Godin’s book, Linchpin he talks about the idea of “shipping” pushing a product out the door, even if it’s not always ready. The point of “shipping” is to give yourself a deadline and level to live up to, which push you to create better quality. I just watched Kanye West’s MTV interview on his short film RUNAWAY, and one of the things he said was he started G.O.O.D. Fridays(where he put a new song up for download every friday), was to push himself to “Ship” a product and keep producing.

My point being, Keep producing better and better work, but analyze your work as a whole, and figure out where you need to improve, or add to your repertoires. Broaden your content, AKA your product.

After the Make Better Pictures, and Show the Right People talk I did last week in Portland, I decided to share my recommended reading list with you all in blog form. This is a list of books that have helped shape my perspective in life and business.

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferazzi
This book was amazing in learning how to best network and build relationships with people. Keith focuses on giving and helping people without any pretense for reciprocation. Built on a philosophy of when you give to people it will be given back to you. Maybe from someone else or that person. It’s an idea of something I truly believe. If you give and help people it will come back to you. This book is one of my faves. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/ee2Hpr

The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris
This one is a great concept of designing your life and having it’s elements work for you to what you desire. Some of his concepts are a little overboard, but overall the book is a great read and changes the way you think about designing your life and lifestyle. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/evJYol

The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell
A basic well done study on economics of business and the culture of how trends/products hit their “tipping points”. Malcom talks about the different types of people that aid in the process. A good mind shifter in thinking big. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/fJ6ceF

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell
Yet another fave of mine. Malcom does a study on successful people, why and how they’ve become that way. He talks about opportunity, hard work and talent. One of my favorite chapters is the 10,000 rule which many people have come to talk about. The idea that it takes 10,000 hours of practicing your craft to hit your tipping point of where enter into professionalism and success. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/hzW6g7

A Million Miles and a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
A book recommended to me by my homie Jeff Holt. This book shapes your perspective on creating better life experiences, essentially a better story. Experiences come through in our art and the more we make memorable moments in our lives the better our stories become. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/i4Vp2j

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kawasaki
Robert has many books on the subject of money, but learning and understanding how money works is a key essential in running a business. He talks about learning to see cashflow and how it works. This series of books goes hand in hand with the 4-Hour Work week. Learning how to use money to give you financial freedom and design the lifestyle you want to live. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/ffIdiO

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Creating a life of art isn’t an easy process. In The War of Art, Steven talks about the resistance and how it keeps us from creating. The resistance being that thing inside of us that makes us want to be lazy instead of getting to work. A perfect read for any artist. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/f0GmXb

The Brand Called YOU by Peter Montoya
In the business of a freelance artist, YOU are the brand. Everything you do is a projection of who you are and what your brand represents. This is a great read to help understand the idea of a personal brand and it’s outlets. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/faG2Ot

Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuck
Yet another great idea, but a little over the top in some areas. Still a great quick read on using the world of social media, blogging, and the web 2.0 world to boost your brand. Youtube stars have taken this idea to a whole other level. Pick it up here: http://nonk.it/h6kPhj

This story was part of the big Cosmo shoot I did a few months ago. It finally ran in a couple international editions of Cosmo. Taiwan being one of them. If you haven’t seen the behind the scenes video of this shoot, check it out here: http://nonk.it/cosmonyc_BTS

I just stumbled upon this amazing interview with the 3rd richest man in the world, Warren Buffett and the amazing Jay-Z on Forbes.com through my buddy Michael Trainer’s tumblr. This hour long interview completely inspired me to keep thinking big, and even bigger than I’ve been thinking. It’s amazing to see Buffett & Jay-Z bring two completely different worlds of success together.

They share things they’ve both learned along the way. I’ve always admired artists like Jay-Z for the fact that they are entrepreneurs, using their art combining it with business to do bigger things than rockstardom. In this interview, Jay talks about growing up in the projects, and overcoming where he grew up to make it.

A few highlights that really impacted and inspired me:
•Stay true to who you are as an artist. People lose longevity because they try and jump on the next hottest thing.
•You can’t make art with business in mind. At some point it has to be real when they touch it.
•Adapt your business to the way the landscape is changing. Use technology to your advantage.
•Under promise, Over deliver.
•Have a philanthropic side. Give back.

Watch the interview here. http://nonk.it/JayZ_Buffett

Bring it on 2011!

Hey All, You’ve probably already seen the post for the Make Better Pictures & Show the Right People talk that I’m doing in Portland next week. Check it out if you haven’t. http://nonk.it/MBPSMP

Also, we are going to raffle off some prizes. We will be giving out 3 signed copies of Photo Trekking. The top prize winner will get the book and a 30 minute consult with me.