And yet here I am in a condition of lack and I am wondering what to do next.  I am experiencing severe hardship and I am not certain where to look for help.

And then as if a building has fallen on me, I realize that the place to go is within ME.  I have the choice to believe in myself.  I have the choice to ask for what I really want.  I have the choice to receive what the Universe is rallying to send to me.  I am the one who believed the lies about my worthiness and my abilities and lack of help.  Now, with my back to the wall, I choose to come out peacefully, full of optimism (my choice to make), asking for what I want, declaring to believe that anything is possible and ready to receive precisely what I manifest in my spirit. 

If you are in such a place, band together with me.  Go back and read “The Attractor Factor” again.  And then read “The Key”.  Take control of your mind and refuse to believe the lies your little inner voice is sending to both your conscious and subconscious.  Expect the peace, joy and prosperity that is out there in an unlimited supply and ready to be delivered to you and me.  That is exactly what I am going to do.  TODAY, RIGHT NOW, THIS MOMENT!

Come back to future postings on this blog and experience with me the results I plan to receive.  And please, give me the support of your comments to this post.  Thanks, Dan, The Biz Doc

We both have plans to achieve the goals that we revealed at the mastermind group that we formed at the direction of Bill Hibbler at the unSeminar5. Looks like we will be electronically meeting on a monthly basis and forming a group on Ning. 

I am re-reading “How to Write an eBook in 7 Days” by Joe Vitale (aka. Mr. Fire) and Jim Edwards. Plus I recently got some great material from Simon Leung about Google. Thank you, Simon!

The group is still in the formative stages, but looks to be one that will hold together. We want to stand at the front of the next unSeminar ready to tell what we have accomplished. 

Also, big thanks to Joe Vitale, Mandy Evans and Mark Ryan for the tele-seminar about miracles last night. If you missed it, keep a sharp eye out. Joe said he will be releasing it on a recording for those who couldn’t get in on the call.

Make your miracles happen…

          - Mark Weisser

             www.markweisser.com

And what a line up of speakers: Joe Vitale. Doer of way too many things to list here. A few are famous author, movie star, marketer, philanthropist… I will stop there, but trust me, there are lots more things he does.

And then Bill Hibbler followed on mastermind groups, Tony Laidig on public domain information, Dr. Scott Lewis who hypnotized the group and uncovered hidden skills. The next day, Bill Hibbler led off with setting up mastermind groups, followed by Erica Douglas, a 27 millionaire. Eric Farewell energized the room with a riveting session about marketing, launching and more. After lunch on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, foxy Donna Fox reminded everyone who actually spends or at least influences the spending in this world. And in a surprise appearance, Simon Leung, former exec at Google explained the “Google Slap” and how to avoid it. And much more.

That evening, the IM Blues Band plus Joe Vitale on the harmonica entertained the room. It rocked!!!

Sunday led off again in mastermind groups with Bill and, Niche Marketing Rockstar that he is, then discussed niches. Finding them, helping them and how doing that helps you, the internet marketer. Joe Vitale presented a glimpse of The Awakening next. And I don’t think anyone fell asleep during that presentation! Wow. Big WOW. When he launches that (soon), the world will feel it. Get ready, world.

What internet marketing conference would be complete without Craig Perrine? Not this one for sure! Talk about inspiration! Big, no make that HUGE, impact on me and everyone else.

Ben Mack, magician and branding wizard finished things off. By this time it was getting late and I had nearly four hours to drive home, so I could not stay until the end of the end. But, to conclude, if Pat O’Bryan goes for an UnSeminar6, I would advise you not to miss it. That is, unless you are not in the internet marketing business or if you are, you already know everything there is to know about it.

All the best,

       – Mark

www.markweisser.com

The View from the Customer’s Side of the Lens

or

Seven Important Things to Consider When You Need a Real Photographer for your Business

by

Mark Weisser

www.markweisser.com

I recently searched for a commercial photographer for some photos I needed for my website and brochures. And since I am in Houston, I wanted someone local.

When I used the word “real” in the subtitle, I didn’t mean to diminish the photographers who specialize in portraiture or weddings, it’s just that there are different sets of skills needed for commercial work that makes it important to understand what makes a great commercial photographer.

I wanted someone who specialized in commercial and business photography. 

I will let you know now that I selected Sylvester Garza of <!–[if supportFields]> CONTACT _Con-40CEB74116 \c \s \l <![endif]–>Sylvester Garza<!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–> Photography from the many here in Houston. His experience and website, www.sylvestergarza.com led to my phone call and ultimately the photo shoot.

I distilled my selection process down to seven steps I considered to be essential when hiring a commercial photographer and thought this might be something you would want to know.

1. Know what you need. This will help you select the best photographer for the job. Think about whether it’s going to be a studio setting or outdoors, a building, people on the job, etc. and be ready to explain that as you begin to select the photographer. Discuss their experience based on your needs.

2. This leads to the selection process. First of all, ask around. Ask people you know who they would recommend.  Google and Yahoo are great resources. If a photographer has no website to showcase their work, I would have to wonder why not. Then using the phone or email, contact the prospects and after explaining your needs, ask them for samples of their work along the lines you are looking for.

3. Based on that, narrow your selection to the top two or three. Then get very specific about getting a proposal from each one. Outline as precisely as you can what you expect. Again, studio or outdoors? One location or more? What your time frame is. Visit the site for the photo shoot with the photographers and tell them what you want to see. After that, let them know that you would like a written proposal that outlines those points, what the price is and costs, if any, that would come from changes on your part.

4. At this point, discuss usage rights. This is an often overlooked point in this process. Who will own the rights to the images when the job is complete? Unless specifically stated otherwise, those rights to the images belong to the photographer, not to you. Decide if it matters to you and discuss the issue with the photographer. You may expect to pay a bit more if you retain those rights. 

5. Speaking of rights, here is another issue that needs to be looked at — model releases. For images of your products, they aren’t needed, of course, but if your photo has someone from your company (or anyone else) in the image, whether in the background or as a main feature, you need to be sure you have their permission, in writing, to use their likeness. And that is a standard document called a model release. Use them to prevent legal headaches down the road.

6. Image quality. Now that virtually all professional photographers use digital cameras, this can be a variable that you need to discuss with your photographer. The current standard seems to be about a 4,000 pixel file per image. Know what your final image size will need to be and discuss this so that you don’t end up with fuzzy photos for your finished work.

7. Now that you are nearing your final selection, your proposals are in front of you and you have met each candidate. So how do you choose the best one? Some easy criteria are things like; did they call me back on time? What kind of people skills do they have? Can they handle unexpected events or changes in plans? Call the references you asked for (you did ask, didn’t you?) and see what they had to say. Did you get the impression that they will get your project done on time and on budget? And that they will be in contact with you with any questions or changes? The lowest bid isn’t always your best choice.

If you got through all seven of these, you should be in for a great experience with your project. Since it worked so well for me let me just repeat the name of my photographer, <!–[if supportFields]> CONTACT _Con-40CEB74116 \c \s \l <![endif]–>Sylvester Garza<!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. He is in Houston, but, like many, can travel as needed by his clients. See his work at www.sylvestergarza.com

<!–[if supportFields]> CONTACT _Con-40CEB74137 \c \s \l <![endif]–>Mark Weisser<!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–> owns his business as a writer, business consultant and can even help you buy your next car. See what he does at www.markweisser.com

But wait, these are distractions, nothing more!  I am the one who lets them affect my way of thinking.  My own worldview is filtering these circumstances to force me into believing life is unkind and woe is me.  I have a choice.  I can be led by these circumstances or I can choose to be led by who I am.  And I choose the later.  I am a positive person who is focused on helping people realize who they are and live by their being.  I am a teacher and therefore a model of positive, abundant living.  I have experience as an entrepreneur and business leader and I desire to share my expertise with others for their benefit.  This is who I am.  This is who I am. 

So how can you change your path when bad things happen to you.  First realize what you have control of and what you do not.  You cannot do anything about circumstances beyond your control so never ask why is this happening to me.  You will chase this answer and waste away countless hours for no reason.  So instead of asking why, ask what now.  Deal with it, work with it, move in a different direction and life will suddenly bring you back to your happy place as it is doing for me right this very minute.  If you are reading this and it is helping you in any way, I am living according to who I am and you are discovering your way to be who you are.  My focus is being completed as you read this.  And so, to you I am incredibly grateful.  The negative “stuff” has faded away and I have returned to fulfill my role as I mentioned above.  There can be no greater joy than this for me.