How Can You Leave Your Mark?

How often do you think about the best way to leave your mark? People always like to influence business transactions, and parents like to instill certain values or beliefs upon their children...all as a means of making sure an impact has been made on the situation or another person's life. I recently found a fantastic way of ensuring future influence - just don't leave. Look closely at this picture...that is definitely a cornstalk growing in the midst of...something else...anyone know what that is - I think it might be soy? Both sides of this road were blanketed with this mystery crop and every so often you could see a corn stalk growing up through the middle of the other plants.

I can only assume that last year these fields were used for corn but this year, as is customary with farming, a different crop was planted. There was, however, a few stronghold corn seeds that survived the Winter, and tilling of the ground, and were able to germinate this Spring. I've seen this before when a plant grows from seeds that are left over from the previous year, but it still never ceases to amaze me. It wasn't as if nothing happened over the course of the nearly 12 months: Winter pounded snow onto the ground, rain tried to wash everything down the hill, and Springtime brought digging and disturbing of the dirt; but through all of it those corn seeds burrowed down and stayed strong - that's determination!

Driving past this field no one has any doubt that at one time corn covered this entire area and that one day in the very near future the same thing will happen again! The occasional corn stalk sticking up out of the low-lying plants is enough to let passers-by know that this new crop is not the only one that flourishes in the area.


What can you do on a daily basis to leave your mark on your community?

Are your interactions with potential customers something they will remember the next day...and still want to call you again?

Are you consistent with anything you say or do...possibly in building a brand...people will remember if they see it more than once.


Just remember, you have to be careful that as you leave your mark you are not stepping on someone else's toes. Who knows how the farmer feels about corn coming back for a second year!

That's the Golden Perspective...what's yours?

...a Chance to Meet a New Friend?

I just can't resist the oddities in life!

Welcoming passersby into a local antique shop was this large stuffed lobster - yes, I know, it's an odd combination, but that's where he was sitting. You wouldn't think to see a lobster in front of an antique shop, but the manager told me she wanted to get people's attention...it worked! I was driving by after a shoot one day and saw this lobster comfortable on its stool, grinning at every car that drove past. My intern happened to be with me and I shouted out, "We have to stop and see that!" He was a little confused but went along with me....I guess he figured I was going crazy from the heat. And what a hot day we had to travel around; a quick break was well deserved.

The day so far had been full of several outdoors shoots and we still had one more to go. The thermometer had already broken 90 and was heading for 100; we had almost gone through our supply of water; and the air conditioning in my car was broken! We would welcome anything that could potentially bring a smile to our faces! Then I spotted the lobster.

I had never stopped at this store, barely even noticed it the several dozen times I had driven past prior to that particular tropical day. The shop was attached to a small lodge and restaurant, so I just figured it was a fancy gift shop selling items that only a visiting tourist would be interested in purchasing. That day, though, the lobster was enough to catch my attention and make me pull over. I walked up and started laughing even harder than I had been when I first entered the parking lot. It was a stuffed lobster sitting in front of an antique shop!

Suddenly, I wasn't bothered by the 95 degree weather or the thought of being outside in the bright sun taping for the next two hours. If needed, I could easily stop and buy a couple of more water bottles or find some shade under a towering tree to cool off for a few minutes. Even though I spent less than five minutes with this cheery crustacean I felt rejuvenated!


How often during the work day do you give yourself the opportunity to recharge? Do you find something crazy and mindless to take you away from the stress of work?

Do you ever stop to enjoy something completely new and different?

How about your own stuffed lobster...maybe he could brighten your office or business?


As I said, I couldn't spend much time at this antique shop because we had to get to the next shoot, but the time spent was enough to take my mind off the current frustrations and prepare me for my next shoot! Start building a break into your day, one in which you completely step away from everything...you'll be amazed at how great you feel!

That's the Golden Perspective...what's yours?