The Heat is ON

Does my encouraging go to far?

What I have realized about myself over the years is I love to encourage. If I see that someone needs a pat on the back or that added boost to get them going I am there to do that. However, here I am trying to get my photography business going and get my name out there and in the process I have come in contact with several other photographers who are trying to increase their business as well. It comes natural to me to encourage them along, help them out, offer advice, send a compliment or two. I feel confident enough in my own work that, even though I am just as competitive as the next, I continue to go as far as to lend out my own equipment, letting them practice with my lighting, offering up tips and so forth. Am I destroying myself in the process? I don't know. Are they appreciative of my help or are they in turn going to try and stomp all over me? Don't get me wrong, I have learned from them as well. I think that has been my mind set. We can learn from each other so why not help out and encourage.

However, there is this stirring in my heart to forget about all of that and shake up the competition. No more referrals to other photographers when I am not available, no more boosting the egos, no more lending out or practicing w/ my equipment. I'm not seeing much love in return for the help I am offering up so why give it out.


Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. I may be given credit for having blazed the trail, but when I look at the subsequent developments I feel the credit is due to others rather than to myself.
-Alexander Graham Bell


This was takend from Barbara Rose, PhD Born to Inspire http://www.borntoinspire.com/

3. If I help my competition, won’t that take away from what I can gain?

NEVER, Ever, Ever! You are NOT “helping the competition” you ARE working in harmony with others – there is a BIG difference! Consider the example of two authors putting on a joint seminar to help people. or two, even twenty people, promoting each other’s work, to share their messages to uplift the lives of others. There is no greater reward than aligning with people of like-mind to make a genuine difference. EVERYONE gains – and that is WHY you are here – to make a difference, and the greatest way is by working WITH others, as opposed to being fear-based, and trying to “take” it all just for yourself.

4. How can working in harmony with others help me?

The greatest thing you can do is to build a genuine support system with others who are on a similar path. You will discover that you are no longer working solo, you will have wonderful people to turn to for guidance, support, and they can turn to you as well. You can create many new areas of advancement for life on Earth when you are working in harmony with others. No one can do it ALL ALONE! We all need the support of each other to bounce ideas off of each other, create new ventures, and by working together, the path becomes so much easier, because there is a sense of camaraderie and kinship that shines as an example for others.
I have found that my greatest joy is in working in harmony with others. I share all of the contacts and resources I come across to help the people that visit my website, and contact me. The only motive is to be of genuine service, and by working with others, sharing, and even promoting other people’s wonderful work, I can be of better service to YOU! This is what it is all about – and it has made a positive impact both in my own life, as well as in the lives of countless people. THAT is the reward – and it feels incredible!

I am obviously struggling with this and perhaps it's because I get tired of seeing the takers and not the givers. I want to believe that my encouragment and generosity is purposeful and helpful. But I want to do the smart thing as well and am I hurting myself in the long run? The above helped give me some of insite as to how I am feeling. This has been a life long struggle even outside of my business. I suppose I will carry along as I have been in hopes that the above writer is right in her thinking.