Hungry you must be; satiated you must appear. Allow me to elaborate, Skywalker.
I am currently in my executive suite at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas…working. Starting tomorrow, I will be at the new Aria Hotel (in City Center) until post new year…quite possibly working. With full comps to restaurants, clubs, and shows, staying indoors might appear weird.
Hungry
That is how hungry I am. I am willing to forgo various items (recreations, weekends, days, nights, snowboarding trips with friends, Christmas, New Year’s, even my health) to work on a new opportunity.
Satiated
On the outside, I give the image that everything is dandy; everything is under control. This “performance” seems counterintuitive. There are reasons why I act this way. In my situation, it is to promote the feeling of serenity. The moment my surrounding party is agitated, the structure may collapse.
How Does This Affect You?
I have applied this same model many times when selling to wedding clients. I am hungry for their business! It could be because I needed the money or wanted cool portfolio images. Whatever the case may be, do not show it.
Whether it is selling to a bride or seeking success in business / life, you must want it. You must want it badly. You must be willing to jump through rings of fire and dodge poisonous darts to get what you want all while acting nonchalant. Be cool as a cucumber.
When I engage myself in a business, I have one motto:
Failure is not an option.
There are no excuses. No one will pity you. It sounds cold, but that is the reality. However, be willing to forfeit a business if it is a dead end. Before you do that though, you make #$@&*! sure you have exhausted every option.
In the end, please please please help others when they need it. That is why even though I get a crazy amount emails a day, I have never once not replied to anyone. Now you know why I am laconic.
Am I crazy? Anyway, I hope it helps! Go ROCK 2010!
Sincerely,
Lawrence Chan
P.S. The above pictures were taken at Wynn Buffet. If you want to roll out like a ball, that’s the place to be! Even though I acted as if I were too full to eat dessert, I still ate them all. Now my waistline regrets it.
P.P.S. I am super happy that the team I am working with on this new project shares the same perspective. I feel bad that they are missing their holidays too.
P.P.P.S. What are your plans for new year’s eve? Anyone going to be in Las Vegas? Coffee meet? Maybe. I will try.
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for your help this year… I can personally attest that you answered every email I sent you
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!
Wishing you every success with your project, Lawrence and thank you for the replies to the e-mails. Still working my way through the SEO DVDs one chapter at a time to make sure I apply the knowledge. Sooooo glad I bought them. Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2010.
I’m in Las Vegas. 24/7 for the next…million years. Coffee? Shoot me an email. Dessert? CALL! I’m so there.
Happy New Year, Lawrence!
This is an excellent post. Thank you.
YUP! Your work ethic is AMAZING. You really inspire my brother and I to keep pushing through. I completely believe in this “act” because you can just SMELL desperation and that automatically puts up a minor guard if not repels completely . I’m just starting out and I’m sure others who are, can attest to that fact when trying to book their first couple of gigs.
So Thanks bro! For helping us little guys(and girls!) all while lifting up the industry.
Just make sure to not confuse it with inflexibility. It’s okay to adjust prices, but make sure clients understand your worth / value.
I want to thank you for giving lime you do you Rock man!
Thanks
That was meant to say like you do. Oops!
Great words of wisdom to read on the horizon of another busy & fun year. Thanks for the encouragement!!
Wow. Everything comped. Next time I should tag along =D I’ll be working into New Years as well. Be safe out there!!
Gonna be in Las Vegas in March for WPPI. I would love to meet for coffee! I am really good friends with Tiffany from On the Spot! We live like 5 minutes from each other.
Thanks for your wisdom Lawrence. Recently, I have let a couple of photography shoots go simply because they were wanting a little too much of a discount. I am drawing the line on discounts/value adding products. I want people to want ME to shoot their wedding. Not just because of my price. Like you mentioned, I look for options and solutions and try to exhaust all the angles. And yes, we will negotiate on a package. However, sorry if they only have $XXX.00 for a wedding, I have bills to pay!
Thanks,
Curtis
By the way – happy New Year!
Curtis
oh Lawrence, every email I get from you adds a smile to my face and heart, thanks for all you do for our community and can not wait to hear about your new ventures! Have a wonderful New Years, I wish I was in Vegas but not this time,
thanks,
Feuza
AHAHAH. I love your humor. always a good laugh amongst true honest words. you rock.
I think I’m going to write you an e-mail just to get a reply.
Have fun in Vegas….
You’re more than welcome to
good luck with your project. it would be fun to meet up with you, however, i will only be in vegas for wppi =)
Yeap, sounds like people will start emailing you
Best luck with your project!
true, exhaust every option. thanks for the reminder
Word up. Lawrence this might be a tough pill to swallow but vitamins don’t always taste good…do they? Thank you so much for all the love, support and humility you have shown me. Many blessings in 2010
Peace,
Parris
Have a fabulous New Year!! Cant wait to someday go to your SEO workshop!
“There are no excuses. No one will pity you. It sounds cold, but that is the reality.”
That is the truth my friend. Thanks for putting that in writing. I hope you have a great 2010 and I hope to see you at WPPI. ROCK ON!
Your comments remind me of the book my wife and I are reading Good to Great by Jim Collins. He refers to the companies that have gone beyond just being good. By putting the “right” people who have an attitude for nothing short of greatness those companies have soared to heights of success that make them the movers of their respective industries. I see the value of your comments and recognize that you too want greatness in everyone you touch. Keep on moving to those heights. May the Lord bless you .
Happy New Year to you! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and work.
Hi Lawrence,
Trish just got back from Mystic 5. Funny thing, she just said the exact same thing to me regarding the appearance in business. It’s the Duck Theory! When you look at a duck floating on the water they look calm but under the surface, where you don’t see, their legs are paddling like crazy and working hard!
Have a great New Year my friend. Hope to see you guys up here this summer.
Trevor
Haha I love this Duck Theory! Yeah it’s pretty much the same thing. I have other analogies
It’s like how I wear suits – always with an undershirt. I’ll look cool on the outside, but hot on the inside. LOL! Have a good one, Trevor!
Yoda! Yes!
Not to mention you sum up of ‘performance’ of photography very well. Nuts on the inside, cucumber on the out.
Cool as a cucumber !! Yes, now I remember. Can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for you !!
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