Archive for Charles Gupton
Pareto Applied
Posted: January 30th, 2012
[by Charles Gupton] Have you ever received a message from the universe that wouldn’t let you escape it? Something so clear, simple, and obvious that you feel silly when the realization occurs? In the last couple of weeks, I have encountered one consistent message from over a half-dozen sources including several conversations, blog posts, books [...]
Using Collaborations to Up Your Game
Posted: January 23rd, 2012
[by Charles Gupton] Most of us have heard the old adage: “You’re known by the company you keep.” This can be especially true when it comes to collaborative efforts. Collaborative projects often present an opportunity to raise the bar for our own work. Foremost when considering collaborative partners, seek people who want to do what [...]
The Power of Differentiation -or- What’s Your Hedgehog?
Posted: August 29th, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] One of the most important components of the sales process is differentiation. Establishing what makes you different in the eyes of a potential client can go a long way in shortening the time it takes for you to land a prospective client . I can’t even estimate the number of times I’ve [...]
The Creative Process Illustrated
Posted: June 29th, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] Would you like to have the chance to get a peek into the process of some of the most respected creative minds in the advertising business today? In the book, The Creative Process Illustrated: How Advertising’s Big Ideas are Born, you’ll have that opportunity. The authors approached nearly 300 top creative directors, [...]
Of, Not Above
Posted: June 24th, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] Social media platforms allow possibilities for connection that we could not have conceived of just a few years ago. The opportunity to be “friends” with a prospective client opens up a new way of getting to know that person, and provides a rich resource of information to help in developing a better [...]
Swallow Your Frog First
Posted: March 30th, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] Although time management is a concern for everyone these days, it seems to be a particular challenge for people in the creative fields. One of the biggest obstacles to effective use of our time is getting the things we all dread having to do out of the way so that we can [...]
Reduce your Competition Through Loyalty
Posted: March 21st, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] There are usually a couple of reasons why a client initiates working with a photographer for the first time. It’s often our style of shooting, our approach, or our expertise that distinguishes us from our competitors in the mind of a client. But it’s usually a different set of values that builds [...]
Admit a Mistake and Move On
Posted: February 25th, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] We all make mistakes. That’s a given. But how we respond when we make a mistake is not. In our response – or lack of one – lies a key to our potential success in relationships, both personal and business. Once we recognize a mistake has been made, our first response should [...]
Will Your Likability Help You Succeed?
Posted: February 11th, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] At the start of a new year, many photographers focus on building their revenue by focusing on finding new clients for their services. Those prospective clients, like all of us, solve their daily challenges by selecting people and services that add the most value to their lives. Most photographers define “providing value” [...]
Planning for a Warm Business Season
Posted: January 14th, 2011
[by Charles Gupton] One of the activities I enjoy most during the winter months is building a fire in the fireplace then relaxing on the couch with a good book to watch the flames. I find it far more enjoyable, however, when the work to build and maintain the fire has been done in advance. [...]
Telephone Tips
Posted: August 11th, 2010
[by Charles Gupton] With the rise of on-line social media and texting as means of communication, there seems to be a breakdown in the awareness of proper and effective use of telephone skills in the business environment. After witnessing and experiencing a number of breaches, I thought I’d offer some observations that may offer some [...]
Efficient Freedom
Posted: August 6th, 2010
[by Charles Gupton] I once had a strong disdain for franchises as a means of business ownership. It seemed to me to be a sell-out to a system that limited the freedom of an owner too much for my liking. Especially after I watched a photography buddy of mine give up his heart and passion [...]
Start to CUS
Posted: August 2nd, 2010
[by Charles Gupton] Are you feeling the financial heat build along with the summer heat? Do you need to build some cool business and generate some cold cash? Well, before you get frustrated and start to cuss, why not CUS instead! CUS is an acronym for Courage, Urgency and Shamelessness. Courage does not indicate a [...]
Deep or Wide?
Posted: March 31st, 2010
[by Charles Gupton] The primary business of every business – be it banking, plumbing, restaurant or photography – is the work of acquiring and retaining customers. No buyers, no sales, no business. To that end, most business owners use the strategy of casting their nets in more directions in an attempt to draw in practically [...]
Action Trumps Inaction
Posted: December 22nd, 2009
[by Charles Gupton] Although it’s against my perfectionist nature, I am finding that with today’s fast changing market conditions, I’m needing to make a huge number of decisions without first having all the information I’d like to have in hand. However, as I look around, I’m seeing way too many people living in fear of [...]
How I Learned to use Twitter without being Consumed
Posted: December 18th, 2009
[by Charles Gupton] At first blush, I found Twitter to be nothing but noise. Thousands of people (and companies) screaming “look at me, me, me!” A large number of them, when they run out of anything meaningful to say (which is fairly quickly) simply get a book of quotes and tweet their way through them. [...]
Social Media – Conversation or Bullhorn?
Posted: December 14th, 2009
[by Charles Gupton] For more than a year now, I’ve been wading into and through the murky waters of social media (SM). I have found the process challenging at best with a lot of frustrations in the process. All though I’ve learned a tremendous amount along the way, I still have a long way to [...]
Navigating the Gift-giving Minefield
Posted: December 1st, 2009
[by Charles Gupton] This time of the year between Thanksgiving and Christmas draws our attention to not only giving thanks for the rich blessings in our lives, but saying “thank you” to people who’ve helped us make progress in our lives during the year. But it can be a very awkward time because of the [...]
