When Mel and I very first got started in the wedding photography business, help from others who had come before us was absolutely key in our ability to grow so quickly and establish ourselves. From software & equipment recommendations to suggestions to read certain books–every little bit was an important piece to us.  We’ve always tried to give back in the same way by helping others as well, and this is one of the foundational reasons that it has been so important to us to try and create and foster a great photographic community in Nashville.

In my opinion, the most effective thing you can do to help your business that doesn’t involve direct help/mentoring from someone else is reading good business books. In fact, there is a principle called the “Hawthorne effect.”  Basically, the principle states that paying attention to a particular behavior causes you to improve your performance in that area.  SO… think about this: On average, Americans read less than one book per year.  If you only read 30 to 60 minutes a day, you can finish roughly one book a week—around 50 books per year.  Imagine the HUGE competitive advantage you would have simply by changing that one habit?

That brings me to this:  Many of you reading this right now are photographers or other wedding vendors from around the world.  Mel and I just bought a stack of some of our favorite business books (by Seth Godin, Malcom Gladwell, Robert Kiyosaki, John Maxwell, etc. etc.) and  we would like to help you build your business this year by mailing one to you — we also would like to indirectly help other people in your area at the same time.  So here’s the idea:

If you have a blog, chances are that in addition to your clients you probably have other photographers/vendors/business owners in your area who read it.  Think of something, anything, that has helped you in your business.  It doesn’t matter how small or how large it is—if it has helped you, then there is someone else out there that it can help as well.  Write up a short post sharing that helpful piece of info, and somewhere in your post, copy and paste the following HTML code:

<a href=”http://www.mclellanstyle.com”>Nashville wedding photographers</a>, Sean & Mel McLellan of McLellan Style are giving away business books to help you improve your business. Want one of them?—and want to help other people build their businesses at the same time? Visit their <a href=”https://mclellanblog.com/?p=3309″>business books</a> blog post!

After that, just email the link to your post (along with your mailing address) to sean@mclellanstyle.com).  We’ll keep shipping them until we run out!  We hope to help you out by sending some great business books your way—but you’ll also help your sphere of influence, that we couldn’t have reached ourselves, by sharing helpful tips on your own blog!

Ready?  Go!

7 Comments

  1. The Benjamins on January 3, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Y’all are such good peeps!!! God bless ya!

  2. Jen Creed on January 3, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    What an awesome idea! You all are the best :) Now to think about what I could possibly share that might be helpful to others….

  3. Stephanie Drummond on January 4, 2011 at 7:09 am

    WOW! You guys are super awesome. I am always impressed with your awesomeness… but this takes the cake. Off to blog about what I know.

  4. Thank you! « Renee Bouldin Photography on January 4, 2011 at 9:06 am

    […] want to help other people build their businesses at the same time? Visit their <a href=”https://mclellanblog.com/?p=3309″>business books</a> blog post! LikeBe the first to like this […]

  5. Cassondra on January 4, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    What a great idea! I did it!

  6. remi lai photography on January 10, 2011 at 8:57 am

    Hi Sean! Loved your (and mel’s!!) presentation at Mystic 6 this past weekend. I TOTALLY agree with you on book reading. I love business books as well, being a marketing major. Someone said during the conference that we need to look outside our craft [photography] for depth of learning, which is so true. We should look to art, business, different industries and schools of discipline to deepen our mind, heart and experience, not only our craft. So much to learn out there!

  7. David Josue on January 10, 2011 at 11:43 pm

    thanks so much for this info, you rock and I´m glad I meet you in Mystic. I would love to recomend you Selling the invisible, is an amazing read and changer my bussines dramatically. hope you like it

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