DeWayne and I traveled to Boston to conduct a one day seminar as a favor for our great friend Mark Till.  Mark is one of the countries’ leading photography consultants and the author of the best selling book, “The Lucrative Photographer“   Few people inspire us more or have impacted our business and personal life than our friendship and mentorship with Mark.  We met Mark over ten years ago when he was one of the top speakers on the circuit.  We became instant friends and have stayed close all of these years. The last few years have been tremendously challenging for Mark –  being diagnosed with prostrate cancer and having his home burn all within a few months.  Even with all of his business and personal challenges – he remains one of the most positive and inspiring people I know.  When people call me or email me and tell me that they are thinking about getting into the photography business he is the first name I give them.  His book has become the “other bible” in our studio and hundreds other successful studios around the world.

We have had the opportunity to work with and get to know lots of tremendous authors including Mark.  I will never forget a lunch meeting with had with best selling author and motivational speaker Dr. John Maxwell.  John shared with us his story regarding a rare opportunity he shared with Billy Graham.  Billy had invited him to one of his crusades as his personal guest.  He tells about going to this huge football stadium and seeing thousands of people there to hear Billy Graham.  When John arrived, he was told to go to a special area in the arena.  He describes entering a small room where Billy and a few folks were.  He tells about how powerful it was to be one on one with a person that has inspired so many.  Later DeWayne and I were guests in Dr. Maxwell and his wife Margaret’s home in Atlanta.  I remember seeing the picture of Dr. Maxwell with Billy Graham walking down a corridor that opened up to the stadium with thousands of people waiting.  It was then that I had a real appreciation of how powerful this experience was for John.

Shortly after that John, created the same powerful opportunity for us.  He was speaking at a huge conference in Atlanta and invited us as his guest.  We arrived and registered and went into the arena to hear him speak.  Shortly before lunch his executive assistant, Linda Eggers, sought us out and led us to a small room where a catered lunch had been prepared.  In this room was John’s wife Margaret, his parents, Dr. Johnny Hunt of Atlanta and his wife and kids and DeWayne and I.  Outside that room were a huge number of people any of whom would have paid huge sums of money to be in that room.  It was a humbling and powerful experience for DeWayne and I.

The next comparable experience was earlier this year when we were invited guests of Senator Hillary Clinton at an event in Atlanta.  Again there were thousands of people at the world congress center that had paid lots of money to “have dinner” with her.  While they were waiting she summoned us to a small room to visit with her.  The room had a glass wall that looked down all all those people waiting to hear her speak.  She created an incredible experience for us.

The third was this weekend with Mark Till.  Mark writes in his book about a unique furniture store called Jordan’s Furniture.  He uses this as an example of a store where the founders had stepped out of the norm and created an incredible shopping experience.  Their stores include Disney style shows, store fronts and themes.  The one he took us to has a New Orleans theme complete with an IMAX theater.  It is easy to forget you are actually in a furniture store.  Mark and his beautiful wife Laura took us to this store and walked through it with us pointing out marketing points that he had discussed in his book. 

How often do you get to meet an author of a best selling book?  Compound that by actually walking through the book with him like we did this weekend. 

It is an experience that we will not soon forget!  Thanks Mark and Laura!