As the commoditization of your industry continues prompting clients to focus on what you cost rather than what you’re worth, there are small steps you can take to differentiate yourself and elevate how you are perceived and described. One example – and in the spirit of “facts tells, stories sell” – you can transform the […]
Santa’s Arrival
Usually Glen’s focus is landscapes. He and Mother Nature collaborate, combining light and shadow. Obviously you can’t have one without the other. But sometimes you just want to have fun. And you need to enlist some recruits. We wanted a fun image with a winter theme, so we headed to the ski hill and dragged […]
A Tropical Sunrise
I recently traveled to the Miami area to photograph some of the beautiful scenery. I wasn’t prepared for the incredible combination of heat and humidity in this part of the world. The day before this photo was taken, I was walking the beach scouting for the perfect spot. The temperature with humidity was 108° F […]
Waiting for the light to drop
So much of Glen’s time is spent behind the wheel, not the lens. Anyone who doesn’t know him at a rental car kiosk has only been on the job for a week. Driving across North America’s diverse landscape he’s the proverbial kid in a candy store. As the sun rises, arcs and sets the potential […]
A Close Call
During his travels Glen meets people from around the globe. Sometimes in their backyard. Other times far from their home. He’s been bailed out by complete strangers, because as a photographer sometimes he suffers tunnel vision when focusing on a shot. One bail-out was such a Canadian cliché it’s comical. It’s also the origin of […]
The Why, When and How of Sending Client Greeting Cards
Sending cards is often an overlooked and untapped approach to creating rapport and trust with your best clients. Advisors who send cards to their preferred clients are on the right track. And, for those of you who currently send cards to your clients, there may be a few things you can do to enhance the impact of […]
Symbols and Your Branding Strategy
As a knowledge-for-profit professional it is essential to take the abstract and commoditized nature of your value and make it proprietary. This will enable you to “competitor-proof” your clients and create more consistent advocacy. A proven strategy for differentiating yourself and elevating how you’re perceived and how you’re described is to create a symbol that […]
Lest we Forget: Flower of Remembrance
A few years ago we had the privilege of shooting Renee and Justin’s wedding. When we met them we were thrilled to find out their wedding ceremony was taking place on Justin’s grandparents’ farm, where he had been raised. When we arrived on a beautiful Saturday in June, we were so excited to see all the […]
The Fine Art of Saying “Thank You!”
By Duncan MacPherson Pareto Systems I was speaking with a consulting client the other day and they were excited to tell me that their Thanksgiving Day card process had just kicked in. You are probably aware that we are fixated with process at our company, Pareto Systems, and it is always a thrill whenever we […]
Refreshing as a cool glass of lemonade
You know what’s as refreshing as a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day… Finding a beautiful greeting card in your mailbox! It seems so simple doesn’t it but when was the last time you opened the mailbox to something other than flyers or bills? Do you remember that excited feeling you get […]