199
Setting the Bar for 2010
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Thursday, December 31, 2009, 02:40 PM
The best definition of a "goal" that I have heard came while reading Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi says, "A goal is a dream with a deadline." It makes sense, before we can establish what our goals are we must have a very clear sense of exactly what our dreams are. 

This year we have been thinking a lot about our dreams at the Rhoads abode. I have always been a BIG picture person. A BIG dreamer. And a huge part of every decision we make at the Rhoads goes through the filter of, Where will this put us in five years? We never want to make decisions that are short sighted; but rather, we aspire to make decisions that go back to the heart behind WHY we do this. If we can put everything through the WHY filter, the decisions we make will have much greater payoffs in the long term.

Failing to plan is planning to fail. I believe that perception drives reality. A lot of achieving our goals is not allowing our own minds stand in the way of what is possible. To be where we want to be we must be able to see ourselves there before we ever actually arrive. The goals we put on paper are the stepping stones that make the vision a reality. 

I'm really stoked about this new year ahead of us! Today I looked back over the goals we set for 2009 with a smile on my face. It's pretty encouraging to look back at these goals that I scribbled down on pieces of paper back at the end of 2008 and see so many come to fruition in 2009. Our plan is to make that happen again in 2010. Just a few of the exciting goals we checked off the list in 2009:

- Launching our Custom Site what we feel like really speaks to our personal/artistic vision.
- Traveling to Thailand for creative and personal growth.
- A huge passion of mine is to inspire others to take hold of their passion and let it drive them to where they want to be. Chris is equally passionate and exceptionally talented at teaching people "how" to do that so we were really excited to take on a handful of Mentoree's this year through our Mentor sessions for photographers.
- One of our other big goals for 2009 was to meet & surround ourselves with people who inspired us and pushed us to be greater, bigger and better. It is amazing to see the fantastic people God brought into our lives this year! The beautiful women I was able to connect with through {Marfa Trip} are now the incredible women that I feel fortunate to call true friends. My wonderful encourager Jeff Holt who also introduced us to our now dear friend Nick Onken, both boys are constantly setting the bar higher for us. The wonderful opportunity to team up with our inspirational friend, Jesh de Rox to help host Life as an Artform (to come in april of 2010) was yet another unexpected blessing.  The list of the doors that were opened through people could go on and on... You see, a very important part of achieving our goals are the people who come alongside us in the process. People are what make the world go round.

When the Rhoads set goals we have three categories. Realistic, Ambitious and Audacious. Within each of those categories we have another set of goals: Immediate Goals, Creative goals, Financial goals, Long term development goals & Personal goals. I like to have the three different categories (Realistic, Ambitious & Audacious) because it allows us the freedom to dream on an even bigger scale.

2010 will be a year of some of the most audacious goals we have ever set for ourselves and I'm pumped! It will also be a year of facing fears and a year of extreme growth. I can already see it. I believe it. I know it. Cheers to a great year to each of you! Follow your bliss!!


Thoughts
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Kat Speyer says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 03:38 PM

Yes! Thank you for being so inspirational. :)
Tami says: Saturday, January 2, 2010, 07:05 PM

I love the three goal catergories! I agree it is important to dream big and I need to do more of that myself. Thanks for the inspiration again!
kimberly says: Friday, January 1, 2010, 09:33 AM

a wonderful way to start this first day of 2010.....a visit to your blog......it is just so right Sarah!!!

wishing you the grandest of new years!!!
holly everett says: Thursday, December 31, 2009, 03:12 PM

Hi Sarah!
Thank you for sharing this (and the list of books a few days back... currently reading "Purple Cow" now while my husband is reading "Love is the Killer App"). I am really new to the industry and am encouraged by people like you who love what they do, and combine that passion with the business-side to make it succeed. So, I just wanted to say thank you: for your thoughts, your passion, your way of seeing the world that we are fortunate to view day-to-day. Happy New Year!

sara montour says: Thursday, December 31, 2009, 03:02 PM

Love this so much. I spent the day today reflecting on 2009 and looking forward to 2010+. It's exciting to push ourselves beyond what we think is feasible, and I hope your audacious goals fall into the realistic category soon!

Can't wait to meet you in 2010!
197
Revolutionary Reads 09
Saturday, December 26, 2009, 09:57 PM
{{Warning: This is a long post, but if you can get through it it's loaded with goodness to share}}

This year has involved a great deal of travel. Travel equals Growth for me. There have been several months where I feel like we have lived on a plane. One of my guilty pleasures of traveling is immersing myself in books. Plane rides are the perfect time for reading. Reading on planes is my "power off" & "recharge" activity. It is the one time when no one can get a hold of me, there are no e mails to check and reading is the best thing I could be doing to better myself and our business. I LOVE to read business/inspiration/creative books. I have always said if I could have one singular super power it would be to have the ability to walk in a bookstore or library and wave my hand over a book and have acquired the knowledge and feelings associated with reading that book (I'm not a quick reader and there is just never enough time in the day). It seems no matter how many times I confidently walk in a  Barnes & Noble and eagerly wave my hand over a book, my ambition of channeling the "Clark Kent" within me never seems to work.... maybe someday.

I believe in books. I believe in their power to empower, to inspire, to grow us, to enrich. This was not a year that I attended workshops or seminars, this is a year that I READ. And for 2010 I have made it my goal to read over 40 books. This year I read about 30 books and the ones I have listed below are my top reads of 2009. These were the books that motivated and inspired Chris and me. These were the books that we have built our business around. These were the books that empowered us to think bigger and broader than we had ever thought possible. These were the books that encouraged us to persevere through seasons of long hours and sleepless nights. These were the books that fed our passion this year. The books that encouraged us when everyone else told us we were crazy. These were the books that forced us to face our fears. I want to share them with you with the hope that you will experience more success and love in your life and business because of them. Never underestimate the power of a good book. These are the books that have revolutionized our business. 

Neumeier's philosophy is "When everybody zigs, you ZAG!" This was our biggest take away from this book. It is a fresh view of brand stategy. Zagging was crucial for us during the development of our brand, blog, magazine, web site. Here at the Rhoads we believe in the ZAG, we strive for the ZAG, we crave the ZAG. In an extremely cluttered marketplace, traditional differentiation is no longer enough- today's business' need "radical differentiation," to create lasting value for their customers. 

I had to give a huge AMEN to Sanders for his thoughts that in business, you get ahead by helping other people get to where they want to be. Sander's three ingredients of success are sharing your compassion, knowledge and network with others. He defines business love as "the act of intelligently and sensibly sharing your intangibles with your bizpartners." Bottom line: surround yourself with good people and help those people along the way. Share and don't keep score... what goes around comes around.

Ferrazzi talks a lot about the importance of reaching out to people as a way to make a difference in their lives as well as a way to explore, learn and enrich your own. This book forced us to achieve the right mindset by putting our goals on paper and thinking about the people in our lives and who we are surrounding ourselves with. Are these people making us better or bringing us down? It is important to surround ourselves with people who push us to be our best. There were some really valuable takeaways from this amazing read!

This book is FULL of nuggets of goodness.. I have listed my favorite below:
1) The more original your idea is, the less good advice people will be able to give you. 
2) The idea doesn't have to be big. It just has to be YOURS. The sovereignty you have over your work will inspire far more people than the actual content ever will.
3) The price of being a sheep is boredom. The price of being a wolf is loneliness. Choose one or the other with great care. 
**AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE are 4 & 5:
**4) Being good at anything is like figure skating - the definition of being good at it is being able to make it look easy. But it is NEVER easy. Ever. That is what the stupidly wrong people conveniently forget. 
5) Part of being a true master is learning to sing in nobody else's voice but your own.. Put your whole heart into it, and you will find your true voice. Hold back and you wont.  It's that simple. 

This book encouraged me to write a better story for my life. It is a book about the things that we strive for, and the story that we are writing with every decision and experience we have in life. It truly gave me a paradigm shift. Miller's writing style is so easy to connect with, he is witty, deep, insightful and endearing.

I love that Gladwell asks, What makes high-achievers different? Gladwell proposes the idea of the 10,000 hour rule, this idea was paramount for me.. Nobody who succeeds does so without 10,000 hours or more of practice. Gladwell also argues that talent and ability are important to success, but equally as valuable is opportunity. Talent without opportunity will yield limited or no achievement. My huge personal takeaway, was that our business has come a long way, but we still have a LONG way to go. I want to be prepared when an opportunity presents itself. 10K hours inspired me to shoot more, even when I am exhausted or feeling creatively stumped, we must continue logging our hours behind the camera to achieve the level of photographic talent and know-how to achieve the level of "master." 

I'm a firm believer in Purple Cow philosophy. In fact, it is a philosophy that we have built our brand and business around, we are constantly pursuing the "Purple Cow Complex." Purple Cows strive to stand out. Godin says that you are either remarkable (a purple cow) or you are invisible. The choice is yours. Cows, after you've seen one, or two, or ten, are boring. A Purple Cow, though... now that would be something. Purple Cow describes something phenomenal, something counterintuitive and exciting and unbelievable. Every day consumers come face to face with a lot of boring stuff i.e. a lot of brown cows, but you can bet they won't forget a Purple Cow. The Takeaway: We must do EVERYTHING with excellence. I wont settle for anything less than my absolute best. Their are LOTS of people out there doing things with mediocrity. Those that do things with true excellence stand out of the pack with ease. 

Sinek studies the most powerful leaders out there from Martin Luther King Jr to Steve Jobs. He points out that the most prominent and inspiring leaders think, act and communicate the exact same way- and it is the complete opposite of everyone else. And all of them start with asking Why. I love that Sinkek points out that ANY business or organization can explain WHAT it does, but very few can clearly articulate why they do what they do. Knowing how to answer the Why sets the extraordinary apart from the ordinary. If you don't know your why you should probably go back to the drawing board and figure that out. It is the most important question you can ask yourself as an artist and business person. The Why is the heartbeat behind all that we do.

How about you, any good book's you have read in the last year that have changed your life or business in some way? I would love to hear. Always looking for a new good book to get my hands on!



Thoughts
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Thomas Frank says: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 03:58 PM

Started my ZAG for 2010, can't wait for what's in store, THANK YOU for sharing these titles. Keep inspiring....
Krista Leigh Hurst says: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 11:51 AM

I'm just starting out on my photography road and your blogs have been so wonderful / helpful. I'm truly thankful to have found your site! I'm always inspired after leaving.
"The Good Earth" It's one of my favorite books of all time. It's a good one about life :)

kirsten says: Sunday, January 3, 2010, 05:36 PM

This list rocks, just wanted to say thank you! I picked up "Never Eat Alone" and I am loving it so far. Your work/ideas/outlook on life is simply inspirational. Thank you...
melanie pittman says: Friday, January 1, 2010, 04:08 PM

Thank You so much for sharing these with us! All of these sound interesting to me, now for which one to start with....

Karolina says: Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 07:54 PM

Thank you for sharing these, you rock!
Laura says: Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 08:39 AM

Thank-you so much for this post! I am in the midst of should I set up my business yet or not, because I am still in school, and you are definitely inspiring me to do so now! I will go down to the bookstore and library today and see if they have these books. Thanks!
kimberly says: Monday, December 28, 2009, 08:55 PM

sarah - this post is a wonderful gift.....YOU are a wonderful gift!! thank you tons for sharing. I can't wait to get started .

blessings to you!
shannon leith says: Monday, December 28, 2009, 07:41 PM

the artists way: creativity as a spiritual practice. its amazing. i think you'd love it. http://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421472/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262057683&sr=1-1
wrecklessgirl says: Monday, December 28, 2009, 12:18 PM

i seriously needed this post today. thank you so much for constantly inspiring .. always pressing on .. always learning more .. love yas.
Haley Lamb says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 09:22 PM

wow! thank you so much for this post! I just got done reading "the Love Revolution" by Joyce Meyer. INCREDIBLE!

Marta says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 05:06 PM

I am over half way listening to Ignore Everyone (I have 3 kids, and tons of work, so little luxury of reading...so I listen). So far I am in love with the book. I promised myself I would find my creative self again in 2010. I got sucked into the "biz" and "what everyone else is doing" world and got lost. Thank you for sharing your list, I needed it!
Maya Laurent says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 02:40 PM

One of our goals in 2010 is to read more and these were all just added to my Amazon wish list. Thanks for sharing these with us!
Debs Ivelja says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 02:39 PM

I am just finding my feet, and this has been so inspiring! Thank you
mandiimae says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 01:22 PM

Wow, I can't wait to start on some of these books! I definitely added them to my "to-read" list on goodreads. Thanks for all the recommendations. :)
Lauranne says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 10:41 AM

LOVE these, Sarah! Something neat that I think everyone could benefit from - I recently learned about Better World Books (.com). They sell books like these, just like Amazon, but portions of the proceeds go to nonprofits like Invisible Children. :)
carrie says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 07:22 AM

thank you for always inspiring and sharing. you continue to be such a bright star. xo
Melissa McCrotty says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 05:49 AM

Thanks for doing this. I am always looking for fresh stuff. After reading on of your posts, I started following Seth Goodin's blog, and it has had so much good advice. So, thank you.
Kaysha says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 01:12 AM

Thank you! Excited to add these to my list!

johnna brynn says: Sunday, December 27, 2009, 12:15 AM

THANK YOU! Perfect timing! I was going to sit down tomorrow and write my 2010 GOALS and VISIONS and these tools are a huge resource. Sarah, you rock so hard. God Bless.
Ben Blood says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 11:57 PM

Such valuable blog post! I have Purple Cow on my end table, but still haven't read through it. Thanks for sharing these Sarah & Chris. Happy New Decade! =)
Christine Pobke says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 11:16 PM

SWEEEEET! I have been wanting to add books to my 'must-read' list!! Thanks for sharing... HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!
Jane Hasty says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 10:41 PM

Where do I start? Thank goodness I received the Sony Reader for Christmas! Great book choices! I want to read them all! Thanks! Jane
Jill says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 10:35 PM

Got three out of the bunch under my belt - can't wait to meet you guys in January!
Rowell Dionicio says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 10:08 PM

Thank you for sharing! I am definitely going to look into these books.

Bianca Valentim says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 08:43 PM

Thanks for sharing Guys!!!!
I'll read them, at least try!
Now I'm reading 'Love is the Killer App' and I'm loving it!
:)
Chatti says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 08:42 PM

cannot wait because this year i'm making the leap and booking a consultation. =)
Gina Zeidler says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 08:13 PM

I couldn't agree more with the plane down time. Seriously I have fell in love with it. No distractions, just a good book and hopefully some peanuts :)
Thank you SO much for the recommendations. I just finished Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk. I was looking for my next read. Loved the reviews.

Lauren Pressey says: Saturday, December 26, 2009, 08:08 PM

Love this collection! Thanks for sharing :)
192
A photo & wisdom
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Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:15 PM
A quick frame from my time today with the most fantastic Lori & David who flew in from Tennessee to come visit us today. It has been a full day for us with an all day mentor session, and two shoots and my voice is dead! There is something so amazing about transferring knowledge and wisdom onto people who are eager to learn, I am reminded of how good it feels every time we have one of our photographer consults. 

Speaking of learning/wisdom and passing on, I would be curious to open up the comments in this post to hear a little bit about what you have learned this year :). It has been a rich year of growth for Chris and I and I'm so thankful not only for how we have grown as artists but how my heart has grown. This year has been marked with facing fears, taking risks and learning the value in hard work. A huge take away I have had from all of those moments has left me to sit with a few great realizations:

1) Nothing good in life comes without blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice. If we want something we have to put in not only the "heart" but the hours of hard work. 
2) Risks are scary, yes. But it is much more frightening to live in a place of mediocrity. This quote by T.S. Eliot says it all, "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." We must push ourselves to the limits to know what we are capable of.
3) Being yourself is the only way to be. No one can be just like you. 


Thoughts
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Ryan Morck says: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 10:51 AM

All three of those are so very true. thank you for this.

anjuli paschall says: Sunday, December 20, 2009, 08:35 PM

sometimes pain is the only doorway to hope.
sarahrhoads says: Sunday, December 20, 2009, 03:35 PM

@Issabelle wow. thank you so much for sharing that. Lovely. Inspiring and beautiful words.
Isabelle Paille says: Sunday, December 20, 2009, 05:22 AM

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish,
ulterior motives; be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and
some true friends; succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people may forget tomorrow;
do good anyway.

Give the world your best anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them .. anyway.

- Mother Theresa
Harmony Loves says: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 09:37 AM

This past June, I quit my full time-salary-job to pursue photography full time. It was probably the most nerve wrecking decision I've eve had to make. I am currently struggling but I know I will succeed :)
I love this image, so beautiful and peaceful.
Andrea Vaughn says: Saturday, December 19, 2009, 12:17 AM

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
181
New Website!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 09:40 AM
We are so thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new website!! www.sarahrhoads.com. 
Much like this blog, we feel like the new site is like stepping into our own skin... it just feels right. It was great to work with Into the Darkroom who developed our amazing horizontally scrolling blog back in December last year! They worked hard to put together a custom site for us that had a very consistent feel to our blog, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome. 

We felt it was important to work with people who really caught the vision behind what we are all about and the team over at ITDR definitely captured that. It was important that our website and our blog maintained a level of cohesiveness throughout, and working with one team for both really helped us achieve that goal. 

I cannot begin to stress the value and importance of investing in your web presence as a photographer. Many times a website is the only thing that our clients see that determines whether or not they decide to work with us. Making sure that our site & blog are of excellent caliber and reflect our style is crucial in attaining the right clientele. A website is a powerful tool that many photographers do not use to their advantage... most get a site on the cheap that doesn't do their imagery justice and does nothing to enhance their overall brand experience. Your web presence can and will set you apart. It is a tool that every photographer should be leveraging to move our business' forward, this is not the place to be skimpy. Web presence is a place to go big or go home. We went big. And we're glad we did. 

now head on over and give yourself a look around the new place! :) www.sarahrhoads.com

Enjoy! And props again to ITDR for doing such a fantastic job!


Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (21)
Maya Laurent says: Thursday, December 10, 2009, 07:25 PM

Love it!!! And your magazine is super cool too. Love the simple design, it just draws you into the photos.

Cameron Ingalls says: Friday, November 27, 2009, 07:28 PM

AHHHHHHH-MAZING!

So fresh. So bold. So you!

I heart you guys so much it kinda stings.

Laurel McConnell says: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 11:46 PM

Yahooo! I looooove "New Website Day!" Score, you guys, it looks great. Happy Tofurkey Day (winks!).
Lydia says: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 04:05 PM

Congratulations guys! The site is so cool and so perfect for you!
Della says: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 10:59 AM

Holy. Crap.
Leda & Jonathan says: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 09:06 AM

Sarah and Chris ~ Congratulations the new site is amazing! What a beautiful body of work.

Liz says: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 07:23 AM

Love the new site - it's so fresh and different. Also much love for your about video, it rocks!
appleM00N says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 11:57 PM

very fresh and fizzy!
Daniel says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 08:52 PM

Easily one of the coolest sites I have ever been to. Great layout, great functionality and phenomenal photography as usual.
shannon leith says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 02:03 PM

the magazine=awesome!

and i love that you love typefaces :)
Alexandra says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 01:49 PM

I LOOOOVE the new page! Awesome!
cristy cross says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 01:31 PM

Love the new site. Love the magazine. I'm reminded of Urban Outfitters catalogs with a twist of something else...can't think of it. Very cool "ad" type shots with the film and cameras.
Love it all!
Gail says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 12:04 PM

LOVEEEE the new look you guys! As a newcomer fan of your work, I really respect how you make it all fit together like the pieces of a really great puzzle! Thanks for the inspiration!

j. shipley says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 11:56 AM

sarah, i love your new site. so, so cool. and of course, you never cease to amaze me with your photographs. oh, and i love the vid. it definitely gave me a sense of who you are and what a shoot would be like with you and chris. well done. it makes me want to come up to seattle and hang out with you two even more. soon enough my friend... soon enough. until then, keep rockin' it. ;)

- j.
imthiaz houseman says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 11:31 AM

love the new site, the magazine is killer.

Marissa Rodriguez says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 11:17 AM

AMAZING. It looks so great! You guys are for sure on my list of FAVORITES!
Joel Flory says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:49 AM

loving the new site and the magazine. Such great work. Can't wait to hang out with the two of you sometime in the near future. We are going to be in Seattle in May and would love to meet up then if you are around. Or let us know the next time you are coming through the bay area. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Joel Flory says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:48 AM

loving the new site and the magazine. Such great work. Can't wait to hang out with the two of you sometime in the near future. We are going to be in Seattle in May and would love to meet up then if you are around. Or let us know the next time you are coming through the bay area. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Larry says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:34 AM

congrats, looks great!
Lesley says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:21 AM

I love how seamless everything is, and it totally encompasses everything that you guys believe in and stand for. I love it! :D
anda says: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 10:10 AM

couldn't agree more with you on the importance of brand experience. i've been drooling over ITDR's custom work for awhile now and finally got on their waiting list last week! your work really speaks for itself, but your blog, and now website, are just outta-this-world -- and i'm sure that's a huge reason why you attract outta-this-world clients. congrats on everything -- it all looks phenomenal!