What’s Your Jam?

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”

Simon Sinek

What’s Your Jam?

Simon Sinek became known when he first published his book, “Start With Why”. It’s actually a book for sales people, and people in management roles selling people on following their leadership.

So I would like to rephrase it as, what’s your jam? Why do you do what you do? Not only in your job or career, but in a broader sense of your life. What joy or purpose will get you energized and moving even on the gloomiest of mornings? Hopefully your jam runs deeper than just “putting food on the table” or “surviving”. Everyone begins on that level, (see Maslow’s hierarchy of needs), but how do you evolve after you have food, clothing and shelter? And by the way, I firmly believe your jam will change as the seasons of your life change.

At this season in my evolution there are a couple of things I would call my jam. For one, making my wife laugh and feel safe. The world can be harsh, and jobs in corporate can be cutthroat, so if I can make her smile and feel heard, I’m going to do it… and it gives me great pleasure. Another, and I’ve said this before in the context of my photography business, handing people their finished portraits. In an non-scientific study, I’ve concluded people would rather go to the dentist or buy a used car before they would have a photo made in front of a professional lens. However if some circumstance forces them into a portrait session, and they reluctantly come into my studio, it just feels good to see their face light up when they look at the final product. That’s my jam.

My Jam

Over the last few years I’ve been privileged to be a guest speaker for the St. Charles County CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program in the Creative Media, Engineering, and Applied Technology class. It’s a pool of junior and senior high school students from all the area high schools who are seeking to get a head start on their career. And while I’m there with my portable studio, they each get a professional headshot.

I’d like to thank their instructor John Omoresemi for this privilege, and this year he put together a little reel of our day. We had a morning class and afternoon class, maybe about 30 students total. My friend, Sarah Morard with Brand Buzz Media added the music track. It perfectly captures the day.

My Jam

The next week, I went by the classroom in the morning before class began to drop off the prints. I was pleasantly surprised to see some of the students there already. John, or Mr. O as the students call him is a photographer himself, and insisted on one more picture. It perfectly captures my jam.

Best,
Mike

PS. I’ve been pretty busy lately working on a project for the City of Cottleville, photographed 3 classic vehicles for nationally published calendars, a wedding in June and looking at a wedding at the Renaissance Fair next month, am the event photographer for Witches of Cottleville, sunflower field sessions, and squeezing headshots and portraits here and there.

If you have a project in mind, you can reach me here. All my projects begin with a conversation.

PPS. I hope you enjoyed the story. I’d love to hear something about your jam in the comments below.