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John DeMato Blog

Welcome to the Deliver Magic blog, where experts who speak, coach, train, consult, and write books will find actionable insights to elevate their personal brands through visual storytelling. From strategy tips and branding photography to live event coverage and storytelling techniques, discover step-by-step guides designed to help you align what you say with how you show up in photos. Get ready to unlock the magic behind creating a cohesive visual identity that drives engagement, builds credibility, and inspires your audience. #DeliverMagic

You're on your own clock.

 

Despite what other people may lead you to believe…

 
 

...you’re own your own clock.

 

While I spent the vast majority of the past month recovering from symptoms, I wasn’t exactly in a productive mood. 

What’s worse is that social media inspired me to feel even shittier about it because I wasn’t maximizing my time to figure out the next steps. 

Didn’t matter that I wasn’t well. 

The force feeding of information sucked me down a horribly negative rabbit hole. 

At one turn, there were throngs of business owners rushing to share online content that not-so-humbly, humble bragged to everyone that followed them about how amazingly productive they’ve been every second of every day since they’ve been quarantined.

At another, there were other entrepreneur folks putting down anyone who didn’t ascribe to the “figure your shit out by working RIGHT THIS SECOND” model of productivity. 

Between the non-stop ambulances that were whizzing by my apartment minute-after minute and this clown show bullshit I was subjecting myself to on social media, I eventually tapped out and stopped following certain people online, and allowed for an honest moment of clarity.

I exercised true empathy for where I was physically, mentally and emotionally. 

I stopped putting pressure on myself because I realized that I am on my own clock, and no one else’s, regardless of how much others try to guilt me into trying to accomplish something. 

And shortly thereafter I put on the social media blinders and opted for a quiet moment of clarity, I had my breakthrough. Now. I am working feverishly on serving my people through creating virtual presentation event photos.

Which brings me to my point:

As a business owner, you are on your own clock. 

You determine when and how you want to spend time figuring out how to proceed with your business and life. 

You determine who you serve, and how you serve them based on solving the problems they have. 

You’re the one that pays your own bills and sets your schedule, so If you want to take your sweet ass time putting things together, you have that privilege. 

You can take off a day, week or month - do whatever you want. 

You want to learn a new hobby or pick up an old one, make it happen.

You’re a grown ass adult and if there’s someone who determines for you that you’re wasting your time, you can tell them politely and respectfully to fuck off. At the end of the day, you’ll figure out your plan when you’re good and ready to do so. 

You have so far, right?

If you wanted to live by someone else’s clock, you’d be punching in and punching out of some bullshit job that you hate more than life itself. 

Own your timeline - and when it’s time to get to work, then get your ass to work. Just like you did before the pandemic hit. 

Just know that whenever you do plan to do your thing, the people who TRULY support you will be there in your corner.

And it will all come together, just like it has every other time you’ve approached a cross-road in your life.

Don’t even sweat it - you got this.

#yeahabsolutely

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