A reason, a season, a lifetime - why are people in your life?
About 10 years ago, I was in New York for a holiday and by chance, I happened to be in town when there was an entrepreneurs event with Jack Welch.
I sat down with my friends who were also in business and watched Jack Welch talk about his story of how he changed GE and his philosophies on business.
I sat down with my friends who were also in business and watched Jack Welch talk about his story of how he changed GE and his philosophies on business.
Afterwards there was a book signing. In the line after me, eagerly awaiting our turn to have his first book personally signed, was a man by the name of Tommy Mendes. He owned a highly successful national retail chain selling ladies shoes called Plaza Two. We started to talk and then he joined us for a drink afterwards. We got on famously. From that time on, we were friends. We have shared personal stories of our journey in life covering everything from our families, to business, relationships and happiness. He introduced me to social media. From asmallworld.net to facebook, blogging and pinterest - and I am supposed to be the marketer!
He has been incredibly kind to me and has over the years given me a New York base in West Village where he has let me stay over and over again. We have dined, shopped, partied, had beauty treatments and talked to the wee hours of the morning. Our friendship is strong and very loyal.
We have a collage of pictures of our journey as friends that is amazing. I have painted him a picture of Sydney Harbour that is on his wall in his very cool apartment in West Village. He sent me a DVD full of his favourite songs and for me, that was one of the most awesome gifts anyone has ever sent me. He has been there when my luggage arrived 5 days late without my uninsured Chanel handbags (I lost 3 on that trip), cowboy boots and 2 ski jackets. We laughed it off and decided that there was no reason to cry over spilt milk. However, I think I will shed a tear today over one of the bags, as I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life and no matter how far and wide I have looked, there has been no replacement.
They say people come into your life for 'a reason, a season or a lifetime'. The latter is most appropriate in this case. A friend for a lifetime is someone to be treasured. It's hard to realise in the first couple of years, if a person will be there to watch you grow old, but with Tommy, I know our journey has just begun.
He sold his business a couple of years ago and is now one of the most anticipated fashion and people photographers in New York. I always knew he had an eye for taking a great photograph and to see how successful he has become is just a wonderful experience.
Photographs are important. In business, often people don't realise just how important it is. People think they know you from looking at your photograph. They read your face, whether they meant to or not.
If you have invested in a heads and shoulders portrait that you send out to media or have placed on your website - think about what that represents. Having a photographer who can capture the essence of you, like Tommy Mendes can and always will, always tells a better story.
So, trash your corporate photos, fly to New York and have Tommy Mendes take your photo or find a local photographer with a good eye.
website www.tommendes.com
blog beautyandpain
twitter tommymphotos
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comments ( 4 )
Anthony Calfapietra
09 Mar 2012Great article and its funny where and when you can meet new friends.
ReplyIn this day and age no matter what side of the world your on its great you can keep contact with the friendships you form overseas. As a recent traveller and just coming back from Europe social media has been a great aid for me to keep contact with the people I've met. Most of all its free.
Raihan
08 Mar 2012How lucky and coincidental of both you and Tommy to meet each other in such a situation! So happy to know that such friendships do last and although locations keep you apart, there are technologies and, with reasonable income, air freight will keep people closer together!
ReplyLeaving my country and making new local Aussie friends and also other nationalities has widened my mind and I have learnt so much from just listening about their lives. I know I've made some good friends out of the many i've met, and whenever I do get the chance to visit them, I know there will be a place for me in their homes.
ps: sorry to hear about those chanel bags :(
Jacki Easlick
07 Mar 2012Great article! I used Tommy M for my initial handbag campaign - he's talented and super easy to work with. Love it.
ReplyRen
07 Mar 2012I love this blog. It's amazing. How true is it that people can and do draw many assumptions about you after they have just seen you once in real life or in a picture. I couldn't agree more that people should invest in a great photograph for professional use!
ReplyIn regards to this quote: They say people come into your life for 'a reason, a season or a lifetime'.
I've never heard that whole version before. I have heard people come into your life for a reason but not for a season or a lifetime. That sounds quite right!
I couldn't agree more with that either!!