by Ian Summers
Professional organizations focus on intellectual property rights and proliferating a licensing model. Indeed they should -- especially with Internet piracy and many other possible infringements. However the business of the business includes much more and some of it is seemingly ignored. The number one most important lifeline to the growth of any business is new product development. Without growing your product, meaning new or improved passionate work and services your business, will decline. Grow or Die! This has never been more true than today.
New product development includes new projects, explorations into new territory, surprising and often scaring yourself creatively. It may include expanding or changing the ways that you approach your business. It certainly includes portfolio enhancement. A great portfolio shows where you are going rather than where you have been. Make an agreement with yourself that nothing that is in your portfolio today will be there in six months. Photographers make photographs. Making photographs may be an answer to your calling. Make photographs that come from your heart.
New product development includes developing new markets and new models for your business. The old model of sending a few postcards and waiting for the telephone to ring no longer works.