I’ve become a huge follower of @garyvee’s business philosophy. Well past beating myself up for losing focus on certain social media aspects, I also tend to take away some fabulous general life advice.

Recently I heard a quote that really engrained itself in my day to day thought process.

There are two ways to build the biggest building in town: 1. Build the biggest building in town. or 2. Tear down all the other buildings around you.

The philosophy itself wasn’t new to me upon reading it, but this was the first time I had heard it put so eloquently.

Being a photographer I feel like I’m constantly surrounded in an industry that wants to tear everyone down. They call Zack Arias a shill for Fuji, Jasmine Star is all marketing and no substance, etc.

On a small town level it seems even more vicious. That’s most likely because so many photographers see everyone as competition that is set to put them out of business. This results in everyone closing themselves off, talking down about someone else's skill set or talent level.

They are playing the role of Godzilla concentrating on leveling the landscape in hopes that their building will look so much taller.

The truth is Zack Arias does promotional work for Fuji AND likes their products. Jasmine Star’s photographic style is not my style, but if everyone thinks there’s nothing to learn from her they’re not paying attention.

When I look around my local area I see a lot of talent. That talent is at various points on the journey, but why trash that. I’m glad people are trying, creating, and putting the rest of us on notice that we should improve or get pushed aside.

I would like to think that my personal talent, skill level, marketing, and probably most importantly my work ethic will always separate me from the herd. If it doesn’t, then I absolutely will need to step my game up.

Someone else isn’t going to put me out of business, that will be 100% my responsibility if it were to happen.

That’s why I enjoy interacting with these “newbies”. I’m sure some will fade out, but others will be thriving the longer they are at it. It’s a glorious thing really.

In this years Scripp’s National Spelling Bee they crowned “Co-Champions” for the first time since 1952. The two awkwardly high fived and were happy for each other. How could they not be? They were both Champions, both got a trophy, and both got a big check for $30,000.

In the closing interview for the spelling bee, one of the two dropped a gem of a quote on the audience.

“We were competing against the dictionary, not each other.”

Well, in all honesty, I am competing with these other photographers. Thinking back to my glory days on the backyard football/wiffle ball field, driveway basketball courts, and in front of video game consoles in living rooms across the region I know one thing for sure. My toughest, most vicious competition came from my friends. We would play “the game” as aggressively as it could be played and the walk off the best of friends again.

Is it not possible for me to walk into a photo shoot wanting to do something so wonderful that it leaves another photographer quaking in their boots? Then leave that same shoot and tweet that other photographer that I hope their shoot went perfect?

My hope is that as I construct what I hope is the tallest building as far as the eye can see. Then when I walk out onto the penthouse balcony that overlooks the photography landscape, I have some friendly neighbors to share the rare air with.