President | Business Exit Advisor | Exit Factor Essex County

Growth doesn’t usually stall because of demand.

It stalls because complexity compounds faster than clarity.

I work with founder-led creative and service businesses navigating the $1M–$3M stage — where growth introduces structural friction:

• Offer sprawl
• Margin compression
• Team misalignment
• Founder bottlenecks
• Decision fatigue
• Identity lag (operator → CEO)

At this level, the issue isn’t effort.

It’s architecture.

Inside advisory engagements, we focus on:

• Revenue architecture and margin visibility
• Offer simplification and pricing clarity
• Organizational structure and delegation design
• Founder role recalibration
• Long-range strategic planning

Before advising founders, I built and led Photos In A Minute, developing national experiential partnerships with organizations including the White House, New England Patriots, and HBO.

I’ve operated inside growth.

Now I work behind the scenes with founders navigating complexity at scale.

If you’re leading a business where growth feels heavier than it should, I’m open to thoughtful conversations.

Scott Proposki

Hockey Legend Ray Bourque's Coaching Secret Revealed‼️

#Camerafocus #PhotographyBusiness

Founder → Strategic Advisor | Helping Businesses Scale With Structure | 4x Author | Podcast Host

I didn’t realize something until I started writing this.

ometimes reflection shows you things you didn’t see in the moment.


Years ago, I was working for Fox News Corp in Chicago.

Chicago was home to legends.

Reverend Jesse Jackson.

And Michael Jackson.


At events, whenever Michael arrived, there was always an entourage surrounding him.

Security.

Advisors.

People creating space around a global icon.

And often, right there with him, was Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Not separate.

Not distant.

But present.

Looking back now, something strikes me.

They shared the same last name.

Jackson.

No family relationship.

Just two powerful men.

Both rooted in Chicago.

Both carrying influence in completely different arenas.

One through music that moved the world.

One through activism that moved a nation.

At the time, it was just another event.

Another assignment.

Another moment in a busy career.

But now, it feels bigger.

It feels like I witnessed history standing next to history.

Two men.

Same name.

Same city.

Different callings.

Both leaving undeniable impact.

As we reflect on the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson, I can’t help but think about legacy.

About presence.

About who walks beside us in our most visible moments.

Take a moment today to think about the mark you’re leaving.

The rooms you walk into.

The people you stand beside.

Rest in peace, Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson

Talk to ya tomorrow,

Scott

No alternative text description for this image

I saw an old post from Facebook back in time post...

My yellow Lab, Jackson.

Tennis ball in his mouth.

Snow everywhere.

Perfect timing, because Boston is about to get hit with a blizzard.

But it wasn’t the snow that caught me.


It was the ball.

There’s a story about the founder of Box.

When he was building the company, he’d throw a tennis ball for his dog.

Throw it.

Chase it.

Bring it back.

Again.

The dog didn’t care about noise.

Didn’t care about chaos.

Just the ball.

Most small business owners struggle because they’re chasing five balls at once.

New idea.

New platform.

New distraction.

Meanwhile, the one thing that would actually grow the business sits there.

So what’s your tennis ball?

What’s the one thing that, if you focused on it relentlessly, would move everything forward?

If you’re not sure what it is, let’s figure it out.

Let's have virtual coffee... -&gt; Pick a time that works best for you HERE.

Talk to ya tomorrow, (If I still have power and internet)

Scott

~ Scott Proposki

White house easterbunny pics? 🐰📸 Unconventional start.

#Photography #CareerPaths #UnconventionalSuccess

Life-Changing Coaching ⏳ | Predict Your Death Age 💡✨

#LifeCoaching #IntentionalLiving #GrowthJourney

If I could go back and start my business over…

I wouldn’t change my logo.

(Although… wow. It was rough.)

I wouldn’t change my pricing.

Okay maybe a little.

I wouldn’t even change my camera.

I’d do one simple thing.

I’d save every single contact I ever met.

Every.

Single.

One.

Right now I’m staring at four boxes of business cards I’ve collected over the years.

Four boxes.

Not a cute little stack.

Not a tidy spreadsheet.

Four slightly dusty, mildly chaotic boxes.

Apparently I’ve been networking like a squirrel with anxiety.

Here’s the funny part.

I didn’t even realize I was doing something smart.

I just kept collecting names.

But looking back?

My biggest clients didn’t come from my photography skills.

They came from my network.

From relationships.

From staying in touch.

From email.

Like this one.

At some point, we crossed paths.

Maybe we met.

Maybe you clicked something.

Maybe the internet did its weird magic.

But you’re here.

And that’s not luck.

That’s a list.

The biggest mistake most business owners make?

They obsess over their website.

They tweak their logo 17 times.

They buy another lens.

But they don’t build the list.

And then they wonder why bookings feel like a rollercoaster designed by a toddler.

And while we’re talking about money being left in weird places…

If I looked at your photography business for 15 minutes, I’m confident I could find $25K you’re leaving on the table.

In your pricing.

In your packages.

In your sales process.

Probably hiding in plain sight.

I’ll map it out for you — free.

Think I can’t?

Book a call and let’s see.

Worst case?

You waste 15 minutes.

Best case?

You find $25K.

Your move.

Talk to ya tomorrow,

Scott

Pandemic's Devastating Impact on Event Photography Business 📸‼️

#EventPhotography #PhotographyBusiness #BusinessChallenges

Photography sales secret: adapt or lose the business. 📸💼

#PhotographyBusiness #PhotographySales #PhotographyTips

Psychology of Sales: Land Your First Client! 💼🧠

 #SalesPsychology #EntrepreneurTips #SalesStrategy

📸 Top Event Photographer’s Secret to Big Deals Revealed! 💰✨

#EventPhotography #PhotographyTips #MarketingForPhotographers

The future is here.

And it still oversleeps.

I’ve been playing around with all these new AI tools lately.

And don’t get me wrong…

They’re amazing.

They write.

They design.

They strategize.

They basically think.

It’s wild.

Technology is moving faster than ever.

We can generate almost anything in seconds.

But somehow…

Siri still can’t set my alarm correctly.

How is it that AI can build a business plan…

But my phone can’t wake me up on time?

I’m not mad.

I’m just confused.

We’re living in the most advanced technological era in human history.

And I still double-check my alarm like it’s 2009.

Don’t get me wrong... I love where this is going.

AI is powerful.

If you use it right, it can seriously work in your favor.

But moments like this make me laugh.

The future is incredible.

And slightly dysfunctional.

Tell me I’m not the only one.

Has your “smart” tech ever humbled you?

Hit reply and let me know.

Talk to ya tomorrow,

Scott

it’s not the big, complex stuff holding you back. It’s the small, foundational things that make the biggest impact. Fix a few key habits, and your business can change fast. 💯

🚀 Want to see how? Apply for Scott’s Camera Focus Program. DM me 📩

#CameraFocus #Photographybusiness #Photographers

Nobody wants to talk about this.

I had 20 conversations with photographers this week.

Twenty.

Every single one of them needed help.

usiness changed almost overnight.

What used to work… just isn’t working anymore.

Leads slowed down.

Bookings dropped.

Confidence took a hit.

And here’s the interesting part.It’s not saturation.

There are 7.5 billion people in the world.

If you run a small photography business, how many clients do you actually need?

20?

30?

The problem isn’t that there aren’t enough people.

The problem is that what worked before isn’t working now.

Markets shift.

Buyer behavior shifts.

Attention shifts.

Strategies have to shift too.

But here’s what really stood out to me.

The hesitation.

The way help is immediately labeled as an expense.

Like going to a casino.

Like money walking out the door.

And I understand it.

When things feel uncertain, spending feels scary.

But there’s a difference between an expense…

…and an investment that generates revenue.

We’ll buy new gear.

Subscriptions.

Courses we never finish.

But when it comes to investing in something that directly impacts bookings and revenue?

uddenly it feels risky.

I’m not frustrated.

Just reflective.

Because the math is simple.

If something helps you generate more than it costs…

It’s not an expense.

It’s leverage.

If you’re feeling stuck right now...

If what used to work suddenly stopped...

Let’s talk.

Not because you need to “spend.”

But because you might need to shift.

And that shift could change everything.

This keeps it compassionate, firm, and clean.

Are we locking this in?

Talk to ya tomorrow,
Scott

I’ve spoken to 223 photographers over the past nine months.
Yes, I counted.

Want to know how many of them brought up profit?
Brace yourself....

Almost none.
Like… basically zero.

Now revenue?
Oh, we talked about that all day.

Big bookings.
Big launches.

Six-figure months.
Five-figure weddings.

New gear.
New logos.

New Instagram strategies.
New stress levels.

But profit?
Crickets.

Not one said, “I really want to increase my profit.”
And that should concern us.
Because revenue is loud.
Profit is sneaky.

Revenue buys the shiny lens.
Profit pays for it.

Revenue makes you feel important.
Profit makes you stable.

Revenue is what you post about.
Profit is what lets you sleep at night.

Back in 2022, I wrote my fourth book.
It was completely done.

Cover designed.
Back cover written.

Proofread.
Ready to print.

The title?
Focus on The Profits


I knew after COVID things were shifting.
Budgets were back.

Margins mattered again.
“Vibes” were no longer a business model.

And then I stopped.
Pulled the plug.
Maybe I thought people weren’t ready.
Maybe I got distracted by cameras again.

Because let’s be honest.
Talking gear is way more fun than talking spreadsheets.

But funny how life works.
It brings you back.

After 223 conversations.
After hearing the same pattern on repeat.

Celebrating revenue.
Quietly struggling with cash flow.

Incredible talent.
Confusing numbers.

I’m done avoiding it.
Completely.

Yes, we are camera-focused.
That’s not changing.

But from here forward?
We’re profit-focused too.
If you’re reading the Daily Focus emails, you’ll notice it.
It won’t be subtle.

More clarity.
More structure.

More talk about margins, pricing, expenses, and sustainability.
Less pretending revenue equals success.

Because talent without profit?
That’s an expensive hobby.

And I don’t want you running a hobby.
I want you running a business that actually pays you.

So keep reading.
We’re going back to the beginning.

And this time?
We’re building it on numbers that make sense.

Let's start from the beginning!

~ Scott

Write your death age to plan your life Plan your life with this strategy 💯

Photographer's Darkest Hour ⏳ Nat Geo to Book Launch 📚

#PhotographersJourney #BehindTheLens #PhotographyDreams

From Fear to Thousands 💸✨ My Sales Call Transformation Story 📞🚀💪

#SalesTransformation #FromFearToSuccess #SalesCallJourney

📸 Photographer's Lifetime Business — 3 Decades of Adventure 🌍✨

#PhotographyJourney #BehindTheLens #PhotographyLegacy

Brilliant Business Hack_ Pre-sell & Create Exclusive Demand 🚀💡🔥

#BusinessHack #PreSellStrategy #SmartMarketing

10-Year Plan_ How My North Star Guided Success ⭐🧭📈

#10YearPlan #GoalSetting #LeadershipMindset

The Shine Hope Company

The Shine Hope Company is on a mission to measure and teach everyone around the world the ‘how’ to hope, based on my research that hope is a teachable skill. We do this through workplace consulting, Hopeful Mindsets courses, research, consumer products, and books, which were all curated by the best-in-class researchers in mental health and hope science. 

Hope is predictive of retention, performance, productivity, and engagement, and is a protective factor against anxiety and depression. Additionally, hope is a precursor to happiness and resilience, meaning we need to activate hope to feel happy and have resilience. Hopelessness is learned through adversity and is often a consequence of oppression and discrimination; hope is also learnable, but only if we teach it.

Hopelessness is rising at unprecedented rates around the world, especially among youth. Thus, we aim to ensure everyone is equipped with the skills they need to activate hope, even in the most challenging of times. As part of our mission, we support the International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred), including their Hopeful Minds and Hopeful Cities programming, to ensure youth are taught hope skills at no charge.

The time for hope is now. Join our mission to activate hope today.

Chief Hope Officer

WFMH World Federation for Mental Health

Serve as a representative at the United Nations for the World Federation for Mental Health, representing the over 1 billion globally that are challenged with mental health conditions.

United Nations Representative for the World Federation for Mental Health

The Mood Factory

We have one goal at The Mood Factory; to improve moods. Learn about how to engage your senses at www.themoodfactory.com. Visit us on social @getyourmoodon #chooseyourmood

Chief Mood Officer

iFred, International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression

Founder of iFred (www.ifred.org), with the award winning program Hopeful Minds (www.hopefulminds.org). Developed a free curriculum for Hope, based on research that hope is a teachable skill, with evidence it is reducing anxiety, and improving emotional regulation, hope, confidence, and resilience in youth. Have been featured speaker around the globe on marketing, mental health, depression, and eradicating stigma. Kathryn is a global mental health adviser, serving on advisory boards for Global Mental Health Movement, Y Mental Health, FundaMentalSDG and Women's Brain Project.

Founder

Innovative Analysis, Inc.

Serve as business strategist for new product launches, rebranding, and marketing.

Business Strategist

Compass Marketing

Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Partners Creative

Account Executive

American Express

Multiple positions in marketing, all with progressively increasing levels of responsibility.

New Products, Marketing, and Promotions

Research Analyst and Project Manager

Developed, managed and completed research project for Traffic Control Materials Division.  Short-term assignment.

Novak and Macey

Office Manager

I can't give you hope, yet I can teach you 'how' to hope. And what a difference it makes. #ShineHope

Kathryn Goetzke is Founder, Chairman, and Chief Hope Officer at The Shine Hope Company. She activates the workplace on the science of hope, created an evidence-based college course 'Hopeful Mindsets' on the College Campus, and through her nonprofit Ifred created award-winning Hopeful Minds and Hopeful Cities. She is the author of 'The Biggest Little Book About Hope', and podcast host of The Hope Matrix. 

In 2004, Kathryn launched Mood-lites™, a brand that achieved over 35 million dollars in retail sales with the first nationwide cause marketing campaign for mental health. She was recently appointed a role to represent the World Federation for Mental Health at the United Nations, representing almost 1 billion people around the world with mental health disorders.

Kathryn is a global mental health ambassador, overcoming her own battles with depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD and addictions through therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, support, and learning how to hope. She lost her father to suicide at 18 and knows all too well the negative consequences of untreated mental health on both the self and the family system. 

Ms. Goetzke began her career with 3M Corporation in research and moved to lead rebranding IDS mutual funds to American Express, had a role in advertising account management, and moved to serve as the VP of Sales and Marketing for Compass Marketing. She then launched her own company and brand, with a social impact model before it was a thing.

Kathryn and her work have been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Home, InStyle, Scholastic Choices Magazine, and others. She has spoken at the United Nations, the Global Mental Health Movement Conference in Athens and South Africa, at Mental Health Community Associations Conference, The Kennedy Forum, The World Bank, the Scent Marketing Institute, and more. She has been featured on multiple radio and television shows including BBC, WGN Chicago, CBS Chicago, Tasty Trade, and eWomenNetwork. Ms. Goetzke serves on advisory boards for FundaMentalSDG, Y Mental Health, Women’s Brain Project, and the Global Mental Health Movement, and on the board of Hope Means Nevada.

Kathryn has an MBA in International Marketing Management from the University of St. Thomas, and a BA in Psychology.

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Scott Proposki

Kathryn L. Goetzke, MBA

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Kathryn L. Goetzke, MBA

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