about
YOUR GUIDE: Jim "I Mean Business" Miotke

Leading business on the Web since 1996 (when it was still called the information super highway), Jim is the founder of Betterphoto.com – a successful Internet company offering photography education and website hosting.

"With a dime in my pocket and a truck load of determination..."

A note from Jim: "It was not long ago that I was living in a small Airstream trailer, working in a job I found boring, as unsuccessful as the next guy. Can you identify with any of the following statements?

• I was severely in debt.
• I dragged myself out of bed to face each day.
• I hated the commute to work.
• I lived each month hand to mouth, fearing I would not have enough to pay the bills.
• I hated the commute to work.
• I worried that my life would never really get started... that I would never figure out 'what I wanted to be when I grew up?'
• I could not really get excited about work. I always wondered if there was more to life.
• Did I mention how I much hated the commute?

All I had was a wonderfully supportive wife and family, a few good friends, an appreciation of something bigger than myself, and a driving desire to succeed.

That's when I discovered the joys of the Web and started publishing free content for beginning photography enthusiasts. This was an avocation that occupied what little bits of free time I had remaining after each work day. Fortunately, I was so excited about it that the time seemed to fly by and, before I knew it, my Web work began to develop some serious momentum.

Started with no investors, venture capitalists, or trust funds, BetterPhoto survived the ups and downs of the market and is today a thriving Internet business. With a great team of employees, amazing instructors, and a wonderful community of photo enthusiasts behind it, BetterPhoto helps millions of people around the world learn how to say "Yes!" to their creative dreams. Providing inspiration and encouragement to photographers all over the globe, the company has become a worldwide force.

Now I enjoy a great life. I do what I love, live in a big, beautiful house, and enjoy a healthy amount of free time to play with my kids. I am grateful to be able to work from home and witness the milestone moments as my kids grow.

Why I'm Doing This

I am committed to making a difference in your life and in the current state of world affairs. My mission is threefold:

• Helping people like you: Freely I have been provided with great lessons; now I want to give back. I love brainstorming, dialoguing, and helping people put their dreams into action.
• Economic strength: The US economy needs our help. The more successful businesses we can launch, the greater will be our international economic stance. If you're living in the States, let's work together to remain the leader. If you live outside the states, let's begin a friendly competition to help each other get as super strong as we possibly can.
• Climate change for the better: The world needs less people driving to work. I am committed to global cooling. Let's work together to reduce our dependency on oil. I love electric cars, but even better than electric is eliminating the commute altogether. I dearly love my kids and want to do what I can to care for our planet for future generations.

It's my sincere wish that you too get to enjoy all the good life has to offer you. And I'm confident that,combining a few of my insider secrets with your ideas, determination, and persistence, you too can soon be enjoying the good life."

- Jim Miotke

Who is Jim?

"We're Still Here" ;)

The key testament to Jim's success is the fact that his business is still going and growing. With so many online businesses having crashed and burned during the early years of the Internet, BetterPhoto.com not only has survived but has succeeded with flying colors.