3 Reasons NOT to Run your Business on Your Own
Starting a business is a very exciting time, it means you’re taking charge of what you do, how you work, and how your career goes forward. You’re to be envied because most people would love to have that freedom. You’re also to be envied because what you’re doing takes a lot of guts. Starting your own business and/or growing your own small business can also be a daunting and lonely experience, because now you have to make all decisions and as much as you can embrace the ‘ups’ you have to own the ‘downs’.
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way, it doesn’t have to be lonely and neither should it be.
Many people try to do all the things by themselves, and that is a sure route to stress and possibly disaster.
If you’re starting and growing a photography business, it’s important to do what you do because it’s true to say you cannot be the expert in all things business.
Here are my top 3 reasons not to run your business on your own
#1 Maintain your Zone of Genius
You’re unlikely to be a marketer, salesperson, web designer, accountant as well as photographer. If you’re deadly serious about your business, you need to think about getting support drafted in as soon as possible.
There’s always that fear that “I can’t afford it", and this may well be the case in the very beginning.
When you start your business, you must be thinking about future proofing it from the very beginning. Many photographers make the mistake of thinking they have to do everything now and in the future. This can only lead to restricting you from doing what you’re meant to do, and create problems because you have too much to do. The tendency would be to cut into any home/family life doing admin tasks that you either don’t like or are no good at.
The question to ask yourself is “can I afford NOT to draft in help?” When you get the help of someone who does, for example, digital marketing for a living, you know your digital marketing is going to be done well. This can actually help you to grow and earn more,
#2 Community over Competition
If you’re set on believing all photographers are the competition, your existence in this creative space will be a lonely one, and that’s not sustainable. Having other photographers in your network who understand all the trials and tribulations of starting a business, who totally get the mindset issues, who can help and advise you on the do’s and don’ts is invaluable to you. So don’t hide away.
There’s always someone somewhere who does virtually what you do, who is ahead of you. Seeking out other photographers you can learn from is a great and powerful thing for your business. This is why I believe in coaching other photographers in business start-up (as a photographer myself) and I seek out coaching for myself by those who do what I do and inspire me.
We are not designed to go it alone, especially when we’re embarking on challenging ventures. The healthiest walks of life, communities and businesses are where there are people who have each other’s backs when the going gets tough, and and who lift each other up in the good times.
Collaboration is a powerful key to growing any business, even if your collaborators are those in the same industry and sector of the industry as you.
#3 Over Working Can Harm your Business
It can be tough in the beginning, but that hardship at the start mustn’t be your story throughout your business. There’s a reason you want to start this business and I’m sure it isn’t because you want to work all the hours!
When you’re in a creative industry it’s important that you’re able to show up and perform at your best, always. It’s therefore important that you’re not so over worked that your performance takes a hit. If this happens the harm to your business can be enormous…….for a small business it only takes 1 bad review to make a difference and cause harm.
When you start your business take the time to establish just how much time you do have available, and how many shoots you need to do to earn a certain amount of money. If you’re already in a full time job and you’re taking on, for example, wedding photography, there’s no point in thinking you can take on 25 or 35 weddings in a year. Your performance as a photographer or your full time job will suffer. More to the point, where would your personal relationships fit in to that over worked schedule?
Planning your Business
There are so many reasons why it’s not a good idea to run your business alone long term, and there are benefits too to sharing the load.
Having a small team around you (and they don’t have to be full time employees) gives a more professional, polished and bigger look to your business. It’s more encouraging to people looking to buy your services because you have the appearance of a bona fide business.
When you’ve outsourced a part of your business, whether that’s accountancy, digital marketing or even editing, at least you know that part is being done well. Again, this gives a more professional look to your business and your brand.
Planning your business around what already exists in your life is a smart move. You might have a job, a family and kids, etc and this will help you to work smarter and not harder. Yes it’s hard in the beginning because you have to find your business rhythmn. Once you know exactly what time you have available, the money you want to earn and the shoots you can reasonably do, you can focus and work towards them. Then keep setting yourself goals to move forward, for example you might change your full time job to part time to make room for more of your business.
Dee xx
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