Speak Up, Work Hard & Acquiesce with Grace
Over the years I’ve been called a go-getter, a ball-buster and some other terms that I am sure you can guess that are not so great. Perhaps the negative connotation of most of those terms should bother me more, but as I’ve grown older (and perhaps a little wiser) I learned to wear them as a badge of honor. I had to develop a thick skin early on. From my days fresh out of college working in an extremely male-dominated field in corporate America, to branching out on my own in my mid-20’s as an inexperienced entrepreneur trying to navigate the nuances of running my own business, here are a few things I have learned along the way that perhaps will help you create a sustainable craft or business.
Just because you do the work and put in the hours, doesn’t mean you will be instantly rewarded. Sometimes it takes years of continuously showing up and honing your craft before you achieve whatever version of what success looks like to you. Stay the course.
Always be learning. Take a class, practice your craft, read new books, and learn from other experts in and out of your field.
Ask for feedback from people outside of your family and inner circle. Let’s face it, our families and close friends typically only want what’s best for us and are probably not the most unbiased when it comes to critiquing our work. If you truly want feedback you can grow from, seek it from sources in your field and other respected business community members.
Ask for what you want. Sometimes we just assume people know what we want, and other times we are simply too afraid to speak up. Here’s the thing, if you ask and are told no, nothing has changed.
If you are told no, accept the rejection with grace. Continue to do the work and keep asking, eventually that no will turn into a yes, even if it’s not in the exact form in which you had hoped.
It’s ok when your dreams change. When I started out as a photographer I thought I wanted to photograph weddings forever. After ten years of weddings, I realized that was not what I wanted to do anymore, despite it bringing in a large chunk of my income. As you grow, you will realize you are either exactly where you want to be, or that you need to pivot and make a change—this is perfectly fine. Don’t hang on to something because it’s comfortable.
Speaking of comfort, your best work happens when you get uncomfortable. I am sure you have heard this notion a million times, but a little reminder here doesn’t hurt.
Integrity. I can’t stress this enough, if you say you are going to do something, do it. If you book a client, gig, etc, show up or deliver that product when you say you are going to!
Your journey is your own. Comparison to others on their own journey robs you from acknowledging your own accomplishments and how far you have come.
Be financially responsible. This is a hard one, especially for those pursuing crafts or businesses that require an investment to get up and running or for those who are still carrying school or other debts. Do not go into debt pursuing your dream. I worked my corporate job to still pay my living expenses while I reinvested the money I was making in photography directly back into my photography business—gear, electronics, education, etc. It’s easy to get caught up in the latest and greatest gadgets and gear for our businesses, but the truth is, you are what make your business unique. Don’t get caught up in the spending game thinking it will get you ahead—it will not.
