Are you working too much in your Business?
If the answer is “yes”, you would not be the only one.
I would agree that it very hard to find a good Work/Life balance while running a business.
Today’s new photographers generally consist of people who have another job, or who are stay-at-home parents bringing up children.
When you get to the point of going full-time, you tend to run out of time to do everything you need to do to grow your photography business.
You may believe that by working extra hard, that “one day” you will reach the point where you will have a perfect work/life balance.
In my experience you are kidding yourself.
The more your business grows, the more time it takes to run the business.
I know that your kids are only young once, and life is too short to work all the time.
You may put a great deal of time into all aspects of your business, and you don’t want to push your children away.
The big question is how do you handle it? Do you keep very small? Do you do less? Do you get a part time job so that photography is only a small portion of your income?
But will this give you more time with the family?
From my perspective and in my forty years of experience, long-term balance is just not possible in your photography business. You have to sacrifice family time if you have a photography business. The scheduling of portrait sessions and weddings demands it.
So What Do You Want?
Ask yourself what it is that you want from your business. Whatever it is you may not find the perfect answer. Maybe you will never make enough money, or have enough family time.
Running a successful photography business is hard. There will be good times of course, but there will be down times.
There are no secrets. You will have to work hard. Take risks. Do things that maybe you don’t want to do. Invest money. Make mistakes. Change things often.
Do You Have A Red Balloon Mentality?
Here are a couple of quotes from an article in The Weekly Review, on Naomi Simson, the founder of Red Balloon, who started her business 12 years ago, now employs 60 people, and has a turnover of over 50 million dollars. She has two children.
“I don’t agree with the term work/life balance. We have one life, not two. There’s not work and then there’s life. If we don’t love what we do every day, find another job, because life’s too short”.
Her children she sends to boarding school.
“We wanted to teach our children resilience, responsibility, and respect, and boarding is a great way for them to get that.
Which parent ever stops worrying? Of course I worry about our children. There’s not a day that I don’t wake up and miss my children, and wish they were here with me, but it’s not about me.”
Is It Worth It?
So it really is a matter of attitude. I am one of those fortunate photographers that have loved every day of running a studio. Loved it, loved it, loved it. Even the bad times were good!
And yes, I maybe sacrificed a few things along the way, like time with my family.
But was it worth it? You betcha! I have two very successful grown up kids, and still love what I do every day.
Reaping the Rewards.
Now that you have let go of all of the excuses that may have been holding you back, you are free to go after the photography success that you deserve!
It’s you that is getting in your own way. Focus and move forward toward your goals.
Need help to fast track your success?
Create a Booming Photography Business – Grab my FREE Gift here