Eye on Business | Is Your Business Running You Ragged?

Chances are that if you are reading this, the answer is a resounding "YES."  As photographers/creatives/business owners, I'm fairly certain that we all have a slight tendency to work without boundaries, 24/7.  Ok, it's an obsession. We love what we do.  We love what we can do for others.  We love looking at others' images.  We click on that blog post that popped into our newsfeed just as we were logging off because it may be the one article that will be the answer.  We crave it.We are photographers.But, I will be the first to admit that my business has been running me ragged this year.  Did I really just write that and publish it?  You see, this is not only my weekly business post.  It's also my public accountability statement.  Time to face the fact that I am not running my business.  My business is running ME.Is this you too?

• You are disorganized.
• Your time with loved ones is less, both in time and quality.
• You are constantly playing catch-up with EVERYTHING.
• You are exhausted.
• You are missing out on all the good stuff life has to offer.
• You are making way too many mistakes because you are overwhelmed.

Owning a business can be rewarding, exhilarating, and fun!  But only if YOU set the boundaries, YOU determine the rules, and YOU have the control.  It is only after the countless nights that my husband has picked up the slack once again on dinner or the laundry or that my children comment on my abilities as a photographer (and not a mother) that I realize this business has painstakingly taken over my world and theirs.  It's time for a change.  As much as I LOVE what I do (and I cannot emphasize LOVE enough), I cannot be the wife, mother, and photographer that I strive to be when I'm running on fumes.Realization:  Being a photographer is a gift.  Owning a business is a skill.I want you to grab that notebook or open that notes app and write this in CAPS:"MY BUSINESS WILL NOT TAKE OVER MY LIFE."It all comes down to what you envision for your life and your business.  Prioritize and make a plan.  Not one of those hokey plans either like, "I want a successful senior photography business."  Nope.  I want to see bullet points of exactly what you want to achieve in both your personal and business worlds.  Only then can you see how to effectively intertwine the two and live happily ever after.

• Organization
• Time Management
• Stress Busters

Ouch.  These were SO not the three items at the top of my list when I started this gig.  I just wanted to take amazing pictures. Can I get an "Amen?!"  But, alas, it's that business skill stuff that has to take priority sometimes.  In the coming weeks, I'll be following my own advice and targeting these three areas in my own life.  I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing and expect you to hold me accountable ;)  And, I'll totally share what actually works for me and what doesn't so that we can all become the amazing business owners that we are meant to be.  Until next time, check out the archives of Eye on Business for our previous posts on goal-setting, workflow, and time management!  I know I'll be revisiting them...