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Are you caught in the short-term hustle of your photography business and ready to break free so you can plan for long-term growth? As we continue the scaling series, this is an important topic to cover whenever you talk about scaling your photography business because we end up getting stuck in this trap of the content creation hamster wheel, the never-ending to-do list, or the countless hours spent editing, and none of it is sustainable, friend.
We are exploring the essential strategies to help you escape the trap of getting stuck in the short term so you can create a sustainable photography business.
Let me ask you: How many times have you been in your slow season, knowing you already have way too much booked for next year, but you need the income at that moment so you end up booking another wedding, knowing it’s going to add too much to your plate for next year?
Maybe this one booking creates a double or triple-header weekend. If you find yourself there time and time again, was it sustainable in the long term? It may not have a direct impact on your immediate life because it’s short-term, but in the long term, it’s running you to the ground.
My hope is that you are able to start implementing small, but powerful ways to begin planning for long-term growth instead of always being in the rat race of the short term. This will help you avoid burnout by working toward that healthy work-life balance I talk so much about.
One of the most important things you can do is understand your goals and know what you need to do in order to get to where you want to be. As a business owner, you have to create that time to think about your goals and map them out for the year, and the new year is such a wonderful time to begin pursuing new endeavors, especially because it’s a slower season. Usually around the beginning of the year, you have that drive to make the changes that you want to see in your business so you don’t end up at the same place again, especially if you found yourself burnt out due to any short-term thinking and planning you’ve been guilty of.
After this episode, the first thing I want you to do is reflect. Ask yourself: What went well? What didn’t go well? What excited you about this year? What was absolutely draining? Where do you want to be a year from now? What big dreams do you have? This is a great place to start for understanding your goals and what you need to do in order to get to where you want to be.
The second thing I want you to do is listen to episode 15 about goal setting and planning for the new year. While this episode was shared almost a year ago, everything in it pertains to you right now.
I also have my Notion template in the shop, and you do get a discount if you use the code “podsquad” at checkout, but truly understanding your goals and what you need to do in order to reach them is the most important thing when it comes to avoiding that short term thinking.
Something that has been so impactful for me and my business is implementing CEO days. CEO days are truly just a day where you get to work on whatever you want to and whatever is going to move the needle forward in your business. It doesn’t necessarily mean working on marketing or bringing in new inquiries. It may just mean you’re working on a passion project that’s going to bring you a lot of joy. It could mean spending time educating yourself on the topics you want to learn.
Whatever your CEO day looks like, put your hard drive away and work on something that’s going to bring you closer to the business that supports your life. Start planning for one day a week to be your CEO day so you actually have that time to put your goals into action and make it happen.
For example, I’ve been putting these finishing touches on my new program, Scale It after creating it for nearly a year. I use that one day a week as my CEO day to break away from all of the client communication, editing, all the things to be able to work on this program because one of my goals for this year was to create and launch Scale It. I knew that I had to plan the time to work on it so that I’m be as prepared as I can be to serve the photographers who will join. I also wanted to give it my all without feeling guilty for taking that time away from other tasks.
This is the power of a CEO day! While you may not be trying to create a mentorship, what about making the time to be able to learn how you don’t have to book 30-plus weddings each year? If you’re listening to this series, this is where you’re at. Your body is tired and you can’t imagine continuing to have double or triple-header weekends anymore. You’re wanting more time with your family and friends and you don’t want to continue this cycle of burnout year after year, You want to remember why you’re doing photography again and actually finding joy from this business you’ve built. It’s time to scale, my friend, and CEO days will be a great thing to begin implementing THIS WEEK.
Just as growth doesn’t happen overnight, neither does scaling. Like I said, I’ve been creating Scale It for almost an entire year and I’ve been testing changes out. I’ve been trying new things. I’ve been creating resources to make scaling easier. I’ve been having conversations with photographers so I know exactly what to include in this program.
Just as I have taken time creating this program and truly taking it one step at a time, you simply have to start. And if you’re not sure where to start, then you’re in the right place. I do have a Secret to Scaling Your Photography Business freebie that I would love for you to snag.
I also have a waitlist for Scale It, and I’m only allowing people to join through October 30th. So, if you are interested in scaling and you want those exclusive bonuses, exclusive discounts, and exclusive resources, then I highly recommend you join.
So, to recap, the first thing you need to do is understand your goals and what you need to do in order to get where you want to be. Your goals and understanding the supporting actions and the tasks that need to be accomplished are incredibly important in planning for the long-term growth that you’re really desiring.
The second thing is to start implementing CEO days THIS WEEK! It’s time for you to focus on those goals and move the needle forward for the goals that you’re trying to accomplish this year.
Lastly, if you want to scale in 2024 and 2025 and get into a place where you don’t have to book 30 plus weddings per year, then it’s time to start scaling now, so I invite you to join the waitlist for Scale It.
I hope this helped to shed some light for you on how to avoid that short-term thinking and to plan for the long-term growth. These three things that I mentioned are truly your first steps.
Episode 15: Goal Setting and Planning for the New Year
The Secret to Scaling Your Photography Business Freebie
The Secret to Scaling Your Photography Business Freebie
Attract and Book Dream Couples Free Workshop
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