Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a workshop from Travis Gugelman. The Intermountain Professional Photographers Association provides educational seminars on a quarterly basis, and I always make sure to plan it in to my schedule. I think it is very important to always be learning and growing in whatever industry you are in, and this provides me that opportunity.
I knew within the first half an hour that I would be getting a lot out of this seminar because Travis was quoting some folks that I greatly respect, including Zig Ziglar and Dave Ramsey, as well as citing books that I've either read or have on my reading list. These things were indications to me that we might come from a similar business/life philosophy.
I particularly enjoy learning from those that are on the path that I want to pursue, that are living the way I want to be living, and that share the values that I consider important. Travis runs a debt-free studio (something very important to Seth and I), schedules his work-life in such a way that he can spend ample time with his family (I wouldn't work if I couldn't still be with my kids much of the day), and he works hard at managing his business in such a way that he can thrive both at home and at work. He recognizes that all the parts of your life work together...if you are failing in one area, it carries over to other areas. Which has resulted in Travis taking hold of his physical life and losing 80 lbs. in the past year.
I appreciate speakers, like Travis, that can say that their business is not their number one priority. I have noticed that there seem to be two camps of photographers....the business-minded people that put their business #1 at the expense of everything else in their life so that they can be "successful", and those that are not business-minded much at all (the "artists") and therefore not necessarily very financially successful. I'm sure that is a gross generalization, but for the sake of argument, just go with me on this. I can greatly respect those that with sincerity, can say that their business is not their #1 priority in life, and yet still manage their business from a very business-minded perspective and with a desire for it to be successful.
My studio is not my number one priority. Or at least I don't want it to be. I want my relationship with God and with my family to be number one, and quite frankly, I don't want there to ever be a question of what my priorities are. That isn't always easy. Running a business requires a massive investment on almost every front. But my business cannot be the top of my list. If there comes a time when it is number one, that will be the time to close it down. With that said, I absolutely want my business to be a success and I want to do what it takes to make it successful. If my business is profitable but I'm failing in my own home, what worth is that? I want my business to be a success so that I can give back from that blessing in whatever way I can.
One of the things I love most about what I do is that it is all about relationships....no matter what kind of photo session I'm doing, it is a result of a relationship and someone's desire to document and preserve it in some way. I have a sincere desire for my clients to know that I'm invested in their family. I understand why these photographs are important, I get it. I truly do believe in the value and importance of the photographs I provide people with.
So, while I came away from the seminar totally ready to work even harder at my business, I also came away with a reassurance that "success" is a multi-faceted objective. I'm grateful for my family who puts up with the stress that business ownership brings. They appreciate the joy it brings me and allow me to do something I love. When I first started my studio, Seth's mandate was that the studio couldn't take away from his quality of life. I think that was his way of saying, "Keep your priorities straight". While it can be hard to hear at times, I'm thankful for his wisdom and I'm dedicated to doing just that.
