Exactly one year ago I wrote a list of goals down, a list that overwhelmed and excited me at the same time. I was quite unsure if I’d ever be able to actually accomplish the goals I had jotted down, but I wasn’t afraid to try. That’s the great part about writing down your goals, looking back and being able to see what you had wanted to do, and actually DOING them. I’m so happy to say that I’ve been able to do them, and MORE! Here are a few of the big things that have happened in the business over the past year:
*God has blessed the business abundantly and given me the chance to open up a studio here in town, something I thought I wouldn’t be able to do for years! We opened in March, and it has been a crazy ride ever since!
*I launched the {1ON1} mentorship program and have had the opportunity to mentor 21 amazing photographers and watch them use what they’ve learned to help their businesses grow and flourish.
*I got to meet the famous Rachel Vanoven and take one of her fabulous workshops! It was a truly unforgettable experience and I learned so so so much!
*my blogsite got a swift kick in the booty and was revamped by the awesomely talented On the Spot Studio! I love it. 🙂
*A photog friend of mine and I teamed up together to form We Click–The Shop. We offer unique, helpful templates for other photographers! We plan to add much more in the coming year.
* For the first time ever, I was able to capture a birth experience! And it was of my nephew, Sawyer. Amazing experience and I hope to do it much more this year!
*I got to photograph some themed mini sessions, and they were a blast! I did back2school minis, sweet summer minis, and Christmas minis! So much fun planning those!
Much more has happened, but I just wanted to share a few of the big ones!
Now to set some business goals for this year…
*mentor 15-20 more photographers and help their businesses grow through the {1ON1} mentorship program
*launch my general small business mentorship/Skype consults
*launch the local {snapped!} camera 101 class (which is happening Jan 18th!)
*Offer more templates at We Click-the Shop, such as the baby plan and questionnaires
*take another workshop (possibly lifestyle..any suggestions??)–never stop learning
*create my own office hours (this will help me stay more organized)
*market with more businesses
*blog more! I’ve been bad about this!
*shoot more births/fresh 48 sessions (this will be happening in the next year because I have quite a few lined up! I am so excited!)
*take more newborn sessions and baby planners!
*LAUNCH my top secret specialized workshop– this will be a IN person workshop for other photographers to come to at my studio, and I am getting all the details ironed out now! I am hoping for it to be something out of the ordinary, and unique!
Now with this being said, I do have a baby on board, and he is due in just a short 3.5 months! So I know accomplishing all of these things, while being a mommy of 3 kids already, and juggling those duties along with the duties of our foundation that I love (Ayden’s Foundation of Hope), it will be a struggle. And I have learned that I’m not willing to sacrifice my family for my business. It’s all about finding that balance and making it work for us. I teach a lot of this through my mentorship, how to price your business so you can work less, and make more, and NOT get burnt out doing what you love. I’m grateful to have learned that lesson!
In the personal realm I have many more goals I’d like to reach. Always grow closer to the Lord, my husband, my kids. Be a better momma, and the example they need me to be. I’d like to grow stronger through Crossfit which I hope to continue until baby Jett is born, and then lose that baby weight fairly quick 😉 That’s always a tough one! Make precious memories with those I love most and stay away from the negative/drama! Man that can be tough. Help more families through Ayden’s Foundation of Hope and get very organized with all of that.. the list goes on and on.
God brought us through 2013 though, and I’m grateful to have learned many lessons from the hard times and the good times.
I’m excited for 2014 and all it brings!
