I want you to lean in close and REALLY read what I have to say! Business is not for the weak. Owning your own business can feel really hard! You will battle days where you want to quit. This is one of those blogs that you can read again and again on the days when you feel like you need to determine your success. I’m walking out of a season where I was wanting to throw it all away and go back to a 9-5. You are not alone. You are made for this industry, and I can help you find your success again!

I was recently at a point that I wanted to throw my business in the trash, due to many reasons. I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted to see. I was feeling the comparison of other photographers, educators, ect.! The first step I took to help myself was easy!  I muted those voices, and hid them in my social media feeds. Sounds silly, but this one simple thing made my days so much easier without the constant comparison. 

Determine Your Success

It’s not as simple as if you want to quit your business, but once that feeling hits, what do you do? These feelings could creep up after owning a business for quite some time, or even a few months into the business. I don’t want this to be a discouragement to you. We all go through it, and I want you to know you aren’t alone! 

How I snapped out of the negative mindset

Comparison is the true thief of joy! Just because the results in front of your face aren’t what you want them to be, does NOT mean that you are not going to hit your goals! Photography can be very brutal. It can lack community, it can lack helpful people, and even lack a place to go when you feel the rut of it all. I strongly suggest trying to find the positives in it. You can find a community, you can make positive experiences and you can find lifelong friends that are there for the peaks and valleys of your business. The industry is what you make it! If you put in good, you will receive good. How you treat others, is how you will be treated. Try to find where you fit in! You were created for a purpose, your photography has a purpose.

Find your mission and vision

I went through prayer, journaling, and sat with myself. The hardest part of this entire journey was the waiting! Believe me, day after day I journaled, prayed and waited. It wasn’t instantaneous, it took time and patience. When you are working on a mission, vision, figuring out who you are, makes you wait! After a LONG wait, I finally got an answer! 

Don’t give up- determine your success

I don’t want you to give up, I want you to find a clear answer if this is the season for you in your photography business. The first thing I want you to do is ask yourself this one question, and sit with it (really listen). Ask yourself –  is this photography business for me in this season? This is what you have to start with to journal on, pray on. Take a walk, sit in the silence and listen to what comes up. Don’t listen to a podcast or music, but listen to what comes to you. It’s not easy, but it will be worth it. 

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Once you get that peace, yes peace, on the answer then you move on. If you don’t get peace then walk away! You need the clarity and peace to move on to the next step in life. You need to seek out if this is for you. This is the foundation for everything you do in your business and your life. Take a step back from how you feel. 

Make an Impact

I suggest you think about the best version of success is not only helping yourself, but helping others. Success is simply not what you can do for yourself and your family. Success is also about getting the ripple effect going of helping others outside of yourself.  At the end of the day are you able to  help others? 

I hope this fires you up! Sit journal, pray, and sit with your mission and vision. You are the key factor! You are responsible for what your business looks like. You have everything in your power to change you. I promise that you won’t be successful if you quit, or chose not to work for yourself. Be aligned with your business! 

Move forward to determine your success

I now have a renewed spirit, and feel refreshed. I have a new mission and vision! I hope through the highs and lows of this amazing business you can get there too. Remember, you aren’t alone! Find your community. If you are looking for more inspiration to change up your business, check out this post.