Absolute Write : August Blog Chain Q&A — my answer
Razib Ahmed just blogged his answer on where he finds inspiration and has asked one of me … if you’re a writer, these blog chains are a very fun way of learning more about those in your own industry and each other.
Razib’s question for me … What led you to leave your full time job and start your own business? What were the obstacles did you face at first?
My answer for him (and anyone else who’s reading) …
Let me first caveat the timeline. I started my photography business two years before I quit my full time job. So I did have some time to prepare before I jumped ship. Despite the two part-time years, there were considerable issues to going full time.
When you quit a tremendously high paying job (and no I’m not exaggerating — I’ve been asked NUMEROUS times how in the world I could give it up) — there must be a reason. My number one reason was “I wanted to.” I wanted to be my own boss. I wanted to build an empire. Ok, not really. But, well … maybe.
After two years part-time, I realized I’d be much more successful if I could devote my whole attention to the task. With three kids to support and a husband too, a mortgage, car payments, a lease on a studio, etc … that also meant coming up with A LOT of money every month and guess what? I walked out on my job with no guarantees. I didn’t have a steady income. I didn’t have thousands of customers to rely on.
It was me. My business plan. My determination (I’m a very stubborn girl) and the desire to do my own thing. For the first four months, I contracted back to several former employers to keep the funds rolling in, but slowly that went by the wayside and photography did in fact fill the gap.
My kids were the impetus to start the business and my MBA and complete faith that it was a path on which I should be going got me running along it — winding and twisty it is some days.
One obstacle was certainly my family. Despite their utter belief in me, they worried. My parents worried. My in-laws worried. My husband worried. But he’s one of those that believes in me and my craziness and is generally my sounding board and my devil’s-advocate. If I come up with a crazy plan, he comes up with the opposite and somewhere along the middle we reach consensus (or he gives up and I dive in). After 15 years of marriage (literally yesterday), we’re a pretty darn good team.
Once I got through the “we’ll be fine” conversations with everyone related to me, it was time to market the business. That was tough. New business going into a saturated market. I met with all sorts of other business owners. Became regular customers to them and they in turn helped me. It took me three years to get my portraits into our local dance studio — THREE YEARS. In that time, two other photographers were in there. But guess what? Now? It’s just me. And I just took the owner’s baby photos. π
Next obstacle? Time. I move fast. So it has to move faster. If an idea comes to mind, I’ll implement it, often without really looking into all the possible problems. π As long as it doesn’t have a significant outlay of $$ then I’ll try it. I’m a big risk taker. π Plenty of ideas have fallen flat on their face … hard. But you have to try to learn (to an extent. I’m of the opinion that if I can learn from someone else’s failures I’m all for it.)
The economy has been a stumbling block of late, but the reality is that we’ve just had to get more creative. Think outside the box, be open to ideas we weren’t before. That doesn’t mean giving away the farm, packing up and quitting. Just the opposite. We keep pressing forward, finding avenues to try and in some cases, we’re back to the beginning. We’ll try, try and try again.
Sounds a lot like writing. Don’t you think? π
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So my question to Benjamin Solah is this : Good guy or bad guy? Since you write horror, you must equate to both, right? Which fits your own personality best?
Yikes. It takes a lot of courage to make any career leap, especially over to one that’s based so much on commission. So glad to hear that it’s working out for you though.
I can’t imagine how rough it was to get things up and running. When I changed careers in 2003, I took a huge pay cut. It took a few years of struggling to make ends meet to get things back to a manageable level. And that wasn’t working for myself. Really admirable!
You are very brave I donβt know I could give up a sure thing with children in tow.
I admire your courage and wish you nothing but continued success.
DniC – it does take courage. The world is full of courageous risk takers. π It’s what makes the world go ’round!
Cory – it’s been an adventure. We’re already looking for a 2nd location … even in this terrible economy. It’s the next step for us! π That’s great that you made the change. Do you feel better now? Love it?
Claire – thank you! My kids are a major part of what I do and they have been the entire time. I see it more as showing them that risks are worth it and never to give up on dreams. π Sometimes, when we keep to the same ole same ole, that can be worse than just going for it … even if you fail. π
Thanks all! π
*applauds* Good on you for making it work. It’s good to hear that you never gave up. A great lesson for the kids.
And a great lesson for all aspirants who are getting nervous about taking the plunge.
Wow, kudos to you for following your heart. It appears to have worked out very well for you. And what an inspiration to your kids!
Raven – it is a great lesson and I love that it’s part of my experiences. It bleeds into my writing too. π
Carol – I have worked like a dog, as they say. π I can only hope some of that really does inspire my kids. π
[…] month, Aimee Laine has asked me, Good guy or bad guy? Since you write horror, you must equate to both, right? Which […]
WOW. Really super impressive. I admire people who have the gumption and drive to go for their dreams. And you did it the best way possible. You had the education, you gave yourself the tools and time you needed for success, and you worked SUPER hard.
Kudos. Seriously. And keep on keeping on π Good luck with your novel, too π (How many more fronts could you be going at?) π
How many more fronts? I guess that depends! π Gotta work on the writer-bit more first … give me about 2 years … that’s usually when I find someone else to add to my list. π
Kudos to you for taking that risk! What a great thing to model for your kids…that it’s not all about the money, but rather finding and pursuing your passion in life. Congratulations for going after your dreams, and making them work for you. Very inspiring.
I admire your courage- I really do. Taking this kind of risk when you are married is very difficult. I had a good job too and when I left it just to learn about Internet and change course of career, almost everyone I know discouraged me. When you leave a full time good paying job and start something on your own, success does not come overnight. It took 3 years for me to come back to the same level income. So, it is very difficult to explain others that what you are doing is going to bring some result in the long run.
Thank you Razib! You are right that success is long in coming. But it’s awesome once it happens, right? π Only those that take those risks can reap the rewards!