This is my favorite time of year. As we all know life and business is all about expectations. I believe one of the worst things you can do in business is not set goals. We spend way too much time making excuses of why we can't do things, rather then just doing it. Besides January being my favorite time of year, it is also my most critical of the year. I think in life we all expect the new year to bring change and promise. The truth is we need to begin with a starting point  and change in mindset. The best advice I could ever give is to:

 

      * EXPECT POSITIVE RESULTS!  

      *YOU ONLY FAIL IF YOU STOP TRYING!

      * IF YOU KEEP DOING THE SAME THINGS YOU

         HAVE ALWAYS DONE, YOU WILL GET THE SAME

         RESULTS YOU HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN!

• Understand the critical factors that are impacting your business right now.
  Learn a systematic method to elicit, utilize, and maximize every business problem that has not yet been solved by you and your team. By looking at your business through a new filter, you will discover what needs to be solved first and how to capture, categorize, and sequence your approach to build momentum and maximize success.
• Know exactly where your business really is—not where you think it is.
  The competitive advantages that put you in business and made you successful in the first place are almost certainly not sustainable moving forward. You will review in detail where your business has been, where it is today, and where it is going.
• Don't use the economy as an excuse
  Where there were once 100 brides to every 50 photographers; the economy is changing to the point where there are closer to 50 brides to every 50 photographers. With fewer buyers, you must understand how to protect yourself and use this opportunity to shift the market in your favor. Most Importantly accept change. Learn to pose. I promise it is the new in thing! It's not that bride's don't want to pose, it's that they think it takes forever.
• Understand the impact of your studios current situation
  Only by understanding where your business is really at, can you anticipate, predict and solve the inevitable challenges that will occur in your business in advance. Most importantly accept change.
• Create an end vision of what you want your studio and life to be
  Regardless of how successful or profitable your studio is or has been, without a vision for its future, you will not grow. Without an open mind to change , you will not grow. You need to think big. Try to design and refine a vision that is big enough to both inspire and reignite the passion and genius that made you want to be a photographer in the first place. Create a starting point and a goal. Remember even if things are going well, it can change on a dime. Even if it's not broke, IMPROVE IT!
• It's time to reshape your business.
  Take a step back and think about what got you to where you are. I always believe it is important to reflect on positives to and negatives to learn. Expand your mind. Take educated changes. 
• Develop a strategy.
  Our strategy at our studio is simple. Most importantly we create and guarantee moments. We believe in delivering a tangible product. Albums, Prints, etc. Our business mantra is everyday find a way. What does that mean you ask. It means everyday take time to do something you have never done before. Take time to market. Think about how much time you spend on the creative side , the technical side and the business side of your day. If you are not spending at least 75% of your day on business ideas, marketing etc. You have problems! Remember business first, we do this to make a living.

 

I will leave you with one basic rule to live by as a photographer. 

Create personal relationships with everybody. If they like you they will love your work!

Happy Sales Season everybody!