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What You Need to Know Before Starting a Business

What You Need to Know Before Starting a Business

The Blog

What You Need to Know Before Starting a Business

What You Need to Know Before Starting a Business

Starting a business requires a lot of patience and determination.

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ou have to be willing to make some sacrifices in your life, change your mindset, and keep pushing through when the going gets tough. But before you hit the ground running, there are a few key things you should know before you start your business. 

 

Why? What? Who?

Why – The first and most crucial part of your business is knowing your “Why.” Why are you doing what you’re doing? What is the driving factor that pushes you to keep this business running? Your “why” gets you out of bed every morning, even when you’re at your lowest. Being a boss babe is a rollercoaster of a journey, but you need the drive and grit to push through when the obstacles appear.

 

What – What are your goals? What is it that you’re trying to accomplish? Set small milestones that will help you get where you want to go. Start by creating small goals that are within reach. Not only will this help you stay on track towards the bigger picture, but you will build your confidence as you go along. The more precise you are with your goals, the less likely you will become distracted with anything that steers you away from that.

 

Who – Lastly, who is it that you’re doing all of this for? Who is your ideal client? The one that you dream of working with or would benefit from your services or products. The more you know about them, the better you’ll provide them with exactly what they need. When you do that, they begin to trust you, and you ultimately start to build a loyal following who believes in you, your brand, and what you’re selling.

Prepare to Sacrifice

Within the first year of your business, prepare yourself to make sacrifices. Running a business takes a lot of time. The reality is that you’ll work more hours for yourself than you ever did at your corporate, full-time job. That’s entrepreneur life for you, but the reward is worth it when you see your hard work paying off. Personally, I had to trade nights out for nights of work.

The Money Doesn’t Come Right Away 

Starting a business doesn’t mean instant profit. It could take a year or longer to see a consistent and profitable income. This is usually because, within the first year, your expenses go towards building a solid foundation for your business. You’re paying for different startup costs, new equipment, software, tech, etc. You may even find yourself working for free to build a clientele that you can work with in the future. So, before you start a business – don’t quit your day job just yet. Set aside some money so that you can compensate for the days that your new business doesn’t bring any income. 

Conclusion 

Running a business is hard and takes a lot of sacrifices. If you’re not 100% passionate about why you started and who you’re doing it for, it’s easy to get lost in the struggle of trying to build a successful company.

 

The thought of quitting will often cross your mind, but when it does – take a step back and reevaluate where you are in your business and if it’s in the direction you want to be going. Know that you will have to pivot along the way and adjust to the many challenges that come your way, but these are the things that will make you stronger. Take those lessons, learn from them, and grow.

 

If you’re seeking extra help and guidance along the way, check out my free resources here or you can join our membership – The Creative Boss Society. 

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About Crystal

 

Crystal is the Creative Director, Photo Stylist, and Commercial Photographer behind Crystal Clear Creative Studios. From increased sales, visibility, and trends to conversions and full production, Crystal and her team, experts on the subject matter, provide clients with confidence to take your photography and videography needs off your plate. We support you in your growth with the creation and implementation of transformative ideas.

The Importance of an Entrepreneurial Mindset

The Importance of an Entrepreneurial Mindset

The Blog

The Importance of an Entrepreneurial Mindset

The Importance of Entrepreneurial Mindset

Your mindset is everything when you’re starting in your business. Finding ways to practice a positive mindset routine can make all the difference when the going gets tough.

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eing an entrepreneur is no easy feat, but it can be so rewarding when you see your hard work come to fruition.

It’s easy to feel bored or lost because you hear yourself all the time, but how is it really looking? Are you letting the negative thoughts get in the way of your abilities? Here are a few reasons why entrepreneurial mindset work is so important.

No Comparison Mindset 

By now, you know that social media can be a blessing and a curse. Chances are at some point in your life, you have found yourself endlessly scrolling through your Instagram feed. Then, by the time you put your phone down, your mood has changed for the worse.

 

Subconsciously, you spent all that time comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs and their progress. You start doubting your capabilities and your services and wonder if this life is for you.I’m here to tell you that it is. Sometimes, we all need a little reminder that everyone is on their own path—focus on yourself and your success, and no one else’s. You have no idea what’s going on behind closed doors.

 

Remember that your journey is different than everyone else’s. Instead, turn comparison into inspiration for how to make things better in your own business. What’s working for that person that you can incorporate into your business? Not everyone is as perfect as social media makes them out to be.

 

You Are Enough Mindset

Don’t wait until you feel “ready” to take the next steps in your business because that day may never come. There’s no better time than the present to take action, whether you’re just beginning or scaling upwards. You have the tools to get started, and you can learn the rest along the way. Putting pressure on yourself to know everything is counterproductive. Free resources and content are great starting points, but eventually, you need to go for it. Don’t let your fear of failure hold you back from all the possibilities that are available to you. As long as you know that you will make mistakes along the way, learn from them, and keep going. 

 

Abundance Mindset

One thing to be clear about right now is that there is room for you and your business in the online world. Despite what people say about there being too many entrepreneurs or that the market is too saturated is not true. You, too, can succeed as an entrepreneur, friend. It’s so important that you get rid of the scarcity mindset and start believing that you are capable of abundance. You can have that 6-figure launch you’ve always dreamed of, but you need to believe that you can do it. Sometimes, a little accountability and support can play a huge role in getting you where you want to be as a business owner. This is why I’ve created the Creative Boss Society. It’s an opportunity for you to get the systems and strategies you need to move your business forward.

 

Conclusion

Mastering your mindset is an ongoing process. There are so many different ways to work on yourself as a person and as a business owner. Know that the entrepreneurial journey is not an easy one, and you should be so proud of yourself for making the first steps towards a better you. If you need action plans that are straight forward and easy to implement, check out our membership program. Here, you’ll learn to leverage success, grow month to month, and develop new relationships with other business owners too!

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About Crystal

 

Crystal is the Creative Director, Photo Stylist, and Commercial Photographer behind Crystal Clear Creative Studios. From increased sales, visibility, and trends to conversions and full production, Crystal and her team, experts on the subject matter, provide clients with confidence to take your photography and videography needs off your plate. We support you in your growth with the creation and implementation of transformative ideas.

The Importance of an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Your Brand Story and the Role Images Play

Every successful business has developed and shared its story in a way that their audience can relate to.

brand story is how you build strong, emotional connections with your ideal audience. Your products are an addition to that. You may create unique products, but what people are really buying into is the story you put out into the world. It’s what your customers resonate with most and why they become loyal to you and your brand over time.

Build the Foundation

Your brand story is what builds the foundation of your business. It’s what helps your ideal audience understand who you are, what you do, what you stand for, and why they should choose you. Your story is what they care about most and why they, ultimately, buy from you. Share the most authentic pieces of your story that people can relate to and care about.

 

Every story has a beginning, middle, and end. Your brand story is no different. The beginning is where you want to be clear. Who is this story for? The middle is where you address the problems and struggles your audience may have. And, the end is how you can help.

 

Your customers are the main characters of the story. You want to give them a visual example of where they fit into your brand. They need to be able to see themselves and their problems answered with the help of your product.

 

How you want your audience to feel when they come across your brand should be incorporated into your designs, logos, color palettes, and packaging.

 

Where Your Photos Come In

 

Using your product images to help tell your brand story is the easiest way to deepen the connection with your audience. Specific elements like models or props are a great way for you to make your brand more relatable.

 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – people relate to people. The types of models you use, how they interact with your products, what they’re wearing – everything goes back to your brand story, and what it represents. When you know your ideal customer and understand their journey, it’s easier for you to create the right images that resonate with them most.

 

If you outsource your product photography, connect with someone who understands your story and how you want to share it. If you struggle to communicate your product photo ideas to your photographer, I cover everything you need to know here.

 

Your images should show how your products solve your customer’s problems. Use your photos as a way to capture how they make people feel, what it can do to help make life easier, etc. There’s a lot of power in visual storytelling. Share yours in a way that captivates your audience.

 

Conclusion

 

Every piece of your brand story (the good and the bad) needs to be told. It’s the not-so-glamorous parts that your audience will most likely relate to. How can you incorporate that into your visuals? Create solutions through your photos. Your brand story should show how you can help others solve their biggest problems and why you are the person who can solve it. Your audience wants to feel understood. Sharing every aspect of your story with them builds trust and stronger relationships.

 

If you want to reevaluate your offer or go back to some of the necessary steps because your company is brand new, then let’s talk. The Creative Boss Society is where I’m teaching other creatives how to use methods that I have applied in my brand and business to grow. I will help you get straight to the strategy that is working for you. Let me know if you have any questions. I’d love to help! You can also find me on Instagram.

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Recent Posts:

About Crystal

 

Crystal is the Creative Director, Photo Stylist, and Commercial Photographer behind Crystal Clear Creative Studios. From increased sales, visibility, and trends to conversions and full production, Crystal and her team, experts on the subject matter, provide clients with confidence to take your photography and videography needs off your plate. We support you in your growth with the creation and implementation of transformative ideas.

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