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2020 Recap, Lessons Learned

2020 Recap, Lessons Learned

2020 Recap, Lessons Learned

Welcome to the Crystal Clear Podcast where we strive to empower the everyday creative boss to elevate and grow a business that matches your creativity and passion for creating products.

 

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As I reflect on 2020 I share some of the top lessons that I learned during the year. 2020 was a year with a lot of negativity but the year also brought a lot of really good things like clarity, direction, and simplifying areas of life and business. I think going back and looking at a few takeaways from the year and what came of it really helps to put things into perspective for where I plan to go in 2021. 

Lessons I learned in 2020:

 

  • I learned to listen to myself. I had a lot of time for reflection and time spent in the unknown so it forced me to look at the things I can control. Sometimes we get so caught up in all the things that other people are doing that we forget to stop and ask ourselves “Is this something that I like or want to be doing?”. When everyone around us is launching something new and exciting it is easy to feel like we need to be doing that also. But, what I realized in 2020 is that I needed to slow down and really evaluate what it was that I wasn’t for myself and for my business. Ultimately, this is your life and all you have is the family and friends closest to you so do the things that make you truly happy. For me, that was doing less and understanding that sometimes less actually is more. I was able to do less of things thing I originally thought to be important and my business still grew.
  • I focused on my mindset. Mindset is a huge component for business and being successful. If your mind isn’t in the right place it can begin to hinder your growth and your goals. My goal in 2020 was to simplify and at the time I didn’t think it would be possible to grow the way I wanted to while also simplifying things. But, being able to pull out of everyone else’s orbit and really hone in on the things that I really wanted and focus less on the things I thought others wanted of me. My goal was to gain more clients, but I didn’t want just any clients. I wanted ones that would work with me consistently and grow through and with me. One of the best things I was able to do at the end of the year was an audit of my business. I was able to see that through simplifying I was still able to get the clients I desired and reach my goals.
  • I dropped the planning and lived in the now. It wasn’t easy for me. Not having a plan just isn’t something that I regularly do. But, in 2020 pretty much everything that I planned flew out the window which threw me for a loop and forced me to learn how to live in the now and not worry about planning everything. The best part is by doing this and living in the moment it left open the freedom I was seeking to step away from social media, the computer and take the time off. During my end of the year audit, I was able to see that my business grew 30% last year. I was able to reach my goals by controlling less than I usually would.
  • I learned that spending less time on social media didn’t crush my business. This is so tricky and can feel scary. But, I dropped off. I reduced the time I spent on social media and the content I was putting out. I pulled back and was able to focus on the things I wanted the most and then go pursue after those dreams.
  • I was able to explore my creativity in ways I hadn’t done before. I began to dip my toes into video and the different ways video can be used in business. Which lead me to be able to offer more and deepen the relationships that I already have.

    What can you take away from 2020? Have you stopped to evaluate and audit your business or are you throwing it in the trash and moving on?

    Let me know, I would love to see if this insight from my year might have helped you realize some of the positive things you might have experienced too!

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About Crystal

Corporate America had me at hello for 10 years. And just when I thought I was where I was supposed to be, God changed the narrative and helped me find more time for my husband and two beautiful girls through my own photography business. Now, I live for all things styled photography and serving the business community exclusively through styled imagery and personal brand photography.

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What You Need to Know Before Starting a Business

What You Need to Know Before Starting a Business

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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.

Y

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.

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