What’s It Really Take To Be Successful?
(c) by Michael Stern
Please meet a fabulous new contributor to the PhotoBizCoach blog. Michael is not just a colleague that I personally appreciate but he is also just a great guy. Enjoy his point of view and let us know how you feel about this post!
As I continue to transition to the education, public speaking and writing side of the photographic industry, I’m surprised at the lack of basic professional business skills (common sense skills) that early-career (and often mid-career) artists frequently lack. Their numbers are huge. Actually this phenomenon is not exclusively an artist issue but since that’s my big thing, for purposes of this post, it is. The mastery of the following list is crucial if you want to be taken seriously and have professional credibility. This will also give you negotiating leverage.
1) Always do what you promise to do, without excuses or procrastination, in high-quality ways (show up on time, be well-groomed, be pleasant, be knowledgeable, etc.) and always with a smile. It’s OK to exceed a promise but never under-deliver a promise. Once attached, the bad rap (of being unreliable) is very hard to separate from.
2) Always communicate in a professional way. Be fanatical about typos and grammatical errors in all correspondence sent out. You want your audience to consume only the best from you. The devotion to excellence directs a positive light onto all that is you and your world. Think of it as the foundation of your marketing and branding processes.
3) Educate yourself. Daily. Be in a constant state of learning. I learn something everyday from teaching, writing, parenting, gardening, being healthy, being mindful, minding my business practices, etc. My list is long. And I continue to add to it. I’m able to extract daily kernels of knowledge. Don’t discard or dismiss any experience without first vetting it for that hidden kernel. You’d be amazed at what you regard as being wasteful.
4) Take care of your emotional state. This is perhaps the most difficult for me to manage on a daily basis, but that doesn’t mean I don’t try. Getting quality rest, eating healthful food, play time and someone to talk to are a few of my techniques.
5) Learn financial management. Spend less than you earn. Make your money work for you as well as you working for your money. Tough to master, but the long-term payoffs are sweet. Define what you want and what you need. If you can’t pay cash can you really buy it? I don’t make a purchase until I have the funds available. I look for no-interest financing options and then make sure I pay it off within the allotted time. I can always pay it off if need be. I appreciate the power that comes with this knowledge. Get in the habit of saving, anywhere and everywhere you can. Don’t be concerned with what your friends make, be concerned with how frequently you pay into your future by spending less today.
This very short list is intended to get you thinking about the topics. If you don’t begin mastering these basic habits, it’s my opinion that you’ll struggle to develop and maintain long-term life and career success.
Be well and good luck in your pursuits!
Michael
On the spot. Nothing to add. If these 5 points are not the true basics, which are?
I’m in agreement here. # 2 is my “idea”. As an English man, who taught English Literature, it annoys me, even when a word is misplaced in a sentence. People should learn to proof read there written words..
MikeS…thanks for writing. Although these are basic steps, the young-uns have not been taught these introductory rules for professional success. This is the fault of the generation ahead of them (us) for we should turnaround and help/teach them.
Regards,
Michael
Leroy..couldn’t agree more. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Thank you for this informative article. Indeed I learnt more about his idea.
I do agree with most of Michael stuff.
Thanks again for sharing.
kombizz…thanks for your kind words. Where are you from?
Good luck with your career!
Basic information, but not always common knowledge. Great article!
You nailed it all here Michael; great 5 points that cover it all. I like the over deliver part the best.
Good luck to all!
Hey Michael, this should be a “sticky” on every computer screen…it’s just common sense, but how many of us always practice common sense. #4 should be so easy to accomplish since it’s just about the individual making lifestyle changes, but it’s the one where I fail at miserably!
Jon..always good to hear from you. I agree, #4 is a toughy and as I said I struggle with it everyday. Just finished hand watering the favorite parts of my garden…this keeps me sane most days!
Jeremy and Patricia….appreciate the responses and yes usually common sense solutions are best and often the simplest.
As I re-evaluate and re-build a web site I want to ensure that my clients know that I am totally dedicated to professional customer service and communications with the client at all costs. Just because we have gone High Tech does not mean that we should not be High Touch. After all, we are providing a service (depending on your niche in the market) that records life’s precious moments – for the wedding and family portrait photographer or images that tell a story or sell a product. Ultimately, we should never lose sight that we are working with real live people who have hopes, aspirations, dreams, deadlines and some type of stress in their life – business or personal. As a Professional Photographer it is my job to ensure that I don’t contribute to their stress, but give the assurance that I will over deliver on my commitments. I see so many young photographers that don’t understand the importance of timely and professional communications with their customers. Nothing leaves my estimates, progress reports, invoices, emails or written thank you notes (a lost art it seems) without ensuring that they are free of typos, spelling and grammatically correct. After all, I’m a Professional Business Person and my clients should be made to feel that their needs are my number one priority.