Before Top-Tier Headshots was started, I made an attempt at starting another photography business. That first attempt was ultimately a failure. What went wrong?
1) Lack of Focus
I had always viewed this as a side gig while I worked at or was looking for a "real job." I didn't have the mindset that I would be able to make this work as a full-time career, even though I wished I could. As a result, I never really gave it the effort it needed to get the business off the ground.
2) Lack of Direction
I had been doing photography for years as a passionate hobby. But when it came to the business side of things, I was willing to do just about any type of photography if people paid me for it. I didn't have any real sense of direction for my business and I didn't even know who my ideal client was. Combine that with a lack of direction in marketing, and you've got a recipe for failure.
3) Lack of a Mentor
I'm sure some business owners make it without having a mentor behind them. But without me realizing it, not having one crippled me from day one. I believe this also contributed to points one and two. A good business mentor can help you gain or clarify your focus and direction. They can also provide accountability for helping you set big goals and work towards achieving them. Those were all things I desperately needed and the lack of a mentor really hindered that first attempt from taking off.
I'm thankful to say that Top-Tier Headshots, from day one, has had all of those key ingredients: focus, direction, and an amazing mentor (thanks, Jon!).
So what's my advice for budding entrepreneurs?
Get focused. Get some direction. And for goodness' sake, get yourself a mentor.
(P.S. I've had so many people ask me about my LinkedIn marketing strategy that I've decided to give mentoring a go myself. It's been a powerhouse method for building my brand. Drop me a line if you'd like to learn more!)