Hi! I just introduced myself over in the intro forum.

I wanted to know if there were any business owners here? If so, I have questions.

1. How do you deal w/getting things done? I am jumping from thing to thing and feeling like my wheels are spinning. I am trying to do some things that I am not really experienced at like "Graphic Design" type things. I am trying to start a photography business and the marketing part of this in regards to graphic design are killing me. One, because I am still learning it and two because I need to be doing other things like marketing etc... but its all part of the same thing.

2. Can you give me some pointers on how to make things easier in regards to keeping up w/stuff etc...

I also work a day job so, I am doing this at night and staying up till 2:00 AM to get things done.

I am on ADD medicine but maybe not high enough. I just got my Dr. to switch me to Desoxyn after being on Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine. They others worked but I really got crabby after coming off. I really like the Desoxyn but think my Dr. did not give me a big enough dose to start with.

Thanks for any info. I appreciate it.

Paul

Not to be too forward, but how old are you? Is this the first attempt at your own businesses? If you don't mind me asking, does you day job have any connection to you own personal businesses?

I have had two businesses, but the reality of dealing with each were very different and very closely connected to the questions above.. I too am looking to start another now, mainly because the first two were so critical in the learning process..

Hi! I just introduced myself over in the intro forum.

I wanted to know if there were any business owners here? If so, I have questions.

1. How do you deal w/getting things done? I am jumping from thing to thing and feeling like my wheels are spinning. I am trying to do some things that I am not really experienced at like "Graphic Design" type things. I am trying to start a photography business and the marketing part of this in regards to graphic design are killing me. One, because I am still learning it and two because I need to be doing other things like marketing etc... but its all part of the same thing.

2. Can you give me some pointers on how to make things easier in regards to keeping up w/stuff etc...

I also work a day job so, I am doing this at night and staying up till 2:00 AM to get things done.

I am on ADD medicine but maybe not high enough. I just got my Dr. to switch me to Desoxyn after being on Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine. They others worked but I really got crabby after coming off. I really like the Desoxyn but think my Dr. did not give me a big enough dose to start with.

Thanks for any info. I appreciate it.

Paul

Hi! I just introduced myself over in the intro forum.

I wanted to know if there were any business owners here? If so, I have questions.

1. How do you deal w/getting things done? I am jumping from thing to thing and feeling like my wheels are spinning. I am trying to do some things that I am not really experienced at like "Graphic Design" type things. I am trying to start a photography business and the marketing part of this in regards to graphic design are killing me. One, because I am still learning it and two because I need to be doing other things like marketing etc... but its all part of the same thing.

2. Can you give me some pointers on how to make things easier in regards to keeping up w/stuff etc...

I also work a day job so, I am doing this at night and staying up till 2:00 AM to get things done.

I am on ADD medicine but maybe not high enough. I just got my Dr. to switch me to Desoxyn after being on Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine. They others worked but I really got crabby after coming off. I really like the Desoxyn but think my Dr. did not give me a big enough dose to start with.

Thanks for any info. I appreciate it.

Paul

The first thing I would recommend to any small business owner is to read the book the "E-Myth Revisited" by Michael Gerber. An absolute MUST read for the small business owner. I can't stress that enough. I own a couple of businesses, my primary business and my Real Estate holding companies. The best advice I can give you, and what this book will give you, is to focus on what will drive revenue in the door first. Too many of us get caught up in doing "Everything" and losing focus on the primary and crucial initial task; generating revenue. Ask yourself when you are doing things, "Is this going to make me money, or is this just busy work that I don't need to be doing right now"? The whole Stephen Covey philosophy of big rocks vs little rocks. Focus only on the big rocks in the beginning, and the mainly on the big rocks when things are up and running.

Don't be afraid to invest in help also. I know it is hard at first, but depending on the business and it's potential for income, it might make sense to hire someone else to do the crap that needs to be done but is not focused on revenue generation. I have hired interns, at very affordable wages before, and it was a god send in getting stuff off the ground. My business is finance related, so I went to the website of one of the upper echelon colleges here and posted a classified ad. I was able to get talented and eager help for about $9-$11 an hour. Just a thought.

Lastly, but important is do you have a business plan? I know for us ADD'ers this is hard as hell to do, but it really helps. Will help you focus on what you should be doing first.

I would be happy to help you with anything more specific then this generalized response if you like. Just IM me if you feel like it. Thanks and good luck to you.

I own a photographic business in London. I am a graphic designer by profession.

I started the business, like you, in my 'free time' and had to take care of all the marketing/design/accounts/admin etc. myself.

Its now been 4 years and although I'm making money - its been a hectic ride and very, very stressful. And very rewarding.

I employ several freelance photographers, we work for several big clients, from every business sector.

I have invoices outstanding for over 11 months, for thousands of pounds. Not because the clients don't pay - but because I don't get my act together, and do the admin stuff.

I miss client deadlines, because I over commit myself and don't manage my time correctly.

My ONLY saving grace - and why some customers come back, even after missed deadlines...broken promises, is because I am talented and my PR skills are phenomenal (gained from years of disaster recovery... always causing my own disasters).

If I didn't ALSO do regular freelance design work, the business would NEVER have survived, due to SELF-INDUCED cash flow problems.

And I'm medicated. I'm very capable and trained in marketing and graphic design.



I'm NOT trying to discourage you - on the contrary - I know, from personal experience, that you can do it!!

You've chosen one of the most demanding businesses in terms of marketing (every guy with a digi camera calls himself a professional photographer and will work for much cheaper than you).

Its also one of the most demanding in terms of people and organisational skills: pulling together a photoshoot, involving studios, models, agencies, artists, stylists, artistic directors all whilst pushing the clock and nursing a client... is not easy when every minute you go over time, costs thousands of pounds.

Also - photography is about 20% of what we do on a daily basis - the rest is spent on marketing, POST PRODUCTION (how is your photoshop skills?), administration, organising.

***********

My advice to you: if you are going to try and do this on your own:

START SMALL.

STOP SPENDING TIME ON MARKETING and SET UP YOUR ADMIN PROCESSES FIRST


DO THIS RIGHT NOW...

Set up a system for INVOICING... for INVENTORY... for BANKING... for PAYING BILLS...

SET UP YOUR SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING THE PHOTOS... are you going to post them digitally... or print them?

I can't STRESS how important it is, that you START SMALL and START WELL.

NEXT - PLAN YOUR WORK-FLOW.
Decide how much time you're going to be shooting, what processes you're going to follow... post production.. how much time... how many pictures at each shoot... how do you develop the photos... how do you deliver the photos... when do you invoice. When do you pay the models...

PASTE THIS ON YOUR WALL --- STICK TO IT... MY STUDIO WALLS LOOK LIKE A KINDER-GARDEN... EVERY PROCESS HAS STEPS THAT HAS TO BE FOLLOWED.


THEN -- PLAN YOUR WORK-FLOW SOME MORE
HAve you thought of a CATALOGUING system... how are you going to find so-and-so's pictures, when they come back three years down the line, and want to buy copies for lots of money?

To illustrate: I didn't plan properly. I started with a CD catalogue. That worked... for about three months... then I started having 100s of CDs... in HUNDREDS of cases...

Then I had to move over to a digital solution --- but what about all the old CDs? Still figuring that one out. Lost lots of money, cos I can't find pictures for clients who come back for them.


NEXT Find ONE, NON-PAYING, NON-IMPORTANT client.... test your systems on them (use the photos in your portfolio). DO THE WHOLE PROCESS WITH THEM.. RIGHT THROUGH TO A MOCK INVOICE... If it all goes without a hitch. Do another one.


NOW spend the time on MARKETING

Don't go mad on marketing. Keep it simple.

Simple web site. Simple, effective portfolio. CHOOSE TIMELESS IMAGES THAT DONT NEED REGULAR UPDATING... KEEP INFORMATION ON WEB SITE GENERIC... SO IT DOESNT NEED CONSTANT UPDATING

You've got ADD - you won't remember to do the updates!!


Buy RECURRING advertising, so it keeps running in the background, and you dn't have to get back to it all the time.



FINALLY - WORK OUT A WEEKLY SCHEDULE

I give myself THREE DAYS A WEEK OF MARKETING...ONE DAY FOR ADMIN... THE REST FOR SHOOTING AND DOING POST PRODUCTION!!!


I never stick to it. Heck, I'm ADD -- what do you expect!



FINALLY -- AS SOON AS YOU EARN ENOUGH MONEY -- DONT BE TEMPTED TO BUY THAT NEW LENSE....

GET A JUNIOR TO DO YOUR ADMIN.


You can check out our website on my profile. I'm here if you need any advice / help / pointers.

Just don't forget... I probably won't return your calls the first time... lol... I'm sure you understand.... just keep on tryin! :D

impasto- Great post!

You can open a free webstore at Ecrater for practice. It's very easy to open a store. They accept Paypal & Google Checkout. You can also sign up for credit card processing through paypal.

There are business cataloging software programs available for business owners that can help you with uploading photos and tracking inventory.

I use icontact for marketing newsletters to my customers. You can upload customer email addresses in bulk, create a marketing letter with links to your website. You can then track the newletters to see who's opened it, if they have gone into your webstore, if they have unsubscribed, if they have forwarded your letter to others. You can track all that good stuff and it's very easy.

You can click on my link below to take a look at my ecrater webstore.

If you have any questions about the above please feel free to ask.

Some great advice posted already, here's my $.02. One thing I have found crucial to getting by when there aren't enough hours in the day and days in the week is to take a few minutes on Sunday night and prioritize and schedule everything for the upcoming week, so that I can make sure I don't miss the high priority things by allowing low priority but urgent things to distract from them. I guess similar to the big/small rocks thing posted above. Can't say I always stick to it:rolleyes:, but when I do it helps. Good luck!

Thanks everyone for the GREAT replies.

Impasto, your post was very helpful especially because you are doing close to the same thing I want to do. Don't be suprised if I don't call or PM you sometime. Thanks again for the great post.

The D , I will look into getting that book. Everything you said makes good sense. I might PM you so keep an eye out.

Attainathon, I am 38. I am currently a network administrator and have had a small consulting business on the side but never had a business that I wanted to be my sole income. This business will be my first real stand alone business when I finally quit my day job sometime this year. I am curious about your questions. Can you tie my answers back to them? Thanks..

Paul

Thanks very much for this post!

I think that impasto step by step guide should be put in front of the forum because it s not only for business owners but can be used by many adults who must manage multiple lives in a week ( work, family, house keeping, paperworks , .... )

Great, great post. Should be put in the "Resources and Tools" forums.

"PLAN YOUR WORK-FLOW."

Every Adders should be talk about this. I m from a country ( France ) where add is almost not know . So for now thirty years i have had almost no real help.

Simply put , during my student and young adult life, being able to organise my space ( read : forcing me to organise my space ) has save my life !

I'm self employed for over 5 years now, network admin. The challenges you mention are not work related it's a pure ADD thing. I still struggle every day.
Document your work processes and flow, make yourself a manual. Something like MacDonalds would give their new employees. pretend your making it for someone who will take over when your sick/on vacation. Research 'Stanadard Operating Procedures' to see what I mean. (thats E-myth).
Gotta run..