Week Recap! First Interview and 3 tips for the newly self employed!

Happy Rainy Sunday!

It’s Sunday, one of my favorite days of the week! This post is a lengthly one and directed more towards freelancers/photographers, but I think anybody can take some tips from the post below!

Sundays are the best for recharging, resetting for the week. Sundays are also super inspiring for me. When I’m not photographing a wedding, family sessions or engagement sessions on Sundays, I am sleeping in (until 9 LOL, yes that is sleeping in to me), I am most likely getting breakfast tacos and margaritas with my amazing boyfriend at Marias Taco Xpress. 

This Sunday morning is a little different.  I woke up around 8 to a heavy downpour on our windows and looked over at my cute boyfriend sleeping like an angel.  Welp, I said in my mind, guess no run, *again* since it has been raining steadily for about a week now in Austin. So, instead I got up, went to my balcony, my zen place, turned on my calm meditation music and practiced some yoga. A slow start to the morning, but a much needed slow morning. I was supposed to photograph a wedding today, but had a client last minute cancel on me. Which means, a.- I get the day to myself, b.- One less pay check I am getting for the month. Oh the joy’s of freelancing, am I right? I’m certainly not calling anyone out, this has happened in the past before and it will happen again I’m sure, but it’s just part of life and part of the freelancing world! We must take the good with the bad, and the bad with the good. Life happens, as I tell my clients all the time, I get it, we are all humans. 

So, instead of stressing out trying to book something for this day, only a few days before…I let it go and I’m taking the day to spend it getting things done, business and house-wise, and spend time with our families. In the end, this is part of the journey, freelancing is not all smiles and rainbows, as we all come to know, and that is ok!!

Tip 1: Rest when you need to and listen to your body!

I think it’s important that as people, as artist, as photographers, as freelancers, that we do take time to ourselves. Even if it is just 10 minutes a morning to breathe, or 30 minutes of moving/exercising a day. This is what I do personally and can vouch for this! Let go of the b.s. and appreciate all of the good, wonderful things that are happening NOW. Those few minutes every morning can jump start you to having the best, positive day you can. The worst thing you can do is overwork your body and/or mind. Remember, being your own boss means making your own schedule. When I first started freelancing, Google Calendar became my BFF, and I would schedule every little thing and hold myself accountable. So, schedule your YOU time, your work outs, stick to them, but make sure to listen to your body and rest when your body is telling you to!

Tip 2: Take the risk, when you are ready! I want to talk about taking risk as well in this post. I took a leap of faith this week and did my first interview about myself and Wild Rose Photo Studio!! On top of it being my first interview pretty much ever, it was live on Facebook!! Ahh, to say I was nervous, borderline terrified, is a complete understatement. I am the introverted extrovert and absolutely hate public speaking (with a passion). By the end of the interview, I was feelin’ like Eminem, palms sweaty and all, but I also felt really, really good after it was done! In the interview we talk about my career journey, share some words of advice, talk about my side hustle Lucky Nebula, and I share my money manifesting playlist and more. Taking a risk when you are ready is key. Listening to you gut is also extremely crucial! Ultimately  you may not be 100% ready, but your gut feeling will tell you yes you are ready or to wait a bit, listen to your gut!

Jacky, of Elevate like a Boss, and Hustle Up ATX: Networking for Ladies of Austin, is just phenomenal! It’s so funny because we actually met 2 years ago when I had first started Wild Rose Photo Studio, and took my big leap! She hired me for a photo shoot and we hit it off great, listening to 90’s r&b, sipping mimosas and had a blast taking some photos! I then found this awesome group on Facebook, Hustle Up ATX: Ladies who Network, and realized Jacky was the admin and in charge of this amazing group. For a few months we have been planning to catch up, and film for her Taking the Leap series on her page, and glad we got to finally link up! Huge shoutout to Jacky for having me for the interview and creating this girl power group! I encourage any other self employed ladies should join their Facebook group for local support and networking!

Here is the live interview.

Here is the Money Manifestation Playlist I mentioned in the video.

We met last Thursday and that’s when I did my first interview, live on Facebook! I wanted to link the video here because I did talk about some interesting topics and felt like I have a little more to say! When Jacky asked what is one piece of advice to give to others wanted to take the leap, my answer was find something you are truly, totally passionate about. And I meant that. After all if this is really what you are going to do for the rest of your life you better freakin’ LOVE it! Because even the best careers have bad days and good days, you have to make sure it is worth it at the end of the day. I feel like the only way to really do that is to be doing what you love and breathe every single day. And one more thing I would tell people wanting to take the leap is that there is no easy way to success and you must show up every day, for yourself first and foremost.

Tip 3: Success is what you make it.

Success, as most other challenging things, is not linear and is not easy. There are going to be days where you want to quit, maybe even give up, but we MUST keep pushing through! Success to you means something completely different to some one else, I promise. Remember there is no such thing as “perfect”. Owning your own business and starting it all from the ground up, is no walk in the park, and it is certainly not what Instagram makes it seem. Sure, yeah you get to sleep in when you want, make your own schedule, and many other benefits. But it is also confusing, time consuming, and stressful as hell. Really there are no “off” days. But it is so worth it at the end of the day, at least that’s how I feel which tells me that I am on my right path. Make some goals, write them down, and measure your achievements in a few months, you might be pleasantly surprised at all your hard work! And maybe you are just starting out or in a rut, listen to my playlist above for some money motivation. 🙂 

As some may know, I have a second business Lucky Nebula. I hand make aromatherapy soy candles, aromatherapy bath salts, crystal necklace and keychains, and more. Starting Lucky Nebula last year in winter 2017, only one year after Wild Rose Photo Studio, was a huge risk on it’s own. Who knew my little side business would be it’s own standing business in only a few months after starting! Thankful for all the support from family, friends, and organic customers just from social media or the website! So, this week with Lucky Nebula I took another big risk, and I could not be more excited. I’m super nervous and anxious to see how it all turns out, but loving that I took the jump!!

I hope this post bring some motivation to your week and you go out and crush all your goals!

Only a few more months left in 2018…isn’t that just crazy! Let’s end this year with a bang! 

 

XOXO, Andrea