Photography and education
14 years ago (around 2004-2005) I realized that photography is what I want to do for a living. It became my dream and my passion. And It took me 8 years to quit my day job and dedicate myself to do what I truly love: photography and education.
2013 was my last year I spent in a gray cubicle (I was an IT guy) and it was the hardest year in my whole career as IT specialist.
Hardest because I wanted to quit my full time job so desperately that inability to do so almost lead me to a depression. In this article I want to share with you a few lessons I've learned during this time.
Probably it took me longer than it should have, but I've chosen a long way and don't regret any decision I've made on my way to freedom.
Few lessons I've learned during this time
- Do not rely on your savings: instead, make sure your business is running at a maximum speed you can get at the time you decide to cut the flow of your income.
Savings may help, but also may keep you too relaxed at times when you need to run things full throttle. A long waiting list of your assignment schedule will give you more security than a good deposit into a savings account.
- Keep your day job as long as needed to feel financially secure with your business.
Keeping paycheck coming for as long as possible will let you to be more "picky" with your business clients, and hold on your pricing.
It takes time to develop a strong client base, and having a freedom to say "No" for clients who you do not want to work with and not to lower your prices can help tremendously. With all your living expenses covered by paychecks you can invest in your photography much more (in percent from what you are making) comparing to a "real business". Use this advantage to build a good and reputable foundation for your business.
- Do not tell nor discuss your possible quit time at your work prior 2 week notice.
Telling your boss that you are going to quit in 3-5 months may be a good idea only if you are really good friends with your boss and the company is small.
- Run a photography business like it is your main source of income for a full year to learn yearly cycles and other oscillations on a projected income.
You can't judge how well your photography will be going based on 3-4 months performance. There will be periods of time when you'll have less (or more) clients for several months in a row. Being operational for a full year will give you a better idea of such times.
- Learn how to do your work fast. Be productive.
Because you won't have a lot of time to dedicate to your business, learn how to perform with a maximum productivity in both: your day job and your business.
Chatting every 15 minutes and drinking coffee with your colleges? Not for you if you run a business at the same time. Be professional and build habits of highly productive people. There is a very little time left for the business after your work (and on weekends), and you better learn how to spend it wisely.
- Surround yourself with like-minded people.
If all of your friends can only dream about beer and TV after work and once-a-year vacation trip to the Bahamas, it is better to be alone than with friends like that. When I realized that among my friends I was the only one who wanted to talk about building your own business, I quit hanging out with them. Instead, we (my wife & I, co-owner of our business) started watching business training, and inspirational videos. We surrounded ourselves with virtual, but highly motivational people.
It may sounds crazy, I know. But you have only 2 choices: stay where you are or move forward and build your freedom. You need to be surrounded by like-minded people. People who will support you, critique you and encourage you not to give up.
- Stop watching TV. Stop reading gossip and political (just another gossip) news.
They are not for you. All mass media works to entertain unhappy workers who hate their jobs, so they can keep doing it. Without such entertainment they won't survive.
Cut your self off from things which pull your attention away and soothes your pain from not having your dreams fulfilled. Concentrate on what is important for you and your goals. The prize at the end is well worth it!
Keep going, and one day you'll make the transition — watch the video at the top of this page.