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After a few months working 1:1 with Jan, we officially wrapped up her mentorship with one of my favorites, an exit interview! Jan is based in Wisconsin and owns a photography business called Shadow Dog Photography specializing in dogs and their people. While Jan already had an established brand, she knew she wanted to take her portrait business to the next level and generate those larger sales. I put together a few questions for Jan to help better understand why she needed me in her life and more importantly how successful her business has become.
Karinda: What was your business like when we started working together? What was it that you felt stuck on that finally pushed you to hire me?
Jan: Well, for me, I was pretty happy with where I was, but I knew I could scale. It has really helped me scale and work smarter, not harder. I think that’s we talked a lot about was to focus on what’s important. Always know the extra things but get rid of that extra thing that you don’t need. Simplify and automate your business to make it easier.
Karinda: So what do you think is the biggest change that you’ve noticed since we worked together?
Jan: I’ve noticed just that I can make the big sales, I made sales before but now I can find the people that want to spend more. And sure you have to get comfortable with maybe less clients, but that’s totally fine. So that’s been a really nice change. But it’s really I’d say the biggest change is really that self reflection in why I am doing what I do.
Karinda: I think a big thing that I have noticed in you is the shift in the whole idea of giving back, which is really important to you. Giving back in a smart way, where you’re also being paid well, and not burning yourself out like giving, giving, giving in every way. And then feeling like what do I have to show from all of this, I think that process and mindset have changed quite a bit.
Jan: You summed that up really well, because yes, I got super excited to give back. I knew I was doing what I really liked to do, and I didn’t care if I got paid. But then I would get a little unhappy when I felt a little burnt out or a lot of burned out. That made it hard. I think it was when you said to me all this effort and time I spend doing calendar contests and the different fundraisers were a lot. But if I were to put that kind of effort into finding my ideal clients, where would I be? I had to really reflect on that. In the second half of this year, I have a couple of upcoming fundraisers, I’m trying to decide if I have that uncomfortable conversation and say, you know what, I’m going to have to decline on the extra event and focus on the large fundraiser.
Karinda: I think that’s something to keep in mind too. Instead, if you focus on getting full paying portrait clients that are making you lots of money, you can give back in a different way because you have the extra money in the funds, where you can just say, you know what, I’m going to write them a $5,000 check this year. As opposed to giving back in a way that’s like, busting your neck and your back.
Jan: Yes, I really appreciated that conversation because I will just blindly say yes because I get excited and think about what we can do. But then I get burnt out and I’m editing all these images, sending them and you hope someone will book a full session because they just saw how cute those images were. Instead, they want a little snap shot and I’m left with a loss of all this time that I can’t get back in my life.
Karinda: What made you take the leap and decide to work with me one on one?
Jan: I didn’t know of you until talking to Charlotte. Attending the Plan Your Year Workshop is all it took for me. I was so excited because you just presented so many ideas that just made sense. Whether it was planning things out or looking at your numbers differently. And there were so many ways to your approach that just made sense to me. And that helped me realize that I knew that you could help me scale.
Karinda: So tell me about the plan your your workshop, what did you think and what did you get out of it?
Jan: There were a lot of things actually, we as photographers all know we should kind of plan out our ideal day. But the way you did just made sense. You walked everyone through it, and for me especially because I’m very visual I could see you doing it which really helps. To actually go through that exercise helps you realize you need to block time for certain aspects of your busines. I was super excited to start the year.
Karinda: What advice would you give to someone that is thinking about taking the leap and investing in their business or even investing in themselves.
Jan: I would say if they haven’t already to consider coaching or mentoring because if you find the right person, like Karinda, who can help work through ideas that you get stuck in your own head. Or when you keep thinking the same ideas over and over until you’re kind of spinning your wheels. It’s a great way to get a fresh perspective, and really challenge you and I hate the word accountable, but help you follow through with the ideas that you work out together. So as far as investing in themselves or their business, I would say coaching or mentoring is a big one. I’m a big one for learning.
Karinda: What advice do you have when it comes to choosing the right person? Because I know sometimes people are like, how do I decide who’s the right person for me? What is that deciding factor for you when you’re making those decisions?
Jan: Bottom line, I think you have to talk that person, don’t be too shy, ask to get on a call with them. Share what’s important to you and try to get an idea if they’re on the same plane or if their values are similar to your own. Don’t be afraid to challenge them with hard questions. Maybe give them an example of something you’re struggling with and just see what their approach is. If you’re impressed by that, look for the opportunity to do some kind of a smaller, lower scale, less risky workshop, like the Plan Your Year Workshop. that was a great way for me to be introduced to you and your ideas without having to yet invest, you know, larger scale and then make the jump.
Karinda: What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to somebody that you’ve learned from me?
Jan: Trust Karinda and try what she suggests. Until you’ve tested the process in your own business. You’re not telling anyone to do it your way or else. I love how you adapted to my business and I think you do that for everyone you adapt to one business and how they want to fit their business into their life and then you offer suggestions. So I would say, try what Karinda suggests, and see how it works.
Karinda: Yes, this is not a one size fits all. What works for me does not work for everybody, because of our lives. It goes back to your why and understanding your specific business. We have to believe and love what we’re doing so much deep down inside of us that there’s a no brainer, and making the decision and doing the thing.
Jan: The cool thing is, you’re still in the trenches too. You aren’t a coach who is no longer picking up your camera or selling to clients or actually applying what you’re suggesting other people do, you’re actually out there doing it too. And you’re always trying trying new things that might succeed or fail just like the rest of us, but you’re out there. And I think that just makes you that much more relevant.
Karinda: Is there anything else you want to add that you think you’re dying to share? Or anything else you want to add to this conversation?
Jan: I want to thank you, first of all, you really helped me learn and grow. And again, it goes beyond the money, so money well spent. But I really appreciate getting to know you and working with you. Because you helped me in a ton of ways. And it’s just, again, it was super refreshing, I really appreciated working with you.
If you have been searching for that push to take your business to the next level, Karinda has created an incredible course from her 1:1 system called Master Your Mind & Money full of rich course content, group education, laser focused 1:1 support and monthly reviews! Enrollment is now open to apply and join us inside the incredible world of Master Your Mind and Money, click here for more information!