123 456 7890My Experience Being On The Homeschool Business Owner Panel
I was invited to be a part of the Homeschool Business Owner Panel a couple of months ago. When I first got this inquiry, I was excited and nervous at the same time. I had no idea what it would be like, but that didn’t persuade me into not accepting this opportunity. I joyfully said yes to Chad Theisen and started to prepare myself for this experience. I wrote down answers to questions, read them aloud at home, and put them on flash cards. When the day came, though, I only looked at them once. I don’t regret writing down how I feel because it gave me a base of my voice. I answered the questions naturally and as best as possible at the panel. I officially became an entrepreneur this year, but I’ve been doing photography professionally for five years. It’s been a long journey, and I’m so happy to have gotten to where I am today!
Even though these aren’t my exact answers to the questions, and even though there were a few different questions asked by the audience that aren’t included, I wanted to share some of my thoughts and give you an insight into what the Business Owner Panel was like!
A huge thanks to Chad Theisen for inviting me, and thanks to everyone reading this!
- Why did you decide to start your own business?
I started my business because of how passionate I am about photography. I was already doing as many photoshoots as possible, so this was just my next step. I didn’t understand all the responsibilities when I started, but once I started my own company, I put my all into every part of my business.
- What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
My favorite part is the feeling I get when doing something I love. Every time I end a photoshoot, I want to do another one. When finishing editing a session, I want to edit more. The feeling you get when you provide something priceless is fantastic. Wedding photos, for example, are from a day that they probably won’t get to have again. It’s so special to be the one to give them memories that they can hold onto forever.
- How do you deal with fear and doubt?
These things get to you when you least expect it: when an advertising campaign doesn’t do as well as you’d hoped or when you don’t get the sale you didn’t know how much you wanted. This method might not work for you because everyone is different, but I like to take a little break, regroup my thoughts, and get back into the right mindset.
- How do you set your business apart from others in your industry?
It was easy for me to find what makes me unique; my age is something that sets me apart from other photographers here. I’m 17 years old. I try to use it to my advantage, but as a young entrepreneur, some people aren’t as open-minded. Besides how old I am, I try to make the best experience possible—personalized communication, under-promising and over-delivering, and genuine caring and positivity.
- What is the hardest part of being an entrepreneur?
The hardest thing for me is balancing school and business. I had a lot of meetings this month that interfered with my school work, so this week, I stopped marketing and focused on studying for my finals.
- What advice would you give someone just starting their own business?
Keep pushing yourself and believe in yourself. With owning a business, there are going to be ups and downs. There are so many disappointments and times you feel it might not be worth all the effort. Know through those times the reason you started your business. Hopefully, one of those reasons is because you love what you do.
- How does your business look different now vs. when you first started?
This is a tricky question since I officially started this year, but I’ve been doing photography for five years now. At the start, I think one of my main differences is taking myself for granted. I wanted to do as many sessions as possible, so I would sell myself short with free sessions and photos. I still tend to want to do that, but now I know it’s not sustainable.
- What qualities do you think every entrepreneur should possess?
I believe every entrepreneur should be passionate about their work, care for the people they’re catering to, and have the willpower to keep trying new things. When things don’t work out, you must know when to change your tactic and not give up on everything. Owning a business can be frustrating at times, but you need to be able to grow with your company and learn along the way.
