July 1, 2014
Since I was a little girl, The Golden Rule has been ingrained in my being. “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” It’s the way I was raised and I try everyday to live that motto. I go out into the world with the most positive attitude possible (though some days it can prove to be a challenge) and make sure to smile and speak kindly to anyone I interact with each day. What’s the point in bringing more negativity to the world?
I’ve tired to live this way my whole life, including when I had just finished college and returned to my hometown of Green Bay with no clue what I would be doing next. The two years in between graduating and starting my business I worked any job I could to pay my bills, which included multiple retail positions working for minimum wage. Now, it could be easy to get discouraged, tired, and cranky – I usually worked 13 hours a day at 2-3 different jobs, 7 days a week – but I kept a smile on my face. I didn’t let my co-workers or customers know how exhausted I was. I kept the Golden Rule in mind and I’m so glad I did. Now those co-workers and customers have become clients and friends.
People won’t always remember your name but they will always remember the way you made them feel. I made the decision to be as kind and helpful as possible at any job I worked, even if my work didn’t seem like it was going anywhere except a way to pay the bills. All of my retail jobs had absolutely nothing to do with photography but I didn’t let that phase me.
You never know where your next lead is coming from or who will recommend you so make sure the energy and attitude you are putting out is a positive one. Your next wedding or portrait session could come from an old co-worker, your child’s teacher or even the barista that makes your favorite coffee drink. You just never know so it’s important to make sure you are treating everyone with the same kind attitude. This will not only help your business but help your entire life. You can drop that negativity and find a whole world full of wonderful, kind people to surround yourself with. You can meet people and form amazing connections with them.
Here’s a little diagram of leads I received from past jobs. Try not to laugh too hard at the jobs I worked (:
Keep in mind that your next lead could come from anywhere. Here is the percentage of where my Weddings and Sessions come from:
Wedding & Sessions Referrals
55% – Former Brides and Sessions
13% – Other Wedding Vendors
12% – Past Co-Workers
10% – Friends and Family
7% – Other (found organically online, advertising, etc.)
3% – Former High School Classmates
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