What do you need to know to have a successful business that schools don't teach you? - Fairfield - CT

Well, first of all, I never thought of becoming a businesswoman and I can assure you that the college I attended and the 2 semesters of Business Administration were not enough to provide me with all the knowledge I would need to open my photography studio. And, just like me, many others have had to study harder to succeed. However, what I will be sharing here is the result of my personal experience only and may not reflect what you are experiencing right now.

1 - Working with what you like does not mean doing only what you like!

This was perhaps the most impactful realization of my career!

I was never good with numbers and financial management and I already knew without a doubt that that would not be a pleasant part of the job for me. However, as a small business owner, I did not and do not dispose of enough financial resources to be able to pay someone to take care of my finances. So I had to study hard and had to start with a basic spreadsheet of expenses and profits. From there, I was able to take better control over my business and plan everything a few months in advance.

Not to mention that I now have all my financial goals set monthly.

Going in, know that you won't do only what you like if you want to see your business thrive!

2 – Consistency

I believe that this point is of paramount importance even for our personal lives.

However, consistency doesn’t mean that everything will be monotonous and that you have to do everything in the same way.

In life, we have to keep trying and learning from failures and successes. In fact, we learn even more from our mistakes. Our mistakes make us grow as people and as professionals. And in your business, it’s no different!

Don't leave anything unfinished! If something didn't work that day, it doesn't mean it won't work the next. Consistency comes from repetition and this will improve your business.

For example, I post photos to my social network accounts every day, all 365 days of the year.

Is there something you do every day?

3 - A company is built on relationships.

Fortunately, I learned to be more communicative as I matured and put it into practice when I became a photographer.

Nowadays people have access to a lot of information online and this may end up harming interpersonal relationships. We were made to connect with each other, and I love meeting new people and fellow entrepreneurs.

I believe that the community can only grow if we help each other and I am always looking for new partners.

What about you? Do you call your customer or do you only contact them via email and through the internet? Have you been networking in your city?

I hope this was of help to you in some way and that this clarified some doubts you may have had. My intention is to motivate you to achieve your goals!

I would love to hear more from you. Please comment on the topics you would like to see covered on my blog.

There’s a lot of cool stuff coming up as well as partnerships that will benefit many parents out there. Stay tuned!

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