Project: Joie de Vivre » Finding and Living Your Passion Within

So this week, I got a total wake up call. From myself.

About communicating. With friends. With Family. With anyone who is far away.

I’ve never been one of those people who jumps on the phone to her girlfriends.

In fact, I’m the polar opposite. I don’t like the phone (or so I’ve been telling myself). I don’t like answering the phone. I’m just not into it.

Well, something happened this week. In the span of a few days I’ve had a bunch of wonderful conversations with friends, with whom I haven’t spoken to in quite a while. I keep “meaning” to. I keep “wanting”. But due to procrastination, laziness, and reluctance to pick up the phone, I just haven’t.

And then, I just did.

And it was wonderful.

I loved listening to my friend talk about her upcoming wedding and all the ideas she had.

I loved listening to my friend tell me about grad school.

I loved listening to my cousin recount her recent travels to Germany and England.

I love, love, loved it!

And then afterwards, I thought to myself, “Why don’t I do this more often?”

Because I put it off. I procrastinate. I’m lazy.

I don’t make it a priority.

I suppose that I consider that we’ve been friends for so long, or we’ll always be family, that I don’t need to connect that often. But I’ve found that after every conversation, it always improves my day.

So I’m making it a priority to catch up with family and friends on the phone more often.

Because while email and social media are great, they still can never replace the power of a great phone call.

Of course, even better is an in person meeting. But when you are separated by great distance, the phone or Skype is just lovely.

Who do you need to call? Go ahead and just do it!

It’ll brighten both of your days!

Bon Week-end!

I was inspired by fellow Making Things Happen attendee, Emily Ley, and her post about being a business owner. Because it’s so true. And there are many times when I feel like this.

I know that before I started my business I had this pie in the sky vision of what running my own business would be like: setting my own hours, having free time to do what I love, being my own boss, and working with clients who are happy. Generally, the opposite of where I was working in a cubicle.

Well, while parts of that are true, it’s certainly not the entire picture. There’s all the stuff that no one sees, but has to get done. Like the bookkeeping and the finances. Like writing a business plan. Like figuring out how to market yourself when you’re not even sure how to do it. Like networking with other people in a big city, where nobody knows you from Adam.

I remember when I was in college; I had zero interest whatsoever in anything business related. I didn’t want to know about accounting, economics, or marketing. I had no interest in networking; I didn’t see the point then. I felt like I didn’t need to know that stuff because I’d eventually just find a job and get on with the rest of my life.

But as soon as I learned that “just getting a job and getting on with life” wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, my outlook changed. My life changed. I knew that I had to make the change. Somehwere. Somehow.

And to be totally honest, I’m still in the midst of that change.

While I am a full-time photographer, I still (for the next few weeks) do freelance work for my previous company as supplemental income. Starting a business away from family and friends and an already established network is tough. Unlike in my vision, business does not fall out of the sky. While there is more than enough business in this big city to go around, if no one knows who you are or that you exist, business isn’t going to just walk through my (imaginary) door.

It takes a lot of hustle. Emailing. Calling. Getting shot down. Getting ignored. Getting that one glimmer of hope from a vendor who will meet with someone they’ve never met before. Taking a chance on building a relationship. Networking. And networking in a meaningful way.

Over the course of this year, I’ve learned that life is all about the relationships that we build and foster. It’s like a plant. You can’t just plant it and expect it to grow. You have to take care of it. Water it. Feed it. Check on its progress. And in this industry, relationships with other people are just like that. They take a lot of effort. And as someone who has a self-professed black thumb, it’s certainly been a work in progress. But I can say with confidence that it has been 100% worth it and an interesting and amazing learning experience.

They don’t teach you this stuff in college.

So while it makes me extremely nervous to admit all of this, and doubly as nervous as my supplemental income is scheduled to come to a halt, I continue on. Continue on in building my business. Building my relationships. Mastering my craft. Following my passion and chasing my dreams.

And trusting in God. I’ve found over the course of this year, and unparalleled to any other time in my life, that I just have to give it all to God. And I’ve never really been the type to openly talk about my faith. I do believe in God, and I don’t know if it’s because I live in the South now or what, but I just feel like my relationship with God has grown. It seems like every time I’m about to give up, a glimmer of hope shows up. The silver lining shines in the distance. It’s almost like a push, whispering, “Don’t give up.”

The thought of having to find an office job (or something of the sort) scares me in a indescribable way. I don’t want to go back. But I also have to keep it real and make a living. Bills are bills. And when it comes down to it, I have to do what I have to do.

I’m thankful for an amazing husband who is so supporting and loves me 220% and wants me to pursue my passion. But I know that deep down, he has his own concerns about this business flourishing. And I do to. I know that it takes time. That “overnight” successes occur over a reaaaalllllly long day.

I’m also very thankful for all the wonderful people I’ve met since I’ve moved here. I know that they shaped my experience 100% and that I wouldn’t be where I am now without their help and encouragement.

I’ve had an amazing year since I’ve moved here. It’s been a whirlwind. A whirlwind, on a roller coaster, caught in a hurricane. Or something like that. It’s had its ups and its downs. It’s had its lefts and rights. But above all, I know that it is worth it. Worth my time. Worth my commitment. Worth my hustle. At the end of the day, I can say that this business is mine. Built from the ground up, with my blood, sweat, and tears, and of course smiles and laughter.

I can someday tell my kids that mom is an entrepreneur. A go-getter. A fighter.

So my question to you, reader, is what do you need to be honest about with yourself?

Bon week-end!