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Accepting Your Idea of Success with the PPA Business Challenge
The Business Challenge provides photography business owners with the information and tools they need to develop the foundation for a more profitable business over the course of one year. Not only do they receive the tools required to make changes to their business, but also step-by-step instruction and support from PPA mentors as they implement these changes.
The next Business Challenge starts April 1st and you don't want to miss it! Be sure to sign up for your year of fun, interactive inspiration for you to integrate as much business acumen as you can in one year's time.
The first assignment is all about defining YOUR idea of success. It's vital that photographers begin creating a roadmap that will take them where they want to go so they don't end up somewhere else completely.
"Something I hear often," says Angela Kurkian, Education Director and moderator of the Business Challenge, "is this concept that helps people dismiss the idea that they should be profitable...the concept that success and money don't go hand-in-hand, as if accepting money for your craft were a bad thing. Should artists only make enough to pay the bills'? I don't think that's true."
Here's an example comment from a participant:
"I feel that many tie success with money. There are so many other facets to success. Don't get me wrong - I am not anti-money, I just want to make enough to pay my bills. I want to be able to have a balanced work/personal life balance. I shoot lots of events and sports. One of my schools is one that has been ignored by many because it is a lower income school. The impact that I have on these students make it all worth it. They are so excited that someone will take the time to really care about them."
And here was Kurkian's response:
"Right on! I appreciate that sentiment completely; we can't be so focused on our wallets that we lose sight of how it feels to give of our gift. I also appreciate that you choose to give to a lower income school. You're right; those schools don't get enough attention from local businesses because they become known as 'lower income schools'. I have also learned that the more profitable I am, the more room I have in my schedule to give to those who would benefit from what I can offer. It's a two sided coin. It's that concept of putting the oxygen mask on yourself first, before attending to those you're helping. I admire you greatly and hope we can help you to develop and sustain an even more profitable level so that you can continue to give as you do."
For some, success is having the agency to be able to give back to others. For others, success may be the ability to take that yearly vacation. And for some, it may be a more existential definition. The concept of "defining success" leads to many great discussions on the PPA Business Challenge (like this great answer we shared last week).
YOU should sign up now for April 1st's Business Challenge group. Consider it the next, big step toward success for your business!