Everyone Wins: Client-First Sales for Wedding Photographers

OVERVIEWYou might not know this, but it was never my dream growing up to be an entrepreneur or small business owner. It also wasn't my dream to be a photographer. Owning a small business has been an adventure more exciting and fulfilling than I ever could have dreamed!On this week's episode, I'm sharing 5 things this year that I'm thankful for in owning my business. I hope this episode encourages you to be thankful for the elements of your business that bring you joy and fulfillment - because for me, gratitude is an essential part of feeling fulfilled within my own work. I hope it can be that for you, too.

FREE GUIDEBOOK: The 10 Pitfalls of Growing a Creative TeamOVERVIEWThis episode focuses on my top insights on how to protect your business, plan for the future, and handle unexpected events, especially if you're a one-person team.As small business owners, time and resources are often sparse. Without a reliable team, stepping back from your business could lead to a significant loss of income and potentially tarnish your brand's reputation. This reality comes to life as we discuss the personal anecdote of a photographer who unexpectedly fell pregnant during a busy season. We dive into the repercussions of this incident and how it impacted her brand's reputation. Real-life stories like these highlight the importance of creating a supportive business structure for women looking to start families while maintaining their careers.Finally, we turn the spotlight on the benefits and downfalls of being a solo business owner. How do you ensure your business thrives when you're steering the ship alone? We answer this by exploring practical steps and sharing resources to help build the right team for your business. Whether you're contemplating maternity leave, or just pondering ways to safeguard your business for the future, this episode promises to equip you with the right tools to build a secure and stable business. Tune in and fortify your business strategy.RESOURCES:BELAY: my top recommendation for virtual assistantsSchedule a call with Anna and mention Hannah Bjorndal for $300 off the implementation feeVision Casting Workbook: Download for FreeSIGN UP NOW: Dream Team Accelerator WaitlistJoin the Insiders Group: Team Building for Creative Entrepreneurs

FREE GUIDEBOOK: The 10 Pitfalls of Growing a Creative TeamDescriptionEver feel like there's just not enough hours in the day to get everything done? You're not alone! This episode is all about my personal journey of overcoming that feeling of overwhelm by hiring a virtual assistant (VA). I know the idea of hiring a VA can be daunting, but getting started is actually so much easier than you might think.Let's face it - emails are the bane of our existence! But what if I told you there's an efficient way to manage them with the help of your VA? Yes, it's possible! We get into the nitty-gritty of creating an effective email management system for your VA, including how to train them to respond to your emails and keep your inbox organized. We even discuss the types of emails you can immediately delegate, so you can start reclaiming your time.We also discuss how better time management and creating an ideal work week can significantly boost your productivity. Incorporating this system has been a game changer for my productivity and overall well-being. So, let's dive in and get you back in control of your time!RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:BELAY: my top recommendation for virtual assistantsSchedule a call with Anna and mention Hannah Bjorndal for $300 off the implementation feeEpisode 82: Exactly How I Organize My Inbox to Save Hours of Time Each WeekOTHER RESOURCESVision Casting Workbook: Download for FreeSIGN UP NOW: Dream Team Accelerator WaitlistJoin the Insiders Group: Team Building for Creative Entrepreneurs

FREE GUIDEBOOK: The 10 Pitfalls of Growing a Creative TeamOVERVIEWWe only have so many hours in a day, and one of the most important things we can do for our businesses and our lives is decide to use those hours wisely. That's the theme behind what we're talking about today: working smarter, not harder.This the final week of the 5-part series I've been sharing with you on how I doubled my annual revenue in 2 years. If you haven't already listened to the previous 4 episodes, check those out first! Here they are:Step 1: Prioritize Working “On” Not “In” the BusinessStep 2: Get Clear on the Long-Term PlanStep 3: Hire the Right PeopleStep 4: Know When to PivotRESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:When by Daniel PinkEpisode 18: 5 Stats You Need to Start Measuring TODAY to Grow Your BusinessOTHER RESOURCESVision Casting Workbook: Download for FreeSIGN UP NOW: Dream Team Accelerator WaitlistJoin the Insiders Group: Team Building for Creative Entrepreneurs

FREE GUIDEBOOK: The 10 Pitfalls of Growing a Creative TeamOVERVIEWWhen was the last time something did not go according to plan with your business? You had a plan or an idea of what you were hoping for or working towards, and then something happened - many times, something that was totally out of your control, and the plans were ruined?Have you had to do this before? If you've been in business a while, I know this has happened to you. It happens to everyone!For me (and probably you, too!), 2020 started out as a year of ruined or cancelled plans for our businesses. 2020 was supposed to be the year of really putting my team members “on the map” - I wanted to build them up as a part of my brand, increase their influence in the wedding industry, and ensure that their portfolios were gorgeous and full by the end of the year. They had both been shooting as lead photographers for less than a year with me, so this was a huge priority. And with the weddings they had booked, we were all super excited to dig in and make it happen.But when the pandemic hit and the majority of our 2020 clients either rescheduled or majorly scaled down their weddings, the plan was pushed back. I spent a few weeks stuck in my overly optimistic mindset. However, by the beginning of April, I had a choice to make: was I going to keep living in the dreamworld of “this will pass soon” or did I get real, get serious, and make a plan for how we were going to weather the stormThankfully, I chose the latter, and I'm sharing exactly how that impacted my business on today's episode!RESOURCESVision Casting Workbook: Download for FreeSIGN UP NOW: Dream Team Accelerator WaitlistJoin the Insiders Group: Team Building for Creative Entrepreneurs

FREE GUIDEBOOK: The 10 Pitfalls of Growing a Creative TeamRESOURCESVision Casting Workbook: Download for FreeSIGN UP NOW: Dream Team Accelerator WaitlistJoin the Insiders Group: Team Building for Creative EntrepreneursOVERVIEWIn this episode, I share why hiring the right people led to rapid growth for my company. This is week 3 in a 5 part series about how I doubled my income in 2 years. First, I'm sharing how hiring, in general, was the right choice for me and allowed me to grow really rapidly (and also be sustained during the craziness of the Pandemic). After that, I'm sharing the importance of the right people - finding people who fit and actually allow that growth to happen.Listen to learn about how both impacted my business!

RESOURCESVision Casting Workbook: Download for FreeSIGN UP NOW: Dream Team Accelerator WaitlistJoin the Insiders Group: Team Building for Creative EntrepreneursOVERVIEWWe are currently in the middle of a 5-part series on the steps I took to double my business income in 2 years. If you missed the last episode - Step 1 - go back and listen to that before jumping in to this week. It's a helpful starting point and will make this episode all the more useful to you!If you listened in to Part 1 of this series you already know the backstory - that from the end of 2019 to the end of 2021 I doubled my business's total revenue. It was a crazy two years in just about every way imaginable. And, you might have found yourself wondering - “did the pandemic actually create more free time in my calendar, which in turn allowed me to spend lots more time working “on” instead of “in” - well, yes and no!Last week's Step 1 - that step was actually taken starting in 2019. Most of the initial time and habits I developed to start structuring my work days for working “on” the business more were established before (but only right before) my business started to grow rapidly.And truthfully, if I had waited to start prioritizing working ON my business until the pandemic hit - I think the results would have been dramatically different, and I wouldn't have had the mental or emotional capacity to learn new skills or habits.So, yes, I did have more time in 2020 than I anticipated to work on the business, but the wheels of change had already been turning for about 6 months, and that is where the real change happened which planted to seeds of rapid growth.And on that note, we continue on our journey and tackle Step 2.

In the creative business world today, being present online is really important. You already know this, right? Having a website and a strong social media presence are a huge part of our daily work - clients find us here, we connect with fellow business owners here. We showcase our work and who we are online.And yet, there is a big opportunity for online visibility that I think a lot of us are missing. Thankfully, I have an incredible guest today who is an expert on getting noticed all over the internet and growing your following and business as a result. In this episode, I'm talking with Lisa Simone Richards about how to get more clients by leveraging your online presence via publications.  Click play!RESOURCESLisa Simone Richards' WebsiteHow to Get Visibility: THE QUIZFollow Lisa Simone Richards on Instagram

In this episode, we discuss how to diversify your income by creating multiple streams of income. We take a deep-dive into one photographer's journey into photo editing and how she stabilized her business by building an editing company.Klaire Sabbagh, this episode's guest, is owner of Klaire Dixius Photography. Klaire is a wedding photographer serving the DC area, and also offers Photo Editing services for other wedding photographers with a small but mighty team of 6 editors. She also is a new Mom navigating what it means to be a Mompreneaur. Through it all, she's passionate about helping people get back to who they love and what they love the most.RECOMMENDED BOOKS:Living Forward by Michael HyattTraction by Gino WickmanRESOURCES:Klaire's Client Workflow SpreadsheetJoin Klaire's Editing TeamInquire About Klaire's Editing ServicesConnect with Klaire on Instagram

As your business grows, so do your responsibilities. If you want to continue growing and scaling your business without burning out or working around the clock, at some point you need to outsource. But where do you even start?Thankfully, there are professionals and businesses who specialize in helping you with this very thing - they will do the tasks you don't want to do so that you have more time in your life to do the things you DO want to do.  In this episode, I'm talking with Adrienna McDermott about outsourcing. Adrienna McDermott is the founder and CEO of Ava and The Bee, a content marketing strategy agency that helps professionals in the wedding industry create a digital marketing strategy through the power of consistent Blogging and Pinterest, all while focusing on proven SEO strategies.As a former bridal boutique owner, wedding planner, and florist with over a decade of experience in the industry, she knows exactly what wedding planners and photographers, boutique owners, and more struggle with when it comes to creating new and engaging content to grow their business. Adrienna and the team at Ava And The Bee help wedding pros go from a season behind, to a season ahead.When she's not working in her signature cotton t-shirt and top knot, you can find her with a cup of hazelnut iced coffee in the pottery studio, making jewelry, or beading. She lives in Milwaukee, with her tripawd black lab Cooper, cat Brutus, and Husband, Frank.RESOURCES:Free Download: The Wedding Pro's Guide to OutsourcingVisit Adrienna's Website: Avaandthebee.comAdrienna's InstagramEmail Adrienna: hello@avaandthebee.com

UPDATE: as of March 2022, Rebecca has openings for new clients! Contact her by reaching out via the options listed below in "resources."On this podcast episode, I have a conversation about ADHD with Rebecca Tolbert -  a therapist and ADHD Coach who specializes in helping women create lives they love. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, I know how life-changing it can be to understand this disorder better and also figure out ways to make it compliment your life rather than have it hold you back!When Rebecca reached out to me earlier this year, the timing could not have been more perfect. I had already been planning to share my personal story on the podcast this spring, but I had never even considered that there was someone super-specialized in this topic . . . and then this connection fell right in my lap!RESOURCES:Conscious Strides WebsiteBook a consultation with Rebecca

Do you have your email opened right now? If you're sitting at your computer or even on your phone, there is a good chance that the answer is yes. I wouldn't' even be surprised if you're scrolling through it at a stoplight or in line at the grocery store right now.You hate it, and yet it sucks you in day after day. Three hours go by and it feels like it's been 5 minutes . . . and you're somehow still not closer to answering all those messages. More emails come in faster than you can respond to the originals. It feels like an endless cycle, doesn't it?Today is the day to break that cycle, my friend. Because there is a solution - one that will save you hours of time and your sanity (not to mention that it will actually make you better at responding quickly and efficiently - which is exactly what those people on the other end of the email want, right?).Get ready, because we are talking all about how I organize my inbox to maximize productivity and minimize wasted time. RESOURCES:FREE WORKBOOK: 3 Steps to Creating a Personal Vision50% OFF Honeybook50% OFF Quickbooks

How much time each week do you spend on administrative tasks? I'm talking about sending client emails, booking dates on your calendar, collecting payments, and generally making sure all of your projects are up to date and where they need to be. Is it 8 hours? 10 hours? Half of your work week?We all know that taking care of customers is essential to having a successful business. It doesn't matter what type of business you have - if you have paying customers (and especially if you are providing any type of service), then you are going to be spending time and energy making sure they have a great experience with you (and that you get the job done!). This is just how it works!But that is time consuming. If you spend a lot of your work week on simply managing projects, you aren't left with a lot of time to do other things to make sure your business can actually grow. There isn't a lot of time for strategy. So, I'm guessing if you're listening right now and you've had a business for a while, you probably DO have some kind of system that you follow to make sure your clients have a consistent experience. But I'm also going to guess that there are some things you could be doing to save yourself even more time and energy AND also give your client an extra-special experience with you. That's what we're talking about today - I'm talking with a systems strategist and  Honeybook Pro, Diana Wei Fang, all about how to use client relationship management tools to make your life easier and your clients happier. Diana is the owner of The Finer Points, a social media & systems strategist. She helps creatives and small business owners like you tell your story and reach your people—in less time—through social media and systems. She creates content strategies that mirrors your mission and values, getting your extraordinary work seen by the right people. As a HoneyBook Pro, she also helps transform your everyday tasks into done-for-you business systems on autopilot. RESOURCES:FREE GUIDE: Map Out Your Client JourneyThe Finer Points: Diana's WebsiteContact DianaGet 50% off your Honeybook Membership HERE

In this episode, we're talking all about one of my favorite subjects - sales. How to sell to your clients. I know that the word sales makes a lot of people feel icky, but what we're really talking about when we talk about selling is connection. Making a meaningful connection with a potential client. I have a special guest on the show today who has refined and perfected her sales process for her wedding clients, and we're having a conversation how she has grown her company exponentially in 5 years using specific marketing and sales tools. My guest on this episode is Lindsay Williams. Lindsay is a mama, wedding stationer and educator based in Niagara Falls, NY. Through personality packed content, and out of this world customer service, Lindsay has grown her wedding stationery company, from $30k to $300k in yearly revenue in just 5 years.  She is the host of the ‘Build that Business' podcast and creator of ‘The Wedding Booking Blueprint,' where she now shares tips, tricks, struggles and triumphs from her experience building, growing and scaling a successful wedding business.Her goal is to empower wedding professionals to use their own voice and story to create meaningful connections, to build the confidence they need to recognize the unique value they bring, and to then share it with their customers. Through a mix of step-by-step strategies and simple content ideas, she'll be your biggest cheerleader and tough-love coach.RESOURCES:Lindsay's WebsiteLindsay's Facebook GroupFREE DOWNLOAD: Grow Your Wedding BusinessBuild that Business PodcastLindsay's InstagramOTHER RESOUCES:50% off Honeybook Membership50% off Quickbooks

Scaling your business refers to the ability to grow or increase the amount of work (or sales) exponentially in a sustainable, cost-effective way - and by sustainable, I mean financially AND practically speaking. Successfully scaling your business means that you have created a structure and framework that allows you to continually grow and sell more or your service - without also having to do more work OR spend so much money that it no longer makes sense.In the creative service industry world, a scalable business is able to increasingly make more money through taking on bigger clients OR more clients OR both without also forcing the owner to work more and more hours (which eventually becomes unsustainable) OR spending more and more money at the same rate of making more money (which wouldn't make any sense, right?).Here's why scaling your business can be awesome.First, it can allow you to step back from day-to-day operations (or performing whatever service you are doing) and give you more room to focus on the big picture and be the “visionary” for your company. Now, I know that you already are the visionary. You started the business, you had the original idea and creativity - you have the vision. But do you ever wish you had more time to work on these big-picture ideas? Scaling could give you the space to do this without dropping the ball on clients, or decreasing quality of your work, or killing yourself working way too many hours.Scaling can also, in general, give you more time and freedom in your life to do other things. Particularly if you feel burdened by your clients - like you're on a hamster wheel that you just can't slow down - scaling could give you more freedom and time. It could allow you to take more time off or have a better work-life balance.Something else that scaling can do for you that you've probably figured out by now - scaling can make you more money without forcing you to work any more hours. I think that sounds pretty good to a lot of us, right? When done well, this is exactly what scalability will do for you (but again - if this is your only reason, that is not a good enough reason to scale! Trust me!).Finally, and maybe most importantly, scaling your business can allow you to serve more people and spread your mission further than you ever could on a small scale. If you're passionate about your company's mission and you'd like to bring that mission to more people - more customers - then scaling can help you do that.But, back to the original question - is scaling right for you?Here are the 5 questions to ask yourself:1. What is my "dream role" in my business?2. Am I ready to add team members to my business?3. Am I willing to spend time and money on my business structure?4. Can I let go of perfectionism for the greater goal of scaling?5. Am I willing to take on risk?Of course, there are many other factors to consider before scaling, but after scaling my own business, these are the questions I have found to be most helpful when deciding if you should take the next step!RESOURCES:FREE WORKBOOK: 3 Steps to Creating a Personal Vision50% OFF Honeybook50% OFF Quickbooks

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? I'm guessing that you know the answer to that question. But, do you know how the answer to that question impacts your business? Our personalities impact that way we do business, especially when it comes to interpersonal interactions - both in-person and online. Showing up online and using social media and other online tools to grow your business is something we talk about a lot. If you are an introvert who sometimes feels totally out of their element or comfort zone when it comes to showing up online, this episode is for you. And, even if you're not an introvert - don't skip to the next episode. On this episode, I'm talking with Emma-Louise Parks about how to show up online as an introvert. This episode has something for everyone, and I have a feeling that no matter who you are or what your personality is, you're going to leave with a new perspective on the online space and being your authentic self within your business.A little bit more about my guest: Emma-Louise is a Business Strategist & Mindset coach for ambitious introverts, empaths & highly sensitive entrepreneurs, & host of The Ambitious Introvert™ Podcast. She works with entrepreneurs to help them grow & scale successful, sustainable online businesses.With 10+ years experience she has personally coached over 100 individuals. She is a strategic life coach, trained facilitator, NLP master practitioner & holds accreditations in EFT/TFT & the Law of Attraction.Spending 17 years as an air traffic controller & 10 years coaching new recruits to the role, Emma-Louise understands the importance of strategy, decision making, confidence & mindset for success. Her focus on clarity, consistency & habits allowed her to build a 7 figure net worth in her 30's - she now uses these principles to help her clients build solid foundations that support massive levels of growth & success.RESOURCES:The Ambitious Introvert: Emma-Louise's PodcastJoin Emma-Louise's Facebook Group HEREEmma- Louise on InstagramEmma-Louise's Website50% OFF Honeybook50% OFF Quickbooks

I was recently talking to a friend who is starting her own business from the ground up and she was asking me what most surprised me in my first year of business. It got me thinking about all the unexpected elements of being a business owner - so much so that I was inspired to make this episode!I thought it was such a great question, I never thought to ask this myself. But thinking back, there are so many unexpected, surprising elements of being a business owner that I really wish I had known at the beginning! So that's what I'm sharing on this episode on the podcast.My hope is that this list will inspire, encourage, inform or teach you something new. The 10 Things That Surprised Me Most About Owning A BusinessYou don't need anyone's permission to start a business.It takes money to make money…kind of.You don't need to know all the answers.You might miss having a boss.It's possible to make more money than you ever expected.Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is hard.You will get support from unexpected people.You'll miss the office (sometimes). You need to know your “true north” to really flourish.You might just fall in love with entrepreneurship itself!RESOURCES:FREE WORKBOOK: 3 Steps to Creating a Personal Vision50% OFF Honeybook50% OFF Quickbooks

What, right now, is stopping you from achieving what you're dreaming of? Did you think of something specific? Or maybe a few things? For many of us, we feel held back by something - whether it be a lack of knowledge or a skill set, or even fear. Today, I'm talking with special guest Amanda Joyce Weber about common myths, or false beliefs, that hold us back from being successful, and also exploring what we can do to overcome these things. More about Amanda: She is a mindset and sales coach who helps online business owners who are struggling behind the scenes to cultivate the mindset they need to land clients and make money on repeat. Through one-on-one coaching and her signature Sincere Sales method, she takes the “ick” out of selling and demystifies what it takes to make money in business so her clients can truly thrive. Her clients have gone on to reduce their working hours, close higher-paying projects, and have their first $18k month. She is also the host of the podcast, One Simple Shift, that teaches entrepreneurs that their biggest results start with one simple mindset shift. Today, she operates her coaching practice in the mountains outside Denver, Colorado. When she's not supporting clients, she's going for early morning trail runs, mid-day walks with her puppy, and Friday sushi dates with her hubby.On this episode, we address common myths/false-beliefs about money and success as a small business owner. Amanda also has a myth-busting series where she goes into more depth about each of these. Specifically, we cover the false beliefs that:--I/My business should be "further ahead." --I need a certain number of followers on social media to make money.--I need to have it "all together" in order to achieve anything significant.--I don't know where to get my next client.Amanda and I discuss what's wrong with these false beliefs and how to overcome them by making one simple shift.Listen now!Resources Mentioned:One Simple Shift: Amanda's Podcast Book a Sincere Sales Call with Amanda HEREAmanda on InstagramAmanda's WebsiteYou can listen to Amanda's full episodes (on One Simple Shift) of the myth-busting series here:Myth #1: “My business should be further ahead”Myth #2: “I'm not a successful business owner until I've had a $10k month”Myth #3: “Successful people have it all together” Myth #4: “I need a large social media following to make more money in my online biz”Myth #5: “I don't know how to get my next client”

Imagine, at this time next year, looking at your bank account and the money you made from your business in the last 12 months, and it's way more than you made in the past. Not only that, but you feel more balanced, happier, better rested, without a HINT of burnout or exhaustion from over-working. That sounds pretty freaking good to me, what about you?Today's episode is focused on this balance - making money & enjoying life - with a particular emphasis on specific strategies that can increase your income without doing more work - in other words, without necessarily taking on more clients or selling more products or working more hours - BUT being strategic in the way you plan so that you can maximize your work and your income and minimize the hours you put in at the office. RESOURCESEpisode 46: 5 Full-Proof Steps to Achieving a Big GoalEpisode 63: My Magic Formula for Pricing My BusinessEpisode 18: 5 Stats You Need to Start Measuring TODAY to Grow Your BusinessProfit First by Mike Michalowicz50% OFF QUICKBOOKS50% OFF HONEYBOOKFREE GUIDEBOOK: 3 Steps to Creating a Personal Vision

I don't know about you, but I am really good at dreaming up a plan. I am a big-picture thinker, and I constantly have new ideas floating around in my head.  Actually executing them and getting results? I am not as good at that! Can you relate?In the last four episodes of this podcast, I have been walking you through the essentials of how I have grown and scaled my business in the last 2 years. Growth that not only led me to double my business income, but also to be much happier, healthier and stress-free - a life I consider to be much closer to my “best” and “most fulfilled” life than every before. I have called this series REFOCUS. If you haven't listened to those episodes yet and are jumping in here - definitely go back and listen to the first 4 they are listed below!The first three essentials of my REFOCUS series - vision, identity, & business plan - all have been conceptual. They've been all about big-picture dreaming and strategic planning. The final week of REFOCUS is all about action. We are going to be talking about how to actually execute your business plan so that it doesn't just stay in your head or on paper without ever being implemented. This is really important, because those first three essentials won't get you anywhere if you don't take action.Resources:Free Workbook: 3 Steps to Creating Your Personal Vision StatementEpisode 18: 5 Stats You Need to Start Measuring TODAY to Grow Your BusinessEpisode 46: 5 Full-Proof Steps to Achieving a Big GoalFree Download: KPI TemplateREFOUCS SeriesWeek 1: An Overview of REFOCUS & the Business VIBEWeek 2: 3 Steps to Developing a Personal Vision for Maximum GrowthWeek 3Week 4

I think the term “business plan” is kind of intimidating.  For me, the term seemed like something you learn how to do in business school, and it only really applied to big businesses. But actually, to be honest, I had no idea what a business plan actually was. Sure, I could have guessed, but if you had asked me to sit down and write a business plan for my business, I would have felt very overwhelmed and had no idea where to even start.Well, about two years ago, when I made some major shifts in my business, one of the things I did was learn how to write a business plan. And what I learned really surprised me. In today's episode, I'm going to share with you more about writing a business plan. And even more broadly than that, I'm going to share how to strategically plan for your business to grow and scale long-term in a way that is intentional and actually gets results.RESOUCES:Free Workbook: 3 Steps to Creating a Personal Vision StatementEpisode 46: 5 Full-Proof Steps to Achieving a Big Goal

What do you think of when you hear the word “identity?” What about when you think of your own identity? Who are you? Identity is what makes you, you. It's all those qualities, beliefs, character traits, values - all of those things that make you an individual. That make you unique. Knowing who you are - well, that's pretty important to being healthy, well-functioning, whole human being.Our businesses also have an identity, too. And as the owner and creator of that business, we get to have a say about exactly what that identity is. However, a lot of business owners allow their businesses to float along, without a clearly defined identity. In fact, they haven't ever really thought about who their business is or why.Is this you? If the answer is yes, or even if the answer is “maybe” - it's OK! Most businesses don't START with a clearly-defined identity. This is something that takes time to understand, discover and then clearly define.But once you've been in business for a while, you've gained some traction, you have a regular client base - you're experiencing success! Well, now it's time to start paying attention to that identity so that you can make it clear to the world (and yourself) exactly who your business is and why.The reason? Because your identity is the foundation from which you build your business. I'm going to share MORE about why this is important in today's episode, as well as HOW to clearly define your business's identity - specifically, 3 different important elements of your identity. RESOURCES:Free Workbook: 3 Steps to Creating a Personal VisionEveryone Wins Facebook Community

USE THIS FREE GUIDE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH TODAY'S EPISODE:3 Steps to Creating a Personal Vision StatementToday's episode is the second episode of REFOCUS - a five-part series that is all about building foundational business strategies for the new year that will totally transform your business into a well-organized, strategic and carefully-structured organization so that you can grow and scale your business.Last week I shared the four elements I have used in my own business to double my company's revenue in 2 years - and, even more importantly, get un-stuck, prevent burnout and live my best and most fulfilled life. Those four elements are what I call your business VIBE - V-I-B-E - which stands for Vision, Identity, Business Plan & Execution.Today, I am going to take a much deeper dive into the first of these four elements - VISION.When I think of talking about vision, a get a burst of adrenaline. This is a topic that I truly believe should be front-and-center of EVERY business podcast. If you are an entrepreneur, if you own a business - THIS is the content that I really, really want you to hear before ANYTHING else on this podcast (or honestly, any other business education for that matter).RESOURCES:Free Workbook: How to Create a Personal VisionJoin our Facebook Community

Hi! If you didn't already know, this is Week 1 of a 5-part podcast series called REFOCUS.REFOCUS is going to walk you through a few foundational business strategies that I personally use in my business and that have totally transformed my business from a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants operation to a well-organized and carefully structured business that has become scalable (which basically means I have created a sustainable model for increasing profits continually without working more hours in a day) - to specific results being that I DOUBLED my company's revenue in 2 years (yes - the same two years that we all have been living, which have almost entirely been consumed by a worldwide pandemic). To be honest, in 2019, my business was already doing really well. Or at least that's what I saw. I was making good money and I had really great clients. I even had some automations and systems in place, and I had added team members - one of them was even associate shooting for me by then.But what my business lacked at the beginning of 2019 were three important things: sustainability, scalability and focus. So this week, I'm sharing the 4 essentials I implemented which allowed me to get refocused and intentional about building a sustainable, scalable company. --RESOURCES:Free Download: 3 Steps to Creating Your Personal VisionEpisode 18: 5 Stats You Need to Start Measuring TODAY to Grow Your Business

Good fortune alone does not create success. You can't run a sustainable business and live a successful, fulfilled life running simply on luck and forces outside your control. All long-term successful business owners have taken certain effective steps towards business success, and also towards building a successful life. If your personal life is falling apart, your business probably won't be long behind it.There are certain practices and strategies common behind nearly all long-term success stories, whether that business owner has done it intentionally or not, and today, I'm sharing 5 of these major themes to encourage you. Because anyone can practice these habits - they aren't reserved for the rich and famous or privileged few. These are things that any smart, savvy business owner who has the drive to succeed can practice.RESOURCES:Free Download: 3 Steps to Creating Your Personal VisionEveryone Wins Facebook GroupBook: Good to Great by Jim CollinsBook: In Love & War by James Bond StockdaleBook: Traction by Gino Wickman

Here we are in December . . . how are you doing? Are you filled with passion and excitement about your work, super excited to use all the extra time on building your business,  or are you ready to crawl into a hole, stuff yourself with leftover halloween from October and scroll Instagram until you cry about how you need to be doing more with Reels. Really hoping you're more on the “excited passionate, free time” side of things, but I also wouldn't be surprised to hear you're vibe is currently more “still in my pajamas at 9pm, eating my 14th fun-sized Milky Way and complaining to my husband about how I refuse to dance for my followers on Insta”If the second one sounds a little bit more like you, then today's episode is for YOU. Click play!

On this episode of Everyone Wins, wedding videographer Taylor Petrinovich shares her success story of growing her business at a rapid-fire speed. When it comes to pricing, Taylor is a success story to follow: she grew her videography business from zero to luxury in a crazy fast timeframe, and she has some insider tips to share. Listen now!RESOURCES:FREE TRAINING: Taylor's Free Resource for Growing Your BusinessTaylor's Elevate Mastermind The LevelUp Co.

This episode is all about how to find your brand voice. My guest, Kaitlyn Parker, is the founder, lead copywriter, and wine enthusiast behind Copy Uncorked - a copywriting and brand strategy studio pouring up compelling words to help brands grow. Based in Virginia Beach, Kaitlyn holds a Master's in Strategic Communications and has worked with over 100 clients worldwide in her 6+ years of industry experience. She's also developed Copy Uncorked's two signature courses—Vine to Voice™ and The Copy House™, designed to help newer creative entrepreneurs get their words flowing. Between keyboard strokes, she enjoys spending time alongside her tall, dark & handsome husband and mini Goldendoodle, where there's usually a body of water, great food, and a glass of Cab involved. RESOURCES:Copy Uncorked WebsiteThe Copy HouseThe Brand Voice & Messaging Course (Vine to Voice)Kaitlyn's Instagram

On this week's episode, I'm chatting with Kristin Kaplan. Kristin is a digital COO (integrator) for multiple 6-figure businesses, as well as a wife, mother to three kiddos, and organization addict.On top of her client work, Kristin is the host of the Planning for Profit Podcast and the creator of the Digital COO Academy. The Academy is a program designed to help Virtual Assistants, systems, experts, and other integrator-types step into their COO shoes to better support their CEO clients (and themselves). In her Profit Accelerator Mastermind, Kristin also helps digital CEOs and their teams reach new launch goals with better systems, support, and strategy.Listen now!Resources :Kristin's InstagramKristin's Free TrainingDigital CEO AcademyKristin's WebsitePlanning for Profit Podcast

Pricing is a topic that I am so long overdue to talk about on this podcast because it's actually something I feel very strongly about, and I'm going to bet you will be surprised by what I have to say, AND by my own magic formula for pricing my business's wedding photography services. Here's a hint: it's a LOT more simple than you think. So let's start talking!Resources Mentioned:Free Downloads:Magic Formula Pricing CalculatorPodcast Episodes:Episode #018: 5 Stats You Need to Start Measuring TODAY to Grow Your BusinessEpisode #040: 3 Reasons to Cast a Vision BEFORE Setting Goals in the New YearEpisode #045: Why You Need Quickbooks to Stay Profitable & OrganizedFREE Everyone Wins Facebook GroupConnect with Hannah on Instagram

On today's episode, I'm interview Jeff Armstrong of Jeff & Michele and host of his own podcast,  The Real Jeff Armstrong Podcast. Jeff has a unique perspective on SEO - one that I haven't really heard before, but that I find incredibly compelling and also way more practical and helpful than most SEO expertise I've heard in the past. Listen in to hear about how Jeff uses intentional branding strategies to supercharge his SEO and reach a huge audience of ideal clients.RESOURCES MENTIONEDJeff Armstrong's Podcast: The Real Jeff Armstrong PodcastJeff's WebsiteJeff's Facebook GroupEmail Jeff: contact@therealjeffarmstrong.com

 Would you say that you've had a successful year? What about a successful month? Would you classify yourself or your business as a success? And if you know the answers to these questions, do you know why?  We all want to be successful. We want our businesses to be everything we're dreaming of and more! Success can be defined in a lot of different ways (more on that later!), but the truth is that there are some core, foundational concepts that are crucial to understand if you want to be able to end each day, each month, each year with that satisfying feeling of having been successful.  So that's what I'm going to share with you today! SHOW NOTES:My Vision-Casting GuidebookInstagram: @HannahBjorndal

Candice Coppola is an author, podcast host, business coach and entrepreneur who believes that if you want to have your dream business, you have to become the owner that dream business needs. In this episode, we are continuing the conversation with Candice about how to build a purpose-filled business, including her top tips on how to create a business plan.  This is part II of a two-part interview series with Candice. Check out the follow week's episode to hear more!SHOW NOTESCandice's Instagram: @Candice.CoppolaCandice's Clubhouse: @CandiceCoppolaCandice's Website

Candice Coppola is an author, podcast host, business coach and entrepreneur who believes that if you want to have your dream business, you have to become the owner that dream business needs. In this episode, Candice shares how she grew (and eventually sold) her wedding business, as well as her top tips on building a purposeful, profitable business. This is part I of a two-part interview series with Candice. Check out the follow week's episode to hear more!SHOW NOTESCandice's Instagram: @Candice.CoppolaCandice's Clubhouse: @CandiceCoppolaCandice's Website

In this episode, I'm joined by luxury destination wedding photographer Lauren Fair. Lauren has built an incredible brand that has allowed her to shoot exquisite luxury weddings all around the world. Tune in to get an insider's look at how she did it! *Special note: this episode was recorded earlier this year, before Lauren's summer workshop took place AND before her 2022 workshop was announced. Some of the information is out of date, but you can check out her upcoming workshops in the links below! SHOW NOTES:LAUREN FAIR PHOTOGRAPHERLauren's Workshop 2022: POSITANO, ITALYLauren's Instagram: @LaurenFair

Something I have noticed in all the great creative entrepreneurs that I've encountered is the desire for personal development. The best and most successful business owners that I know would all consider themselves lifelong learners, eager to be the best versions of themselves possible. Sound familiar?If you're listening to this podcast right now, I'm guessing this resonates with you. You are eager to grow. You also are eager for your business to be the very best it can be. You don't want to settle for “good enough” - right?Well, first of all, I just have to say I really love that attitude! An eagerness to learn and grow shows that you have the humility to learn from those wiser than you, and you have the wisdom to know that you just don't have the answers to everything. So, kudos to you! I already know we'd be good friends. :)Sometimes, in the race to grow our businesses to be the very best that they can be, we forget to keep up with what's happening on a day-to-day basis. Those things that you're already doing as a business owner - how things are going currently - sometimes can be overlooked. So today, I want to slow you down for a sec and help you think more carefully about how to be mindful of where your business is at in the here-and-now. Let's get started!RESOURCES:Coaching with Hannah BjorndalEveryone Wins Private Facebook Community

I've received a lot of questions about team-building and adding associates to my photography company over the last few years.  So, for this episode, I decided to go back to my own source of information for all things team building: Nancy Ray. Nancy is a believer, wife, mama, photographer, blogger, and speaker. She is the host of the Work and Play podcast, and she speaks regularly at several conferences and retreats, sharing her inspiration and providing practical resources for living and an integrated life.Nancy formerly owned Nancy Ray Photography - a flourishing wedding photography company with several associate photographers on the team! She has so much to share about this topic - listen in now!RESOURCES:WORK & PLAY PODCASTNancy Ray's WebsiteTop 3 Reasons I Built a Team (W&P Podcast) Hiring Part 1: 5 Ways to Know You're Ready (W&P Podcast) Hiring Part 2: Hiring the RIGHT Person and Keeping Them  (W&P Podcast)5 Ways to Become a Leader People Want to Follow   

Have you ever said this statement to a friend, a spouse or partner, a peer in your industry . . . or maybe you've just written it in your journal?I know what I need to be doing, I just don't have the time right now to do it.I really hope I'm not alone here, because I definitely was saying this pretty much on a daily basis to my husband for several years. I knew exactly what it would take to achieve XYZ successes and accomplishments that I was aiming for. I had learned all the strategies - through podcasts, courses, networking events, mentorships, you name it. I knew I could see the finish line. But for about two full years, absolutely nothing changed in my business. I worked roughly the same number of hours and made roughly the same amount of money. I was disappointed with the same things in my business as I had been two years previously. All the changes that were taking place in my business honestly felt marginal.  And I think you already know what happens at the end of this story, right? No one can keep on keeping on with a business when your heart and your mind are dreaming of all that could be, but NOTHING actually ever happens. I hit a wall - I was burnt out. My work suffered, and as a result, my clients suffered. Maybe you've experienced this too.I hear a lot (and I mean A LOT) of small business owners say that exact phrase - I know what I need to be doing, I just don't have enough time right now to do it. And what makes me really sad is that I will hear this same phrase over and over again over the course of weeks, months and even years. So today, I want to tackle this topic and share what I think so many business owners are getting totally wrong. Listen now!LINKS:FREE GUIDE: How to Create a Life & Business visionEpisode #30: The Single Best Thing I Did for My Business (and Life!) in 2020

WELCOME BACK! You might have noticed that I've been gone for a while. This past spring, I took about 6 weeks off from podcasting, which turned into a four-month break while I worked on making this podcast better and re-evaluating:  where exactly do I want this podcast to go? What is our focus? What do my listeners MOST need? And . . . here we are! I'm back to our regularly-programmed podcast episodes, but with a newly-refined vision in mind. Click play to hear more!

Hi friend! So, I can hardly believe it, but I have been podcasting for a FULL YEAR. Where has the time gone? At the beginning of 2020, I committed to showing up weekly and posting a new podcast every single week. And guess what, we made it! This is episode 52!Today’s episode is on the shorter side, and it’s definitely more geared towards my loyal listeners, so if this is the very first episode you’re listening to . . . well, I’d suggest starting with a different one! What I’m sharing today is a little bit of a personal look inside my life and my experience as a podcaster and also giving you a little teaser as to what is to come in this second year of Everyone Wins!

Today, I’m we’re talking about mentors, business coaches, what the difference is, and how to know if working with one of these types of people is right for you!I decided on this topic recently for a few reasons. First of all, I see lots and lots of talk about “mentoring” and “business coaching” online, and honestly I think lots of people think they are essentially the same thing. There are even some educators out there that interchange those terms or consider them as equal. Which . . . you’re going to learn in this episode, isn’t really true. Second, I have worked with both business coaches and mentors in my own business, and I have offered both mentorships and business coaching in the past (and present). Truthfully, I didn’t really know the difference myself until I actually experienced being on the receiving end of these two different types of business instruction. Working one-on-one with an experienced professional can be one of the most effective ways to really grow your business to the next level. But you have to know what you’re getting into and why if you really want that relationship to be effective.So we’re going to talk about a lot of things today. First, I’m going to break down the difference between a business coach and a mentor. Then I’m going to talk about how to determine which one of these options is right for you. You might find that both seem like really great options, you might learn that neither option is a good fit for you, but regardless, my hope is that at the end of this episode, you have a crystal-clear idea about exactly what each of these professionals can do for you!

Hi there ! Today I’m talking about the financial strategies that I use within my business to make it stable, profitable and, overall, a successful business. I’m going to be sharing my top tips about everything from budgeting for expenses, planning for profit and ultimately, hitting my big financial goals. Today’s episode is for you if:You find yourself totally unable to predict your annual income.You feel frustrated because it seems like you have a lot of money coming in each month (or year), but your personal bank account doesn’t really reflect that.You want to grow your team and add contractors or employees, but you have no idea how to know if you have the money to actually do that.You want to make a certain amount of money annually but have no idea how to get there.So essentially, today’s episode is for anyone who hasn’t already mastered their business finances. I really believe that when it comes to money, you have to have a plan. Profit does not just happen. And any business that wants to grow and thrive needs to be profitable. Without a financial plan, you end up spinning your wheels, never feeling like you’re working enough or making enough money, and ultimately, you really won’t make that much money.So this is what I’m digging into today - my 5 top financial strategies for running a predictable, profitable business.SHOW NOTESFREE DOWNLOAD: Profit-Tracking Google Sheet TemplateEmail me: info@hannahbjorndal.comInstagram

Shortly after I started my wedding photography business, I started looking for ways to educate myself for free - through podcasts, fellow photographer newsletters, free downloads and courses - basically, anything I could get my hands to to help me become a better photographer and business owner. One topic that seemed to come up in a lot of different circles was branding - this idea that youare are your brand, and you need to be clear on who you are as a brand if you want a regular client base. Well. I soaked all of that up as fast as I could and followed a myriad of advice on the topic. To be honest and also to be fair, the education I consumed was a mix of great, OK, and terrible advice on the topic of branding. It wasn’t until I got serious about my business strategy that I learned what it really means to have a strong brand. And I might ruffle some feathers with this episode today because it’s not what I hear a lot of other educators saying. However, what I do know is that my own strategy for building a strong brand comes from tried-and-true strategies that major brands have used for years and years and years - these are proven concepts that nearly every success brand has followed. So today, I’m hoping to set you on the path to creating a lasting brand that makes an impact and grows your business in the direction you want it to. I’m sharing 5 major mistakes that small business owners and wedding professionals make all the time when it comes to building a strong brand and then I’m sharing how to avoid those mistakes by doing it the right way. SHOW NOTESFREE DOWNLOAD: How to Create Your Brand Positioning StatementGet in touch: info@HannahBjorndal.comhttp://instagram.com/hannahbjorndal

Hi and thanks for joining me this week on the Everyone Wins podcast! Today I’m talking about what to do when you feel stuck. Do you know what I mean when I say that? It’s that feeling that you get when you’re not sure what the right next step in your business is. It can be caused by all sorts of things:A feeling that you need to do ALL THE THINGS but aren’t sure which to prioritize.Disappointment or stress when clients don’t seem to be booking (or, a pandemic cause all your weddings to cancel).A lack of inspiration or the feeling of burnout.Needing to make a big decision or a big investment but feeling afraid of just pulling the trigger.Not seeing any growth in your business despite your many attempts.Lacking skills or expertise in one department of business ownership and no knowing where to get help.Can you relate to any of the things on this list? What has made you feel stuck in the last several months? Because the list is really endless - those things that I just listed? I’ve experienced them all! If you’ve been in business for more than just a minute, you’ve probably felt stuck before. That's what this episode is all about!SHOW NOTES

Hello and welcome back to the Everyone Wins podcast! On this week’s episode we’re talking about something that I see and hear creative entrepreneurs talk about all the time: going “full-time.”This is a topic that I have a lot to say about because I see a lot of people getting it wrong. And even more importantly, I see a lot of people thinking about it wrong. The mindset that revolves around this idea of going full-time has a lot of widely-circulated misconceptions and false impressions. So today, I want to set the record straight.In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the following:What exactly does it even mean to go “full time?”How does mindset play a crucial role in your work status?What are the pro’s and con’s of going full time?What important factors should you consider before going full time?Plus, I’m going to share my personal story about my employment journey that led me to where I am today, what I would do differently and what I wouldn’t change!