As an artist, you’ve spent countless hours honing your craft, learning to blog, to update your website, to hand out your business card, to get more clients, to…you name it.  You’ve done a lot of learning. You’re getting stronger.  Your brain is on overload.

But have you taken the time to make a list of your weaknesses?  I’ll share mine, in the hopes of illustrating my point.

Design your business around your WEAKNESSES to maximize success.

I prefer the company of children to adults.

My business partner, Haunani, is crucial for dealing with adults.  She books clients, makes phone calls, handles e-mails, and generally creates a barrier between myself and the client until I show up at their shoot and get to meet their children.  This is all by design, not because I hate adults, but because I’m better with kids.  Knowing this and acknowledging this in business practice  means that everyone is happier.

I hate accounting.

I hired an accountant.  Being self-employed means that, under no circumstances, EVER, will I do my own taxes.

I’m a bit of a shy hermit, unless I’m being paid to travel to exotic locations.

Again, Haunani helps with marketing trips and talking to grownups!  We introduce ourselves to businesses together — which isn’t nearly as scary as meeting a stranger SOLO.  She does the negotiating of display details, brochure placement, cross promotion, and the like.

I hate handing out my business card.

I blog.  A lot.  Blogging beats handing out my business card, has more reach, makes the most of my writing skills, and keeps me from feeling like a pushy salesman.

Shooting film without a working light meter = weakness.

How can you grow your business by acknowledging your weaknesses?

Being self-aware can help you to eliminate dreaded tasks (and face it, dreaded tasks always fall to the bottom of the priority list) and keep clients happy.  Make that list of weaknesses, and then figure out just one way to deal with a single weakness.  I guarantee you’ll see a change for the better in your biz.

Want to read it on the blog? WHAT DO YOU DO POORLY?

It explained everything about Brand Camp to me in a way that made sense.  Why has the blog become popular, why do I write twice a week, why do I coach photographers to become their best selves, why do I love this endeavor so much?  Because it’s easy.  (Easy, the way Danielle defines it.  Not easy like eating ice cream for breakfast.) It’s the most natural thing in the world for me to write, since it is my first love.  It’s second nature to me to be able to view things objectively, be a straight-shooter, and to listen with my whole heart to what people aren’t saying.  It’s fun to have an outlet for my thoughts about this industry, and it’s even more fun to make crazy analogies about strip clubs that become 10% of my blog traffic over time.  (Thanks, guys.)

Danielle LaPorte’s Metrics of Ease video (remember, I haven’t read the book yet — it isn’t available!) was worth the $150 USD price of admission.  It may or may not be the same for you.

I encourage you to watch the video and explore your newest candidate for girl-crush-hood.  You can pre-purchase The FireStarter Sessions here.

Oh, and $5 from each purchase is donated to charity.  (See?  Crushing!)

Want to read it on the blog? MY GIRL CRUSH.

Yes, my fifty-nine cents.

Yesterday, I spent three hours in Ikea looking, oohing, aahing, generally being inspired, adding items to my cart with abandon, and loving life.  My cart was overflowing with lovely products.

And then I got to the checkout, where I found out: there are no bags.  Yes, that’s right, no bags.  A bag will cost fifty-nine cents.  And I went blind with rage.

Ikea says this is eco-friendly and green because their bags, which cost $.59, are reusable. I say this is highway robbery — Ikea is cutting costs by nickeling and diming its customers, despite the average sale at Ikea being hundreds upon hundreds of dollars.

This would be completely and utterly un-get-away-with-able in a less-than-behemoth corporation.   If, as an artist, I just throw a bunch of prints your way and say packaging is extra, you would never use my services again.  If your clients order items from you and have to pay separately for shipping and pay again, separately, FOR THE BOX IT GETS SHIPPED IN, clients would have a hissy fit.

If you are selling enjoyable, quality products and experiences to your clients, don’t insult them by charging that last fifty-nine cents.  (If you must, raise the price of your products by fifty-nine cents, and throw the bag in for free. )

And for the love of Pete, DON’T tell me your practices are eco-friendly when they’re merely cutting corners.

Want to read it on the blog? CUTTING CORNERS IS NOT GREEN. IT'S JUST CRAPPY.