The Business Bagel "Morning Break" Newsletter
Business Building Tips and Strategies
For Professional Photographers who want to shift their thinking from being "just a photographer" to becoming the CEO of a highly successful company!
In This Issue:
- On My Mind...
- How learning F.O.C.U.S. can make you more productive
- FREE Business Calibration 30 minute session to jumpstart your business in 2016!
On My Mind...
Hello Doug
Happy NEW YEAR! I hope you had a great holiday season with family and friends. As we start off the new year we take time to reflect on 2015, set our sites for the coming months and begin working on our goals for success and fulfillment. In today's article, I share a productivity strategy that has changed the way I work. I now focus on being productive instead of busy and boy has this made a huge difference for me. I highly encourage you to try this strategy over the next 90 days and I guarantee you will get more done than ever before!
FREE Business Calibration Session...
Are you ready to calibrate your business for the new year? Just like a computer monitor, if you don't take time to calibrate it, your color will shift and will no longer match what you get back from your printer. I am offering a FREE Business Calibration Session this Saturday, 9 January to help you get clear on where you want your studio to go in 2016. These sessions are 30 minutes long and will focus on you and your business. I will send you a mini-workbook ahead of the call that will help calibrate your business in 2016! Don't miss this opportunity to jumpstart your business. I only have a few slots left so you need to act fast! If you think you would be interested in participating in this, please send me an email at dougmattice@o2ecoaching.com - Thanks
Have you downloaded my SPECIAL REPORT: The "Magic Keys" to Becoming Profitable In A World Where Everyone Owns A Camera! This report is loaded with successful business tips and secrets. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS IT!
What's Keeping You Up At Night?
Please continue to let me know what topics you are interested in learning more about so I can address them in upcoming articles. What is keeping you up at night? What is holding you back? Where do you want to be one year from now? Let me know. By letting me know your needs, I can write articles, and blog posts that can address them. Send me an email at dougmattice@o2ecoaching.com
Lets work together. Take this journey with me and let's see where it leads!
Doug Mattice
Visit my website: www.o2ecoaching.com
Feature Article:
How learning to F.O.C.U.S. can make you more productive
Many of my clients tell me they are “really busy” but not really productive. They are doing “busy” activities that take a lot of time only to realize at the end of the day that they haven’t accomplished much.
I was in the same situation. I would come home from work, eat dinner and head down to the studio to “work”. After a few hours, I would look at my to-do list only to find that I had hardly scratched the service. I was really busy, but all that really meant was that I was being really unproductive.
Tim Ferriss writes in his book The 4-Hour Work Week, “Focus on being productive instead of busy.” When you are working for yourself, you have to be disciplined on getting things done and being as productive as you can be. This is hard because there is a lot to learn, and a lot of distractions, and in case no one has ever told you this before, it’s hard to determine what to work on – and when to work on it – when you’re the boss.
As a studio owner, it’s on you, and you alone, to figure out what you need to do – and how long you’re going to give yourself to do it – in order to be most productive.
This is different for everyone, so there isn’t a specific formula to follow, and it’s no longer as black and white as saying you start at 9am and you have until 5pm to get x,y and z done. Many of us work odd hours and frequently our “productive” time is broken up into 60-minute chunks.
So what should you do when you are stuck in the rut of “unproductiveness”?
Learn to F.O.C.U.S.
 FOCUS stands for: Follow One Course Until Success. This one strategy has changed the way I work, and it will set you up for maximum productivity. The best part is it only requires you to set aside just one hour per week.
That sounds pretty reasonable, right? Here’s how:
First: Choose a day
Choose a single day of the week that works best for you to set aside 1 hour to implement this strategy. I sit down on Sunday evenings to plan out my week.
Go ahead and do this in your calendar right now…. schedule it to make it REAL
Second: Follow these 5 steps…
1. Write down your goals for the week
This doesn’t have to be an exhaustive list of every single thing you’re going to do at specific times each day. Try to write down 3-5 things you want to accomplish each day of the week. The key is to write them down.
This is a good habit to get into because it’s one way to hold yourself accountable for the goals you want to accomplish.
2. Set a time
After you’ve written down your goals for the week, figure out when the best time to accomplish these things will be for YOU.
To start, pull out a calendar and block off any times when you have appointments, calls, meetings or other commitments
Then, start by using blocks of time as your “productive periods”. For example, you might have a portrait session on Tuesday afternoon at 1pm, so perhaps from 9am-11am you can “block” time to work on writing a marketing piece.
Once you have a better idea of how much time you need to complete a task, you can start to become more precise in blocking off productive periods for yourself depending on the task at hand.
The important thing for you to do during these productive periods is to remove distractions and focus.
Only work on "THE ONE THING" at a time. Don’t get in the habit of being everywhere on your computer – be in one place.
Challenge yourself to FOCUS.
3. Set Boundaries
Burning out is easy to do, especially if you are trying to do your photography business after working your “day job”. Give yourself some breaks as you work on achieving your goals and tasks. Take time to exercise, walk and remain in the best possible condition. You are no good to anyone if you are sick or lack energy.
4. Revisit your goals
I really feel productive when I can physically check things off my list – do you feel this way, too?
If so, then make it a point to revisit your list of goals and update them daily. You can either mark them a certain percent of the way done, or check it off your list completely. This is also a great way to hold you accountable. The more you can remind yourself of the goals you’ve set, the more likely you are to stick with them. Another idea is to find an accountability partner or coach who can work with you to achieve your goals and help you when you get stuck. If you have someone you can check in with daily, weekly or even bi-weekly, that accountability is HUGE when it comes to meeting your goals.
5. Repeat
Don’t forget this step! It’s important to understand that this strategy is not a one-time thing, rather something you get in the habit of doing every single week.
Once you’re a pro at being productive and know exactly what your schedule will look like on any given day, the FOCUS will take on a whole new meaning for you.
Instead of blocking off time to be productive in 2-hour increments, you might sit down and say to yourself, “I’m not going to move on to my next task until I have this one finished.”
It’s an amazing skill to have, and I know that if you can learn to Follow One Course Until Success (FOCUS) by giving yourself productive periods, then you too will soon be achieving great success in your business and life.
What’s one thing you do to help yourself focus? I would love to hear what you have to say on this subject. Send me an email at dougmattice@o2ecoaching.com.
Need help on a project? Would you like someone to partner with and hold you accountable?
I can help you break through the barriers that are keeping you from achieving the success that you want in your photography business. Whether you need assistance on a particular project - like pricing, how to handle client objections, sales tips, design ideas, copywriting, etc. or want help becoming a better business person, I can assist you!
Send me an email at dougmattice@o2ecoaching.com or call me (703) 505-6766 and I will be happy to give you a proposal. My rates are very affordable, and the results you will get will be life changing!
Think about this question:
What is it costing you by NOT doing what needs to be done?
About Doug Mattice
 If you think you can't make money and live life on your terms, I would like you to "think again". I specialize in teaching photographers how to make more money easily while enjoying a business and lifestyle that they desire.
As a photographer myself, I know all to well that too many photographers today are working themselves to death in order to achieve the business success that's going to allow them to have a comfortable life. That's why I have dedicated myself to helping my clients learn the most strategic methods in business building so they can be financially profitable, live fully, and continue to pursue the passion they love!
I offer a variety of business development and support services to meet your needs. To learn more CLICK HERE to be taken to my website and see how you can quickly grow your photography business! I also encourage you to download my special report for FREE when you arrive there.
Quotes from clients who are moving "Onward to Excellence"
"I have increased my business revenues substantially since I started working with Doug. He has helped me focus and now I am more organized then ever before." - Pam D.
"My client load has more than tripled! (not to mention my income!) My life has gone from reaction-based confusion to purpose creation. Working with you as my coach and trusted advisor has made all the difference in the world!" - Stacey P.
"Doug has helped me increase my sales in just two sessions. I would highly recommend him to help your business grow." Sharon M.
"I have been in photography for over 25 years. To be honest, I have had a difficult time remaining profitable since 2008 due to the recession and increased competition. Doug has really helped me get over my barriers and negative thinking. Business is improving and I am regaining my "creative" spirit. I encourage you to give him a try because his support really helps!" - Gary J.
Let Me Help...
There is no better time than NOW to begin growing your photography business. You work too hard to let your dream of creating beautiful photographs DIE because you couldn't effectively manage your business. I am here to help you in whatever way I can.
Reach out to me today at - dougmattice@o2ecoaching.com so you can start your journey "Onward to Excellence".
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