Starting a Photography Business: Part 18 – Mastermind

The other day a fleeting memory of photo frames suddenly came into my mind of how when starting out with the idea of this business I suddenly realised it was going to be more involved than simply putting up some images to sell on a website.

There were so many questions I had like where to find suppliers?  I didn’t have anyone I could ask or bounce ideas off – it was learn as I go along.  And so when the vision of frames came to me the other day I breathed a sigh of relief, I made it!

However maybe if I’d used a tip I read earlier on in the process from business coach Jack Canfield’s book ‘The Success Principles’ I could have had immediate support: though I have to confess, wasn’t brave enough until now to do it.  One of his principles is mastermind groups; gathering four to six business people together to meet via phone or Skype weekly, fortnightly or monthly whichever works for you all.  Mastermind groups are routinely used by many millionaire business people to help drive their business forward.

The businesses don’t have to be the in the same field as yours, they do though need to be successful.  Every meeting is a catch up session with each person in turn being given the chance to report back with happenings since your last meeting.  If you could do with some help or advice from your fellow colleagues now is the time to ask and start a brainstorming session.  Maybe you just want to get some feedback on something you are doing with your business.  It’s also an opportunity to set some goals for the following month and be accountable to the group when you next meet as to whether you attained them.  If you are good at procrastinating which I sometimes am then I know by setting goals within a group will make sure I achieve them.

It’s an environment to support each other, inspire, maybe do business together and just have some fun.  Since January dawnded I’ve been busy creating my own mastermind group, Wednesday was our first meeting, a nice and casual atmosphere as we all got to know each other.  I’m really excited about this; between us we bring many different skills and knowledge to the table and we all have our own niche.

Another option if at the moment a mastermind group sounds a bit daunting is what some business coaches call an accountability coach.  You ask a friend to help you and tell them the goals you have set yourself; then you check in with them every week to update them as to your progress and add new goals as you achieve others.

I almost took this option myself then decided to go for the mastermind groups as over the last year I’ve widened my business circle and also I think writing my goals for the year drinking a rare drop of caffeine helped as I was turbo charged and ready to take on the world!

Notes

• Which successful business people do you admire?  Make contact with them and then clearly voice your idea.

• Be brave! The worst that can happen is they say no and if they do you’ve lost nothing.  Don’t be downhearted keep going until you have your group.

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Ruth Bayley

Living in the beautiful rural county of Yorkshire it was perhaps natural for Ruth to have an affinity with the countryside and its wildlife. Creativity is Ruth’s driving force finding an outlet in television & radio she worked for many years as producer for BBC & ITV.

However a love of photography and for being surrounded by nature called her to go back to her photography training and bring pleasure and joy to people through her connection with our planet.

Staying in the moment when taking her images allows her to experience the natural magnificence unfolding before her eyes. It is this moment of mediation, of gratitude, that she evocatively conveys through her images.

www.healingwithphotography.co.uk