Changing Your Mind & Direction of Your Business
I have a talent for picking quotes out of television series and movies that apply to my life in some way shape or form. I was recently on a Twilight Saga kick – Although I have seen the movie once before and I had graduated some odd years ago, I was moved by Jessica’s (Anna Kendrick) graduation speech in Eclipse:
“When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Our answers were things like astronaut, president, or in my case, a princess. When we were ten, they asked again. We answered rock star, cowboy, or in my case, a gold medalist. But now that we’ve grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how about this? Who the hell knows? This isn’t the time to make hard-and-fast decisions. This is the time to make mistakes. Take the wrong train and get stuck somewhere. Fall in love – a lot. Major in philosophy, because there’s no way to make a career out of that. Change your mind and change it again, because nothing’s permanent. So, make as many mistakes as you can. That way someday when they ask what we want to be – we won’t have to guess, we’ll know.”
I don’t know about you, but I have always felt this invisible pressure that I couldn’t change my mind especially now as an adult and as a business owner. Can I just say this – what a load of rubbish! As humans we are constantly learning and growing, therefore, the knowledge we gain will influence our decisions in life. Where would you be if you hadn’t changed your mind at all – if you remained to stick with every original decision you ever made?
The biggest decision(s) that I was nervous about making was anything and everything about my business.
When I originally started showing interest in photography, I wanted to travel the continental US with major rock bands, but felt that was an unrealistic goal and decided to pursue being a Graphic Designer.
A year after I had failed out of college the idea of Misfit & Co. Creative Studios was born (originally as Misfit Designs) – I wanted to open a design company that would help individuals who couldn’t afford schooling or couldn’t get a job because of lack of experience. I soon realized my passion for graphic and web page design wasn’t as strong as it used to be, and I was gearing more toward photography.
Fast forward three or four years later I bought my first DSLR camera, started photographing weddings of close friends, and then the referrals started coming in. Although I enjoyed capturing weddings and meeting such wonderful couples, I started to realize how mentally draining they were for me.
After my now-husband and I got engaged, hired our wedding photographer (Chelsea Hall of Chelsea Hall Photography), and started to experience her services – I immediately felt I was cheating my clients out the same wonderful experience and quality of services because of my introverted personality. That was the moment I decided weddings weren't for me and every couple deserves to experience the same thing I did with Chelsea.
Another year later here we are – renamed, rebranded, focusing on portrait photography, and refocusing on the original dream: helping others no matter what creative field or industry they’re in.
Did you catch how many times I’ve changed my mind? Five times over the course over nine years for just my business alone. That doesn’t count the endless hours I wrestled with product/session prices, when and how much I would raise those prices, what services should I provide – the list goes on.
So let me say this again: “Change your mind and change it again, because nothing’s permanent. So, make as many mistakes as you can. That way someday when they ask what we want to be – we won’t have to guess, we’ll know.”
Whether you are someone just graduating high school, a fellow business owner, or maybe even that crafty person who is selling their goods on Etsy, remember this quote the next time you feel the pressure you can’t change your mind. It’s through our experiences and our failures that we know what is right for us (and our businesses).
Keep growing you beautiful human being.