Are there opportunities in your business (or your life) that you’re not taking because you’re afraid to fail? 

Are you really too busy…or are you just filling your time with anything else to avoid it?  Are you pretending it doesn’t matter…when you know deep down that it does?

Take a moment and look honestly at your heart on the matter of failure—I know it’s scary. I’m the first to admit I HATE FAILING. At ANYTHING. The other day I left my cell phone in Dallas and realized it when I got to Austin. Tiny “failure” if you can even call it that—but I took it personally and got down on myself.

If you’re anything like me in that area, we’ve got to stop those thought patterns. It’s dangerous and damaging and skewed.

While reading Rich Dad Poor Dad the other night, I ran across this passage about the Alamo. Being from Texas, it’s an easy and inspiring reminder that helps me reset my thought patterns when faced with a failure:

“If you really want to learn the attitude of how to handle risk, losing, and failure, go to San Antonio and visit the Alamo. The Alamo is a great story of brave people who chose to fight knowing there was no hope of success against overwhelming odds. They chose to die instead of surrendering. It’s an inspiring story worthy of study; nonetheless, it’s still a tragic military defeat. They got their butts kicked. A failure if you will. They lost. So how do Texans handle failure? They still shout, ‘Remember the Alamo!’ That’s why I like Texas so much. They took a great failure and turned it into a tourist destination that makes them millions. Texans don’t bury their failures. They get inspired by them. They take their failures and turn them into rallying cries. Failure inspires Texans to become winners. But this formula is not just for Texans. It is the formula for all winners.” -Robert T. Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Be encouraged that though we will all fail at some point in time, we have the opportunity to let that failure inspire us, give us wings, and make us better. 

xo

Caroline

Walk in. The door to success is open wider than ever before. Put yourself on record now that you are going to join that select group that is getting what it wants from life.

Here is the first step toward success. It’s a basic step. It can’t be avoided. Step One: Believe in yourself, believe you can succeed.

- David J. Schwartz / The Magic of Thinking Big

source

It’s taxes time!

Okay, before you have a panic attack, know that it can be done. You CAN control your finances and your taxes while running this business. You can own them, before they own you! Just keep in mind :

It takes time.

It takes determination.

It takes organization.

Today I’m going to share with you my best tax advice, to keep you organized and ready for April 15.

1. Get a good accountant.
You may not think so at first, but I promise you, it’s worth the money. He knows way more about the tax code than I do, and even though I pay him hundreds of dollars, he saves me thousands. Worth it. 

2. Track your mileage throughout the year. 
I use Track My Mileage, though there are plenty of apps to choose from. It’s much easier to do this along the way, then try to sit down at the end of the year and remember every session and meeting.

3. Have a good filing system in place.
I file all my receipts once a week, and I file them by date. I have an expandable file folder that is labeled “Nancy Ray Photography | 2012” that sits next to my desk, and it is organized by month : 12 slots labeled January - December. (I used to file receipts by category, but they were much more difficult to find if needed.) I also file my bank statements in the front of each file, so my bookkeeper has all the receipts and bank statements in one place.

4. Know your dates ahead of time.
Since I am an LLC filing as an S-Corps (Yes, complicated. This is where my accountant comes in!), the corporate deadline for taxes is March 15, not April 15. So that takes planning ahead. Also, this year, April 15 falls on a Sunday, so the technical deadline is April 17. Bottom line? Plan ahead. Know your dates. I always make it my goal to file my taxes at least 2 weeks early. I prefer 1-2 months early.

5. Get to know Quickbooks
Quickbooks is a lifesaver. Another software purchase that is worth it as a small business owner. Watch the tutorials, learn the software. Even though you may end up outsourcing your bookkeeping, you need to know what is going on in your business financially.

This article by Dave Ramsey is very simple and helpful as well.

Another helpful article by Mandy Miller.

How do you feel when taxes come around? Prepared, or not-so-much?

- Nancy

I have spent all day today “de-cluttering” ShootQ. Streamlining my systems, my emails, my correspondence with my brides. Making my workflow more simplified. Following up on old leads and new ones, making a brand new “to do list” to set me up for success come wedding season. I’ve even called 6 leads, leaving them personal voicemails and messages, letting them know I’m here to answer any questions. (Thanks for inspiring me, Caroline!)

These are the things that are easy to put off, the things that are time-consuming, the things that can easily be replaced with urgent emails or editing. But organizing these things NOW will set me up for success LATER.

What do you need to organize today, so that later you are ready to handle all the comes your way?

Nancy

What a day we had! Thanks to each of you for sharing your hearts, for being yourselves, for opening yourselves up to new relationships and knowledge. We are so blessed to have met each of you!

Here’s to 2012 being incredible!

xoxo

Nancy + Caroline

Well, here we are — one week away.

*happy dance*

This week, jump on into the Facebook group and start chatting it up with the other ladies. Start building those relationships now, and you’ll be so glad you did.

Next Monday can’t get here fast enough for us! 

Today we get to meet: Michelle Charlotte Landreau

Are you single, married, have children, have pets? I have been married for 4.5 years.

What city and state do you live in? Atlanta, GA

What fires you up about photography? Examining light and taking best advantage of it to enhance my subject’s inherent beauty.

What is something no one knows about you? I love keeping secrets. ;)

If you could live your perfect day, what would you do? My perfect day would be spent exploring and taking photographs of a place I’ve never been in the company of good friends.

What are your five best traits? (I feel strange describing myself!) I’m honest, fair, creative, polite, and concise.

What is your current favorite inspiring blog or book? (Not a photographer’s blog, please.) I’ve been really into beauty and style blogs lately. My favorites are Brooklyn Blonde, Eat.Sleep.Wear, and Mrs. Lillien. I find that if I’m inspired in other aspects of my life, it helps my work.

What is one thing you are thankful for today? I’m grateful for an overwhelming sense of readiness to work hard in 2012!

What’s your favorite Christmas album? I really enjoyed the She & Him album this year. Another fun one is Stockings by the Fire, a compilation I picked up at Starbucks a couple of years ago.

Coffee or tea? Hard question! I’ll pick coffee because l love a morning pick-me-up.

Leave lots of comment love for Michelle! 

Today we get to meet: Elizabeth - aka: Eliza Kay