Why saying no and turning down lucrative work can be the smartest thing to do for your business.
Being an entrepreneur/ business owner can be overwhelming and sometimes a lonely place to be, particularly in a service or creative-led industry. Even when it’s going well it’s quite frankly hard to stay in control and focused.
So last month, just as the lockdown in England lifted, I finally got to book in my photo shoot for a new website launch; an exciting time in business that has been a baby of mine for a while. Naturally I cannot wait to launch and share my services with this new venture, so I wanted to get the photos and website done ASAP. I still have a small ‘secret VIP club’ of clients from my hair salon days that I adore. I love that it keeps me grounded, hands on, relevant and creative.
I was busier than Christmas on speed, with coaching calls, yoga classes and the VIPs camping out for balayage! However, I sandwiched in the photo shoot in the one window of opportunity I had within a 14-day run. It was a full day of various scenes and lifestyle shots with many costume changes and friends posing as models due to lockdown restrictions and time constraints. There was a lot going on on the day, resulting in me hosting and running around throwing about clothes and losing props in chaos.
Big mistake, HUGE as Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman!!!
I was too busy and too distracted in the lead up to give the attention to the preparation required for a truly successful brand launch. Having worked at award-winning salons, on multiple photoshoots and fashion shows and over a decade of owning a successful High Street salon you would think I knew a thing or two about a photo shoot and business!
Well I do, and it was a timely reminder that you can’t do it all, all at once and all on your own and this is why I am so passionate about the launch of my Business Day Retreats, something I really wish I could have accessed when I was in the thick of it on the shop floor.
It would have been great to be able to have a grown-up conversation with someone that really understood the difficulties, my ambitions and why running your own business can be so challenging, even when you are competent and confident. Someone who could have said ‘You keep saying ‘yes’ to new clients when sometimes you need to say ‘no’, or ‘not right now’’.
Where it went wrong
- I didn’t delegate.
- I didn’t seek the outside help of a fellow professional.
- I didn’t hire someone just to oversee the project with fresh eyes as I was my client on this shoot.
- I didn’t communicate with my fabulous photographer the visuals and images I had in my head.
- I said yes to two great clients in the lead up to the photoshoot, losing 10 hours of precious preparation time.
Sometimes you have to say ‘no’, but never actually say a flat no, always offer an alternative option….
‘Thank you very much. I would love to work on this project with you but unfortunately my schedule is already fully committed at the moment. It is a very exciting proposal and I can see we would work well together, so could we look at alternative dates or future collaborations?’
The Benefit Of Experience And Why I Didn’t Panic
Despite all this, being highly experienced in business and confident with my brand development, I stayed calm as I knew I only really needed a few good photos to launch the website and keep the project on track. My worst-case scenario would be to pay for another half day shoot if more images were required.
What I Learned And Reinforced
- Don’t say yes just because you can and are capable.
- Reschedule if you need to – I could have pushed back the photo shoot by two weeks if necessary, giving myself adequate prep time
- Organise and communicate your thoughts with those that you are collaborating with. They don’t know what is in your head!
- Always look for and seek outside help from professionals and people you respect and admire. It is how we learn and grow and has the biggest impact on our success.
- Never be afraid to say if something is not looking or feeling quite right. Take time out and get a fresh perspective and then make the improvements needed.
- Always take ownership and control of the situation; don’t look to find blame but to find resolutions.
Use These Valuable Insights To Improve Your Business Or Working Day
Stay calm, get help and don’t get distracted by what you perceive is wrong. Clarify your objectives, refocus your vision and deliver work or an outcome you are proud of.
Everything is a blessing and a curse and our strengths are our weaknesses. All help to teach us and become better if we allow them to.
As the wonderful Maya Angelou said:
‘Do the best you can until you know better …. then when you know better, do better.’
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