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Hey again :)
I guess that wasn’t really fair, was it? I asked you two questions and didn’t even give you my own responses. So here they are.
ONE. How do you spend your days? Work? Play? Down time? I wanna know!
In truth? I am probably the worst time manager ever. I have to use SelfControl on a daily basis to keep myself from getting majorly distracted on the internet. After reading E-Myth I’m in the process of creating my job descriptions along with rules for work, it’s hard being your own boss sometimes! And I really need to always be pushing myself to be a better boss and employee. Bam! So the answer to this question is always developing but at the moment I work six days a week, one day is devoted totally to shooting, the other days are “work” days. I divide my days into different “jobs”. For example, 9-10am of every day is “admin” work. That’s when I answer all emails, order anything that needs to be ordered, update any documents, filing, basically deal with all admin stuff. From 10-11am it’s the time I’ve allocated myself to create my “photo of the day”. From 11 – 12 I am in “creative mode” and doing anything photo-shoot related from organising shoots to ordering props online, location scouting etc.. From 12 to 1 I allocate “social media” time. Social media is a huge part of my business and involves a variety of things (that’s for another post!) From 1 to 2 it’s lunch time!! From 2 to 4:30 I allocate time each day to the blog – writing posts, organising posts etc.. This varies every other day with time allotted to marketing. One day of the week I devote the entire afternoon to editing (I prefer to do it all in one sitting for some reason, I get in the zone and can’t stop!). I then finish my day with another hour of social media, and then final day admin (however long that takes). On Saturday/Sunday (whichever day I’m working that week) I also have my weekly review, where I plan for the next week and evaluate my weekly objectives. This is actually a new and untested routine. My sister pretty much has the role of my “manager”, every time we get together she sits down and evaluates my business and helps me to reorganise my business life. Sometimes when you are so deep in your own business it’s so hard to see everything clearly and it feels like there is simply not enough time in the day to accomplish everything – when, really, where there’s a will there’s a way. One of my main concerns was “closing the doors” to Alex Beadon Photography every day at 5:30. This is something I’m working on, as my time alone really helps me grow creatively, and acts as an asset to the business as I feel healthier and happier – so it’s my new goal! :) In my spare time I am doing a variety of things from reading to exploring, taking my dogs for walks etc.. but if I’m honest my life at the moment pretty much revolves around my business and photography, self improvement and my family.
TWO. What makes you the happiest and why?
This is such a hard question. In no particular order: Love makes me happiest because it feeds my heart. Inspiration makes me happiest because it feeds my creative soul. People make me happiest because they make me feel connected. Discovery makes me happiest because it makes me feel like I’m growing and developing. Giving makes me happiest because it adds meaning. Creating makes me happiest because it gives me freedom and somehow allows me to live forever. I think that’s pretty accurate :).
To all of you who responded to yesterday’s post – I LOVED reading your answers. It feels awesome to connect with you. (Note the third thing of what makes me happiest and why) Big love to you all and I hope you have an inspiring day! <3
PS I love hearing from you, so drop me an email or speak anonymously on Formspring!
