1000 words.
7.58am – day 6 - 1000 words.
The women I work with in mentoring sessions are women over 40. She in her own photography or creative business, she is thinking of starting a photography business, or has ideas running through her head for a creative project. She has spent lots of money or put herself in debt for courses, workshops, retreats, webinars. She knows the theory, but is not confident in the action steps, procrastination is a problem, scrolls social media looking for inspiration, answers, and motivation, does a post or story occasionally on Instagram. Is easily distracted from devoting herself to what she thinks she wants to create. She is in search of connection to a community, she wants to feel a connection to her business or project, craves to feel connection and understanding within herself of what she truly wants. The women I work with are wise, they have decades of knowledge, skills, they know how to devote, take care of, and put others first – they are kind and thoughtful. BUT they are now feeling a strong need to connect and devote to what they want, to get to know the woman she is now and who she is in her photography, creativity, business, art, life, she wants to build trust and confidence in herself. The woman I work with in mentoring wants to make HER dream come true, she wants to feel seen and recognized for what she creates, and she wants the family and community she has built around her to celebrate her, push her towards reaching her goals. She wants to feel her own version of success. She mostly wants to know she can be herself, feel confident in her decisions and know how to take action when she needs to.
If the top half of this paragraph, is you and you want the bottom half. Send me an email to start your mentoring conversations.
This can be part of my 1000 words today, I love the top paragraph, this feels more like me stating the obvious and telling the truth no metaphorical speak, just plain speaking to the women that I want to work with and be paid by, I find it exhausting to suggest gently to something. I am much more of a be honest, no smoke and mirrors type of lady.
I was listening to a part of a podcast yesterday and the man was talking about when in business we are continually asking for our audience to buy from us, this is what I sell, this is how I will make your life better, this is the magic pill etc. He went on to ask the question.
Why do we think we deserve our clients, customers?
I absolutely loved all of this. It made me think of my mentoring conversations. I do not have the quick answer, I do not have the comfortable answer, there is no magic pill.
Why do I think I deserve clients?
Deserve: to have earned or to be given something because of the way you have behaved or the qualities you have.
My first thought is because I ask uncomfortable and moving questions like:
Why do I think I deserve clients?
I deserve clients because, I ask myself and mentor myself the same way I mentor my clients, I ask myself the questions that light my body with the shame, embarrassment of not knowing answers about myself deeply and then exploring and fining out the answers to my own heart. I deserve clients because I do not offer a quick solution. I offer a space, conversation, questions, and feedback for the woman to feel into and think on for herself, she is a capable woman, no one needs me answering or handing them a solution on a silver platter, because there is no silver platter. With anything that we do, being a woman, wife, mother, sister, friend, artist, business owner, employee, whatever facet we are shining at that point, every single thing comes down to how respond, and how we respond is dependent on how well we know ourselves or that facet of ourselves. To know ourselves is to love ourselves. Love ourselves for every perceived flaw, the beauty we see in ourselves, the experiences we have had in our lives, the stories we tell ourselves over and over. Our life is getting to know our own heart and understanding the miracle of that beautiful opportunity to be in this life with that heart.
I deserve clients because my mentoring sessions are about women getting to know their own heart. Its questions, conversations, laughter, tears, stories, questions on repeat in her heart and head days after, it’s one small step. The space is about devoting to what the woman wants and knowing what she wants intimately and understanding she has the knowledge, wisdom, resources, heart for it. Because if she wants it, she has already imagined/ experienced having it and then its expansion from there with the right mindset.
1:1 Private Mentoring conversations
Wow that flowed out of me with ease, I will repurpose these words today, the first paragraph will be made into an Instagram post, the whole document will be my newsletter today and will be posted on my website in the blog section. This was not what I had planned to write today for the newsletter or my 1000 words. I was going to talk about my version of a motherhood session with the Women over 40 – Women in the family photo offering I have for April.
I mean I could lead on from the above. Why do I deserve any of you to book me for a photo session. I offer remote sessions via the Shutter app and in person sessions between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Why do I deserve clients in the photography side of my business?
Same as above, the space I create is about connection and conversation and when women are together in a space where the connection is felt and the conversation flows they let down their guard, share stories, become animated and are comfortable speaking from the heart. THAT is when I photograph. It takes time, vulnerability on both our parts, conversation with the same subject but with our unique experience. This is the only way I know how to take photos that are personal and show the essence of the woman and the feedback I receive is always emotional.
I have sessions available all through April and delivery will be 11th May. The photo sessions are for women over 40 to gather the women in their family into one place and create photos with me. It is an experience of connection and recognizing the women who are the fabric of the family.
Women in the family photo.
I so look forward to creating with you if this sounds important to you.
841am – 1133 words
The five other blog posts of 1000 words I have written so far.
I was on the Conversations from the gap podcast all by myself this week.
Have a beautiful week
Melinda.