It’s hard to believe I have been self employed for three full years now. It’s been quite the rollercoaster ride – lots of ups and downs, twists and turns, headaches and screams and definitely some sighs of relief when it’s over. I’d like to reflect on the past three years if I may.
Over the past three years, I have shot around 120 weddings, hired a few employees, fired a few employees, moved office space three times, found a business partner, participated in two trade shows, done thousands of dollars of free ‘PR’ work for companies to get my foot in the door, partenered with a handful of Durham and GTA companies and lost countless hours of sleep thinking about how much work I have to do. I’ve satisfyed my college dream of owning my own camera (5 cameras at one point), expanded into photography, focused my PR training to target a new business market of videography and met hundreds of helpful people (and dozens of not so helpful people). Business now is perpetual, I’m getting calls and e-mails now almost daily with new opportunities and I am finally charging what I am worth.
It’s been fantastic though. I’ve learned a great deal about myself, about business, about finding the right role models to emulate, about the digital world, about dealing with dozens of clients simutaneously, about finding the right type of help, about discipline, about taking time for myself and so much more! It’s really hard sometimes when dealing with so much all at once, I just try to remind myself of all the benefits I give myself during those difficult times.
I plan to keep running the business for at LEAST another two full years (to make it five years total). When I started the company back in 2005, it was a cool way to procrastinate getting a real job. But when things started to snowball, I realized I liked the lifestyle, the paychecks with my company name on them and the freedom of working from home (which I am doing right now). Once 2006 had come and gone, I told myself that five years was going to be the re-evaluation period. See how things are going. I have a STRONG feeling it will go beyond those five years. I’m far too rooted now to pull the plug. And even if I wanted to, I would have to pull the plug a year in advance. I’m not ready to do that just yet.
As most of my fellow work associates and friends know, I am traveling to BC in less than two weeks to bring back one of the most ambitious and talented people this country has to offer to work beside me. This is the step I have been waiting for! All of 2008 I have been thinking about finding a partner. They’re tough to come by! I wasn’t huge enough to pay full time wage just yet – I needed someone who just wanted to work for the experience AND could bring more bread to the table. And I have found her. Allllll the way on the west coast of Canada.
So the Cup now has to support two people’s workload and paycheck (eek!). 2009 will take some getting adjusted to, but in 3-4 months we are going to be a well oiled machine supplying Durham and the GTA with the digital services it needs. With two of us on board, we are going to be stronger, more organized and more talented. Nothing is going to stop us!
So happy birthday Empty Cup Media! It’s been great so far and it’s about to get a lot better!
