My Motivators

What makes you go every morning? Whether you work full time, part time, are a stay at home mom (or dad), small business owner, student, or whatever it is you do. What motivates you?

I currently juggle my full time job as well as my photography business. This isn't easy, and often times my photography business gets more neglected than I would like. Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, I am a Marketing & Communications Manager at GVSU. On weekday evenings and weekends, I am a photographer. In addition to work and my side biz, I am a GVSU YoungLife leader, the co-chair on the activities committee on the GVSU Young Alumni Council, and a GVSU Seidman College of Business Alumni Association Board member. As crazy as it sounds, I love having a lot to do and keeping busy. I can manage my time better, and then enjoy the down time that I do have. Because of this, I honestly do feel I can be more motivated to do things.

Overall motivators:

-Coffee (& cute coffee shops), Sleep, & Food

-Money (let's be real)

-Music

-Passion

-Flexibility & Freedom

-Friends & Family

-Jesus

-Clients

Coffee, Sleep, & Food:

I literally can't function without these 3 things. I need a full 7-9 hours of sleep, breakfast, & coffee to be able to start my day and turn on my brain. Also, working in cute coffee shops or co-working spaces is an additional plus for me. I occasionally spend some Saturday's editing and planning in cute coffee shops. I don't spend nearly as much time as I wish I could in these spaces, but knowing that if someday I made my photography business a full time thing and would be able to go more during the week, that is motivation to keep going! Throw in some acoustic folk or singer/songwriter music and I'm all in!

Money:

I know, I know, but let's be real. Money makes the world go round! We are human, and money is a huge motivator. I love what I do, but the money makes it even better, knowing I get to do something I enjoy but also getting compensated for my talents.

Passion & Clients:

I've learned that you really do have to enjoy what you do. Money is important, but so is your happiness and satisfaction from your job. Personally, this is so true for me. The passion I have for photography is what truly keeps me going. My favorite session to photograph is couples. I love, love. I know I've said this before, but seriously there is something about watching a couple interact with each other in front of you. Give me all the heart eyes. I LOVE sending a gallery to clients and then seeing or hearing their reaction. I get so excited once I hit send. This is the moment that gives me pure joy. I also just love interacting with people during shoots. At my full time job, working with students and letting my creative marketing juices flow is also what keeps me going!!! I just love being behind the camera, I get in the zone and am totally in my element. I love seeing my clients share their photos on social media. I love getting that notification that they left a review. I love seeing my photos on save the dates, invitations, and hung up at graduation parties, wedding showers, and wedding receptions. Ya'll are the ones that truly keep me going.

Flexibility & Freedom:

As much of a scheduled person that I am, I also love that with photography, every day may be different. Some days may be spent editing, planning, & managing the business side of things. Other days may be spent purchasing new equipment, cleaning equipment, location scouting, or out on photoshoots. I love that I can work at my own pace and on my own time. I'm actually more motivated this way. I don't always like being told when to work. I'm most productive in the mornings and evenings and when I'm feeling my best. The afternoon is honestly my least productive time of day. My best self might not always be 8-5 Monday-Friday. Yes, I have a hard time with this with my 8-5 job, afternoon crash and brain fog is real. I realize this paragraph is totally calling out the millennial in me. LOL

Friends, Family, & Jesus:

None of this would be possible without the support of my family, friends, boyfriend, and God. By support, I mean how they understand my crazy schedule. I don't always have the time to spend with them, especially during the summer and fall. There's times I have 2-3 photoshoots a week, go to my normal job, and then edit every second I get. By support, I also mean social media likes, comments, and shares. I know there's a lot of those out there watching me from the side lines and silently rooting for me, so thank you. Thank you to all who support me in every way possible. Of course, none of this would be possible without the love and guidance from Jesus!

So those are my main motivators. All of these motivate me to keep working hard and to keep working towards my goals. If it weren't for ya'll, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. Hopefully someday, I'll make my goal of photography full time into a reality!

Ya'll rock. And ya'll are what truly keep me going. So thank you!

What motivates you?