a conversation yesterday knocked loose an idea that has been on my mind at various times throughout the past few years, and it’s one that is so fundamental; without it, everything else falls apart and loses all value.
accountability.
i was reminded of a conversation i had with a friend a year or two ago. the friend had told me that her dream was to become a tour manager for musicians because she loves music, loves the scene, and wants to help artists so they can focus on their art. at the time, i told her that if she wants to be a tour manager, then she needs to be a damn good accountant, because without bridget accountability, bands end a tour with nothing in their pockets and only good memories to show for it.
this all came to mind yesterday when i was helping on a shoot with stock.henry for an event planner who said that the event planner game is getting really saturated. she said that essentially a lot of people are taking the mindset that they love planning parties, so they are trying to turn that thing they enjoy into a business. that is when i told this story because the truth is i think it applies to all forms of entrepreneurship and freelance. there are literally millions of people who think everyday about how great it would be to break free of the cycle and strike out on their own doing something they truly love. and in none of those fantasies does anyone include balancing bank accounts and filing taxes as part of the montage even though it is probably in the top five most important aspects of being a freelancer or entrepreneur.
from a higher level, this concept applies across the spectrum. it’s fun to talk about an idea. it’s fun to get out and shoot photos or video and be in the moment. it’s not fun to comb the internet and send out hundreds of pitches to potential clients, though. it’s not fun to prepare and send them an invoice, and to build a database. and it’s not always fun to plan the nuanced logistics that go into a sophisticated photo shoot or production. and it’s not always fun to talk your clients through the process, answering their questions as they arise. and it’s not fun to balance the books after a shoot and realize how much money you still need to make in order to make ends meet. but all of this is critical to rising above the wanna-be professional hobbyists that are crowding the market. when it comes down to it, you have to ask yourself: are you willing to do whatever it takes to be a true pro? full disclosure, it’s a question i have to ask myself frequently in order to stay on track.