Comments on: Confidence: A Crutial Component to Business Success

By: Market Umbrella

Market Umbrella — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:59:47 +0000

Well done! I liked your post it is very helpful for me.I really want to do something more formally with my photography and I do my best in it. You know Joyce- I have so many photos of umbrellas whichever I like so much…….

By: Christine DeSavino

Christine DeSavino — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:21:08 +0000

Thank you for this reminder…words I need to hear!

By: Rebecca Cooper

Rebecca Cooper — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:06:14 +0000

posted on facebook. thanks

By: Kyla Hornberger

Kyla Hornberger — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:30:09 +0000

posted on my blog! http://www.kylahornbergerphotography.blogspot.com

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:30:04 +0000

I twittered and I follow you on twitter!
http://twitter.com/jkburleson/status/5081256921

By: Jenn

Jenn — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:09:01 +0000

Your blog post came at the most appropriate time for me. I’m just starting out, and realizing all of the things I’m doing wrong. Good thing it’s early in this process and I can course-correct, and Joyce Smith’s posting yesterday put even simple things in mind that I can change. Often times, when I’d send an email to clients letting them know their photos were ready for proofing, I would write “hope you like them!”. At the time I write that I’m trying to be nice, but I can see how it can potentially come off desperates, as though I’m begging them to like me/my photos. And this is so strange for me. I’m doing photography as a side business. In real-life, I’m an engineer working in a pharmaceutical company. I’m very confident in my technical ability, and because of that, people rarely question it. I think part of that is because it’s technical, not creative…there are no gray areas. But in photography, you’re putting you’re heart/soul/vision into it. I’m going to say “I’m a photographer” with confidence

By: Kristin

Kristin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:49:23 +0000

Bravo! Excellent post! I’m a photography enthusiast with no professional aspirations, but this is advice from which anyone in any field can benefit. I’m inspired! Thank you.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:37:13 +0000

When I started working as a contracted assistant wedding photographer my confidence, both personal & professional, was very low. I had just finished graduate school, found a job, and within two years realized that I was headed down the wrong path. Luckily, a photography class that I took (just for fun) grew into a job when my instructor asked me to work for him. I left my job and haven’t looked back. The experience of growing from an assistant to lead photographer helped me get on the right track and bring my confidence level to 3 – a good starting place. My abilities and comfort in a new field were budding. During that time, I decided to experiment in child/family photography and found my passion. My first eureka moment occurred when the daughter of my very first client (also my first newborn shoot) celebrated her first birthday. Seeing a child grow in front of me, from newborn to 1 year old, solidified my commitment in this newfound career and skyrocketed my confidence to 6. Buoyed by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, I began reading books on business, marketing, and communication. From the Carnegie classics to Dane Sanders and Seth Godin (next on my list), I can’t seem to put them down. I follow several blogs, and every day that I read something new I can feel my confidence incrementally growing. That’s just how my brain works – I research, then act. My research has, so far, brought me to a 7 (I’m still just getting started!) but I’m anxiously anticipating the moment when I hit 8. That’s when I’ve decided to act on my dreams of officially starting my own business!! My constant professional growth has mirrored itself beautifully in my personal life, a connection that spurs me on like nothing else can. I am one of the lucky ones. My interests, values, and (growing) abilities have come together in one job, and my personal confidence now soars.

By: Sari

Sari — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:18:25 +0000

Another great read! Thank you Jodi and Joyce!

By: Allison

Allison — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:03:29 +0000

This is a great give away. I secretly hope I win because I could really use this stuff! I have such a LOVE and passion for photography but sometimes my knowledge and lack of money limit me from becoming what I want to be. I see what I want to be but it is taking time to get there. Photography wise, I would give myself a 6.5-7….. I am most confident with people that I don’t know and newborns drop my confidence level. They are HARD.
Thanks again for this contest. It it awesome… pick ME!!!!