Whether your business is a side hustle, a hobby, or your profession this episode is for you if you’re ready to level it up to go pro. I’m sharing the factors that are the most important elements to focus on when you’re making that crucial shift from hobbyist to confident professional. Listen in as I highlight the three factors to focus on in your business and what this can actually look like when you’re strategizing going pro in your business.
This conversation originally took place on my friend Amanda Warfield’s podcast and I can’t wait for you to hear this episode.
Called to Both is brought to you by Joy Michelle, mom of two and multi-passionate entrepreneur who’s on a mission to help others find balance between the worlds of motherhood and business. Called to Both is the podcast for women who have big business ambitions and also want to be intentional and present moms. At Called to Both, we truly don’t believe you have to choose between these two worlds tugging at your heart You can be Called to Both.
You can stay up to date with the Called to Both Podcast by subscribing on Apple Podcast App, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player!
Today’s episode is brought to you by Hobby to Pro Toolkit. I know just how many steps it takes to set up a photography business that you can feel confident in. Hobby to Pro Toolkit is your one-stop solution where you’ll find every tool, template, and guide that you need to confidently go pro in your business.
Level Up Your Side Hustle: 3 Essential Steps to Going Pro
When you’re in the business of taking money in exchange for goods or services, that officially makes you a business (not a hobby). Maybe you’re doing it as a side hustle to make a little extra money or maybe you dream of taking it full-time, but either way, there are some important considerations you should be making if you want to build a successful business. Now, if you ever feel like you’re side hustle isn’t moving in the direction of going pro, let’s review a few steps that you should consider in order to shift your business to professional.
1. The Mental Shift Mindset
The first area to focus on is your mindset. There is a mental shift you need to make as a side hustler that includes viewing your business as exactly that, a business. As we take our hobby and start to do business as a side hustle, we have to get out of the mentality that it is simply just a hobby. When you let go of your identity of being a hobbyist, you can experience the same growth that other professionals experience.
Feeling ready to go pro is an elusive concept—you have to give yourself permission to step into the role of being a professional. The imposter syndrome will creep in if you’re not careful, yet you have to own the role. If you don’t believe it, others won’t believe in you.
2. Breaking down the 3 zones to focus on
As you’re considering making the pivot from hobbyist to professional, you need to look at what exactly needs to happen to successfully make this transition. There are three zones that you need to focus on: visual brand, business backend, and skills and/or product.
Visual Brand
Take a look at your front-facing visual brand: the colors, fonts, and visuals. Creatives tend to hyper-focus on this area, but truthfully it is just one leg of the zones you need to focus on.
Business Backend
Secondly, take a look at the backend of your business. This includes your systems, templates, repeatable processes, etc. Anything that drives your customer service.
Skills or Product
Finally, you need to look at your skillset and offerings to ensure it’s serving clients well.
When you take a look at all three of these areas, it allows you to truly go pro in your business. To level up in all of these areas, it’s important that you get a CRM like HoneyBook. You can visually look professional, create systems within the program to manage the backend of your business, and focus on your skillset rather than time on the admin side of your business. As you’re setting this up, make sure you’re setting aside an hour a week to work on these areas in an ongoing basis.
As a reminder, today’s episode is brought to you by Hobby to Pro Toolkit. I know just how many steps it takes to set up a photography business that you can feel confident in. Hobby to Pro Toolkit is your one-stop solution where you’ll find every tool, template, and guide that you need to confidently go pro in your business.
3. Building a community around you with people who GET IT
A final, and one of the most important ways to level up your business, is to surround yourself with community—specifically of people who get what you do. Whether it’s through mentorship, coaching, peer-led masterminds, or friendships, you will grow in your brand.
Become a Life-Long Learner in Your Business
After you’ve began the process of going pro in your business, it’s important to continue to budget for and carve out time to invest in your education and skillset to be a better business owner. While you want to grow in your business, make sure you’re prioritizing learning over and over again. Everything that you learn as a business owner, you get to take with you in every iteration of your business.
Your growth in business is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
If you’re enjoying the content we’re creating on the podcast and want to connect with others who are called to both, make sure you come join us in the Called to Both Facebook Group!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Connect with Amanda:
instagram.com/mrsamandawarfield
Connect with Joy:
Instagram: instagram.com/joyymichelle
Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UC-Ou6jRKxcjMrVMxWxLO_fQ
Facebook: facebook.com/joymichellephotography
Coach with Joy: joymichelle.co/coaching
If you decide to use any of the links above and buy through them, I’ll receive a small commission back. All of those affiliate income commissions really add up over time and help generate revenue to help support this podcast.
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