I can bench press 50 pounds. Oh, that’s not exactly what this is supposed to be. ๐ And I have no idea if I can actually bench press 50 pounds. I bet I used to be able to though … pre-twins. ๐
This is another step in my analysis of my business. ๐ So, feel free to ignore if you so choose.
1 – I read people really well. No, not dead people and I don’t “see” them. I mean, I can read people really well. Given photography is a people business, that better be top of my list. I am very good at interpreting their moods, both in person and even via email. I generally have a sense about them when I work with them … meaning, what they are going to like or not. I try very hard to keep customer service as a TOP priority, with the “customer is always right” symbolically in my head, but at the same time, balancing that with what is best for the business. And, of course, when I am in a pickle, I generally get input from my helper. ๐
2 – My business is ME. Technically, that would be one point of competitive differentiation that can NEVER be copied. ๐ We learned in school that you have to have at least one point of competitive differentiation and that it can change … especially if someone can copy you. Well, if there were another copy of me, Ron would go crazy, so since I’m unique, he’s safe and so is my business. A strength is that the photographer is ME. They can ONLY get me if they come to me. They can only work with me through me. My business is me. ๐
3 – I am very efficient. How is this a strength? I can accomplish, in 4 hours, what many (ok, MOST) take 8 to do, with the same quality level. I listen (actually read) about photographers and how long they take to do x, y, or z. I calculate my time and it’s NOTHING like that… generally 1/2 their time. Then, I read how long it takes to do a, b, or c and again compare and still it’s 1/2. I have a very logical mind and am ALWAYS looking for the fastest, easiest way to complete a task … ways that also save considerable money, because I don’t have to hire any help to accomplish it. That also translates into the end product being even more a representation of ME … strength #2 and because I read my customers so well (in #1) they get exactly what they want. Yeah, sometimes there is an oddball and I lose out, but the percentage of that to the “right kind” is small. ๐
So … I read people very well, my photography is me, me, and me and my business processes are very very very efficient. Though all the repetitive words probably don’t create much of an example of my efficiency. ๐ ๐