Got an Hour to Spend? You Can Do a Lot of Things in Short Timeframes
Staying motivated means being engaged, and engagement takes time. But not as much as you need.
Good morning, Framers!
Yesterday, I gave a brief list of things you can do every day that could boost your business. I hope you give them a shot and see the benefits.
Today, a different list of sorts… This one breaks down exactly how much time you need to spend in order to see growth in both your business and your own creativity.
When I am working with photographers one-on-one, we always start with time management and time expectations.
So many photographers think that marketing or being on top of their game business-wise takes hours and hours. But it doesn’t.
That is a fallacy that is brought over from the corporate world, where companies expect us to work a certain amount of time. We end up filling that time with useless tasks, wandering minds, and forcing the hustle culture so we can deceive ourselves into thinking we earned that paycheck.
Important: I do believe in aspects of the hustle culture. In the world of freelance art and creative businesses, hustle is simply expected. A lot is needed to break through the walls that stand in our way every day.
Every. Single. Day.
However, we are self-employed, so we have the entire day to work and do what we need to do without the cage of eight continuous hours with a break for lunch.
I wake up at 5:30 every morning and get a ton of stuff done before anyone else is even awake. I take time to read, compose music, and work on projects as needed. I then spend three hours in the afternoon working on The Creative Class, marketing, or simply developing more projects. Some days I work 10 or more hours; other days a few hours and I am out on the bike.
It is a perk of a creative life.
My mentees hear me say that marketing is important and that it has to be part of your day and they instantly see themselves in a cubicle for 8 hours with an outdated Ansel Adams calendar pinned to the wall, soda cups filling the wastebasket, and someone from HR standing over your desk looking angry.
Naww, dudes and dudettes, that is not necessary at all.
While I believe in hustle, I also believe that you have to focus your hustle on what needs to be done rather than doing what is just there.
Here is a list of things with suggested time allotments that equal about an hour per day. Some of them will take a little less, some a bit more. Others may not need to be done every day, but at least once a week (blogging, portfolio adjustment, etc…)
So give this list a look-over while you are having lunch or dinner and see if they are something you can sneak into your day.
(Note: all time allotments are overstated for most of us, so the total will be more than it will actually take.)
Social Media Snippets (5 minutes): Quick snaps or posts about your day or work don't need to be time-consuming. A brief, engaging post or story can be done in a flash. Sunrise shots, finishing a project, an interesting take on something you read or heard.
Engage With Your Audience (10 minutes): Allocate a few minutes to like, comment, and reply. This can be done in short bursts throughout the day, making it manageable and effective. If Facebook is your thing, spend time looking at and liking the posts that catch your attention. If IG is where your head is at, engage with people who are interesting. Always respond to those who respond to you.
Blog About Your Experiences (15 minutes): You can draft a quick blog post or jot down ideas when they come to you and write the blog later. Keep it concise and authentic. This task might be done a few times a week rather than daily. I have found that making little audio notes and images with audio has given me an almost unlimited source of blog material.
Email List Magic (5 minutes): Adding a new contact and sending a quick update or tip to your list can be swift, especially if you've got templates set up to go. Do this with Mailchimp, Hubspot, or even Substack.
Network, Network, Network (5 minutes): A quick message or email to a new contact, or a brief interaction on social media, can be very effective. I also like meeting small groups online and sharing ideas and art. Try having everyone bring someone new to the meeting every month. When it gets too big for zoom, you have quite a network going, and you will find a way to keep everyone engaged.
Learn One New Thing (5 minutes): Whether it's reading an article, watching a tutorial snippet, or practicing a quick new technique, keep it brief but consistent. SEO classes at Google, Photoshop classes on YouTube, and a myriad of online courses that you can take at your leisure.
Refine Your Portfolio (5 minutes): Daily - or weekly - you might just review and assess your portfolio. Actual updates may be less frequent but can be broken down into small, daily tasks. Try working with image positions or flow.
Collaborate Often (5 minutes): Reaching out for collaborations or responding to inquiries can be done quickly, especially if you have a template or a clear idea in mind. Start a collab group. Get hold of another creative and see what the two of you can do working together. Bring in other partners as needed.
Stay Active on Forums (5 minutes): Quick participation in forums or groups doesn't take long. A helpful comment or a quick question keeps you engaged without eating up your time. Engage, don’t just say trivial stuff like “awesome’ or “cool”. Be proactive in leading discussions.
Reflect and Adapt (5 minutes): End your day with a brief reflection on what’s working and what’s not. This could be as simple as making a few mental notes or jotting down in a journal. This one is big for me. A daily recap in a Fieldnotes pad is a great way to end the day, discover new ideas, and get ready for the next day.
Total Time: 65 minutes or less.
While each task is allocated a short time, cumulatively, it slightly exceeds an hour. However, not all tasks need to be performed daily (like blogging or portfolio updates), and with efficient time management, you could fit most of them into an hour or less.
The key is to be focused and efficient during these brief moments, and consistent small efforts can lead to big results over time!
When you are ready, here is how I can help you succeed.
Group Mentorship: a small group of photographers who meet to show images, work on their portfolio, and build their businesses with help from a wonderful group. Lifetime membership for one fee.
One-on-one Mentorship: You and me - working together in an intense 6-month push to get you on the way to over $30K in additional revenue. The work we lay down will help you increase and scale your business for years ahead.
The Creative Class: Expand your toolset and become a one-person visual agency capable of pulling in steady and repeated income. If you have questions, let me know, and I will answer them as fast as possible.
Discount codes for In the Framers:
Cohort Discount $197: $1000 | A23CD7E72E
Creator Discount: $100: $197 | 2BA98E4053
There are clients in your area.
They need you to make photographs for them.
They want to hire you… but…
They don’t know who you are.
And you don’t know how to find them.
This goes beyond marketing. We know how important marketing is. Even photographers who are not marketing know how important it is.
This is a system that will help you build the right portfolio, look for the right clients, get the work, and keep them coming back for more.
This isn’t rocket science, it is a system. One designed to be scaled and built on as you build your business.
For more information and to register, visit this page.
Don, this is the most unrealistic time estimation ever but I love you for the list haha. Maybe I am just REALLY slow at things but a blog post takes me HOURS and DAYS haha