Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral

What is the most valuable non-renewable asset in your life and business? It's time. Your time is limited, so why not use it doing what brings you the most satisfaction and joy? Today's guest designed his businesses to let him do just that. Key Takeaways You're not alone in your work. By being part of a community of people in the same profession, you can help and support each other and foster mutual success. As soon as you can, start creating systems to automate as much of your job as possible. Branching out in the type of services you offer is often an inexpensive way to create more security. About Blake Pollino Blake spent ten years doing business development and marketing in the corporate/start-up world. He shot his first wedding for free in December 2017 and filmed his first paid wedding the following March. Blake worked 80+ hours a week building his video business while still working a full-time 9-5. He went full-time almost one year to the day after his first paid wedding. Blake launched BP Media Group in 2019. Since then, he has worked with companies/brands like ConocoPhillips, Shell, the Philadelphia 76ers, Junior Olympics, Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin University, and more. In late 2019, he spun his real estate photo/video work into its own company, BP Real Estate Photo & Video. Becoming the Boss of Your Own Schedule with Systems As someone who runs multiple businesses, Blake could be constantly at odds with time. However, he learned that money that buys you more time is money well spent. Blake explains how establishing and using automated systems has freed up more time in his business. By having employees and systems in place, Blake is able to own his schedule. Having previously worked over eighty hours a week, you better believe he appreciates his ability to take quality time off for his family and his own passions. Building the Relationships that Pay You Back Over and Over Again One aspect of Blake's success has come from relationships with clients. There are some companies, particularly marketing agencies, that will need video for many different projects and clients. These, in turn, can lead to new work opportunities. We discuss how seeking out and cultivating relationships with just a few companies can greatly multiply your work. A lot has to do with the effort you put into securing clients. By putting your energy into going after big clients, you're being more efficient with your resources. These are often the clients that you can reliably count on for multiple work opportunities. What systems do you have in your business that allow you to own your own time? How do you go antelope hunting instead of mouse hunting? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: The benefits of being part of a shared experience [6:00] How Blake transitioned out of corporate work and into entrepreneurship [12:10] Taking advantage of automation to buy you more time [17:33] Taking control of your time and schedule to be able to focus on your true priorities [24:40] Why it can be tough to be both a creative and an entrepreneur [33:40] Finding clients who lead you to even more opportunities [35:45] Whether to hunt for field mice or antelopes [41:50] Diversifying your business without buying new gear [43:37] What to do after your success [52:00] Quotes "Some of the moments that have led to the most success in this business have come from going to workshops. It's not necessarily the content that is taught at those workshops, which is normally great; it's the relationships that I've made." [10:31] "We're in a really cool place where people are starting to see that the ocean is plenty big for everyone. We can really help each other and lift each other up." [11:19] "There's a big struggle in the creative industry. We're artists. We want to create something and show our art. But, whether we like it or not, we're also business-people. We have to run these businesses. Many struggle to do both these things." [33:43] Links: Get on the Onward Summit Waitlist! Core Find Blake Pollino online Follow Blake on YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Essentialism by Greg McKeown From 6 to 7 Figures by Austin Netzley Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 201: How to Become an Essentialist and Change Your Life for the Better

Diversification in your business is essential to its survival. I think that's something we all learned recently. Yet, you can't always do everything yourself. Today's guest explains how he learned to use outside expertise in order to keep his business agile and profitable. Key Takeaways Bringing in outside experts allows you to take on a wide variety of projects. While this is an extra expense, it will likely lead to higher quality work which you can charge more for. Always be looking for more and different opportunities. Complacency will not help you when situations unexpectedly change. About Jeffrey Johnson Jeffrey Johnson has been around cameras all his life. His dad managed a camera shop, and he helped him develop photos in a makeshift darkroom at home. He grew to be passionate about art and music and studied design. But Jeffrey lost his drive to be creative for years, working in sales and management. After a life-changing event and a cross-country move, he decided to take photography classes, which reignited his creative passion and propelled him to quit his proverbial day job and start freelancing in 2012. Jeffrey slowly niched down to commercial work, specializing in architecture, interiors, and tabletop. A few clients wanted video, and he decided to dip his toes in the water. Bam! He was pulled in by the opportunity to be a visual storyteller on a whole other level. When the pandemic presented an opportunity to rebrand and relaunch, he joined the VBA to optimize his business so he could offer a full suite of creative services under one roof. Flexibility as the Key to Survival and Success In this episode, Jeffrey explains how he gradually transitioned into video. One central aspect of freelancing is being open to new opportunities. Say yes and figure it out later. Jeffery certainly got his start in video this way. A key part of this process is being open to all sorts of new opportunities. Since you may be new to what you're doing, having a trusted network of people who you can rely on is crucial. By bringing in experienced experts when needed, you'll improve your own craft. You'll also create mutually beneficial opportunities that might come back to help you out later on. Getting Outside Help in Order to Achieve More Jeffrey knows that he wouldn't have survived as a business owner on his own. While it's natural to want to be protective of your ideas and creations, sometimes you need to share them with others to bring your work to fruition. If not calling in outside help means your work won't go anywhere, what do you have to lose through collaboration? Is it worth it to create a passive income opportunity for your business? How has bringing in outside help improved the way that you do business? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: How Jeffrey got his start in photography and transitioned to video [4:40] The power of your network to expand the type of work you do [9:45] Having a vision for your business that remains flexible when circumstances change [12:55] Passive income opportunities that can see you through hard times [15:44] Why being protective of your work is the wrong mindset [21:45] Recognizing your achievements that took time to materialize [28:45] Quotes "Maybe life is too short to be doing something that I'm not super excited and passionate about. I wanted a creative outlet." [5:42] "The work really needs to come first. Buying the gear is not going to make the work come to me. I need to seek out the work that will justify acquiring the gear." [9:33] "If you're doing really great at something and you get too comfortable, then the world is going to up and change and you'll become outdated, obsolete, and left in the dust." [21:08] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook group Get on the Onward Summit Waitlist! Core Find Jeffrey Johnson online Follow Jeffrey on Instagram | Linkedin | Facebook Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 133: How To Create Passive Income Strategies For Filmmakers

We all should have a vision of what our company really is. That's the easy part. What's harder is sharing that vision in a coherent way with others. Today's guest has helped hundreds of companies clarify their vision so they can effectively broadcast it to the world and reach their goals. Key Takeaways Having a vivid vision for your company will keep you constantly aligned with your goals and mission. About Cameron Herold Cameron is the mastermind behind the exponential growth of hundreds of companies, making him known as the business growth guru. He has built a dynamic consultancy with clients that include a monarchy and a Big 4 wireless company. The author of five books, Cameron is also a top-rated international speaker and the founder of the COO Alliance, the World's Leading Network for Seconds in Command. Creating The Right Vision for Your Company To come up with a vivid vision of your company, Cameron wants us to ditch our vision statements. They really don't mean much anyway. You need to dive deeper than that. No matter the size of your business, having and communicating a meaningful vision of your company will help you attract the customers and talent you need. Cameron explains how to actually write out your vivid vision as you formulate it. This provides the excitement, clarity, and drive to move your business to greater heights. The Amazing Thing That Happens With Your Vision Both Cameron and I discovered something amazing that comes with having a vision. When you are clear on what you want from your company, it provides you with more opportunities to live the life that you want to live. Sure, making money is a large part of why we do what we do. However, there should be so much more to it. With our visions are leading our businesses, we have the clarity to choose what we want to work on and have the freedom to put our own wants and desires first. How is your company's vision bigger than a mission statement? How do you communicate your business' vision to clients? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: How to formulate an image of your company [5:28] Why a small business still needs a vivid vision [9:28] The power of defining your core values for your company [11:30] Finding pride in building something that allows you to live on your terms [17:17] Who to hire first in your business [23:50] The future of Cameron's vivid vision [30:00] Quotes "That one-sentence vision doesn't align anybody. We all know it's nonsense. We just mashed up seven words into a sentence and said 'Go, team!'" [8:16] "When you define your core values and pick customers and suppliers based on them, all of a sudden it starts to supercharge your organization." [12:33] "You don't need to hire somebody. You need to get more stuff done. So take all the stuff and put it into buckets. Who can do this stuff and what would a person doing this stuff be called?" [26:35] Links: Get on the Onward Summit Waitlist! Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook group Core Find Cameron Herold online Follow Cameron on Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin Invest in Your Leaders COO Alliance Vivid Vision The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs Double Double Free PR From Six to Seven Figures Entrepreneurs' Organization Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Choosing a focus for your business is scary. There's a fear that niching down means you might be missing out on other opportunities. That's why so many of us take a long time to pick a niche or never do. Today's guest explains how he overcame this and how you can too. Key Takeaways Having a niche automatically raises you to the level of an expert in your field. This builds the trust that your clients are looking for. Keep all your paperwork well-organized. If you are ever faced with an audit, this will help everything go so much smoother than otherwise. About Jake Sturgis Jake Sturgis, the founder, and CEO of Captivate Media, started with video in high school, where he had a public access TV show that never quite caught on like Wayne's World. In college, he was a TV news producer in Duluth, Minnesota. From there, he worked as a videographer and Communications Coordinator for two school districts in Minnesota. For over a decade Jake worked those jobs while shooting and editing weddings and small corporate gigs on the side. In 2014, Jake took the big leap into the video business full-time. Jake's videos have garnered national attention, leading to multiple awards and public speaking engagements on visual storytelling and authentic student engagement. Finding Your Business' Perfect Niche Jake's company has a very narrow niche. He works mostly with schools and educators to produce content that showcases their institutions. Jake explains how he discovered the need this niche has for quality videos and how he fills it. As an expert in creating videos for his niche, Jake can often anticipate his client's needs before they even know them. Despite these advantages that come with having a niche, many of us are hesitant to be in one. Jake addresses these fears and anxieties. He explains how you need to understand who you are as a person as well as a business. When you have faith in yourself and your mission, you'll come to understand that you will find and create the opportunities needed for success. Surviving the Dreaded Audit As Jake grew his business, he soon realized that he couldn't do it all by himself. But taking on employees is not necessarily a straightforward process. In fact, his state ended up auditing his business, looking at how he was employing his team. Jake tells us how he dealt with this stressful time in his business and how he would do it again if he had to. Are you avoiding specializing in a particular niche? What's holding you back? What niche do you feel best qualified to focus on? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Why cheaper work isn't always worth the price [3:30] How being an expert in your niche puts you at a special advantage [11:30] Dealing with the fear that comes with niching down [18:15] Finding the faith to grow your business into something bigger [24:55] What Jake learned when his company was audited [33:00] Advice for someone considering starting their own full-time business [42:25] Quotes "When you've got a niche, and when you know when things are happening with your clients, you can start to anticipate and build for and predict those things before your clients even know they need them." [14:57] "The more that you dive into a niche, the more windows of opportunity that will just present themselves."[19:59] "I saw this opportunity and I didn't want to look at somebody else who made that leap and made that decision and was super successful and always be looking in the rearview mirror and be like, that could have been me." [45:08] "When you can pair your passions with what it is that you're doing and making an impact in the lives of others, it's incredibly fulfilling and a lot of days it doesn't even feel like work." [46:25] Links: Check out the FREE Client Budget Workshop! Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook group Core Find Jake Sturgis Online Follow Jake on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

I know I wouldn't be where I am today without collaboration. Even if you're the only person in your business, there are times when you'll need to call in help from elsewhere, even if just to get a different perspective. Today's guest explains how to do that more efficiently so that you can be more creative in the long run. Key Takeaways Creative partnerships are very important for the success of a business. Identify areas where another perspective would be beneficial and seek that out. Creative projects often involve a degree of chaos. Project management software is a good tool for organizing and channeling that chaos into order. About Kaitlyn Rossi Kaitlyn Rossi is the senior video producer with Storyblocks. She's behind much of Storyblocks's branded content, including their new original series. Storyblocks helps creators and businesses of every size keep up with the growing demand for video. They provide flexible subscription plans for royalty-free stock video, audio, and images. Connections Lead to Possibilities When people connect, the creative possibilities increase exponentially. To truly flourish as a business, and as a person, you have to approach what you do with honest generosity. Helping and serving each other will lead to satisfied clients and more work for everyone. With this in mind, Kaitlyn and I discuss how fostering community - rather than competition - will result in more fulfilling opportunities for all of us. The Power of an Efficient Workflow Process We also talk about how to be as efficient as possible in your business. Having a tried and trusted workflow process in place is an essential part of this. Kaitlyn explains the framework that she follows during all stages of production. It centers on really getting to know your audience, their frustrations, and their desires. Once the concept has been established, she then coordinates between the various team members using software designed specifically for that purpose. By having the whole process in place from the start, a complicated project becomes exceptionally manageable. How has seeking an outside perspective helped your business? What tools do you use to facilitate your workflow? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: How Storyblocks is fostering creative collaboration with its new original series [4:10] The power of community to facilitate creativity [9:15] The fulfilling effects of getting positive feedback [13:20] Harnessing the efficiency of a well-designed workflow [16:50] Overcoming common struggles in the creative process [22:40] How to be a better partner in your business [24:45] Quotes "No matter what level you are in your career, everyone can benefit from creative partnership." [8:32] "Don't discount what other people can bring to your creative process and how they can enhance your work. Even if you've been at it for years, you can always learn something new and people will always bring an additional perspective." [9:00] "To be a better partner to someone, don't limit yourself to what you think they want to hear. Go into it with an open mind. Tell them honestly how you're perceiving certain aspects because that could be the differentiator for them." [25:21] "Go out there and find someone to partner with. Look in unexpected places." [27:41] Links: Check out the FREE Client Budget Workshop! Join the Studio Sherpas Facebook group Core Storyblocks Follow Storyblocks on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Partnered: A Storyblocks Original Series Asana Notion Frame.io Wistia Basecamp Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

It takes a certain level of discomfort when starting and running your own business. While it lacks the security and predictability of a "regular" job, it brings with it a degree of freedom that can't be found anywhere else. Today's guest shares his stories of successes and setbacks as a new video business owner. Key Takeaways You will likely have more regrets about not following your dreams of running your own business than you would if you don't. If you feel called to do it, start doing it now. Defeating imposter syndrome requires acknowledging that it's okay not to know everything and being true to who you are as a person and a business. About Dan Bewley Dan Bewley works with nonprofits to help them grow using the power of video. His passion for storytelling through video stems from his 25 years in TV news, telling a variety of stories from across the country. Dan's unique career has given him the insight to find stories that connect with viewers on an emotional level. He lives in Tulsa, OK with his wife, son, and hyperactive dog, Rocket. He's a big fan of westerns, Sci-Fi movies, and obscure 1990s television shows. Embracing the Risks of Starting a Business In this episode, Dan describes the risks he took when leaving a corporate job to start his own studio. Although he was older than most first-time business owners and had enjoyed the security of corporate work, he felt that the risks of not acting on his desires were just too big to ignore. Of course, there were mistakes made along the way. Dan explains how entering entrepreneurship with a mindset to embrace mistakes is a key element of succeeding. Everything is a learning experience if you are open to the lessons that they contain. Honesty as the Antidote to Imposter Syndrome Dan also talks about how overcoming imposter syndrome was one of his biggest challenges. Having never been in business before, he often had to deal with feelings of inadequacy. Dan explains how forcing himself to change his perspective allowed him to charge what he's worth and land the clients he's after. By being honest with who you are, you'll recognize that you have something valuable to offer. Are you experiencing imposter syndrome? If so, how can you overcome it? What was your biggest fear when starting your own business? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Embracing the challenges of a career change at any age [4:00] Getting excited by the business aspects of running a company [11:20] Overcoming the effects of imposter syndrome by betting on yourself [17:02] What happens when you are completely honest with new clients [25:15] Hiring others to help you with specific tasks to serve your clients better [29:20] Quotes "It's been a challenge, but what I like about it is it's my challenge. I'm doing it for me. If it works, it's because I made it work. If it doesn't work, it's because I didn't make it work. I want to own that one way or the other." [7:21] "Don't make the mistake of not betting on yourself. Take that chance and take that risk!" [17:41] "Yes, bet on yourself. Yes, take chances. But also be realistic. Be honest with yourself." [29:12] Links: Sign up for the Live Videography Interview Series Sign up for the Onward Summit Waitlist Join the Studio Sherpas Facebook group Core Storyblocks Find Dan Bewley online Follow Dan on Facebook | Instagram Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Why are you working? It's a simple question with a complex answer. It needs to be more than just making money or you won't last long in this business. Today's guest explains how to find the motivation to do great work by recognizing your power to create positive impacts. Key Takeaways Instead of asking customers what they want you to create for them, ask them how they want people to feel after seeing their videos. The work that you do should have purpose not just for your client, but for yourself. This is what is needed to keep you motivated to continue to produce great work. To identify your purpose in your work, think about who inspired you to do this work and why. Then look at your unique abilities, gifts, and talents and how you use those to serve others. About Davin Salvagno Davin Salvagno is the Founder & CEO of PurposePoint, the author of Finding Purpose at Work, and co-founder of The Purpose Summit. He is an inspirational thought leader and speaker known for connecting purpose, people, and performance. Having spent nearly two decades serving in various leadership roles in finance, human resources, operations, and marketing with Fortune 500 companies, his insights and talks have helped hundreds of organizations across the world engage their purpose and inspire their people. The Impact You Have in the Work You Do Everything that you do has an impact. Whether it's big or small, you have an effect on other people. Davin talks about how we should be reflecting on what type of impact that is and learn to recognize it when it happens. He explains how following the "impact trail" shows you just how much bigger your influence is than you might have imagined. Approaching Experience as a Commodity Davin also explains how you can provide more for your clients by focusing on the experience that you provide and how you can transform what they do. Rather than relying purely on your products and services, emphasizing how you make them feel will often be enough to create loyal repeat clients. This type of approach will not only help your clients make a bigger impact, but it will also give you and your work more purpose. It will motivate you to keep working as you create positive impacts. As you utilize your talents and abilities to positively transform how other people feel, you'll find that there is no limit to the impact that you can create. What is a purpose point in your life? What unique power do you have to impact the world? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Recognizing the purpose points in your life [8:35] Why the work that you do is more than just a job [14:48] Why competing at the experience and transformational levels will set you and your business apart [22:30] The power of being true to yourself [30:00] Where to start when you don't know your work's purpose [34:14] Quotes "People have been so disengaged with each other that they haven't been able to see how the work that you do impacts other people." [13:05] "Whatever it is that you do, how you tell a story has the power to engage someone's heart and mind to think about something - or even better, to do something - they might otherwise not have done had it not been for your work." [20:15] "Those tiny little nuances of what is uniquely you that sets you and what you do apart from the next person and how you position that and tie that to how it makes someone think or feel is the game-changer." [33:34] Links: Sign up for the Live Videography Interview Series Sign up for the Onward Summit Waitlist Join the Studio Sherpas Facebook group Core Storyblocks Find Davin Salvagno online Follow Davin on Linkedin | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram The Purpose Summit Finding Purpose at Work by Davin Salvagno Start With Why by Simon Sinek Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Behind every business are actual human beings. Recognizing this is key to running your own business with integrity, caring, and a mission to make a meaningful difference. Today's guest is a marketing wiz who has mastered the concept of building authentic relationships in the business world. Key Takeaways Customers are going to be more loyal to the brands they have deep connections with. This means building the identity of your company based on who you really are and what is most important to you. Your best customers will be the ones who connect with you as a person. The faster you can authentically put yourself out there, the faster you'll find each other. About Jessika Phillips Jessika is a social media strategist known for her outspoken dedication to relationship marketing. Her personal mission is to inspire people to love more, give more, and be more through using authentic relationships every day. Jessika founded NOW Marketing Group in 2010 with only a laptop and a vision. The company is now a Forbes recognized Agency Partner and a certified inbound partner with Hubspot. NOW Marketing Group works with more than 100 clients across the United States and beyond, choosing to serve – not sell. Jessika teaches comprehensive relationship marketing, presents in a weekly videocast "Magnet Marketers", and hosts one of the largest social media midwest conferences, Social Media Week Lima. Named as one of the top global rising stars in social media to watch, Jessika is one who leads genuinely, passionately, and by example in all she does. Your Unique Approach to Marketing In this episode, Jessika dives into how we can increase our impact and be more creative if we just think about our businesses a little differently. By recognizing the link between marketing, sales, and human behavior, you can increase your influence as well as revenue. At the core of Jessika's message is the idea of being unique in how you connect with your customers. It's not what you do, so much as how you do it. Knowing what makes you different requires understanding who you and what your business is at a core level. Jessika explains how to identify what it is that you truly want to do with your business and who you want to serve. Putting Yourself at the Core of Your Business Ultimately, your business will do best when it's true to who you are. Your brand should be a reflection of you. The sooner you can put your true self out there, the sooner you'll weed out the people who aren't a good fit, and the sooner you'll draw in your ideal clients. By marketing in a way that is true to your identity, you will naturally add value that others don't. Jessika explains how the connections that you build this way will result in happier clients. You'll be happier too since it's always more satisfying working with people who share your values. They may even do your marketing for you by referring you to other similar customers. How does your brand reflect you as a unique individual? How can you get repeat referrals by creating valued relationships with customers? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Making relationships the centerpiece of your marketing [5:00] Reframing how we think about marketing [12:12] Using a magnet approach to marketing rather than a bullhorn [16:24] The biggest lies in business [23:16] How your customers and mindset define your niche [28:14] Getting repeat referrals through relationship marketing [33:30] Quotes "My MO is just all related to relationship marketing and just being better humans and not having this separation of business and personal in how we show up." [5:31] "The people who are going to stay loyal to us are the ones who have something more than just a surface-level commitment to that brand." [9:23] "You went into business for a reason; value that. Value yourself and value your work. Make sure there's mutual respect with whomever you're working with." [26:45] Links: Join the LIVE Videography Interview Series Get on the Onward Summit waitlist Core Storyblocks Find Jessika Phillips Online Follow Jessika on Linkedin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube NOW Marketing Group Learn Relationship Marketing Relationships and ROI Masterclass The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Books by Seth Godin Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

When you dream about the future, you have a direction to set off on. There's a goal to work towards. In this solo episode, I'm sharing what I've learned about setting big goals and how that helps you thrive in this business. Key Takeaways Goals can come in all sizes. Dream big and have a goal that may take years to realize. At the same time, create short-term tangible goals to keep you motivated along the way. It's Time to Dream Big When you think about your video business, whether you're new to it or not, I'm sure there's something you wish were different. Perhaps you want to work fewer hours, make more passion projects, or save more money. It could be anything. But if you dreamed about your future lately, now is the time. Creating A Roadmap Towards Your Dreams It's the dream and your goals that keep us motivated when life's distractions get in the way. When you remember your greater purpose it becomes easier to remember why you are passionate about this work. Set yourself some short-term goals that will lead you toward your dream. Doing this will keep you motivated and show you just how close you are to achieving your dream. Dealing With The Unexpected There will be unexpected interruptions along the way. Things will happen that you just can't plan for. Yet, when you have a plan directing you towards your goals, you won't lose track of your ultimate destination. Overcoming obstacles also requires thinking with an abundance mindset. Don't just strive to meet the bare minimum of survival. Set big goals that lead you to thrive. Then, when things inevitably go wrong, you'll be better positioned to overcome them. What goal can you set to allow yourself to dream big? What do you need to do to thrive, not just survive? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Finding your direction by examining your goals [2:52] The importance of having big dreams [9:10] Not undervaluing what you have to offer [15:45] How your big dreams will impact other people [22:20] Quotes "When you dream about the future - when you set goals - you have a direction that you want to head into. Then, you can work backward and think about how you want to get there." [3:07] "I do believe that something very powerful happens when you dream and when you believe in something and work towards it. I think it's more likely to happen when you start verbalizing and writing down your dreams, goals, hopes, and desires." [9:14] "You gotta believe that you're worth it. And you gotta believe that it's okay to dream really big for your life." [22:26] Links: Sign up for the Onward Summit Waitlist Join the Studio Sherpas Facebook group Core Storyblocks Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

I used to look at my competition and feel fear and inadequacy. But as I started to grow into my own identity as a business owner, I began looking at it differently. Now I see other similar businesses as sources of motivation. They've gone from being my competitors to part of my community. Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing one of them. Key Takeaways Don't be afraid to get in touch with other similar businesses in your area. This has the possibility of opening up all sorts of new opportunities. It's not enough to just be good at something. You need to enjoy it as well or else it's not truly a strength. About Heather Zara Heather Zara is the owner and CEO of Zara Creative, a Detroit-based video production studio that helps forward-thinking brands make meaningful connections with their audiences. As an observer of the human experience, Heather has built her career upon the pillars of creativity and communication while letting her passions and curiosity lead the way. With over 22 years of experience, this award-winning storyteller has interviewed inspiring humans like Martha Stewart, Kobe Bryant, Michael Strahan, John Varvatos, LeBron James, and more. Stories have the power to heal, shape, and transform our lives, and Heather has made it her life's work to tell those stories. The Transformative Nature of Building Community A lot happens when you stop viewing other video businesses as competition and start to see them as other members of your community. Envy turns into inspiration. You become clearer on what you want from your own business. You also find people to share information, knowledge, and referrals with. Ultimately, the work becomes more fulfilling this way. It's All About Mindset Heather and I have both found that this is only possible with self-reflection. You need to take the time to look back on your journey, understand where you've come from, and evaluate what you've learned along the way. This takes a certain amount of humility. It also requires that you be kind to yourself. This is a learning process for everybody. Fortunately, when you have a community that you can turn to, there's no need to go through it alone. Could your business benefit from having community or competition? How have you learned humility as a business owner? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Finding inspiration from your community [6:00] How to reach out to other video companies [14:20] Understanding growth through transformation [18:50] Finding joy through creating meaningful work [27:45] Lessons learned through refining your hiring process [32:25] The two most important qualities of strength [42:20] Quotes "It is so much more freeing when you can look at your community as a catalyst to help you grow." [8:20] "Any time you feel envy, it's information. It's information of the direction you actually want to be going." [13:27] "I think that being a business owner requires a lot of humility." [42:21] "Be yourself as much as you possibly can. If being yourself means wearing a leather jacket and ripped jeans in a meeting, great! Go be yourself. Don't change yourself to fit into this role that you're telling yourself society needs you to show up as." [46:26] Links: Sign up for the Client Budget Workshop Join the Studio Sherpas Facebook group Core Storyblocks Find Heather Zara online Follow Heather on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr Capri for Girls Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!