Globetrotter

In this the year of Tiktok vs Lemon8, women from all over are pursuing multiple streams and dreams. Some of us are doing this with little ones (how?!), while caring for loved ones (Bless you!), or while simply making sense of our lives (BLESS US!). For those of us who are passionate about entrepreneurship while thriving in the safety of a full-time traditional career (hello affordable health insurance and regular paychecks 🤑!) finding balance between these two worlds can be both rewarding and challenging. In this particular post I'm exploring the art of juggling a demanding career while nurturing my deep love for photography. I share practical strategies that I use, personal anecdotes, and heartfelt advice that helps me find some sort of harmony in pursuing my career dreams.

1. Embrace Your Dual Identity: As women, and let's face it, namely women of color - navigating different professional realms, we bring unique perspectives and experiences to both our full time careers and our hustles. And let me clarify, for the sake of this entry - "hustle" is not in any shape a form a diminishement of all the work that goes into living the entrepreneur's life. I constantly remind myself that it's important to celebrate the beauty of our dual identity. We should honor our expertise as 9-5 changemakers while immersing ourselves fully in our other worlds. Our diverse background is a powerful asset that we should embrace and bring full-bodied to our work.

2. Define Your Goals: To make the most of our time and energy, it's crucial to define clear goals for both our career and our passions. Take a moment to reflect on what you want to achieve in each field, what success looks like in both of those worlds, and is there a way they can align. Create a roadmap with short-term and long-term objectives that will guide your journey. Add dates to make these objectives real life missions. Having specific, achievable goals will help allocate your resources effectively and make progress in both areas.

3. Establish Boundaries: Finding balance requires setting boundaries to prevent burnout and most importantly (IMO) stay focused. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the demands of both a full-time career and the hustle. Prioritize commitments and set aside dedicated time for each pursuit. Communicate your availability and limitations to colleagues, and clients. Managing expectations and taking care of our well-being is essential, remembering that this boudary setting is only solidified with good communication.

4. Leverage Transferable Skills: We possess valuable skills gained from our consulting experience that can enhance our photography business. Problem-solving, communication, and project management are just a few examples. Utilize these skills to streamline your photography workflow, market your services, and build strong client relationships. Let's leverage our expertise to excel in both realms.

5. Cultivate a Support Network: Building a supportive community is crucial. Connect with like-minded individuals in consulting and photography through professional networks, social media communities, or local meetups. Share experiences, seek advice, and collaborate on projects. Surrounding ourselves with a supportive network will provide encouragement, inspiration, and invaluable insights to thrive in both fields.

6. Time Management and Flexibility: Effective time management is key to success. Create a schedule that allocates specific time blocks for consulting and photography. Utilize productivity tools such as calendars and task management apps to stay organized and meet deadlines. Embrace flexibility, as both consulting and photography can have unpredictable schedules. Adapt and adjust plans while keeping our goals in sight.

7. Embrace the Synergy: Instead of viewing consulting and photography as conflicting worlds, let's embrace the synergy between them. Our experiences as consultants can enhance our photography work, and vice versa. Find ways to merge our passions, such as offering consulting services tailored to photographers or incorporating storytelling into photography projects. Embracing the interconnectedness of our two worlds allows us to thrive creatively and professionally.

Juggling a career and pursuing passions as women is an incredible journey. Embrace your duality, define clear goals, establish (and enforce!) boundaries, leverage transferable skills, cultivate a supportive network, manage time effectively, and embrace the synergy between your two worlds. With dedication and balance, we can thrive and create a fulfilling life that encompasses both our passions.