A Great Leader

This week we learned about learning from and becoming great leaders. The best example of great leadership is Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate leader, and the readings this week made me think about how I should strive to become more like Christ, but in a completely different way. We know we're supposed to become like the Savior in many ways, but I had never thought before about how being like Him would help me to be a better leader. (I also think this applies to being a parent in many ways, but that's a topic for another day.) Christ exemplified leadership in that He provided His disciples with opportunities to grow and develop, and encouraged them to become independent. He allowed them to grow, rather than stifling them through micromanagement. Other leadership traits we can learn from the Savior are consistency, love of His followers, learning about the individuals we lead, and actually caring about them and their needs. He also showed the way through His example, and allowed His followers to get to know Him, so they would have a desire to follow Him. As leaders in business or in the Church, we can emulate His perfect example of leadership. I have also been working on my $100 Challenge this week. I have advertised on Social Media and through word-of-mouth about the photography sessions that I'm offering for sale for $25 per 30-minute session. This week I have also scouted new locations, as the forests around our area have all been closed down due to fire danger. There are other locations I found that would work nicely for a photo shoot, so I'm excited to get the sessions booked and have my daughter help me, as my assistant. She is very interested in photography, and I think it will be fun to do this business with her on the weekends.

Kiva crowdfunding search

This week we searched the Kiva website to find a borrower to whom we will donate our profits from the $100 challenge. I have not been feeling extremely motivated to market for clients to purchase photography sessions, which is my Challenge business. However, after I selected an individual borrower, I realized I felt motivated to work harder to obtain more clients, so I can donate more money to Charles Otieno in Kenya. I know I have a strong desire to serve others, but I was a little surprised by how motivated I feel, realizing that I could potentially earn enough to get him at least halfway to his goal. If I continue the business for another month, I could potentially lend him even more. This is exciting for me...much more exciting than earning money for myself. I hope to lend him as much of his desired $300 as I can in the next month, as I will be donating my profits from the Challenge business to him, so he can repair his mechanic's equipment. The readings this week focused on customers, and how to make processes and operations that ensure excellent customer satisfaction. I read about Stew Leonard, who decided to scribe his customer service policy on a granite slab right by the front door of his store: The Customer is Always Right! He adopted that policy after a negative encounter with a customer, and has implemented at all of his locations. Most importantly, he trains his employees to follow that policy, as in the readings, I learned is a critical step. If the owner of the business wants his business to follow the specific procedures and policies that make that company unique and desirable, the owner must train his employees well, and be consistent in defining the policies. It is important to find obtain customer feedback, in order to make any changes that will improve the customers' experience. Utilizing, surveys, follow-up calls, mystery shoppers, or whatever method is best suited to the company or service, a business owner can get a feel for how his business is perceived from the customers' perspective. This information is helpful in developing policies and processes that will improve the customer experience.

Elevator Pitch

This week for the $100 Challenge, I had to create an elevator pitch on how I would present the idea to someone in about a minute or less. I struggled with this a bit, as the idea was how to present the idea to a potential investor, but the business I'm starting will not need any capital. I chose instead to pitch the idea to potential clients and possible investors. My pitch focused on the need for an affordable option for professional portraits. I do not think only people with hundreds of dollars to spend should have the ability to have quality keepsake portraits of their children. This is something many people desire, but a lot of people simply cannot afford. I want to make the option affordable. I recognize that doing it for such a low cost will not bring in significant revenue, and likely will not create a living income for my family. However, since I have been out of the industry for several years, this small business will give me the chance to gain recent practice, and I can choose to offer full packages at a higher rate in the future. I am hoping I will be able to complete three sessions per week, throughout the summer. This goal will help me reach the requirement of earning over $100, and I'm hoping at the end of summer, I may be able to continue and provide some portrait sessions in the fall months, when the leaves change color, and children are going back to school. With the response I received from my social media poll, I will be able to accomplish this goal with minimal advertising and strictly marketing via word-of-mouth after my initial post.

Week 5 getting behind

The last couple of weeks I've gotten behind on the coursework, but I've been able to do a portion of the required work. I have been brainstorming about my $100 Challenge assignment. After the feedback from the class on my list of business ideas, I was still unsure which option would be most well received in my area, so I created a poll which I posted on social media. I posted the poll in a local group, and based on the information received, I plan to pursue the professional portraits for $25/per 30-minute session. I have experience as a portrait photographer, and I have a professional camera, as well as a light diffusion screen and reflectors. Initial investment is minimal, basically free, since I do not have to purchase additional equipment, and advertising will be free using local social media forums. I will have my daughter help me as an assistant, and will use my revenue to pay her for her time. I will not have printing costs, as I will provide clients with a digital copy of the pictures, and allow them to order and print their own copies. I struggled with the business plan for the larger business idea, as I still have not solidified which business option I would like to pursue. I am trying not to take the easiest route, but the ideas for other businesses will take me a lot of time to research in order to develop a business plan. I simply do not have the industry knowledge, or know exactly how to obtain it, for the Skateboard sales business, and the Family Fun Center. I would like to start a small business consulting firm, and I have experience with that, but I feel like that is also the easier option and is not as challenging. I may end up going with that option, however, as it is the business I have the most desire to pursue, and I have the most confidence I have the experience to operate.