The Dreams/reality of 2020

Before the "real" posts begin, let's get you caught up on 2020 thus far:

I attended the BEST business conference in South Carolina last year - it was called Rise Business.  Between meeting amazing business owners from across the US and hearing AMAZING speakers that ignited a fire inside of me... I was READY to see what I could accomplish in 2020.  

I had BIG plans... plans that were going to challenge me!! And I walked away from the conference with an accountability partner too!! She's in a completely different industry, but we both know how to hustle for our businesses.  So it was time to turn up the heat and go all in!!!

And then the pandemic hit...

And for about a week, as my jobs (and thus my entire income) started falling out from underneath me, I moped and hibernated (literally), and became a sloth.  Because how was I supposed to grow my business bigger than ever when the world was shutting down??

But if you know me very well at all, you'll know that I'm a mover and a shaker and I'm always up to something... 

So... I PIVOTED (which has become my word of 2020).  I took a right turn out of photography (momentarily) and created a completely new business.  I've had other careers besides photography - and some people in my life see that as a negative - but I choose to see it as an evolution into who I'm suppose to be; AND it has made me resilient... so when the world goes into lockdown and throws everyone a curve ball, I didn't hide my head in the sand and didn't go into a panic, because I have other skills.

So many small business owners tell me that they struggle with content and engagement on Instagram. But here's an insider secret... that's not an Instagram problem, that's an issue with knowing their brand.  But one of my past skills is in branding.

So I built a company based around teaching Instagram & Branding to small business owners.  I had no idea how long we would be in shut down and I NEEDED  a new business to stay afloat.  

Once the world started to re-opened a bit, my photography picked back up again too.  But what's the one thing Coronavirus gave all of us?? Time to think.  Time to re-invent and time to act on it. 

I signed up with a business coach, and decided that my love of branding was where it was for me.  But not just the established businesses who needed photography... I also have a heart for the businesses that are just getting started and don't have a definitive brand; and those that want to be in business but have no idea where to get started... 

So, I've decided that Sarah Elizabeth Photography will do Branding Photography AND Brand Coaching.  This time it's not really a pivot... it's a merger.