In a Funk | Girl Boss

Guys, I'm in a funk.

I'm sure y'all noticed that not many posts have been showing up in your emails (if you follow me).

It's because I've ran out of steam.

It happens to the best of us; I mean, hello?! I'm telling y'all that I RAN OUT OF STEAM. ;)

I kid ... but in all honesty. I have.

Moving the business was fairly simple. Getting business, surprisingly was fairly easy.

But I'm still in a funk.

I think it's the fact that I'm away from my other photographer, creative friends and really haven't found "my people" here in Texas just yet.

I love my clients so much, and all the new faces I have met. But I need to get creative and also tag along with other creatives to get my steam back.

I have been going to many MANY artist galleries and festivals and what not, but I have yet to find "my people." All creatives know how competitive our art is. And because it's so diversified as in who likes what and what appeals to others, it can be very difficult to find a person, let alone a group, that can get all together - with no competitiveness - and enjoy each other's company while getting creative.

I also have been dragging my feet in the "freelance" area of my work. I have yet to contact the public newspaper, or the many city magazines around here.

Why?

I have no clue.

I was enjoying all the free time I had to work on ME - physically and mentally.

But I think I took too long on working on me - if there's such a thing - and now I need to find my motivation to be busy again.

What are some ways y'all got your motivation back? In anything. In business. In health. In family. In life?

As my picture says above, I am staying focused. I am still goal driven. I just need to get my "umph" back!

I'll keep y'all posted. As of right now, I have just finished my "to do" list and contacting newspaper and magazines are right on top.

So wish me luck and hope to hear how y'all got outta your funk.

Picking Up Where You Left | Girl Boss

Guys ... moving your business SUCKS.

S
U
C
K
S

I'm serious.

My business is also an LLC - a corporation, so in my opinion, it was even more difficult to move it from North Carolina to Texas.

I don't mean literally picking it up and moving it, I mean legally ... the paperwork involved. It blew majorly.

So because I'm not a lawyer ... that's my disclaimer ... as I was reading the mambo-jambo fine print of taxes and LLCs and whatever, I discovered that it would cost more to transfer my LLC from NC to TX than it would to close in NC and reopen in TX.

I know ... me even writing that out in layman terms was confusing.

Basically if I brought my NC LLC to TX, it would be treated as a foreign entity and I would not only have today takes in Texas, I'd also have to pay in North Carolina.

What the what?! 

I know right?

Because of that, I decided to legally close my NC business and reopen a TX one.

Even though it's still the same business.

I was worried that it would effect my credibility going from a business that was open since 2010 to a business opened in 2016. BUT ... now this is where my advice plays into this entire post ... I decided to go to the El Paso Chamber of Commerce and ask them how to go about this.

They set me up with a business mentor here in El Paso who's and business owner and qualified to give other small business owners advice. After speaking with him, I realized that I'm actually not as dumb as I thought I was one this. What he suggested was the same thing I had already put into play.

And guess what? My business is still considered opened in 2010 ... it was just, in all reality, closed for 3 months, while I moved. No credibility of long term business was lost!

I was good.

He also suggested online links and other personnel to help me get the information I needed to ensure my business was set up properly and most importantly, legally.

Each state has different rules on taxes, permits, licenses, and what not. I strongly suggest you stopping by your chamber of commerce to get the help you need. They will also have the contact information for any small business organizations that will help you out as you go.

Because of them, I was able to pretty much set up my business within 2 months. (it was a little slow because I was more focused on unpacking the house and ensuring it was ready for the kids).

And now for the next part of "the suck" of moving a business.

Clientele.

This is a hard one. It took me years to get the clientele I wanted in North Carolina. I don't have that many years here to grab them. I only have about three years here. It took me three years in North Carolina to get the clients I wanted.

So what does that mean?

That means I have to hustle! 

I reached out to like-minded people here in El Paso, trying to network and find a community that supports small business owners. This is a slippery-slope because many in my profession don't want to help each other out and they're out for blood.

Life of a creative.

However, I have been really lucky lately and found some great business owner "friends" to reach out to and receive the support I needed. As I give back to them as well.

What's the saying?

"Those who want to see others succeed, also succeed in life."

Or something like that.

As I learn more about moving a business, I'll share with you in this series. If you have any tips or comments, please share with me and the other readers!

Shit, if it makes this whole moving thing easier, why not right?!

Good luck y'all!