We are told that too many big ideas are bad, that it’s better to just focus on getting really great at one thing. That works pretty well for most people but for someone who constantly has big ideas, this is really hard. And I’ve struggled with feeling like I was doing it all wrong by chasing all the things that I felt passionate about because I was told over and over again that chasing every big dream of mine was unrealistic. 

I happened to be a photographer who loves specializing in baby photography, one who loves documenting motherhood.

 I also happen to be a photographer who loves creating tools for myself and other photographers, and one who is crazy about the business side of things and loves talking to others about their business struggles and help them develop a plan behind getting their business where they want it to be.

I am a mom who decided she wanted both worlds of being a full time working stay at home mama and managed to build a million dollar business in the process. I decided that life is meant to be lived to the fullest and took a huge risk to move myself and my family to Maui so we can spend more time doing what we love.

 I also decided that I wanted to start homeschooling my kids because I think education should be more than test prep and I’m doing fine doing all of these things at once.

It’s not always easy, but these are all dreams of mine that I decided to chase. 

My point with all this is this; don’t listen to those who tell you that you’re dreaming too big when it’s them who think too small. I’ve managed to build multiple successful businesses and spend my time doing what I love. I have more ideas and plans that I want to pursue and I know it’s possible for me to do it, so can you. Here’s my best advice for those of you that are like me, who want to focus not just on one business, but multiple creative ideas.

 

CONNECT YOUR PASSIONS


As a photographer, online shop owner, and innovator, I always put effort in connecting all my passions in some way. My goal is to manage and run multiple businesses successfully, but also find ways to connect them so I can save my valuble time. Think of it like a giant web of creative passions, and you’re job is to find ways to connect the dots.

 

I’ll use myself as an example;

As a photographer, my passion is to document motherhood moments for my clients. To style sessions with the vision I have and create something beautiful, they will cherish forever. My goal is not to shoot hundreds of sessions like I used to, but instead spend more time with less which allows me to really create something I love and that my clients will love. My business is doing great if I’m able to fulfill that need.

 

Modern Market, has over 700 products for professional photographers, ranging from presets, to marketing templates, website themes, legal forms, and so much more. My goal is to bring value to other photographers so they can focus on creating work they absolutely love so more ideal clients book them, making it possible for them to take their business full-time doing what they love.

 

Since these presets and products are created directly from my own portrait sessions, these two businesses are strongly connected, although they are still separate. Many of my jobs overlap, which makes running these two businesses easy.

Then my third business is The Essential Studio Manager, which is a manging software I designed, and my husband built to help professional photographers all over the world manage their entire business in one convenient place. Although this business is more disconnected from my photography and online store, it shares the customer audience with Modern Market. Many of which are already using the Essential Studio Manager.

 

So although I run three businesses, in so many ways, they are connected. It’s made it possible for me to focus on different aspects, all while doing what I love and making an impact.

 

The hardest part about being a multi-passionate entrepreneur is not able to clone myself multiple times to work on all my passions at once. The truth is; I wish I had more time to complete the things I’m working on, and realize that since it’s not just one business

I’m dedicating my time to, it will naturally take a little longer.

 

The best part about it is that no matter the day, I get to work on projects I love.

 

When I’m feeling social and creative, my favorite thing is to connect with other mamas and be behind my camera while documenting these special moments.

 

When I’m in my typical introvert mood, the best thing is sitting by my computer editing with some nice hot coffee and music playing.

 

When I want to make an impact for other photographers, I try to come up with ways to add new features to the Essential Studio Manager.

 

I love being able to bounce between different areas any given day, and have found way to find focus with each of them simply by doing what I love most during my workday.

 

If you have a few passions and unsure which one you want to pursue, I encourage you to take the time to connect the dots. Find ways that your passions can overlap, and how to best work that into your schedule.

 

It’s a lot of work, but I couldn’t imagine just working on one business for the rest of my life when there’s so much I would love to do in my lifetime!

 

 

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry out their dream.”

 

 

May 20, 2019 — Elena Ringeisen