Use your talent to launch your biz
Use your talent to launch your biz
He’s run his own photography business called Cescato Studio (www.cescato.com) since 1995. “I came to love photography so much that I left my career as an industrial engineer,” recalls Cescato. In his mind, he hasn’t “worked” a day since deciding to be his own boss.
Cescato Studio’s main areas of photography are portraiture and sporting events. The business focuses on photographing amateur sports and school events for clients within the GTA and across Southern Ontario.
Cescato realized his photography skills were extremely marketable. “Building a business around your talents is an incredibly satisfying way to earn a living,” he comments. “You’ve got to believe that people will pay you for your abilities.”
While belief in oneself is important, Cesato says new entrepreneurs must nonetheless put together a proper Business Plan. “A plan will outline how you are going to package your skills, market yourself and make money,” he insists. “In addition to guiding my activities, my business plan helped me to secure a start-up loan.”
As his own boss, he’s learning many other skills to add to his photography talents. “I’ve had to learn not to take some things too personally,” he says. “For instance, rejection from prospective customers can be common and suppliers can be tough negotiators. Your company is your baby so it’s hard to stay detached.”
Cescato has also learned that entrepreneurship is a marathon and not a sprint. “You’ve got to have patience in terms of building a client base,” he says. His business plan calls for a steady increase in the number of studio hours booked. “My goal is to be fully booked 12 months of the year, and I know I’ll get there one client at a time,” he enthuses.
What are your talents?
Capitalizing on a unique ability is how most people launch into small business. Your special talent may stem from your education, your previous work experience, a particular aptitude or a technical skill. For instance, maybe you’re really good at writing, getting people to agree, solving sticky problems, programming computer code or taking pictures.
Understanding what you’re really good at doing – and enjoy – is the first step on the road to entrepreneurship. Try to hone in on your talents by:
* Paying attention to likes and dislikes . If you’re currently employed, dig out that job description and review all of your tasks and responsibilities. Honestly assess which of them you like or dislike, and why. Hate crunching numbers? Make a note of it. Love putting things in order? Maybe you’re destined to become a Professional Organizer.
* Asking others . It can be difficult to critique ourselves, so ask someone else to do it. Meet with your closest friends and family members individually, asking them what they think you do best. People who know us well are in a great position to help us zero in on our skills.
* Taking an aptitude test. The average person will experience eight different careers in their lifetime. An aptitude test can help you to identify your particular strengths and propensities without such exhaustive job hopping. While some tests are available free online, visit a qualified career counselor.
Use your talent to launch your biz - To learn more about this author, visit Roger Pierce's Website.
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Few people get the chance to make a living by doing what they love. “Photography has been my passion since I first held a camera in 1986,” recalls entrepreneur Paolo Cescato.
He’s run his own photography business called Cescato Studio (www.cescato.com) since 1995. “I came to love photography so much that I left my career as an industrial engineer,” recalls Cescato. In his mind, he hasn’t “worked” a day since deciding to be his own boss.
Cescato Studio’s main areas of photography are portraiture and sporting events. The business focuses on photographing amateur sports and school events for clients within the GTA and across Southern Ontario.
Cescato realized his photography skills were extremely marketable. “Building a business around your talents is an incredibly satisfying way to earn a living,” he comments. “You’ve got to believe that people will pay you for your abilities.”
While belief in oneself is important, Cesato says new entrepreneurs must nonetheless put together a proper Business Plan. “A plan will outline how you are going to package your skills, market yourself and make money,” he insists. “In addition to guiding my activities, my business plan helped me to secure a start-up loan.”
As his own boss, he’s learning many other skills to add to his photography talents. “I’ve had to learn not to take some things too personally,” he says. “For instance, rejection from prospective customers can be common and suppliers can be tough negotiators. Your company is your baby so it’s hard to stay detached.”
Cescato has also learned that entrepreneurship is a marathon and not a sprint. “You’ve got to have patience in terms of building a client base,” he says. His business plan calls for a steady increase in the number of studio hours booked. “My goal is to be fully booked 12 months of the year, and I know I’ll get there one client at a time,” he enthuses.
What are your talents?
Capitalizing on a unique ability is how most people launch into small business. Your special talent may stem from your education, your previous work experience, a particular aptitude or a technical skill. For instance, maybe you’re really good at writing, getting people to agree, solving sticky problems, programming computer code or taking pictures.
Understanding what you’re really good at doing – and enjoy – is the first step on the road to entrepreneurship. Try to hone in on your talents by:
* Paying attention to likes and dislikes . If you’re currently employed, dig out that job description and review all of your tasks and responsibilities. Honestly assess which of them you like or dislike, and why. Hate crunching numbers? Make a note of it. Love putting things in order? Maybe you’re destined to become a Professional Organizer.
* Asking others . It can be difficult to critique ourselves, so ask someone else to do it. Meet with your closest friends and family members individually, asking them what they think you do best. People who know us well are in a great position to help us zero in on our skills.
* Taking an aptitude test. The average person will experience eight different careers in their lifetime. An aptitude test can help you to identify your particular strengths and propensities without such exhaustive job hopping. While some tests are available free online, visit a qualified career counselor.
Use your talent to launch your biz - To learn more about this author, visit Roger Pierce's Website.
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Bernard ReberBack in late 1992, MS Access hit the streets. About that time the company I managed needed new software to handle their growing client base and I decided to try this new product. I had little difficulty writing and adapting a database to suit us and discovered a hidden talent for programming. A business was born. With business studies and 25 years of management experience in three different countries under my belt, I could offer a unique combination of skills and my customers agreed. From these humble beginnings my software 'invoiceit' emerged in 1999 and has since been taken to 49 states (hello Wyoming, won't you join us?), all across Canada and more than 70 other countries. From the very beginning the program included cashbook accounting, the simplest form of keeping financial business records. The Dictionary.com defines 'cashbook' as "A 'book' in which to record money received and paid out". For 'book' substitute 'simple software' and that's what I'm about. Now I have published Simple Accounting, an inexpensive spreadsheet solution which even you can master. For just $14.95 it costs less than a takeout meal! More at http://www.scrambled-card.com/simple_accounting_main.htm - Visit Bernard Reber's Website |
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Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
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