Owning your craft, and growing WITH your business
I think the moment you becomes a entrepreneur, growth begins. When you develop a business, there is a passion and drive behind that decision that is significantly different from changing careers or starting a new job. You are assuming risk, and must have full confidence in that decision.
The beauty about this journey is that you don’t just all the sudden grow into a entrepreneur the day you start your business, you authentically go through experiences that shape you into a entrepreneur. Although this is my first business- I believe this to be true even for a experienced entrepreneur. There is always experiences and scenarios that teach you something new; enforcing adaptation and resiliency. Cultivating success is the ultimate end goal.
But how do we take these experiences and grow with them?
This week I was reflecting on attracting my ideal clientele. Over my time as a entrepreneur, I have learned that it is okay to have some clients go elsewhere, and for myself to refer them there. When I complete consultations with clients, I am open, honest and very forthcoming with the results they will achieve, and things they may see or require post injection. I don’t sugar coat things, and when I complete my full assessment, if the area they want injected is a) not required or b) will not look appropriate according to the symmetry and shape of their face, I will not inject that client.
Learning to trust my gut on these decisions was part of the learning curve. I’ve learnt that not all money is good money, and going against my ethical views as a entrepreneur will never get me very far. I’ve grown into my craft as a injector, and this is based from experience. This topic can also be reversed. If a client goes elsewhere post injection because there was a deal elsewhere, or they wanted a bigger size lip than I recommended, than they have made the choice that I am not the injector for them.
No matter the outcome, that is part of being a entrepreneur, and bottom line-if a client cannot respect you in your craft, then they most likely don’t respect you at all, and the client relationship is doomed from the start. Working in a field that is client service oriented, that relationship is foundational to your business turnover and growth, so setting yourself up for success is beneficial to not only yourself but the client as well.
Owning your craft also includes knowing your worth. As I grow, and invest further in my business, knowledge and training, my worth also increases. Increasing prices is not about greed, it is about experiences. There is a reason why the injector in another town or city only charges half of what I do.
Either a) they are injecting a questionable product or b) they are trying to attract clientele because their craft is new. Of course when I started my business my costs were lower, but I was honest about this and why my costs were, and how much experience I had.
It is when entrepreneurs are constantly offering discounts, deals, and packages and are not forthcoming about their experience and reasoning behind this is when I find myself skeptical. Knowing the worth of my education and experience has also lead me to lose some clients, but once again if someone wants to see a different injector because of a 100$ savings, you probably don’t want them as a client anyways.
Reflecting back on my journey and looking at my posts and content when I first started my business is proof in itself of my growth. As I have experienced, and gained knowledge, and as I continue to do so, I am in a constant state of growth.
I have allowed these experiences to shape me -to push me to own my craft, and to remain head strong when it comes to my ethical viewpoints. I truly believe this has attracted my ideal clientele, and improved my client retention-and will continue to do so as I continue to change paths, and begin new ventures.
