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Introduction to speakers and how they met
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Define what burnout looks like to each
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Jeff: hives, escapism, video games for days, procrastination
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Elena: You don’t know what it looks like until you’ve hit rock bottom; productivity as a means of procrastination – easy trap to fall into
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Jeff: We all have the same 168 hours a week; responsibilities might change, but we have the same hours
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Prioritize and find purposeful time
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Even if you work 60 hours a week, you still have 108 hours for WONDERFUL other things
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Allot your time purposefully according to the week instead of a 24-hour day
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Allocate and prioritize
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Elena: no such thing as balance, but yes for harmony!
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Dig deep with kids sometimes and others with work
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Batch working helps focus on main things
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Jeff asked – how do you speak to your kids? How do you get them involved in the process?
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Elena: very honestly; speaking to them as adults
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Remember: our boundaries are just as important as a partner’s
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My kids see me balancing
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I also get HELP – when we let people onto our team it frees us to do the work we need to do
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Jeff: on delegating – how do you find the right team? That seems to backfire for him
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Elena: It’s a learning curve!
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Through trial and error
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I’ve learned i need autonomous workers for the way I do business
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Jeff: you don’t want to hire people who want to be just like you!
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Jeff: Can we discuss being mindful of burnout when it’s happening and how it’s happening; for him, escapism/falling into old patterns
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Elena: you need to identify your triggers; when you feel yourself falling into old patterns
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Jeff: what do you do when you come to take? Pause and disappear (from the industry) for a bit? How do you get away from the old patterns?
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He stays off social media
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Gets away from people
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Remind self of your purpose/why
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“If I just focus on the work, I get burned out. If I go back to my roots, then I can recenter.”
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Elena: It can also be cyclical or seasonal in the photography world.
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So I refocus on how to take care of myself when it’s slow.
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So she’s ready when it picks back up.
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Jeff: how do you pursue your passion without it feeling like work?
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Elena: it’s the people for me; fills her up
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I know i’m getting to the end of busy season when I dread going to shoots
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That’s what triggers my attention to slow down and take stock (and raise my prices!)
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I also stay passionate by working with the people I want to work with.
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Good discernment is key – whether choosing clients or team members
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Jeff: How does change in environment impact you?
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Elena: travel is huge; new spaces and people are inspiring; plus the networking bit is exciting
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Jeff: the second I can escape, i do; it centers me – even if it’s just sitting in the car instead of at a desk
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Elena: How do you set work boundaries?
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Jeff: tonight i’m working through the night!
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Explained a bit; basically has fewer distractions at night time
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Elena: is opposite; if it doesn’t get done during business day hours, it’s not happening
Elena opens up for questions talking about productivity and burnout; hers looks like low-level depression, which is contrary to her energetic nature
Question 1: (was more of a comment) burned out photographer took all of January off and said it helped so much
Elena: takes bravery to do that! Fear makes you think you can’t bring back your momentum
Question 2: Just starting out, really appreciates all E & J are saying; clients aren’t jumping on her, so she’s taking what she can get – still wants to attract people she want sto work with
Elena: No shame in having to pay the bills! Patience with the process will pay off, though
Jeff: Make sure you’re charging for the right client and educating them, too.
Question 3: Does avoiding burnout include outsourcing for you?
Elena: YES!
Jeff: Yes, normally!
Question 4: Her perception – lower priced competition is slowing her bookings (20 years in biz)
Jeff: Are you sure?
Elena: I know it’s not your competition!
>>walked through several steps of marketing strategy with pricing, competition, and willingness to adapt to changing landscapes. What worked 20 years ago isn’t going to work now<<
Question 5: Has there ever been a time when fear held you back more than burnout?
Jeff: workout analogy – spend so long studying that you never do an actual pushup
Elena: you have to decide to do, not consume
Jeff: make a Time-wasters folder on your phone – put all social there!
Question 6: cut out a lot – worried about overlap as she works as a mental health pro and photographer
Elena: As a NICU nurse, there was some crossover! But you’re probably getting more in your own way considering how big your client base has the potential to be
Signed off – visit Elena’s Education; follow Jeff’s YouTube channel
Learn more about Jeff Rojas on Instagram, Youtube, and his Website!
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