Ten Things I’ve Learned About Business Since 2020

Let’s take a journey back to 2019, back when my beard was still black and kids were in middle school. I signed up for a program called Catalyst with the Entrepreneurial Organization (EO), a network of incredible entrepreneurs I had long admired. I was excited and terrified to be in a room learning from them, especially the head of the program, Michael Burcham. This guy is a professional success and brilliant professor at Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt. This is the guy that teaches entrepreneurship at an ivy league school and I get to be in class with him!

The journey began with what they called an "autopsy" of my business—yeah, that threw me too. But, saddle up, it was time to dive in. For one evening a week over several months, I drank from the business firehose—sometimes fully understanding, other times just grateful for notes and printouts. It was intense. But at the end of the class, my perspective on business was different. The class helped transform my one-man shop into a small organization. I knew I had the skills needed to scale and structure the business effectively. Little things like that crucial difference between working on the business versus just being in it.

After the class, I joined a small group called Forum, where I met two of the sharpest business minds I’ve ever encountered, Matt Charette and Floyd DePalma. Then, boom—the world changed overnight. In-person meetings turned into Zoom calls and networking events and business lunches became lockdown and social distancing. But, ever the entrepreneur, I adapted. We moved our location photography model back into the studio—my garage at the time.

Since then, I’ve been through countless business classes, workshops, and model-building exercises. And I’d like to share a few of the usual and some not so conventional lessons I’ve learned from all of it:

1. No Matter How Bad It Is, It Can Get Worse, So NEVER stop moving:

When COVID-19 hit, we lost 60% of our revenue overnight. So, like a real grown up, I moped around for a few days, feeling sorry for myself and no doubt being a general nightmare to be around. It couldn’t get worse. But then, our biggest remaining client canceled three major projects. Now it was even worse. I had stopped moving, stopped innovating and stopped running the business. I was stuck in the stress of the situation. Pretty quickly I realized I needed to snap out of it and start making real moves. Rebuild this thing into something else. And despite the chaos, 2020 turned out to be one of our best years; we found new clients, new ways to work, and some remote processes we use to this day.

2. Set Your Own Work Boundaries: You've got to set your own limits. Don’t let anyone else dictate your boundaries. It's crucial for keeping your sanity and avoiding burnout. You are not a robot, just like the airlines tell you, put your own mask on before helping others.

3. Use Your Network:

Tap into your network. Seriously, there’s probably someone you know who’s been through what you’re dealing with. Whether it's financial headaches or staffing issues, your network can be a goldmine of advice and support.

4. People Are More Likely to Help You if They Are the Hero: If you want someone to be the hero, you’ve got to support them, not overshadow them. Come alongside them and be that invaluable resource for them.  Zig Ziglar nailed it when he said, "You can have everything in life you want if you just help other people get what they want." Make others feel like the hero, and you'll find they’re more willing to step up.

5. Business Is Change, Get Over It:

As a systems guy, dealing with constant change is tough for me. But business is all about adapting. In one day we’re editing photos of shoes, in a strategy call for a whiskey brand and then starting on pre-production for a skincare video. We’re constantly riding the waves. What I have found to help is to build flexible systems that can roll with the punches. Documenting activities so that someone else can easily take over if something unexpected pops up, we are constantly building a process around the “why” you do something, not just the “how” to do it.

6. You're Not Thinking Big Enough: Whatever you're doing, you can probably do it bigger and better. There are lots of books and blogs on this topic. I really like the "10x is better than 2x" mindset about pushing beyond your comfort zone. Dream big, then dream even bigger.

7. Perfect Results Count, Not Perfect Process:

In my line of work, the end result is what counts. The process can be messy—like holding a set together with a roll of tape and an old cardboard box—but if it delivers the perfect shot, that's what matters. Focus on nailing the final product.

8. Hiring Is Hard, Firing Sucks, and Culture Matters: Hiring the right people is tricky, and firing is never fun. It's crucial to build your team around people, not just their skills. Skills can be taught, but the right cultural fit is key. Remember, some people will gel, and some won’t. That’s just the way it is – to be truly effective you need to figure out what that means to you and your team.

9. Your Job Isn't Done Until the Job Is Done:

This one's simple but powerful: stick with a task until it’s fully completed. Businesses that don’t finish what they start won’t last long.

10. Minimum Viable Products Are Not Always Pretty: When you’re launching something new, it’s okay if the first version isn’t perfect. It might be rough around the edges, but that’s part of the process. Just get started and refine as you go.

I sincerely hope you can take something from these ten lessons I've picked up from running a business. From setting your own boundaries and using your network, to embracing change and thinking big, these insights are all about staying adaptable and resilient. Ultimately, it's not just about the money; it's about understanding yourself, the people behind the business, and building strong, supportive relationships.

Bonus Tip: Revenue Is Vanity, Profitability Is King: Would you rather have a $10 million company with a 1% margin or a $1 million company with a 30% margin? Trust me, always prioritize profitability over just racking up sales.