Finding The Courage To Quit Corporate America & Launch A Company

Guest Post by Monika Labbe :: “You’re a creative, artsy type.”

“You never took a business class in your life.”

“You want to run a business? Do you have business goal?”

Those were typical comments and questions I was asked at the start of my venture.  I came from a family that thought art was a subject in school, not something you did in real life.  Certainly not for money, and making a real living out of it?  Forget about it. I was taught that the only way to make your mark in the world was to have a real job with a real paycheck. So I spent a lot of time working full-time in corporate America until I was downsized and think to launch a company with a strong sense of business goal.  Now what?

Like many folks, I looked around for another corporate job. Swimming in a sea of other applicants, I felt small and insignificant. In desperation I picked up my camera and started taking photos. First realtors, then high school seniors, then families, baptisms, and really, whatever came my way.  That was in 2008.

I bet you think my career started like that and just took off.  

My photography career didn’t start in 2008.  It started in 1998 after I took a European trip. This was in the film days, so rolls of film were the norm. After I returned I had a show in a gallery and displayed all of my photos.  They sold out on opening night.  Did I have it all figured out?  Nope.  I chalked it up to beginners luck and pressed on in corporate America, doing photography on the side. Soon I began assisting a wedding photographer on shoots, and for the next five years I did that on the side. I became a photo editor for my college newspaper, had my photos published on the Oprah website and in her newsletter, all while still working in corporate America. I had more shows, did more projects, and then bought my first digital camera in 2007. That’s when life changed a bit.

Digital meant that I had instant gratification seeing results right away on the back of my camera. Gone were the days of running to the printer and opening up the envelope before I even paid for my photos. I had them all with me, all the time, and I was hooked. But did I write a business goal/plan? No. Did I get a storefront right away? No. Did I have money to invest in this venture?  Not a penny.

I stayed cautious. I incorporated my part-time business in 2002, just so I could write off my business expenses with mu business goal. But it wasn’t until 2009 that I created a website. I wrote my business plan in 2010 and that’s when I made to switch  from part-time to full-time entrepreneur. I found an accountant to handle my taxes, a lawyer to handle contracts and someone for every part of the business that I knew I needed to be in someone else’s hands. This allowed me to do only that which no one else could do for me: Photograph my subjects.

When your part-time job becomes your full-time job, you still have bills to pay and not just business expenses. People often make the leap without keeping track of their numbers and then they’re surprised when their businesses don’t succeed.  Don’t be that person build a business goal. Surround yourself with people who know more than you and can help you build something amazing.

Having been a professional photographer for over 10 years, I feel very blessed to have been published in numerous books, magazines, and websites. For me, seeing how my photos touch others, whether they bring a smile, a chuckle, or a tear, is what I consider truly priceless. I welcome the opportunity to bring that to you and your family.  For more information regarding photography services contact me here.