We were lucky to catch up with JILL Doan recently and have shared our conversation below.

JILL, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.

I decided to level up my business by investing in education and setting up a killer supporting system. I mean, who knew that learning new stuff could be so powerful? With all that knowledge under my belt, I was able to stay ahead of the game and make smarter decisions. And let’s not forget about the support system I put in place. It streamlined everything, made things more efficient, and even sparked some cool new ideas. The result? My business grew! From charging $1,200 per a wedding now my lowest package is priced at $3,200. I reached more customers, built a rock-solid reputation, and now we’re on this awesome upward trajectory. It just goes to show that education and a solid support system can totally change the game!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was a master graduate in accounting from the University of Houston. But here’s the twist: I never liked to become an accounting professional, I felt like the cubical life was not for me. So I set out to pursue my passion for photography and dived headfirst into the exciting world of capturing beautiful moments. Starting my photography business was not all sunshine and rainbows, though. I faced a bunch of struggles, like not having many connections or any exposure in the beginning. But you know what they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way! My mission is to provide an unforgettable personal experience to my amazing clients. I want to make their special day even more magical with my lens and creative touch.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Through my journey, I’ve come to realize that consistency and hard work can unlock doors we never thought possible. I’ve witnessed that people who may seem more skilled or talented than me might not necessarily have the same advantages or opportunities that I’ve been blessed with. On the flip side, I’ve seen that I, too, possess unique strengths and experiences that set me apart. It’s all about recognizing and leveraging those individual strengths while staying committed to putting in the effort day in and day out. In the end, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about innate abilities; it’s about how we nurture them through dedication and perseverance. With the right mindset and work ethic, there’s no limit to what we can achieve!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I really love “The Mountain is You” by Brianna Wiest, Stacey Glemboski and “Make Your Bed” by William H. McRaven for mindset training and “Think and Grown Rich” for business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://halfaricestudios.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halfarice.studios/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/halfarice/