We have an amazing human case study for you today to show you how to repackage your skills for new opportunities. Ann Sanderson she has so much fun working, it’s one of her primary sources of fun! She’ll share her secret.
She’s the founder of fotoSnap.co, her new startup to reinvent how people hire photographers for headshots, I like to think of it as uber for professional headshots, She’ll explain how it all works, so listen to the podcast!
Currently, she makes most of her income from her Hair Salon, Odango! in Portland, OR.
Key lessons that pop up in our interview include:
- Her habit of constantly looking for opportunities and then to thinking about how they could be turned into a business.
- How to repackage your existing skills for new opportunities.
- How she stays unstuck in her career.
Life Skills That Matter In This Episode
- Be open to change and opportunity.
- Self-direct learning and experimentation.
- Listening and observing.
How Ann Works and Thinks
- Wake up time: Between 5am and 6:30am.
- Core work habits: Making her daily to-do list and experimenting creatively.
- Ideal work environment: Definitely needs to do mental work in the morning and more physical work in the afternoon.
- Self-reflection practice: Takes an hour every morning to think about her day.
- Recommendation read: Inc. Magazine
- 90-day goal: Get fotosnap to a place where it’s running on its own and continuing to date a co-founder.
Inspirational Quotes
“I work for fun and work is my fun.”
“Don’t believe your job description and people won’t define you by it.”
“I have no fear of failure. If I fail then I learn something.”
“You can’t do everything.”
Coaching Advice
Ann offers her advice on knowing when to make a pivot in your business:
1) Learn from your business and let your business teach you what it is.
2) Check in with your gut to know when to work harder on your existing plan or when it’s time to let it go. The only person you have to answer to is yourself.
Resources + Bonus Materials
11% of U.S. workers were members of unions in 2015
10% of U.S. workers were self-employed in 2015 (BLS)
Freelancers Make Up 34% of U.S. Workforce (Freelancers Union)
Where Are All the Self-Employed Workers?
Small Business Create 2 out of 3 Every New Job (SBA)
Drawing Ann referred to in our conversation about knowledge versus experience:
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Work From Anywhere With Jewel Mlnarik