Meet Monika Normand

We recently connected with Monika Normand and have shared our conversation below.

Monika, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I think confidence is primarily built through repetition. With any new skill you’re trying to build on, it takes a lot of “reps” to become proficient or become an expert. Confidence and self-esteem are no different. For me, my confidence in my work and what I have to offer has grown over the years by continuing to work at my craft, hone my skills, and put myself outside of my comfort zone again and again – till the uncomfortable felt comfortable. It isn’t fun to feel out of your element or unsure of yourself or your abilities, and the only to get out of that unpleasant feeling is to prove to yourself that you are capable, worthy, etc.
For example, I never considered myself a sales person and was so uncomfortable about the thought of selling anyone anything growing up. Now, through owning several businesses, I’ve become very fluent in the art of sales, relationship building, and getting someone to a place where they’re ready and eager to buy from me. I’m proud to say that I feel much more confident than I ever have before – but that confidence in my selling ability didn’t just come from wishing I was confident. It was the act of having to sell again and again (trial and error and plenty of failure and learning) that gave me the “proof” I needed to feel like I was able to do this successfully and confidently.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a professional brand photographer and creative director based in Dallas, TX. I own Monika Normand Creative LLC, which is a content creation agency specializing in high-end photography and videography for individual personal brands and commercial brands (e-commerce and service-based businesses, restaurants, and hospitality brands). I work with an incredible team of creatives who are kind, talented, and intentional and fully invested in our clients’ success. I started this business as a freelance photographer 10 years ago, and never in a million years could have envisioned where it is today. Working with a team has been such a privilege and a gift, and I am beyond grateful for our clients who trust us to create the assets they use to grow their brands.

Last year, I opened Brightside Studios – a natural light photography studio and creative event space available for rent by other content creators. It’s been a labor of love to say the least, but it’s also been such a cool way to connect with the creative community here in Dallas. Our doors just opened in September of 2023, so I am very excited to see what this year has in store for us at the studio!

In addition to leading the team at Monika Normand Creative and operating Brightside Studios, I also offer business coaching for photographers looking to grow their businesses. I learned so much through trial and error in my own business ventures, and I know if I had a mentor or someone to guide me along the way, I could have avoided a lot of frustration, doubt, and mistakes. For me, coaching provides a ton of joy by helping others navigate this journey and being the sounding board I wish I’d had.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think the 3 most important things I’ve built upon through my journey as a business owner are self-trust, the ability to be uncomfortable, and an understanding of business accounting.

One thing I wish I was better at when I began my business was trusting myself. I always love to learn and seek knowledge from others, but one thing I noticed time and time again was that I actually did have a good intuition or gut feeling about things. I was just afraid to trust myself and be wrong and “fail”. So my advice would always be a knowledge-seeker and a life-long learner, but don’t be afraid to trust yourself on things. You likely know what’s best for you/your business because you know it more intimately than anyone else.

Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is one of the best things you can do for yourself. So many people spend their whole lives in their comfort zones, which ultimately leads to them not going after their dreams/goals – because that would require stepping outside of that comfort zone or doing things differently. No one wants to feel uncomfortable or awkward, but what’s cool about being willing to put yourself in situations that make you feel that way is slowing building up a tolerance in that uncomfy zone and building more confidence in yourself like I mentioned earlier. Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable – embrace it! You’re new at this – it’s normal to feel uncomfortable. You just need to push through it.

I think I had a good advantage in my business/life that a lot of people don’t – I used to work in the finance setting (at a credit union and at a financial advisor’s office) before I worked for myself. I’ve always loved numbers, money, and spreadsheets so I naturally absorbed a lot of important information when it comes to saving, investing, and being smart with your money. I was able to apply this knowledge when I started my business, and I use the same strategies to this day when I make decisions to either invest in a part of my business, take on a large expense, or assess a potential risk. Most people end up working for themselves because they’re incredibly talented at what they do – but that doesn’t mean they necessarily know how to run a business. My advice would be to find an accountant and a financial advisor who you trust to help guide you when making business decisions.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am looking for creatives and educators to collaborate with for the Brightside Mastermind events we host at Brightside Studios (and for other events and gatherings as well!). One of my main goals at Brightside Studios is to use our space to bring creatives together, help them network, and share knowledge. I am always looking for speakers, educators, and other creative business owners to be a part of the events we host at the studio.

If you are interested in being a speaker or are interested in attending one of our Brightside Mastermind events, I would love to connect with you.

You can learn more about the Mastermind series here: https://brightsidestudiosdallas.com/events

Email me at [email protected] to connect and share your ideas!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Monika Normand Creative LLC

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