We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jamie Speer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jamie, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
While I could have answered nearly all of the prompts, this one immediately stuck out to me. On the outside I am a relatively small, unsuspecting character. Standing at 5’2″, weighing in at 125 lbs, with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes…how could I feel like I don’t fit in? I don’t know how to accurately describe myself if any way other than that inside I am big. My voice is raspy, I talk a million miles a minute, I’m fiery, I’m bold, I’m decisive and most of all I’m honest. My honest nature and direct delivery aren’t always what someone expects when they first see me, nor is it always what someone wants to hear.
I’ve spent the better part of the last five years really exploring myself, why I am the way I am, and most importantly why I always feel like the outsider in the room. I’m a mother, I’m a wife, and I’m an entrepreneur. I’m ambitious and I love my family…but I also love my business…arguably equally. (This is not a popular thing to say out loud…) I’m unapologetic about my choices of where and how I spend my time (even though the guilt sometimes plagues me – as it does all working moms I’m sure). I’m loud and I encourage others to have a voice. I stand tall (in my spirit anyway) and I encourage others to be bigger. I will never be the small person in the room – and for this I will not apologize. Somehow the idea still lives on that as a woman, it’s better to be seen and not heard but I quite literally cannot live this way. I have never felt less than anyone because of my gender or my size or my status. So many people have no idea how powerful they really are or what impact they have on the world. I have no problem asking the hard questions that force someone to take a look in the mirror so they can see themselves as powerful as I see them.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a photographer with a studio located in Sandusky, Ohio. We focus primarily on corporate and lifestyle photography. The number one mission of my business, 1826 Photographic, is to show every client we have in their best light. Whether it be photos for your wedding, your family or your business, having your photo taken should be fun! I always joke that my job is 50% talent and 50% personality. The experience I offer my clients is the main meal. The final, edited images are the dessert. At 1826, we aim to deliver an experience and environment that makes people so comfortable in their own skin that an amazing final product is the ONLY result possible. So many people hate having their photo taken – to the point that they put it off for years. I strive every day to change their minds and reframe the way they feel about themselves while having their photo taken, which ultimately winds up changing they way the see themselves in their photos in the end.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Hard work. As any entrepreneur will tell you, owning your own business is NOT for the faint of heart. You will laugh, you will cry, you will have good days and bad but no matter what you just keep going – because we all know deep down that quitting just isn’t an option.
2. Humble generosity. No one (especially those just starting out) is above free work. And, if you’re looking through the correct lens you will realize that although you may not be getting paid, no job well done is ever “for free”. You never know who you will meet, who will recommend you or what that particular job might do for your portfolio. Now we all know you have to make money at some point, but one should never underestimate the power of a donation or a gifted service and how it could come back to them.
3. Boundaries. Now, I know after reading 1 & 2 it may seem hypocritical to say boundaries but this is one value / skill that I’m always working on (and will probably need to work on forever) but setting boundaries from the beginning – even with the understanding that you’ll need to bend once in a while – is always a good thing. Most of my self-work currently is centered around setting boundaries and making sure I’m as kind to myself as I am to my clients.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Wow….Where do I even begin? Burnout, boundaries, anxiety…all of it really. I guess the best way to answer this question is to say overall self-awareness and being honest enough with myself to admit when a “strength of mine” is actually a weakness.
As I said earlier, I’m very decisive and I see things in black and white. I’m a fixer. If something needs done, I’m the first to jump in and do it. This very quality, in large part, is why I’m as successful as I am. But this is also the part of me that I’m working on the most. I’ve had to admit that some of my strengths have been overused and need dialed back if I have any hope of enjoying my life, family AND business going forward. I refuse to live in the “or”. I do not accept that I have to ignore one area of my life to fully enjoy another. I want to live in the “and”. I want to love my life, I want to love my family AND I want to love my business. My family has grown and life has changed in ways that deserve my attention. It’s important to me to be my best self for my husband and children. The business has grown to a place where I simply cannot do it all and allowing myself to turn into an anxiety driven workaholic is no longer an option. So how do I do this? How do I live in the “and”?
I have to press pause. I have to ask for help. When you truly love what you do for a living it’s hard to admit that it could be one of the things that’s breaking you.
Taking the steps to reach out and ask for help has changed my home life, my work life and my inner self more than I could have ever imagined. While I have not perfected this mindset just yet, I am seeing the benefits of saying no, setting up boundaries and listening to my body, mind and spirit – allowing myself time to recharge without feeling guilt. I’ve always been aware of my strengths but I’ve often had trouble admitting (or just flat out ignored) what could be a weakness. Looking through a different lens though, has allowed me the ability to see that asking for help and being curious about myself isn’t weak at all…instead, it’s actually the most powerful thing I can do for myself. I’ve spent so much of my life being a hard worker on the outside…now I’m working hard on the inside – which feels like a superpower.
If you’ve made it to this part of the article, I invite you to take a look in the mirror and ask yourself the hard questions. Are your “strengths” actually holding you back? Could what you view as weak actually save you from drowning? We all deserve to live the in the “and”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://1826photographic.com
- Instagram: 1826photographic / 1826corporate
- Facebook: 1826 Photographic
- Linkedin: Jamie Speer / 1826 Photographic
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