Managing it All - Strong Coffee, Organised Chaos and Chasing Dreams

If there's one thing I've learned from running two businesses - Teejay finTon Photography and my custom photo iMagnet business - it's that storytelling comes in many forms.  Whether I'm capturing a family's laughter through my lens or turning someone's favourite photo into a keepsake iMagnet, it's all about celebrating moments that matter!

Behind every business, there's a real person juggling work, life, family and balancing it all with the help of a whole lot of coffee.  It's not as simple as 'just taking a photo and giving it to a client'.  Everything I do is meticulously planned, professionally delivered and takes time!

Hey, I'm Teejay
Photographer, creative, proud mum, wifey and the slightly tattoo obsessed owner of two businesses that I've built from the ground up.

Running my businesses means I wear alot of hats.  On any given day, I'm the photographer, re-toucher, editor, designer, social media manager, content creator, product packer, marketing strategist, accountant, customer service rep, problem solver, website updater, rookie techie, delivery coordinator and even the cleaner.  There's rarely a quiet moment, but I've always been someone who gives everything 110%.  When I do something, I don't do it by halves!  I'm all in, heart first and coffee fueled.

The Juggle
Between business life and home life, there's a constant juggle.  

• Making time for my kids
• Keeping the house in order
• Staying ontop of social media trends
• Brainstorming new ideas
  
• Responding to enquiries over both business, over many platforms, emails and calls
• Making sure I have everything in my calendar to keep me organised, yep - right down to the dental appointments
• Keeping up with family schedules
• Checking in on mates
• Keeping healthy (mind, body + soul)
• Not to mention the mental load and a never-ending to-do-list
• And then actually, finding a moment for me!

That "me" time, usually looks like playing squash - my weekly sanity session.  There's nothing like the smell as I walk up to the courts, the sound of cracking that ball on the walls and the comradery shared between players.  It's my happy place... something just for me!  My way to release stress, recharge and reset my mind.  It's equal parts therapy and competition (and I'll admit.... I do love winning).

Speaking of my competitive nature, I've won our family NRL footy tipping comp the last two years running.  It's all in good fun, but I definitely don't mind the bragging rights!  Sorry fellas ha ha ha.

When I'm not working or on the court, I'm soaking up quality family time, coffee or phone catch up with mates or doing some laps in the pool.  Family however, is my anchor and they're the reason why I push through the hard days and the motivation behind everything I do.

Balancing it all
I'll be honest - it's not easy!  There are days where I feel like I'm thriving, and others where I'm drowning in editing, emails, washing and oh.... the mum-guilt.  Alot of days the house is spotless but other days, I have mounds of washing to fold and floors that desperately need mopping - but hey.... that's real life!

Here's the thing though - if you want something badly enough, you'll find a way to make it work.  It takes determination, boundaries and a whole lot of self-belief.  I'm lucky enough to also have a strong support network of family and friends, who have helped in ways that they don't even realise.  When you run your own business, no one is there to push you every day, you have to push yourself - you cannot pour from an empty cup though, so looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally, has to be part of the plan too. 

Over time, I've learnt a few things that help keep the balance - or at least a version of it that works for me:

1. Prioritise, but be kind to yourself.  Not everything will get done in a day, and that's okay.  Focus on what truly matters - the rest will follow.
2. Create small moments of calm.  A quiet coffee after school drop off and before the day really kicks in, a chat with mum on the phone or swimming some laps in the pool - these small pauses before a hectic day will refill your tank.
3. Ask for help (and accept it).  You don't have to do it all alone.  Whether it's family, outsourcing, or just saying no to something - letting go doesn't mean failing!
4. Celebrate the small wins.  They count!  Every sale, every kind word from a client, every night you actually make it to bed before midnight - celebrate them all.
5. Remember your why.  When things feel overwhelming, come back to why you started.  For me, it was creating a home/work life balance whilst creating memories for families with my photography and now with my custom photo iMagnets, it's turning these memories into keepsakes that stick... literally and emotionally.  Showing my family that with heart and hard work, anything is possible!

So, if you're reading this and you're balancing a business or two, family and your own dreams - I see you!  You're not alone in the busy lives we lead.  It's chaotic, it's beautiful, it's exhausting, and it's worth every second.

Here's to strong coffee, air conditioning, big dreams and finding a little balance in the beautiful mess of it all.  It isn't perfect - it's personal.

With love + iMagnets
Teejay xo