The last blog post I drafted and never published was on June 25, 2017. It was titled, “How Tough it is to Work a 9 to 5 & Own a Business.” The first word and only word was, “Tough!” And I never finished.

This past Friday, August 17, I decided it was time to embrace my truth and put in my two-week notice. I like to think it was two years in the making and not something that I just decided to do because I felt like it. It’s the toughest decision I’ve ever made in my life, but it was a feeling I could no longer fight. Believe me, I’ve experienced a wide range of emotion since embracing what will be my new reality come September 1st.

I’m absolutely terrified and I’m totally excited!

It’s a very weird feeling to know I’m laying everything on the line. My career. My savings. My apartment. My bills. Everything I’ve worked so hard for is for this dream.

My dream has always been to start a business. I can remember in college thinking someday I’ll make a leap into being my own boss. I never knew at the time what the business would be, but I knew it was something I always wanted.

In the past 8 years, I’ve spent time building my craft in video production and photography. I absolutely love what I do. I knew it was my love when I felt so energized with having a camera in my hands. But then again, I thought everyone felt this way about my love. It wasn’t until other people started pointing out that I’m a different person is when I knew it was my passion. It seems that any fear completely dissipates when I’m doing what I love.

For the past four years, I, like most took a 9 to 5 in hopes of building a career in the non-profit sector. The role has been filled with many challenges and helped me to understand my strengthens as a young professional. However, I knew there was still some burning desire to build something that is mine. I still continued to take the advice from others about finding a new job and exploring other options. I tried so desperately to let my passion go and find other things I could be passionate about.

Every time I felt like quitting my passion(and it was many, many times) someone would contact me and ask to do video or photography work for them. I was happy they contacted me and it gave me further confirmation that this is what I should be doing in my life.

Just before placing my two-week notice, I became extremely depressed and wanted to quit again. Actually, I suffered from on and off depression throughout the two years. For the last three months, I was looking for signs to tell me if leaving was the right thing to do. I was conflicted. I couldn’t sleep through the night. I even began losing my appetite in the recent weeks.

I just couldn’t bear to think about possibly giving up everything I worked so hard to get. But then again, the thought of quitting also made me feel relieved. I instantly felt more at ease with the thought of quitting. Even though I had these feelings, I let them go. And every time I let the feelings go, the anxiety and staying stuck in a job came back harder then ever. The little voice that started out so softly two years prior, now was screaming at me to MAKE THE MOVE!

I let the feeling go away again and I took off two days from work earlier this month to organize and enjoy some time off. In my case, I never actually spend a whole lot of time relaxing when I’m off. I’m usually running around meeting with clients or trying to find new opportunities. This particular time off was different. I just said to myself, “If it’s meant to be, then it will be.”

The Wednesday I returned back to work. I was anxious. On my calendar, I wrote, “Quit Your Job Day!” I was planning to quit that day. I had a pretty light meeting with my manager and I kept telling myself, “Be brave, be brave!”

I wasn’t brave.

I chickened out. I felt completely deflated and it really bothered me the next two days. That evening, the young lady that does my nails asked if I had quit my job.

I told her, “No. When the time is right. I’ll do it.”

Two days passed and on Friday, I wasn’t sure if I would follow through. Something told me that I needed to do it on this day and only this day. I was on edge at work the entire day and forced myself to eat lunch. I kept watching videos on Youtube about taking risks, so it would motivate me.

“You can do this, Tiffany,” I kept saying to myself.

I paced my manager’s office twice, notebook in hand ready to jot down any next steps with finalizing the end of my role. I couldn’t do it. I went back to my cubicle. Feeling again, deflated.

I watched another video and read an article about someone else taking the leap. It just so happened to be someone who was also a videographer-turned-life-coach. I got back up from my chair with my notebook in hand again and headed over to my manager’s office. This time I went the opposite way than I did the first two times. I stopped by my manager’s door. Within a millisecond my manger was coming out her door with a few papers in her hand.

It was time.

I called her name. She quickly turned.

“Oh, Tiffany I was just about to come see you.”

“Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure.”

We walked back into her office. I closed the door and embraced my truth.

I’m still scared. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

Scared of not only failure, but of succeeding. I think everyone in life wants to succeed, yet, few do. I know I was placed on this earth to not only pursue my dreams, but to also inspire others to take the chance. Life is way too short not to at least give yourself a shot.

In the subsequent days since my notice, I’ve received an outpouring of love and support from colleagues I’ve worked with over the years. It’s also been surprising to hear stories from colleagues who share with me their dreams and how they wish they had the guts or the know-how to make it happen.

I’ll admit, I don’t know what will happen, but I’m willing to see where it goes. I’m scared and excited! This is what I’ve worked for and now it’s happening.

I hope my journey inspires you to take the leap of faith and make it happen.

Will you join me?

You are Free to Focus on Other Aspects of the Event

What a relief to be able to tend to other things during your next event! You don’t have to worry about fumbling around with a camera that you’ve barely used at this point. This is very important to consider because things do not always go as expected and the last thing you should be worried about is getting the next shot. Let your photographer take care of the rest.

Technical knowledge

Certain lenses are used to get the desired look whether it be a close up or a wide shot. This is important to know prior to getting the shot. You should also keep in mind that certain lenses perform better in low light. Lighting is sometimes unpredictable with events especially if the event is held in multiple rooms or outdoors. Having a photographer who knows how to make the necessary adjustments without a second thought is definitely a time and grief saver!

Shot Anticipation

No event is the same, but I like to think most events hit a certain rhythm (if done correctly). As a client you provide your photographer with a list of desired shots, but sometimes you might forget to include a shot or two. For example, a good photographer will understand that every time a new person is at a podium they should be photographed, even if it’s not on the list. A good photographer always expects the unexpected.

A Good Photographer is Engaged & Active

I’ve heard plenty of stories of photographers who didn’t engage with photographing guests and stayed in one spot during the entire event. A photographer who is great with people will help your guests loosen up in front of the camera. He or she will also try to get multiple angles of the event. Sometimes a venue might not offer the space to move around, but if the option exists a photographer should take full advantage of the space and move around!

Professional Photos for Your Marketing Collateral

There is nothing wrong with posting a cell phone photo on Instagram or Facebook about your company’s latest event. Cell phone photos provide a personal touch for viewers, but when it comes to photos you publish in your marketing collateral. Please hire a professional photographer! Not only is the resolution and quality higher, you also show your audience that your company is of quality and has high standards when it comes to its brand. This is especially true with non-profit organizations who are seeking sponsorships. Using high quality images, can make all the difference to potential sponsors and result in reaching better fundraising goals.

This leads me to my final point. I often attend events around the city and one of the determining factors includes viewing past event photos to see if it holds my interest. The photos from your event should make people want to attend and desire to be part of the fun! Or at least give some insight on what to expect from future events.

Remember, your event deserves to be noteworthy! Make sure people know about it!

If you are interested in knowing more about me or my work, please visit tiffanystacey.com.

Or follow me at:

Instagram: tiffyphotog

Facebook: Tiffany Stacey Photography and Video.

As a photographer and videographer, it’s been a very long journey to creating the life I want. Pursuing my passion is literally one of the hardest things I’ve chosen to do in my life because there is always an air of doubt. It’s much harder than the 9 to 5 day-to-day grind. Harder than four years of college (and 12 years of grade school). Harder than I could ever imagine. And no one ever prepared me for the things endured and rollercoaster of feelings I feel as I pursue my life’s dreams.

But what keeps me going? What keeps the internal embers burning?

The desire to say I did it when most told me I didn’t stand a chance.

The late nights when I go to sleep feeling amazing about my finished work.

My love for my family and how much I can’t give up and let them down.

The HUGE invest I’ve made in betting on myself.

The joy I feel when I hold a print of my latest creation.

The fact that I’m a woman in a heavily male-dominated industry and my voice needs to be heard.

The smile on my clients’ face when I poured my heart into my work and know that they appreciate it too!

When I nail a shot that only existed in my head!

The personal sacrifices I’ve made to make dreams come true.

The times that I worry that what I’m not doing enough and try to do more.

To hopefully inspire other people to pursue their dreams and passions one day too!

I guess those are my whys! When the days are dark and long, what keeps you pushing towards your dreams?

IG: tiffyphotog

Twitter: tiffyphotog

Facebook: Tiffany Stacey Photography & Video

I’ve been a Toastmaster for a little over three years. For the first two and a half years, I didn’t take it as seriously and I procrastinated…A LOT! Why? Because public speaking can be a daunting task. It’s one of those things that is a MUST in any career and the longer you try to ignore it (or fear it), the worst it becomes. Public speaking is like a muscle, the more you do it, the stronger and better you become!

Toastmasters is a non-profit organization that specializes in strengthening public speaking and leadership skills. There are over 15,900 clubs around the world and several clubs right here in Columbus, Ohio. I’ve been a member of two different clubs and both were different in every way. My first club was not a good fit for me. Maybe because I was the youngest person in our group and my former group members were either just a few years shy of retiring or retired. I guess the stigma associated with the millennial generation caused some of the members to view me in a certain light and sadly, my time was cut short.

When I joined my current club, I knew it was a great fit! We have a very diverse group of individuals at various stages in their careers and Toastmastery. Although, it’s a small group, we still have the opportunity to grow as proficient speakers and leaders. And not to forget, we laugh and have FUN too!! I want to share with you why I love Toastmasters and hopefully inspire you to join a club near you!

1. Well-structured Meetings

Each club is structured differently. Our meetings are usually structured with two members presenting prepared speeches from either the Competent Communicator Manual or Advance manuals. The prepared speeches are followed by Table Topics, where someone presents a question and members and guests can volunteer to deliver a one to two minute impromptu answer. Then, we have assigned evaluators give evaluations to those who gave speeches at the beginning of meeting.

Those who aren’t giving speeches still have an opportunity to fill several roles at the meeting such as: Toastmaster of the Day, Grammarian, Timer and Evaluator (as mentioned before). The Toastmaster of the Day leads the meetings and makes sure we stay on task for each meeting. The Grammarian counts the usage of filler words such as “Ah,” “Um,” “You know,” and “So.” The Timer monitors the time of the prepared and table topics speeches and makes sure people stay within the allotted time.

2. The Program is Self-paced

After becoming a member, you receive two manuals a Competent Communicator manual and Competent Leader manual. In the CC manual, there are 10 speeches you have to complete before receiving your CC award. The manual is also what your evaluator will use to document and critique your speech. Each speech has a different area of focus. The first speech is the Icebreaker speech which is a speech introducing who you are to the club. The speech and the ones to follow can be on any topic you desire! There’s a member in our club who did his speech on his obsession with Star Wars. The Leadership manual includes the various roles you perform during a club meeting. A fellow member evaluates your performance within a role using the Leadership manual. I am currently on speech 9 in the CC manual. It’s been a long road, but I’m looking forward to finishing it this summer. After completing the manual, I will move on to completing other speeches in the Advance manuals.

3. Helpful Constructive Feedback

Delivering constructive feedback is not always easy, but in Toastmasters we welcome feedback from our members. The evaluation sheets in the manuals gives a baseline on providing constructive feedback. Receiving constructive criticism is nothing to fear, in fact, it’s helpful with improving your next speech.

4. Opportunities to Lead

Each club has officer roles held by members. Officer roles include: President, VP of Public Relations, VP of Membership, VP of Education, Sergeant of Arms, Secretary and Treasurer. I served as VP of Public Relations for the last two years and I enjoyed informing people of our club. I will be assuming my new role as President this July! My plan is to make our Toastmasters group GREAT again! But what I really mean by great is GREATER! :-)

5. Excellent Networking Benefits

It’s like being part of a secret society! I recently met a photographer whom I admire and found out he was part of Toastmasters. It was interesting talking about our journey with getting through the CC manual. With 345,000 members around the world, it’s pretty cool to know that your next important contact, could be a fellow Toastmaster.

6. Growth in Career

Never underestimate the power that public speaking can have on your career. More people will get to know you as an expert when you become a proficient public speaker. And you just never know when you’ll be asked to get in front of a group at the last minute. At least with Toastmasters, you’ll be prepared!

7. Recruiting Non-Members

I love the idea of recruiting non-members. It gives me a lot of joy to know that they are on a great path to self-discovery and personal fulfillment! Public speaking is a scary thing to do and when I’m able to recruit new members and get them excited about being part of the club, then part of my job is done! The next part is RETAINING them. Unfortunately, clubs like Toastmasters are a revolving door when it comes to members. Life gets in the way or people lose interest and drop. This is to be expected, but the goal is to always make sure Toastmasters is a positive experience.

8. Each Club has its Own Personality

I attended a few clubs before officially signing up and learned that each club has its own personality. Some are more competitive while others take a more laid back approach. I say if you are a more competitive person than find a club that will match you personality. You are not obligated to join after attending one meeting. Although, some clubs do try to push you because they are trying to meet club goals for the year. Our club does not force individuals to join. We want non-members to join by their own free will.

I hope you enjoyed my insight on Toastmasters. If you are interested in learning more or to find a club near you, please check out toastmasters.org. You can also reach out to me by email at contact@tiffanystacey.com. Thanks for reading! Happy Speech Making!

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Twitter: tiffyphotog

Facebook: Tiffany Stacey Photography & Video

Website: tiffanystacey.com

I should add that this post has nothing to do with my professional career. It’s has more to do with how I’m contributing to the world. Any time I embark on a new challenge, my abilities and what I perceive as value always comes into question. I’m 29 years old — just on the cusp of hitting the big 3–0. Although I’m proud of all the obstacles I’ve overcome, I still have a long way to go.

I remember a guy I briefly dated just a few months ago. We are both INFPs and were having a deep discussion about our personality type. One of things I mentioned to him was that I always struggle with not knowing if I’m doing enough to add value to this world. This is a HUGE personality trait with INFPs as we’re always searching for ways we can impact the world. He turned to me and said I should never discredit or downplay what talents and gifts I have to contribute to this world. I need to share those talents and gifts.

One of the things I’m most passionate about is the exchanging of information. I love to share and I love to learn from other people. Recently, I took a photography workshop. One of the instructors and I ended up having a nearly hour and a half long conversation about life experiences and struggles that got us to the current destination. He shared with me his battles with alcoholism, the fact that he didn’t go to college and the thought that he was headed down a path to an early grave. He went on to tell me how his life did a 180-degree turn after meeting his girlfriend who led him to getting involved in shooting photography and teaching classes for work. It was in that moment where I realized that this person provided me with something of value, he shared a moment in time with me and essentially, I became a better person by hearing his story. It made me want to strive to be and do better in my life.

I believe it’s time to start sharing what I know (and you too)! It’s so easy to draw from others’ experiences, but oftentimes it’s hard for me to envision how my knowledge and life lessons can benefit someone else. I’m an avid reader and on any given day, you can probably find me Googling (or scanning through books at the library) on how to improve myself or a current situation. Whether it’s trying to solve a particular lighting issue with my photography work; figuring out ways to get stronger at the gym or trying to solve a romantic dilemma. I like to know things. I can’t help it.

I always follow the rule that if I don’t know something then I must turn to others’ experiences to help guide me to the right decision. Just like I look to others to learn, I’ve reached a point in life where I’m ready to share my gifts and hopefully, someone can learn from me.

So the moral of the story is: Share your gifts, you just never know how it may help someone who really needs it.