Bonus Episode: Craft a Path to Certainty in Uncertain Times

Shownotes: JaymiH.com/certainty

(Digitally transcribed, please forgive any typos)

________________

Jaymi Heimbuch

...and that is what we all can do. We can focus on the things that we can control. There's a lot that we cannot control, that is for sure. But we can control how we choose to respond, how we choose to show up for our families, our communities, our businesses. And that's what has led me to this episode. Today I'm talking about how to build your own path to certainty in uncertain times.

Welcome to impact the conservation photography podcast. I'm your host, Jaymi Heimbuch. And if you are a visual storyteller with a love for all things wild, then you're in the right place, from conservation to creativity, from business to marketing and everything in between. This podcast is for you conservation visual storyteller who is ready to make an impact. Let's dive in.

Over the past week, we've seen a lot of new big problems arise in our lives that have us all worried. This is something that none of us have lived through before. It's not quite alike to any other recession or troublesome time that we've had. This is a whole new ball game, and it's causing a lot of anxiety, so I wanted to put together a special episode that talks about how we can seek out and create for ourselves bright spots of certainty, even when Ah, lot of our lives feel really uncertain at the moment.

So I've been watching as COVID-19 news unfurls, and so many of us and conservation photography are losing assignments. Losing gigs are tours, and our workshops are cancelled, and we're seeing our future paychecks disappear one by one in rapid succession. Quite a few of us aren't even sure how we're going to earn next month's income, let alone six months from now. A year from now, I've been in a swirl alongside everyone else. This week I had to cancel one of my workshops, which means not only losing a paycheck for me, but I'm I lost a paycheck for several other people who would work for me during that workshop, and the last thing that I want to do is to take paychecks away from others. It was a really hard decision to make, but I've been staying hyper focused on solutions this week, and once that workshop cancellation happened, and it's becoming very riel that things like my savings account where I've been diligently talking money aside in hopes for a down payment on a house. Well, that's now an emergency reserve to get through 2020. And there's been quite a few rough moments. I am not alone in having these. A lot of us are having these moments of thes really tough kind of new realities coming at us. Our plans are getting thrown aside.

But here's the thing. See, I have a membership community called Wild Idea Lab, and that means that it is my job to lead to remain hyper focused on solutions. I have to be here for my community. And when I think about the members who are feeling all of these fields, my brain switches into a leadership, action oriented mode. And when I'm in that mode, I don't think about my own concerns. I'm thinking about solutions. I'm thinking about how to get more tools. More resource is more support to my Wild Idea Lab members now. I opened doors to a Wild Idea Lab on March 17th and that was a date that was set on the calendar a long time ago for when I would accept new members into this membership community, and I went ahead with the launch according to my schedule, despite knowing that it was probably going to be really hard to get folks in the door. And I'm glad that I did for a couple of reasons. One is I launched, regardless of what's happening with COVID-19 because I know with 100% certainty that an online community and online educational resource is is exactly what is needed for conservation visual storytellers.

Right now, it's almost ideal timing to have something like this to offer when there are so many questions about the future of your income or the stability of your freelance work, or your ability to find enough work to cover your expenses. A community where you can get answers and gained support from peers and hear stories from others about what's working for them and find the educational resource is to strengthen your business and pivot in your work. This is so essential right now, and I want to be here for you with Wild Idea Lab. So I opened the doors as planned, but the other benefit has been, ah, heightened level of purpose for me inside of my business as my plan for 2020 has shifted. Now my role is to be here for my community to lead and to provide these resource is more than I ever thought I would need to. During this year.

When I focus on what my Wild Idea Lab community needs, I build a certainty into my day. I build a focus into my day. I can't get wrapped up in overwhelm or fear or all of those what ifs. I don't have time to focus on what I cannot control, because I am busy focusing on what I can control. And that is how I show up for my Wild Idea Lab community and that is what we all can do. We can focus on the things that we can control. There's a lot that we cannot control, that is for sure. But we can control how we choose to respond, how we choose to show up for our families, our communities, our businesses. And that's what has led me to this episode.

Today I'm talking about how to build your own path to certainty in uncertain times. This is something that definitely goes beyond simply talking about conservation photography. I think that It's something that's important, not even just for freelance storytellers, but really, for anyone I'm covering today to mindset, shifts are essential for gaining bright spots of certainty in each day. I'm also talking about the three step process for building that path through setting short term goals and then the tools for achieving those goals regardless of what comes your way.

Now, I also made a workbook for you because I want you to really have the tools to implement what I talk about in this episode so you can find the workbook called Craft a Path to Certainty in uncertain times at Jamie h dot com, That's J A y m i h dot com forward slash certainty. You can download it and use the tools inside of it to really implement what's inside this episode. Because if you do, those bright spots of certainty will give you so much stability as you navigate through to the other side of this turbulent time. Because there is indeed and other side to this and we will all get there together.

Okay, so let's start with the two essential mindsets for getting through this weird period of time. Mindset, number one. In times of uncertainty, create certainty. We're living through a unique time for most of us. There are more questions than answers about what our future holds. Planning can feel so difficult, and it is really way too easy to see anxiety creeping in at the edges of our thoughts at any point in time during the day. But there's two things to know about uncertainty. Number one is even in the swirl of questions and worries. There is still the very real ability to set your sights on near term goals and achieved. Hm. And these little winds act as solid stepping stones that carry you through to the other side of the strange period of time. And the second thing is, eventually uncertainty ends. There is indeed an other side to this, and you will arrive. They're stronger and more skilled than ever. So focus on building your own solid stepping stones and crafting a path to certainty with, um because you will get to the other side of this so again, in times of uncertainty, create certainty and we're gonna talk about exactly how to do that in just a moment. But now is the time to recalibrate your view of your situation and to figure out how you are going to show up inside of uncertainty, to build those bright spots of certainty within it, build your own stepping stones and stay focused.

Now mind set number two is this. Each problem, I discover, holds a path to a solution that I will uncover. So again, each problem I discover holds a path to a solution that I can uncover. Ah, problem is a very transient thing. A problem is just a solution that is waiting to happen. If you stay focused on problems that you face as if they're a permanent thing in your life than they will be, you will become fully stock among them. But if you consider a problem as the opportunity the clue that you need to figure out your path forward, then you'll stay on the move. A problem is just an opportunity that you will transform into a solution. Right now. There's a lot of anxiety and worry about problems that we face, but if we really look at what's happening, if we really look at those news stories that we see coming in, we'll see all of these myriad solutions the organizations and communities and individuals are crafting to get through the COVID-19 crisis Every day, every single day people are taking a huge problem and cracking open the puzzle to find the solution inside. Each problem that you face personally is simply a challenge. It's an opportunity for you to find a path to its solution, find strength in the fact that you can and you will. It is a fact that you can and you will find a solution to the problem.

Now I've always been someone who finds being told I can't do something as the ultimate challenge for finding out how I can. I've always been stubborn like that. To me, the word no is just the start of a new conversation. The word no is just the start of carving a different path toward my original goal. If I am told that I can't, I figure out how I can. And this mindset has played a huge role in getting past all sorts of things, like rejected pitches or when projects hit a wall or when an effort inside of my business falls through. And this is the mindset that will get you through. If you stay focused on the problems, you will get stuck and you will stay stuck. And no one wants to sit in a whole stew of anxiety for 24 7 Instead, every problem is just simply the start of a conversation about a solution. Inside of a problem is the path to a solution. All right now there's a lot of feelings of I can't swirling around, and it's because there's a bunch of stuff up in the air right now. The feeling of not being able to plan with ease can make it feel like you can't move forward. But yeah, you can, you can. You just need to change the course of the conversation, change up your plan of action, figure out a new strategy, always stays solutions oriented, and you will keep moving forward. Now that's the two mindsets that I really wanted to hammer in.

But we need tohave those mindsets in order to dig into the three step process for creating your path of bright spots of certainty to get through uncertainty. So let's dive into that all right. Finding uncertainty and uncertain times requires us to think creatively and to stay highly focused. We might not be able to make rock solid plans for a year from now, or maybe not even nine months from now. But we can definitely make solid, clear plans for a month from now, two months from now, three months from now. That level of focus on immediate needs and scoring immediate winds is really important. So in these three steps we're going to go through each of them in more detail.

But step number one is to set a clear, achievable goal that addresses your immediate financial, personal, emotional or business needs in such a way that you craft for yourself a feeling of certainty no, regardless of everything else going on. So this three step process is really perfect for focusing on just the next 30 60 or 90 days because you're looking at goals that you can set that will provide you with a sense of certainty. Inside of uncertainty. You don't have to know how you are going to achieve those goals just yet. I just want you to sit and think for a little bit about the kinds of goals that you can set that will provide a level of certainty and then in step number two, after you know what you want to achieve, that's when you craft a plan of action. So what course steps do you need to take to get to your goal? You only want to focus on Step number two after you figured out what your goals are because the goals dreaming big without hesitation. That's what you really want to do first. Then figure out the plan of the how how you're gonna get there and then step number three is to set your focus. You're gonna look at, just the one next step that you have to take and complete it to move forward on to the next step. Focus. Staying truly focused is really critical in times of uncertainty, because it's super easy to have all of this overwhelm all of this distraction come in and move you away from your gold derail you. So staying focused is really critical.

I want to dive into each of these in a lot more detail, so let's go back to step number one. Now. Step number one is setting your sights in our current global situation. It is really easy to become overwhelmed about the state of the global community and our local communities the health of our loved ones dealing with day to day work when we know that we have to stay at home, the future of our income streams is a big distraction. Tow us constantly on what changes to our finances might mean for our future stability. But in all of this, remember, there is what you cannot control, and there is what you can control. And what you absolutely can control is how you respond and act in times of uncertainty. So in this stage of the three step process to certainty, you're gonna focus on one area of your life where you can set a goal that will provide you with more certainty.

So, for example, you might gain a sense of stability and calm in your life right now, if you know that you can earn $1000 in the next 30 days, or maybe you want to add a new product or service into your business in the next 60 days, or maybe you know that you'll gain a lot more mental and personal clarity and certainty if you build a morning routine, something that is the same every single morning. When you start the day and sets the day off on the right foot. And maybe if you build that morning routine within the next 30 days, then that's gonna provide you with the calm that you need to face all the rest of the challenges that you have coming up, whatever it might be set small goals that will keep you focused. That will give you that sense of certainty inside of everything else going on again. You do not have to know how you're going to get there yet just look at a necessary goal that you want to set. That feels achievable.

So, for instance, one short term goal that I have is in the next 14 days. I am reassessing my 2020 revenue goals. Things have completely changed for me, and I find a lot of comfort in planning. I find a lot of comfort in knowing what my path forward really looks like, and in the actual act of planning to get there. So my bright spot of certainty in this uncertain time is to look at my 2020 revenue goals with a very realistic mind frame and to see what my year can now look like I'm going to set new goals that I know I want to achieve and that I'm pretty sure I can achieve. And I might not know exactly how I'm gonna hit them when I set those goals. But all know what I need to do and I'll figure out the path to get there later. I'm gonna recalibrate, reassess, and be more resilient in that it's gonna provide me so much more stability when I say it. Well, my plans just kind of blew up. Let me reassess and make a new plan. It's gonna feel so good now.

My 60 day goal is to support my Wild Idea Lab members to my absolute fullest with more. Resource is we have members who have been hobbyists for a while or who have side hustles that they've been building. But their day job situations are now a little bit iffy, and they might need to lean more heavily on their creative skills for supplemental income. And we have full time pros who are feeling pretty nervous right now and need guidance and coaching on ensuring that their businesses are nimble enough to get through this cycle. So right now I'm really focused on listening to what wild ideal that members need. And providing a ton of resource is tow my community to strengthen them as much as possible. I might not know exactly how I'm gonna do that, but I'm listening to my members and finding out more and more about what's needed. And I'm setting goals for providing those resource is within the next 60 days. So my path to support my members I'm gonna figure that out as we go along. And right now I'm setting some goals that provide a feeling of certainty in all of this, not just for me, but for all of us.

So for you pick milestones that fill you with a sense of certainty. And again, you don't have to know that how, when you're choosing them, just choose them for the sense of stability that they provide right now and think in the short term 30 days, 60 days, 90 days inside of the workbook that you'll get at jaymih dot com forward slash certainty. I have a worksheet where you could start to draft all of this out so be sure to download that, because not only do you have that, but it'll have ways for you to get through steps to and steps three as well.

Now step number two. Only after you've determined what you want to achieve do you consider how you'll achieve it, because it's essential to dream first without being held back by concern over the how to. But once you've got your dream down now it's absolutely essential to plan, because without your step by step plan, a dream remains only that. It's just a dream, and we want that dream to get turned into reality. So now is the time to craft your path. The way you want to do this is to start at the end at where you want to end up and work backward. So again, if your goal is to earn $1000 in the next 30 days, then what is the source of that income? Is it from bringing on a new client? Or is it because you offered a new product that you've sold now, if it's a product that you sold, then who bought the product and how did they buy it? Because that's gonna help you figure out who your audience is and how to offer that product. Then what is the product? How did you make it? What did you need to do to make it? And how did you source the materials that you needed to make it See by digging down by drilling Down, down, down. You're actually going from the last step in the process toward the first step in the process in that path to get there. So do you see how these questions lead you from the end all the way back to the beginning, with steps kind of appearing as you go. So go through this stage as setting your path, and you're going through this by working backward.

All right. Now on to step three with a goal and a path in place, it's now time to set your focus and to take each step on your path until you achieve that clarity, providing certainty. Building goal focus is crucial, especially now when all those news stories and changes and updates about what's happening with our jobs and our family members and so much more can overwhelm our day and derail progress. So go ahead and grab that workbook. Jamie h dot com forward slash certainty and print the pages in the workbook that are meant to outline your goal in your steps. For each of your goals, print one page, fill it out and then set those where you're going to see them. Because this is gonna help you really stay focused on not only your goal, but on the path as well. So you're gonna write out your goal, the steps you need to take and importantly, you're also going to write out why that goal matters to you. And those three things really help keep you focused and motivated. Now you're also going to stay focused on just your one next step. So there's a lot of steps in the process, and it might be a three step process or a nine step process or whatever it is to get to your goal. It can be easy to focus on several steps ahead and then get overwhelmed or stock, or be distracted. And what we want to do is just focus on the one stop that you need to take right now to get to your goal.

So, for instance, if you want to earn $1000 in the next 30 days, and the first step is to get all the resource is together to craft that new product that you plan to offer. That's your one next up. Don't worry yet about how you're gonna offer it or how you're going to market it or how much you really gonna make off of it. All you need to do right now is gather those materials to craft your new product. That's it. You're one next step. Now I'm doing this right now. I'm minimizing where I'm focusing on my business to look on Lee out where I conserve my community to the highest level, and I'm putting my energy in that. So everything non essential to my business is getting back-burnered so that I can focus on my one next step inside of Wild Idea Lab so that I conserve that community. So right now, as soon as I'm done with this episode, I am focusing on building out a deck to a bonus master classes, walking my members through how to create and launch an online workshop. So for my members, whose tours and workshops have been canceled I want to provide them with a way that they can offer something online. And my one next step is building that master class and getting that into the membership so that they could have that as a tool. And then after that, I'll look at my next one next step, which is gonna be getting those masterminds ready, and we're gonna launch business masterminds in April. So I'm getting those ready for everybody. There are things that I can do right now inside of wild ideal up that provides the maximum amount of resource is to my members. And I'm doing one at a time and just focusing on that one next thing that I can provide. And in that way I won't get overwhelmed with all these other things about my business. What's my tour company doing now that I can't offer any tours? What's my future gonna look like on launching conservation photography 101 My digital course. How am I going to do that? What am I going to do to pivot that? What am I going to do about this? That or the other thing? There's a lot that I could worry about, but I'm not going to right now, I am focused on the core part of my business, which is wild, ideal up and how to best serve The members who have invested in themselves and in Wild Idea Lab and making sure that they have the resource is that they need to get through this time right now.

Now, one thing that I do to help me out in this process is that I use a daily planner sheet that helps me stay hyper focused on what I need to do my tasks for that day when I'm doing them. And then also using what I call focus blocks inside of your workbook at Jamie h dot com forward slash certainty that day planner she is included. So I'm giving you that tool along with all of the other tools to ensure that down to the n wth degree, you have what you need to implement this three step process in your own business in your own life. Right now.

See, here's the thing. You're not alone right now. Even if you are in physical isolation, your stock at home there is community that you can reach out to online at any time and now more than ever, finding strength and camaraderie in your community of fellow creatives is not just a smart choice, but it is so important to maintaining positivity and momentum we all need right now are shared stories and ideas and insights and resource is that all. Help us pull through tough times with flying colors. I know that it's not easy to stay focused and motivated to work toward goals. Right now, I know that it is really easy to be overwhelmed. There's a lot of distractions. There's a lot of anxiety that's always close by, but it is possible and you are capable. There's a lot that we cannot control, but we can control how we show up and we can, in times of uncertainty, create certainty, maintain that solutions oriented mindset. Focus on the things that you can control. Focus on your one next step in the path to your goal and lean on your community. You're gonna come through this stronger and more agile and more creative than ever.

Now again, head over to Jaymi h dot com forward slash certainty to get your workbook because that's gonna help you truly implement ideas and strategies that will help you to feel clarity, certainty and calm inside of all of this other hubbub going on right now. And I also invite you to come join the free Facebook group Conservation photographers, a community for creativity and support. You can find a link to join that Facebook group in the show notes right along with your free workbook. And I invite you to come and join us. Because remember, you are not alone right now. All right?

Now, this was a pause for a special episode. I'm gonna go ahead and return to the usual photography oriented episodes. But I had to pause and take a moment to connect with you about something that, as creatives as visual storytellers, were all going through right now. And we all have the power to build a sense of clarity and calm inside of our lives. I really hope that you are hanging in there. I hope that you implement what I talked about because it could definitely help you find those bright spots in your day in your week in your upcoming months. And just know that you can reach out at any time.

All right, I will talk to you next week

before we wrap up. I would love to ask you to do one quick thing. Subscribe to this podcast as a subscriber, you'll not only know when each week's episode those lives, but you'll also get insider goodies like bonus episodes. You might miss thumb unless you're subscribed and I don't want you to miss out on a thing. So he's tapped that subscribe button and I will talk to you next week.

________________

Impact: The Conservation Photography Podcast

JaymiHeimbuch.com/Podcast