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cristinaarce · 4 years ago

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Strengths and Weaknesses

Let me start saying that probably one of my weaknesses is talking about myself. I could talk hours about the great things that other people have done or have created, but it is just a challenge to find the words to talk about myself without feeling like a self-centric person.

Having said that, I do know that I have many great qualities and skills because, without them, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

For those new around here, let me introduce myself, I am Cristina Arce, the owner of a photography business and a fine art online store, both based in Toronto, Canada. I started my photography business in 2002, and since then, I have worked across the board of photography, from fashion, corporate and entertainment headshots, to commercial, editorial, and product photography. Currently, my main focus has been branding and social media imagery for clients who need amazing photos for their businesses.

I am also a graphic designer with extensive experience of over 15 years in web and print design, over seven years as an email marketing design specialist, and over five years as a manager overseeing a creative department of 18 employees. I went to university to get a degree in graphic design and publicity back in the early 2000s, and another in photography after that. I recently went to college to get a social media and management certificate, and currently, I am taking three courses online about business from Western University and George Brown College.

I can easily talk about what I do because that is something that I am very passionate about. But I did not really mention anything about myself. Yes, by telling you what I have done for a living, you may have guessed that I love to study and that I am really good at business. However, the reality is, it has not always been easy, and I had to get over many challenges and learn many new skills on the way.

One thing that everyone trying to go into a new business or starting a new venture needs to do is evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, so they can have a clear idea of where they will need help, or where they will need to learn more in-depth.

Strengths and weaknesses

You may find several blog posts and articles all over the Internet about the many essential qualities that most business owners should have. Some articles have lists of over 20 or 30 specific skills. And a lot of them will make you think that if you do not have all of them, you won’t be able to ever run a small business - I do not think it’s necessarily true.

Even though I don’t think you do not need to have every single quality when you are successfully launching a business, you definitely need to prepare yourself to wear many hats. And sometimes all of them at the same time!

Every person is unique. You all have strengths and weaknesses, not only personal ones but also as professionals. The same goes for your business. Every business requires a different set of skills according to the products or services offered.

(Image source: Capscratch, Redbubble)

Today I won’t be giving you a list of all the essential qualities that you need to run a small business; instead, I am going to put myself on the spot and tell you with entire honesty what are some of my personal and professional strengths and weaknesses that I have discovered through the years as a freelance creative.

I will make it as a list because I love lists! :)

STRENGTHS

I love to-do lists and sticky notes

I love to help people

I am a “glass-half-full” kind of person. I try to find the good in people and opportunities from rough moments.

I am very easy-going

I like to share advice from my own experience

Love to start projects and new adventures

Love to be organized, and keep track of everything that’s going on

Love to start every year with a new paper agenda, and write down my goals

I am definitely a visual person and love to create vision boards for my projects

I am used to wearing several "hats" at the same time

I am always analyzing risks and opportunities

I have determination and perseverance

I am very artistic and creative

I am bilingual, I speak English and Spanish.

WEAKNESSES

I am naturally a nice person, so some people may try to take advantage of it.

I am a perfectionist and focus too much on getting things perfect instead of getting them done.

I take too much on my plate, and I cannot finish the many projects I am working on

I do not know when to stop without feeling defeated.

I do compare my behind the scenes with other people’s highlights, which brings self insecurities

Most of the time, I am overthinking when analyzing risks and opportunities. LOL

I get overwhelmed when I am given too many options to choose from.

Oh, definitely bookkeeping, accounting, and banking stuff! I am so thankful that people love to do these tasks, so I can outsource it!

Why is it so important about knowing these qualities about yourself?

Before jumping onto the entrepreneurship wagon, I was an employee for a large company, and didn’t know all the little and not so little things that were happening behind the scenes. I did not know that since I was the business owner I had to look for new clients, keep them and making them happy, deal any complaints or suggestions, finding suppliers, changing suppliers, bookkeeping, accounting, social media, website creation, website maintenance, marketing and advertising, government paperwork, finding ways to innovate, creation of new products/services, prototypes, testing of those products/services, etc.

Why am I telling you all this? Because knowing everything that needs to be done, and being able to identify what you do well, and what you do not do so well, will help you to find the best solutions to those challenges.

For example, I am not a math person; I could even get a headache just thinking of doing the taxes myself. I know it's one of my weaknesses. So, as a business owner who HAS to do bookkeeping, accounting, and fill out the taxes every single year, what did I do? Well, I planned ahead and saved some of my income to be able to hire someone to do that for me.

Remember, another solution is, if you do not want to hire someone, you can always go back to school and learn those new skills.

(Image source: GaryVee Wallpapers, a Quote from Gary Vaynerchuk )

Now, it's your turn. Take a pen and a paper, and write down your strengths and weaknesses. As you evaluate yourself, be honest. You will only hurt yourself if you are not. If you find a weakness, try to find a possible solution, like what I did for my accounting challenges.

Leave a comment telling us one of your strengths and weaknesses, and what may be your solution to your weakness.

During the next weeks, I will be posting more about entrepreneurship, some new business ideas that I have, and I will be showing the progress of starting this new venture. Thanks for stopping by! :)

#startinganewbusiness #strength #smallbusinessowner

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