Show notes
Charissa Yong, founder of Charissa H. Yong Photography, LLC, understands the importance of building a personal brand that tells your story as a professional that people want to do business with. She loves to help service-based entrepreneurs who are ready to stand out in the crowded online world.Charissa was raised by her grandparents in Malaysia, and moved to the United States after her grandparents passed away, to New Jersey, when she was sixteen years old. Though she was a creative person, Charissa chose to get a degree in computer science as a path to financial stability. After working 11 years in the corporate world as a software test engineer and the 3-hour daily commute, she was burned out. She knew she had to leave the job to find something that was more creative and meaningful. In 2018, she left corporate America and decided to start her photography business."So I've been changing myself, trying to fit in from 6th grade all the way to college and even a little bit during the time when I was in corporate. And it's exhausting, it's just exhausting. And I'm so glad I got the opportunity to do this business because this business not only teaches me about being authentic, just showing up as yourself, stop being a people pleaser, stop saying yes to everything, learning about burnout. All of these opportunities, I don't think they would come up if I stayed at a corporate job." - Charissa YongKey takeaways: - Get comfortable asking for help. Towards the end of her corporate job, Charissa was grumpy, tired and stressed, and probably fighting some kind of post-partum blues. She remembers her gynecologist telling her that she was not a supermom; that she needed help, and needed to ask for it. She reached out to her mom, who was able to help Charissa out for a couple of hours each week.Charissa was also lucky in that a friend of a colleague of hers introduced her to a wedding photographer, who became an important mentor to her. She taught her how to use flash, how to shoot a different way, about the business, and about editing. - Be sure to create a realistic runway, if you’re contemplating starting a business. Charissa had heard that most businesses fail within the first two years. Charissa expected to earn no, or very little money in the first year of her photography business. She gave herself that first year to learn, and to do a lot of free shoots to build her portfolio. - Let go of perfectionism. When Charissa first started her business, she realized that, if she allowed herself, she could spend hours and hours editing and tweaking her photos. It was her mentor who gave her an important message: “when you’re done editing - you’re done.” Otherwise, you can find yourself spending weeks editing your photos.- Network, network, network. At the end of her first year in business, Charissa began to do a lot more networking. That is how she began to learn about personal branding as a niche, which helped her to build confidence and to show up in a more authentic way .About the guest: Charissa H. Yong is a New Jersey based photographer who creates eye-catching brand photos for service-based business owners to help them tell their stories confidently and authentically so they can attract their ideal clients and grow their businesses.Email address: [email protected]: https://charissahyongphotography.com/Facebook: www.facebook.com/charissahyongphotographyLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charissahyongInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/charissahyongphotographyFree resources: https://charissahyongphotography.com/links Interested in booking a free consultation? Schedule a call.Stay connected:Connect with Laura on LinkedIn@Rotters5 on TwitterConnect with Laura on FacebookSubscribe to my YouTube channelSubscribe to my newsletterGet your free copy of Unlock Your Money Blocks Workbook : Your step-by-step guide to unlocking your blocks to financial freedom.Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.