BTI #224: Grow Your Network to Grow Your Net Worth with Karen Stanley
Release Date: 04/21/2021
I Followed Peerspace's Rules. They Flagged My Account Anyway.
Beyond the Image Podcast
What happens when you follow a platform’s rules exactly as they’re written… and still get flagged? In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick shares his recent experience with Peerspace after a potential renter tried to move a conversation off-platform. James did exactly what Peerspace’s rules require: he refused and kept the conversation on the platform. He was then flagged by Peerspace anyway. What followed raised much bigger questions about the relationship between Peerspace and the small businesses that supply its marketplace. James breaks down Peerspace’s increasingly...
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You Don't Need More Leads, You Need This Instead
Beyond the Image Podcast
If your answer to every slow season is, "I just need more leads," this episode is for you. The truth is, most photographers don't have a lead problem—they have a client journey problem. In this solo episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick breaks down why chasing more inquiries isn't the answer and why building a complete marketing journey is what creates consistent, predictable business growth. You'll learn: Why more leads won't fix a broken marketing process The client journey every photographer should be intentionally designing Why marketing is more than social media How to stop...
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Why Photographers Feel Invisible (And Why More Leads Won't Fix It)
Beyond the Image Podcast
You create great work. Your clients love the experience. So why does it still feel like no one knows who you are? In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions photographers have about growing their business: believing that more followers, more leads, or another marketing tactic will finally make them visible. The truth is, most photographers don't have a lead problem. They have a positioning problem. You'll learn why talent alone doesn't create opportunities, how to become known for something specific, and what actually builds trust with the...
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The Most Expensive Marketing Mistake I Keep Making
Beyond the Image Podcast
What if one of the biggest wastes of money in your business isn't bad gear, a bad hire, or a failed ad campaign? In this episode, James shares one of the costliest mistakes he's made over the last 20 years: repeatedly hiring lead generation companies that promised a calendar full of qualified prospects. Instead, they delivered copy-and-paste outreach, unqualified meetings, damaged brand perception, and zero clients. You'll learn: Why automated outreach often hurts more than it helps How "guaranteed leads" can still waste your time and money The hidden cost of outsourcing your relationships...
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What to Do When a Client Cancels Your Photography Project
Beyond the Image Podcast
Every creative eventually gets the email or phone call they never want to receive: "We're going to have to cancel the project." Whether you're a photographer, videographer, designer, or creative entrepreneur, canceled projects can cost far more than just the paycheck. They cost planning time, production hours, reserved calendar space, and lost opportunities. In this episode of Beyond the Image, I share several real stories from my own business—including projects canceled just days before production—and explain how I now protect my business with stronger contracts, retainers, cancellation...
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Stop Blaming Your Gear: What Actually Makes a Professional Photographer
Beyond the Image Podcast
Most photographers overestimate the importance of gear and underestimate the importance of experience. In this episode, we break down why professionals don’t lose shots because of equipment—they lose shots because of decisions, skill gaps, or lack of clarity on what actually matters. The right gear matters only when it directly improves your work, your workflow, or your client results. Everything else is noise. Instagram: Substack: Website:
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When Should Photographers Start Charging for Their Work?
Beyond the Image Podcast
One of the biggest mistakes aspiring photographers make is believing they need "a little more" before they can start charging. More experience. More gear. More education. More portfolio work. But what if that mindset is the very thing holding you back? In this episode, James Patrick challenges the common belief that photographers need to reach some mythical level of perfection before they can monetize their work. Drawing from his own journey—from getting paid for his very first published photograph as a journalist to launching video production services decades later—James explores the...
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When Should You Refund a Client? (And When Should You Walk Away?)
Beyond the Image Podcast
Every creative entrepreneur will eventually face the uncomfortable question: Should I refund this client? In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick breaks down the only two situations where issuing a refund actually makes business sense. The first is obvious—when you've made the mistake and failed to deliver what you promised. The second is far more controversial: when dealing with a bad-faith client will cost you more in time, energy, and stress than the money is worth. Through real-world stories from more than two decades in business, James shares lessons on client accountability,...
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7 Revenue Streams Creatives Are Leaving on the Table
Beyond the Image Podcast
Too many photographers and creatives believe the only way to make more money is to raise their rates. But the reality is that many are already providing valuable services they simply aren't charging for. In this episode, I break down seven overlooked revenue opportunities that can increase profitability while delivering even more value to your clients. From equipment rental fees and digital file storage to behind-the-scenes content, additional revisions, and retouching beyond scope, these are services clients often request, expect, or benefit from, yet many creatives include them at no...
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Should Photographers Pay to Get Published?
Beyond the Image Podcast
Should photographers pay for magazine features, covers, and media placements? In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick explores the evolution of sponsored content, how pay-to-play publishing became commonplace, and why photographers need to rethink what publication actually means in today's media landscape. From the rise of sponsored content in traditional media to the explosion of niche digital publications, you'll learn the critical difference between earned media and sponsored media, how to evaluate publication opportunities as marketing investments, and why so many creatives...
info_outlineSomething I bring up a lot on this show is the importance of having a strong foundation that you are building your business upon. In past episodes, I shared about my own journey in how I chose to focus on my physical health, my mental wellbeing, and to foster successful relationships. When I chose to do these three things, my business actually took off. In today’s episode, we are talking about why we need to cultivate the best relationships; not only with others, but also with ourselves. And how these relationships can improve our business.
WHO IS KAREN STANLEY?
Karen Stanley is the best-selling author of Becoming Mrs. Stanley, an agency owner, and an entrepreneur based in Arizona. At the beginning of her journey, she struggled with self-worth and self-confidence until she decided to start applying her knowledge of relationships in business to her personal life. Karen believes relationships truly are the key to being successful.
“You can’t be successful on an island by yourself, you need people.”
But she also believes that the best way to have strong and healthy relationships with others, is to have a strong and healthy relationship with yourself. Her book came out of her personal experiences of attracting confident and strong relationships in her life, including her husband of 6 years.
WHY DO WE STRUGGLE WITH SELF-WORTH?
Karen learned that we develop our core beliefs during childhood. There are events that happen to us before the age of 7 that lead us to create a story around the event, which then leads us to create a core belief. EX: Abused as a child -> “I’m not worthy.”
“We have to identify the beliefs and then get clear on what the facts are.”
The believes that we have that aren’t true, are limiting us. It’s important to build new and empowering beliefs.
BEING DILIGENT ABOUT YOUR INPUT
Karen is a big believer of being very particular of the things we put into our brains. The things we watch, look at, listen to. Everything we look at and listen to matters. It’s also important to be diligent about who we follow and look up to. If someone or something is making you feel less than your best, get rid of it! We want to follow people who inspire us and who have been successful, because this inspires us to do the same. We don’t want to follow people who are faking it or haven’t actually achieved success. It’s okay to take that person off your feed!
HOW TO INCREASE SELF-CONFIDENCE
When Karen realized the missing piece in her life, she made time for things that in turn, increased her self-confidence and changed her life.
- Karen made time to work on her mindset.
- Karen made time for fitness.
- Karen made time for reading.
“It’s an inside job. You’re the only one who can give yourself self-confidence.”
In turn, Karen said she started to feel great, and this is truly when her business started to grow. She pinned down what was missing and decided what was important. Taking time for herself was a missing piece that led to many other things falling into place. The secret sauce is the internal work. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s an intentional work that pays off.
FOCUS ON THE WINS
Highly driven individuals are goal oriented and always making sure they get things done. Oftentimes, we may forget to take a step back and acknowledge all the things we did accomplish. One of Karen’s best strategies for herself is to focus on her wins in the morning.
EX: Did I have a great conversation with ___? Did I have a great meeting with that client?”
When you start to see the list of wins, we see what we have a new appreciation for the progress you’ve made.
“There’s actually more dopamine released when you make progress towards the goal, than when we actually achieve it.”
Karen has found that really taking time to quiet your mind and be grateful for the things you do have now, brings a joy and fulfillment that is so important to our lives. Entrepreneurs often look towards the future and the goals we want to accomplish, which is great and keeps us going, but being thankful for the right now, magnifies all the great things that come.
Another simple task that Karen emphasizes is actually writing things down. Karen writes down a positive quote and her goals daily in the morning. She talks about how writing helps to slow down our brain and sets us up for success.
THE SCIENCE OF HABITS
Have you heard, “It takes 21 days to create a habit?” Karen shares how that’s not true. It’s a minimum of 66 days all the way up to a year. Knowing this, you can commit to doing something you know will make you successful for 90 days. (ex: a great morning routine, working out.)
If you can create habits you don’t have to think about, it saves time and energy and leads to your success. The energy you no longer spend on being intentional about creating the habit, can be used to build your business or build relationships.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A WHY
Living every day towards purpose and intention is what helps us reach our goals. When we know exactly why we are doing something, it makes it easier to do. For Karen, she works out because she wants to be active with her grandkids. Find your why and it will lead you to choosing to do the things that make you successful. This then leads to building that self-confidence and to knowing that you are doing what’s best for your business and your clients.
“When you start to believe in the work you’re doing, it makes it a lot easier to put it in front of other people.”
MORE FROM KAREN STANLEY
Tune into the episode to hear more detailed strategies from Karen and personal stories that will help you feel connected to her. Karen shares about the things that have given her great success and how she helps her clients.
Follow Karen on her website mrskarenstanley.com and on Instagram @officialmrskarenstanley . Karen drops a blog weekly so make sure to follow along!
CONNECT WITH HOST JAMES PATRICK
https://www.jamespatrick.com/coaching - To apply for 1-on-1 business coaching
https://www.instagram.com/jpatrickphoto - Follow in IG
Text James at (480) 605-3254
This episode is brought to you by www.FITposiumPLUS.com where you get monthly live coaching and education modules to support you in your business development goals!