One Month + One Day in Brisbane
A lot happens in a month... and one day...
Shock horror, your girl is running behind on her posts. Actually, let's just say my life at this rate. As one can imagine, packing your life up and moving 1,000km is not an easy feat for anyone. Let alone doing it with a business that is your main income. It has been a wild four weeks to say the very least.
Here's the highlight roll:
- 4 Photoshoots in Brisbane
- 4 Photoshoots in Mackay
- 3 Networking Events
- 2 Gigs
- 1 Return Flight back to Mackay
- 1 Rental Secured
- 1 Missing NBN Power Cable (look, I know I've mentioned this more than once, it was just inconvienent).
- Ongoing sickness as a rude reminder that I am not superhuman.
- More missed phonecalls that I like to admit (I believe I've called you all back now!)
- A small dosage of imposter syndrome.
- Capital city driving fear conquered.
- A strong alliance made with my God Daughter based purely on "ups" and bubbles.
- A handful of what are hopefully life long friendships made.
- Opportunities to meet some incredible fellow creatives; photographers, videographers, models.
I have probably missed all sorts of things that felt crucial at the time. Much to my own surprise, not a single Menty B has been had, so go me. If you know me, you know I have a flare for the dramatic and will have a breakdown over a mild inconvienence.
Realisations:
1. My support network is incredible.
- To my best friend who let me live with her for the first month, you are a gem and this move was made so much smoother because of it.
- To my partner and his family & friends, thank you for being my safe space, for listening to all my rants, for providing a relaxing space and ensuring me that the world that was not going to end.
- To my first paying Brisbane client, Hollie (yes, she also happens to be my mortgage broker), thank you for all the networking opportunities, referrals and confidence you had for me to succeed.
- Honestly, just anyone who has crossed paths with me and led to this point in time, thank you. Each moment shaped me in one way or another.
2. Brisbane is a whole other ballgame. I did know this prior to making the move, and I allowed myself three months for this reason. However, there are a few things that I either was shocked by, or just didn't quite factor in entirely.
- I am not charging enough for Brisbane. I still stand by my decisions to keep prices locked for six months as I settle in. However, I feel that at present, my prices are almost a deterant at this point.
- If maps says any amount of time; add fifteen minutes for traffic, parking, misleading directions.
- Facebook groups here are cut throat (and money makers). Gone are the days of recommending myself, I got banned before I even moved here for sharing my business on a post asking for photographer recommendations.
- There is a definite divide between South Siders and North Siders.
- There are only twenty four hours in a day and I am only one person.
3. I am a bogan.
I'm currently not up to scratch with the fashion, trends, places to be and all sorts. That's ok though. Last time I made the mistake of letting the Keeping up with The Jones' mentality get to me far too much. This time, I am just doing my best to be unapologetically me.
4. Life isn't made worthwhile by staying in a place of comfort.
I just want to add a disclaimer to this:
I am very fortunate that with this move, I had a soft landing. I have lived in Brisbane before, I had savings ready to go, friends down here, a place to live temporarily and some photoshoots already prebooked. I'm not oblivous to the fact that the odds of success where somewhat already in my favour.
With all of that disclaimer being said, I'm a firm believer in going for exactly what you want in life. As cliche as the whole "you only have one life" statement is, it is very much something I live by each day. Despite the minor inconviences, a lot going on, doubts, moments of frustration - all in the span of one month. This is exactly what I wanted for myself. I wanted to take the leap of faith with this business. I wanted to give myself to try Brisbane again, without the gloom & doom of Covid. I wanted to be able to watch my God Daughter grow up.
If there's something that you want to do, however you keep putting the roadblocks up to stop yourself, ask yourself why? If it comes down to just the fear of failure, sis, that ain't good enough! I would rather fail at a hundred different things, than be old and wrinkly and have a list of a hundred things I wanted to try but didn't. You owe it to yourself to give it a shot, whatever that may be (just not meth, pls not meth!).
As this wild journey of relocation, business and twenties unfolds, I'll do my best to document bits and pieces without giving out my entire autobiography. I would love to hear what you most want to read about though... if you know me, you know I love a yarn online and offline, regardless of the topic!
If you made it this far, go you! This was just an entitled twenty something year old semi venting about first world problems, that being said - thank you for stopping by to read my ramblings & I'll catch you next post.
Love,
M x
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