Ever think about where you’d be or what your day would be like without your support group?   If your business has grown then you have an assistant or even a staff.  And, if you’re a one man band (only an expression and I’m using it generically) you have  a support group consisting of a wide variety of people with a full range of skills.   It’s a lot like the Verizon commercial, only in this case your network is hopefully there when you need it!

Your “staff” when you’re flying solo might include your lead contact at your lab, your buddy behind the retail counter at your favorite camera shop, the account exec who handles your album orders and even the Fedex or UPS driver who picks up your shipments.  The point is, you’d be loss without all their support.

I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in our industry, but it’s not because of who I’ve worked for, but who I’ve worked with!    While technically these people were often part of my staff, I’ve been fortunate enough to learn something special from each of them.  

I once heard Sandy Puc do a program that included benchmarks in the growth of her business over the years.  Each benchmark represented the expansion of another staff member.  She actually could track increases in growth by various projects or assignments a particular staff member had responsibility for.  The best part of the presentation was she had no issue in giving them credit for the growth and success of her business.

So, as you’re working your butt off to find new business and grow, don’t forget your most valuable resource is the staff or network who supports you.  Don’t be afraid to include them in discussions on the challenges.  Even more important get their input.    They’re on the front line every day and you’ll be surprised at their ability to have a few new ideas you might not have thought of.

I’ve worked for some pretty incredible people in my career – some understood the value of their staff, others were completely oblivious.   Take good care of the people who support you and you’ll be amazed at their contribution.  Learn to listen to their ideas.  Keep them involved in all the challenges.  Encourage them to handle challenges on their own – but be there to back them up when they need help.   Last but not least – a great staff represents an investment of time both in and out of the studio/office.   Look for workshops on topics that will help them grow and make them a stronger asset in your business.