I recently had a chance to interview Quinn Teechma, Business owner and Miss Universe Canada contestant on how she manages running a business while managing multiple projects in her 20s.
“Nothing worth having is going to be easy and business takes the cake on road blocks and struggles,” said Quinn. “I built my business to 6 figures all by myself and I believe to truly appreciate your own business you need to be the one to build it from the ground up.
How were you able to fund a business so early?
I worked very hard in the bar industry for many years saving my tips and slowly purchased camera gear over time. Photography is a huge investment, but you work for it and make it happen if you want it badly enough. I wanted more, I wanted to help people and I wanted to help women feel beautiful. I worked so hard, doing doubles, working 7-8 shifts in 5-6 days a week, while supporting my former partner through school. There were some days I would work until 4-5AM closing the bar and then waking up at 7am to drive my partner to school. If you want something bad enough you will make it happen, and that's what I did.
Can you share a little bit about how you developed your business model?
As I migrated from the modelling industry to the photography industry I learned a ton by self-teaching. Google, YouTube tutorials, more google, tons of trial and error. Once my skills developed, I started looking into different online training and programs. I applied a lot of my entrepreneurial knowledge to launch my business, I largely accredit my success to the years I spent following different entrepreneurial trainings and business structures. I then completed 2 photography mastermind programs which helped round out my business knowledge and bring everything together into a blooming business.
How do you manage the multiple projects that come with being a business owner and make sure you stay brand focused?
I have a lot on the go, I'm not going to say it's easy, but my business alone feels like multiple jobs, and as a business owner you're never really off the clock. I get messages from clients 24/7 and the tasks are never ending. On top of that, each social media platform feels like a full-time job. I also am building education programs and working hard to inspire other women to follow their passions. The cherry on the cake this year is competing for Miss Universe Canada 2022 where I will be hosting a massive fundraising event with the goal of raising $30,000. How do I stay organized and on top of all of it? Honestly, I work REALLY hard. It's not easy, it's long hours and many books of notes and networking with people who are positive lights within our community. Find your WHY and the work won't seem as much like work. That's the thing, I've built my business and most of my projects around things that genuinely bring me joy. When you're doing something you love it will give you energy to push forward and do more.
How do you juggle your work with your business while trying to grow in the entertainment industry?
My brand is ME, it's empowerment, it's positivity, it's love, it's everything I want the world to be full of. Because I follow my passions to build my brand, my business and projects always seem to flow well together and align with everything I am. If you don't follow what you love to build your brand, it will always feel like you're working against the tide. Go with the flow and follow your intuition, your success will grow quickly.
Juggling this life isn't always easy, and sometimes it takes putting the blinders up, buckling down and doing a few 18 hour days of work, that's maybe 8 hours of business work, 8 hours of entertainment industry work, and 2 hours of organizing and completing the random tasks of the day. Are all my days like that? No. It happens far more than is ideal though! Do you have to work 12-18 hour days to be successful? Also no! Remember though, I'm basically working multiple jobs so I have to put multiple sets of hours towards different ventures each day. You find the time for the things that are important to you. I just happen to have many goals and didn't want to put any on the back burner. The main advice I would give to someone with multiple goals is plan them out, break it down. What's your day look like, what are your goals for THIS week, what are your monthly goals, and then further, what are your 3 month, 6 month, and 12 month goals. WRITE THEM DOWN. Hold yourself accountable and constantly be referring back to your written goals. You got this and you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Find people you aspire to be like and follow the pathways they've laid out. Remember, if they can do it SO CAN YOU.
Quinn Teechma is a Miss Universe Canada finalist and was crowned as Miss Canada International Tourism in 2020 and 2021. Quinn has dedicated her life to empowering and uplifting other women and has quickly evolved into an educator to teach others how to do the same thing. and using her many platforms, Tic Tok having over 600,000 followers and close to 2 million likes, she is inspiring all people globally to create positive change in their own lives as well as in the lives of others.
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