• Empty airport, just the way I like it! Headed to Atlanta to create some collaboration magic. 🎉 #yourstorytour #bossbrunchlive
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    Empty airport, just the way I like it! Headed to Atlanta to create some collaboration magic. 🎉 #yourstorytour #bossbrunchlive
  • Over the last year or two, I've wasted so much time and energy trying to DIY and bootstrap everything in my business. It's the place where so many entrepreneurs start, and where so many stay stuck. For FAR too long. It wasn't until I tapped into an online community of other entrepreneurs with big dreams and even bigger hearts that I really started gaining traction. The power, hope, and direction that has come into my life and business as a result is hard to quantify. The biggest of the big breakthroughs came when I teamed up, collaborated, or hired someone who knew more than me, someone willing to make space for my struggles, and show me the possibilities that I could otherwise just not see. If this is what you feel your business needs, if you're dying to actually move forward instead of just analyzing how you could move forward, there's a live event Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that will rock your business world. 12-5 EST all three days. We talk clients, we talk story, we talk mindset. And we show you what's possible in your business with a premium offer so that you can start dreaming bigger, serving bigger, and finally start MOVING FORWARD ALREADY! Come hang out with us!
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    Over the last year or two, I've wasted so much time and energy trying to DIY and bootstrap everything in my business. It's the place where so many entrepreneurs start, and where so many stay stuck. For FAR too long. It wasn't until I tapped into an online community of other entrepreneurs with big dreams and even bigger hearts that I really started gaining traction. The power, hope, and direction that has come into my life and business as a result is hard to quantify. The biggest of the big breakthroughs came when I teamed up, collaborated, or hired someone who knew more than me, someone willing to make space for my struggles, and show me the possibilities that I could otherwise just not see. If this is what you feel your business needs, if you're dying to actually move forward instead of just analyzing how you could move forward, there's a live event Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that will rock your business world. 12-5 EST all three days. We talk clients, we talk story, we talk mindset. And we show you what's possible in your business with a premium offer so that you can start dreaming bigger, serving bigger, and finally start MOVING FORWARD ALREADY! Come hang out with us!
  • 2 months ago, running a workshop was a pipe dream. Today, I'm driving home at the conclusion of an AMAZING one I put together with @vromney. My heart is full, my body is tired. What a weekend. ❤ My girls were the best travel buddies ever. And if it weren't for them, I would have no portraits of me in this amazing location. Can't wait to show you their photos. Can't wait to show you my photos. My soul is joyful at the impact we made in the lives and businesses of our incredible workshop attendees. Couldn't have asked for a better inaugural group!
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    2 months ago, running a workshop was a pipe dream. Today, I'm driving home at the conclusion of an AMAZING one I put together with @vromney. My heart is full, my body is tired. What a weekend. ❤ My girls were the best travel buddies ever. And if it weren't for them, I would have no portraits of me in this amazing location. Can't wait to show you their photos. Can't wait to show you my photos. My soul is joyful at the impact we made in the lives and businesses of our incredible workshop attendees. Couldn't have asked for a better inaugural group!
  • I remember being amazed at the tiny things that my babies could spot on the floor from across the room. Things that seemed invisible to me as I towered above them. But they invariably saw them and crawled at warp speed to jam them in their mouth. Once, I was seriously grossed out to find my son trying to catch a bug to stuff in his mouth. 🤢Fortunately, the bug had faster reflexes. But one day, I got down on the floor, and looked at the world as they saw it. And those crumbs and toy bits and stray chokeables weren’t so invisible anymore. They loomed larger in my view. It was a lesson I’ve never forgotten. Perspective matters. I think about this a lot as a photographer because it can make or break an image. Any portrait that has a branch sticking out of someone’s ear, or a distant cow perched aside someone’s head is not an image that will make the cut. Usually, I can step to one side or shoot from a different height and hide those fatal flaws. I always want to make sure that the angle I choose preserves the integrity of the visual story I’m trying to tell. The same is true when it comes to brand storytelling and brand messaging. If what you’re saying distracts from the solution you’re offering, all those words are missing their mark. Your messaging has to correctly align with your products/services, and the problems your customers are struggling with. Did you know that showcasing a perspective shift is one of the essential elements of a good origin story? Grab the guide to learn about the other 9! https://shannonbusse.com/origin-story-lead-magnet
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    I remember being amazed at the tiny things that my babies could spot on the floor from across the room. Things that seemed invisible to me as I towered above them. But they invariably saw them and crawled at warp speed to jam them in their mouth. Once, I was seriously grossed out to find my son trying to catch a bug to stuff in his mouth. 🤢Fortunately, the bug had faster reflexes. But one day, I got down on the floor, and looked at the world as they saw it. And those crumbs and toy bits and stray chokeables weren’t so invisible anymore. They loomed larger in my view. It was a lesson I’ve never forgotten. Perspective matters. I think about this a lot as a photographer because it can make or break an image. Any portrait that has a branch sticking out of someone’s ear, or a distant cow perched aside someone’s head is not an image that will make the cut. Usually, I can step to one side or shoot from a different height and hide those fatal flaws. I always want to make sure that the angle I choose preserves the integrity of the visual story I’m trying to tell. The same is true when it comes to brand storytelling and brand messaging. If what you’re saying distracts from the solution you’re offering, all those words are missing their mark. Your messaging has to correctly align with your products/services, and the problems your customers are struggling with. Did you know that showcasing a perspective shift is one of the essential elements of a good origin story? Grab the guide to learn about the other 9! https://shannonbusse.com/origin-story-lead-magnet
  • Entrepreneurs have an interesting mix of risk + rebellion swirling around in their hearts, with a heavy dose of hope and fear. At least the ones who are guided by their hearts. I’m not so concerned with the others, the ones in it only for profit. They’re not my people. They can go eat slugs. My people are working tirelessly (ok, that’s a lie, they’re chronically exhausted) to take a piece of their soul and wrap it up in a digital course to put it in a funnel and hope and pray that it solves some serious problems for their clients. And then they hope and pray that their clients will learn to trust them so that they can help them even more. But they don’t have time to build one-on-one relationships with all of their clients. Because they need to sleep sometimes. And eat. And take bio breaks. They can’t share an experience with everyone, so they’re left with the next best thing. Sharing their story. But that is SO much easier said than done, amiright?! If this is something you’re struggling with, check out my guide, The 10 Essential Elements of an Origin Story.
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    Entrepreneurs have an interesting mix of risk + rebellion swirling around in their hearts, with a heavy dose of hope and fear. At least the ones who are guided by their hearts. I’m not so concerned with the others, the ones in it only for profit. They’re not my people. They can go eat slugs. My people are working tirelessly (ok, that’s a lie, they’re chronically exhausted) to take a piece of their soul and wrap it up in a digital course to put it in a funnel and hope and pray that it solves some serious problems for their clients. And then they hope and pray that their clients will learn to trust them so that they can help them even more. But they don’t have time to build one-on-one relationships with all of their clients. Because they need to sleep sometimes. And eat. And take bio breaks. They can’t share an experience with everyone, so they’re left with the next best thing. Sharing their story. But that is SO much easier said than done, amiright?! If this is something you’re struggling with, check out my guide, The 10 Essential Elements of an Origin Story.
  • I was in The Isle of Man sitting on a little stone bench outside a little stone church that was hundreds of years old. I was alone, listening to the whispering sound of the wind in the leaves. And it occurred to me that the things I was experiencing, the cool stones pressing against my back, the kiss of the cool breeze on my skin, the sound of the rustling trees, they were the exact things that people had experienced in that spot for hundreds of years. I felt a deep sense of connection to those people, to the worries that they rested on that bench, to the laughter they lifted on the wind. It was one of the most profound moments of that whole trip, beating out castles, beaches, trains, river walks, and motorcycle races. And by sharing this story, I’m bringing you into that moment, inviting you to share that sense of connection, to feel what I felt. This is what the best storytellers do, day after day, build emotional connection through their words. This is also what the best business owners do. Every valued business connection I have, can be traced back to a moment where we either shared an experience, or we shared a story. Sometimes those stories were personal tales of struggle and transformation, which gave me hope. Sometimes they were all about grit and perseverance. The best stories, the ones that stuck with me, were the ones that invited me in, that allowed me to participate vicariously in the lessons and the triumph. Those are the ones that convinced me that I could trust these business owners enough to hand over my hard-earned cash so they could help me solve a problem. And the loyalty that comes from this reciprocal trust is not something that I would ever trade away. If this isn’t how service-based business feels to you, then you’re doing something wrong. Bring me into a moment that had a big impact on you.
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    I was in The Isle of Man sitting on a little stone bench outside a little stone church that was hundreds of years old. I was alone, listening to the whispering sound of the wind in the leaves. And it occurred to me that the things I was experiencing, the cool stones pressing against my back, the kiss of the cool breeze on my skin, the sound of the rustling trees, they were the exact things that people had experienced in that spot for hundreds of years. I felt a deep sense of connection to those people, to the worries that they rested on that bench, to the laughter they lifted on the wind. It was one of the most profound moments of that whole trip, beating out castles, beaches, trains, river walks, and motorcycle races. And by sharing this story, I’m bringing you into that moment, inviting you to share that sense of connection, to feel what I felt. This is what the best storytellers do, day after day, build emotional connection through their words. This is also what the best business owners do. Every valued business connection I have, can be traced back to a moment where we either shared an experience, or we shared a story. Sometimes those stories were personal tales of struggle and transformation, which gave me hope. Sometimes they were all about grit and perseverance. The best stories, the ones that stuck with me, were the ones that invited me in, that allowed me to participate vicariously in the lessons and the triumph. Those are the ones that convinced me that I could trust these business owners enough to hand over my hard-earned cash so they could help me solve a problem. And the loyalty that comes from this reciprocal trust is not something that I would ever trade away. If this isn’t how service-based business feels to you, then you’re doing something wrong. Bring me into a moment that had a big impact on you.
  • There is only ONE thing in photography that can’t be fixed (at least partially) after the photo is taken. Focus. The most you can hope for is a happy artistic accident. But most of the time the shot is garbage. Because when you miss the focus, you lose the story and the visual impact of the image. In business, the ONE thing is being clear on what you’re selling. I talk to so many new business owners who are fuzzy in the service that they actually want to offer the world. And I get it, I remember being lost in the coulds and shoulds that came with squirrel syndrome. Feeling like nobody would be interested in paying for the services I offered. Because they felt normal, easy even. But I was discounting all the YEARS I spent learning photography, how to see a story. All the hours lost in the rabbit hole of exploring new software and gear, figuring out how to translate my vision into something tangible and real. And I forgot that what felt normal to me, was not normal to everybody else. What was easy for me, felt impossible to other people. The same is true when it comes to your origin story. In a recent story workshop, I heard a business owner dismiss a pivotal moment in her journey, because it felt normal. But it wasn’t normal at all, it was unique, and it was powerful. Finding which parts of your story to focus on totally depends on what you offer. Get clear on that, and then you can explore all the ways your business can authentically help people who need your not-so-normal superpower. And the key to all of this is locked up in your story. Not sure how to find the focus in your story? Grab my guide that breaks it down. https://shannonbusse.com/origin-story-lead-magnet
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    There is only ONE thing in photography that can’t be fixed (at least partially) after the photo is taken. Focus. The most you can hope for is a happy artistic accident. But most of the time the shot is garbage. Because when you miss the focus, you lose the story and the visual impact of the image. In business, the ONE thing is being clear on what you’re selling. I talk to so many new business owners who are fuzzy in the service that they actually want to offer the world. And I get it, I remember being lost in the coulds and shoulds that came with squirrel syndrome. Feeling like nobody would be interested in paying for the services I offered. Because they felt normal, easy even. But I was discounting all the YEARS I spent learning photography, how to see a story. All the hours lost in the rabbit hole of exploring new software and gear, figuring out how to translate my vision into something tangible and real. And I forgot that what felt normal to me, was not normal to everybody else. What was easy for me, felt impossible to other people. The same is true when it comes to your origin story. In a recent story workshop, I heard a business owner dismiss a pivotal moment in her journey, because it felt normal. But it wasn’t normal at all, it was unique, and it was powerful. Finding which parts of your story to focus on totally depends on what you offer. Get clear on that, and then you can explore all the ways your business can authentically help people who need your not-so-normal superpower. And the key to all of this is locked up in your story. Not sure how to find the focus in your story? Grab my guide that breaks it down. https://shannonbusse.com/origin-story-lead-magnet
  • I spent the morning finishing up an origin story for a life coach/trainer. His story is full of heartache and inspiration. It brought tears to my eyes, made me wish I could hire him, and helped me connect with the deep desire to chase my dreams. All at the same time. And as I read the last paragraph for the 27th time, I found myself wondering if I'm going to write a piece of myself into every origin story I get the chance to create. Or maybe I can just see myself in every origin story, in every entrepreneur's journey to get where they are, in every moment of overcoming. It's the same thing, I guess. The real magic is found in that collaborative middle space between the story character, and the reader. The details fade away and it becomes a place for enduring transformation. There's a whole world of meaning swirling under the words themselves, a way of building bridges between who you are, what you do, and who you serve. And today, I'm thrilled to share my FREE guide that breaks down the 10 essential elements of an origin story, and shows them all in action, in a REAL origin story. Which belongs to Stirling Gardner, a Mensa-level math genius, Hollywood storyteller, and legacy business creator. Go grab it, and let me know how it was helpful.
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    I spent the morning finishing up an origin story for a life coach/trainer. His story is full of heartache and inspiration. It brought tears to my eyes, made me wish I could hire him, and helped me connect with the deep desire to chase my dreams. All at the same time. And as I read the last paragraph for the 27th time, I found myself wondering if I'm going to write a piece of myself into every origin story I get the chance to create. Or maybe I can just see myself in every origin story, in every entrepreneur's journey to get where they are, in every moment of overcoming. It's the same thing, I guess. The real magic is found in that collaborative middle space between the story character, and the reader. The details fade away and it becomes a place for enduring transformation. There's a whole world of meaning swirling under the words themselves, a way of building bridges between who you are, what you do, and who you serve. And today, I'm thrilled to share my FREE guide that breaks down the 10 essential elements of an origin story, and shows them all in action, in a REAL origin story. Which belongs to Stirling Gardner, a Mensa-level math genius, Hollywood storyteller, and legacy business creator. Go grab it, and let me know how it was helpful.
  • You have no control who lives, who dies, who tells your story. Music from Hamilton has been a close companion for me recently. And the final song has been on constant repeat the past few days. It's true that we don't have control over who lives, who dies, but I'm calling out the idea that we have no control over who tells our story. NO ONE else has more control over our story that we do. We shape it, frame it, record it. If we do none of this during life...well, frankly, shame on us. But it's tough, looking honestly at our journey isn't easy. It's deep work, emotional work, and forces us to let go of some long-held perceptions about ourselves. I've been working with some amazing business owners to craft their origin stories. They know how much of an impact a correctly aligned origin story will have on their clarity, their brand identity, their connection with clients. These stories become the backdrop of their entire business, and it gives them the confidence to really see how uniquely positioned they are to serve and impact their clients. I'll be talking about these origin stories more, and tomorrow I'll show you how you can get your hands on a FREE guide that breaks down the 10 essential elements of an origin story, and shows them all in action, in a REAL origin story. I'm so excited! What's your biggest hang up about writing your story?
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    "You have no control who lives, who dies, who tells your story." Music from Hamilton has been a close companion for me recently. And the final song has been on constant repeat the past few days. It's true that we don't have control over who lives, who dies, but I'm calling out the idea that we have no control over who tells our story. NO ONE else has more control over our story that we do. We shape it, frame it, record it. If we do none of this during life...well, frankly, shame on us. But it's tough, looking honestly at our journey isn't easy. It's deep work, emotional work, and forces us to let go of some long-held perceptions about ourselves. I've been working with some amazing business owners to craft their origin stories. They know how much of an impact a correctly aligned origin story will have on their clarity, their brand identity, their connection with clients. These stories become the backdrop of their entire business, and it gives them the confidence to really see how uniquely positioned they are to serve and impact their clients. I'll be talking about these origin stories more, and tomorrow I'll show you how you can get your hands on a FREE guide that breaks down the 10 essential elements of an origin story, and shows them all in action, in a REAL origin story. I'm so excited! What's your biggest hang up about writing your story?