From One MJ To Another (II)

Thank you all for following along on this series! Here is the long awaited part II- we will talk about finding inspiration, challenges about being your own boss, as well as the rewards of it, and everything in between. Join us in women supporting women before concluding with part III.

Who inspires you?

"Christine Caine. She's a speaker and she preaches at Passion Conference. [There’s] a boldness and a power in the way she speaks, and it makes me want to be more bold about what I'm thinking or feeling. She talks a lot about influence and using it the right way, and how to use it for God's name and not yours. Christine Caine, spiritually, as far as professionally: Rachel Deeb. First of all, she is so sweet. But second, she has multiple avenues of business. She does photography (which is her main thing), she does wall murals, and she does customized skateboards. If I were to call someone an entrepreneur, it would be her."

Mady Fischelli and I discussed the gray area surrounding what it entails to call someone an entrepreneur and the power behind that label. We concluded the question by saying it is all about how passionate you are about what you’re doing/selling, and what your intentions are surrounding your brand. Having multiple business sources/routes plays a factor in this title as well. This is a good reminder for people, me included, to take a step back and reevaluate what the intentions are revolving around a “brand”. 

It stood out to me how Mady pointed out that someone inspires both her faith and then her passion, because oftentimes we reflect on one rather than another, and we lose that balance. This response has encouraged me to self reflect on who inspires both of those sides for me, and to keep a balance. 

@christinecaine and @rkdeeb are their Instagrams for anyone curious! 

A normal day/work day in your life?

"I save the morning time for myself until about 10 AM. I like to have my quiet time and just chill. Usually around 11ish, if I have a shoot to edit, I love going to coffee shops, which is another reason I love being my own boss...I can take my work anywhere. I usually edit from around 11 AM to 1 PM. Then I grab lunch, and usually in the afternoon, I am answering emails and I reach out to brands if they want to partner together. Networking is such a big part of the job. Evenings are when I have my shoot, mostly. I try to prioritize my shoots, my editing, and my emails/social media."

Because of Mady Fischelli's routine, she has a quick turnaround time from the actual photo shoot to returning the final product to her clients. This is key in any industry, but specifically one where you are your own boss. I admire her for the deadlines she sets for herself and for the self discipline that encourages meeting those deadlines. 

“I have a two week max that I will send the gallery to [my clients], but it depends on my day. It is not structured and I wish I had more structure for my day to day. You have to be in a good headspace to get things done.”

We then discussed how sometimes we get a second wind at night, which is normally when I decide to edit a blog, or she gets more editing done. I almost feel guilty when I am not productive during the day but I am at night, so it made me feel confident and good that someone else can relate to their best work being at the end of the day. No shame in when it gets done, just as long as it does. 

Does it get hard/the hardest part about being your own boss?

Mady shared how people have bad intentions and the wrong motives when wanting to work together. People sometimes want to connect with someone just for their own advantage rather than mutual support, or people make connections with a certain expectation or preconceived notion. 

Coping as a Christian

This was kind of an off topic subject that wasn’t written in my notes prior to, but I thought it was important enough to add. The two words that made this interview even more relatable and encouraging was when Mady said “you’re human.” People hold Christians to a higher standard, which is valid, but living like Jesus does not mean we are also perfect. Those words were so simple yet so powerful, and there is so much comfort than can be found in those words.

On that note, we will conclude here. The third and final part will discuss how Mady’s social media has taken her far beyond her expectations; what females could always use more of; and her personal mission statement.

Get in touch:

Instagram: @madyfischelli & @bymadyjade

Youtube: Mady Jade Fischelli

Podcast: Let's Be Real

Website: madyjade.com