Colin Sinclair McDermott (aka the Online Print Coach) talks about the importance of finding your tribe in the printing industry
As a Print Coach, I’ve had countless conversations with print business owners about the challenges they face, not just in business but in life in general. One of the most common struggles is managing the expectations we have of the people closest to us. It can be a sensitive subject, but a crucial one, especially when our passion for our print business doesn’t always resonate with our loved ones.
When I owned my printing company, I’d regularly come home full of exciting ideas on how to grow my business. I’d sit down with my wife for dinner, eager to share my latest brainstorm, hoping for enthusiastic feedback. Instead, I’d finish dinner feeling rather deflated. Her responses were not what I wanted or expected. Sometimes, she’d shoot down an idea or just didn’t seem as excited as I wanted her to be. It wasn’t ghat she didn’t care. Of course she did. She just wasn’t as passionate about print or business as I was. In my case, my wife was a vet, very academic, scientific and data driven. A lot of business decisions I made in the early days were risky and that didn’t align with her thoughts and values. It didn’t mean either of us were wrong, we were just from different worlds.
Why it’s Frustrating?
This disconnect can feel isolating. You’re pouring everything you have into building and growing your print business. Dealing with the daily challenges and searching for the next big win. When you don’t get the validation or excitement you hope for from your spouse, friends or family, it’s easy to feel a little disheartened. It would be easy to start questioning yourself about whether you are doing the right thing or not.
Here’s the thing though. Expecting others to share the same level as enthusiasm is setting yourself up for disappointment. I see it when I’m out at the weekend with my friends too. I’m always the first to ask how everyone’s week at work was, to try and understand what’s going on in their career. If we’re out for dinner, I’ll make sure I’ve asked every single person about their job but does anyone ever ask me how my week at work was? How my business is doing? You guessed it….. NO!
What I’ve come to realise though, it’s not because they don’t care, it’s just not their world and that’s ok.
Finding Your Tribe
This is why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who ‘get it’. People who live and breath in the same world as you. People who understand the unique challenges and rewards of running a print business. By finding your tribe, you can be with people who can offer meaningful feedback, share ideas and provide the encouragement you need to keep pushing forward.
That’s why I created Print Mastermind, a training platform and community specifically for print business owners. It’s a space to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for print and are invested in growing their businesses too. Unlike those uncomfortable conversations with your friends and family, you’re actually sharing your ideas with people who understand the nuances of the printing industry. You’re collaborating with peers to ‘get it’.
The Power of Community
Surrounding yourself with people who understand your journey as a print business owner isn’t just validating, it’s empowering. It helps you refine your ideas, overcome obstacles, and celebrate the wins with people who truly get what it takes to succeed in this Industry. More importantly, it’s nice to know you’re not alone and other people are going through the same things that you are.
A Lesson in Expectations
Ultimately, managing expectations is about recognising that not everyone in your life will resonate with your business the way that you do, and that’s ok. Your friend and family will still be your biggest fans in other ways, but when it comes to growing your print business, lean into people who understand your passion because they share it.
Learn more at The Online Print Coach website.
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