Page 73 of Feel My Love


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He’d organized my paperwork and started a cash flow spreadsheet that was eye opening. I had no idea how much money was going in and out of my business. I was so consumed with editing the photos, client meetings, and events, the financial piece had entirely fallen to the wayside.

I was grateful for everything Nick was doing. But I knew he was looking for a way for me to hire help, and I was resistant to the idea.

One afternoon a couple of weeks after he first came over, we were lying in bed, feeling lazy. I was enjoying the feel of Nick’s bare shoulder and his skin under me.

“Why don’t you want to hire help?” he asked softly, his lips in my hair.

I stiffened, trying to sift through my thoughts on it. “It’s a big step.”

“Why don’t you break it down for me,” Nick said, his arm tightening around me.

I let out a breath. “What if I can’t pay someone, or they’re unreliable? What if they’re competent, then they stop showing up? What if I get used to the help, and they find another job?”

The questions poured out of me.

“Those are all natural concerns when you hire an employee for the first time. And it’s possible you won’t get the right person the first time. But I think it’s important that you try. You need the help.”

“Can I afford it?” I held my breath waiting for his reply.

“You can get someone part-time. Maybe to assist with the events themselves.”

“That will be the hard part. Getting someone to work weekends.”

“Surely there’s a college student who wants part-time work but doesn’t want to work retail.”

I shifted, so I could see his face. “That’s not a bad idea. I could advertise at the college.”

“I outlined what you could pay someone. It’s a range, so whatever you feel comfortable spending.”

“It’s so scary to hire someone when I could do the work myself.”

“The point is, it goes smoother when someone’s there to carry your equipment, to pose the clients. You can focus more on what you do best. Finding the best lighting and angle.”

I smiled at him. “You’ve been listening to me.”

“Of course I have. I’m interested in what you have to say.”

My ex thought my business was a hobby at best. He never took it seriously. He wanted me to keep my office job and be miserable with the hours and the work I was doing. Photography was my passion, and I loved the freedom having my own business afforded me.

“The reality is that you won’t be able to expand until you take this next step. You have to be ready for your business to grow. You need more employees.”

“That’s an interesting idea.” I’d never thought about it that way.

“You have to be ready and willing to grow with your business. That means taking risks.”

I frowned. “It’s scary.”

“I wouldn’t tell you to do it if you couldn’t afford it. The money’s there.”

“I had a general idea, but looking at your cash flow sheet, I can see the raw numbers. I know I was operating on feelings before and not the numbers.”

“I hear that a lot. People are surprised that one thing is selling more than they thought.”

I fell silent, thinking about what I needed to do to hire someone. College kids might be more reliable and eager to work weekends and evenings. They’d go with the flow and wouldn’t mind the hours.

I thought about what it would be like to have more time. What tasks I could assign to an employee.

“If you’re too busy to take on more clients and events, then you won’t be able to earn more money.”

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