Intro to this journal
This is going to be a journey of the earnings and learnings of my pivot that started with COVID-19.
Before COVID-19 I had built a new series of offerings that would tell transformational stories of folks undergoing transformations in their businesses and personal growth. I have been photographing, interviewing and documenting the lives of many through my EYE SEE YOU Project.
When I realized that photographing and in-person meetings would not happen I knew that I didn’t want to change what I love— which is hearing people’s stories and synthesizing them into powerful experiences. Then I thought about how folks are likely needing to pivot or look for new jobs with all the layoffs and the new businesses that I would see folks starting. The one thing that I know that I’m damn good at doing is seeing people’s stories and knowing what their superpowers are and drawing out their stories in such a way that gets them to take notice of their pivot potential.
I left New York City, Friday the 13th (of March). Less than 12 hours prior my client had told me that they were closing their doors for the remaining month and would have to cancel our photo shoots. I had been waiting to do that shoot and move to Austin, TX. But with COVID, it was as though I was getting the permission and the sign to leave New York immediately. I packed and left for Austin. *I was planning to move to Austin in March anyways, but COVID sped up the timeline by a few days.
To be honest, I did not panic when I realized what would happen to my current line of work. Photography, videos, content production in general because I’ve always landed on my feet. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pivoted throughout my life. Some thought it was me not knowing how to stick to a single focus, others saw it as resilience and me personally, I discovered that it was my gift of resilience and reinvention that has enabled me to thrive.
I gave myself a few days to binge on Netflix, to rest and recuperate in the transition from New York to Austin. The following week, starting March 18 I got to work with the mindset of “what do I got to lose?” And seriously, what did I have to lose? I had no income coming in. No clients now that my work had completely stopped. The thought of getting a job did cross my mind, but I decided to stick to my guns and took the biggest leap I’ve taken so far— and that was to put my personal brand and name out there.
Let me tell you— I was definitely scared as fuck. I didn’t have any income flowing in, and I was withdrawing from my IRA. I no longer had anything in my savings or checking. I withdrew only $3K from my IRA and told myself that this was the only amount I was going to allow myself to withdraw. The initial rules in NY for unemployment benefits or loans stated that I did not qualify, so that was not an option for me.
Within a matter of two weeks, I rebuilt my website, built a new offering called Your Badass Bio and began working on myself personally in my discipline to build the muscle to become a business athlete. I changed my mindset. It would be about learning how to become consistent. If there’s anything I learned in reading in tons of business books on success and hearing others’ stories in their success there is one underlying thing that is the key to success— no matter if it was as a musician, professional athlete, writer, photographer, entrepreneur, social media influencer or whatever. Success all comes down to consistently showing up. And that’s who I committed myself to becoming in the first 90 days of my new pivot. That consistency meant:
showing up for instagram + facebook lives
showing up for workshops on a weekly basis
showing up for YouTube each week
showing up for newsletters each week (started that in the six months)
showing up for all the emails + DMs
showing up for all appointments— not canceling
showing up for myself every morning— waking up before 6AM
In my developing the habit of showing up, things truly began to change for me. Even when there were days when I was definitely less motivated I had a champion who was cheering me on that helped me get to where I needed. This person was my coach, friend and champion throughout the first 90 days, and I am so grateful to that person. That person is Queenevieve. She is the Genevieve Kim I aspire to become— the woman I’ve always believed in, the woman I am proud of, the woman who inspires me to be the best me that I can be.
During the first 90 days, I Launched Your Badass Bio Workshop on April 2, with 8 attendees to fast forwarding to having 500+ (waiting room full) attendees on May 18. Six weeks I had 500+ attendees. I went from a mailing list of 0 to 420 in about 8 weeks. In six weeks I was invited to do a workshop and host a panel— PAID. I’ve shared my work with folks in 17+ countries (US, Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Egypt, UAE, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, England, France, Brazil, Philippines, Spain, Indonesia, Nepal, India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and more…)
In addition to that, I launched two other programs, my Marketing LaunchPad, Content on Demand (which will be coming out digitally as QuickWiin Content Lab), and I’ve established several partnerships already with influencers and other businesses.
Since pivoting and starting a brand new business I have manifested $32,580 in the last 90 days. Now have I made more than $32,580 in 90 days? Sure. But not having done so in this type of environment— a recession, 100% digitally, completely new offerings under a completely new brand and line of products.
My goal for the next 90 days is to double that I’m ready to manifest $60K. In the first 90 days I committed to being consistent. In this 90 days I am committed to feeling the sexiest and best in my body ever, and to developing the best self-care as an expression of self love. Now you may be wondering how is that a business goal. It’s because in the first 90 days I did push myself physically and mentally, and I realize that to be in this business is going to require sustainability and longevity. I’m not hear for the short-term, and I want to invest in the most important member in this company, which is Genevieve Kim. So I’ve dedicated to getting into flow with my body and mind. I was developing some of the symptoms of potential burn-out and have decided to switch it up with more self care and self love.
I am also committed to the idea of developing partnerships. That is my primary focus for this next stage. And I believe the way to begin partnerships is all about developing a strong tight knit of community.
Here we go to earnings and learnings for the next 90 days.
In honor of the commitment I am making to this goal, I’ve invested in two programs. The Genius U Partners Accelerator Program with Michelle Clark AND Expert Speakers/ Selling with Heart Program. It was a pretty heft investment of $8K, but it is one that I believe will pay itself off in multiples. Here we go!