Nicole Romanoff's Blueprint for a Thriving Artistic Enterprise

Step into the world of Nicole Romanoff, an extraordinary photographer who's taken a talent and made it a successful career.  Join host, Mackenzie Kilshaw, as we traverse the remarkable path Nicole has blazed, from post-grad uncertainty to the pinnacle of photo artistry. Her story isn't just about capturing stunning images; it's a masterclass in harnessing the raw power of passion and transforming it into a flourishing career. Nicole's narrative is filled with gems for those who aspire to turn their creative sparks into roaring fires of success.

Nicole's journey illustrates the power of collaboration in building a career that resonates with one's true calling. Within this conversation, we navigate the practical steps she took, from leveraging every networking opportunity to establishing a standout personal brand. The organic growth from her grassroots endeavors and the strategic pivot from self-promotion to adding real value on social media underline her savvy approach to a competitive industry. As a result, Nicole's expansive portfolio and her venture, White Space, are not just testaments to her prowess but also an inspiration for photographers and creatives alike.

Nicole shares insights from the studio floor of White Space, where her blend of artistry and entrepreneurship comes to life. The studio isn't just a space for creativity; it's a cultural hub that fosters growth, mentorship, and community. Nicole's evolution from photographer to educator and her aspirations for passive income streams paint a picture of the multifaceted journey of a modern entrepreneur. Her story encourages us to push past self-doubt, seize new opportunities, and find harmony between ambition and well-being.

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Chapters

• 0:27 Journey to Becoming an Award-Winning Photographer
• 11:01 Build Photography Career Through Collaboration
• 18:27 Expand Photography Business and Open Studio
• 27:15 Successful Business With Action Steps

Transcript

Shauna Foster: 0:27

Winning is your guide to making it in business. Join our award-winning host and entrepreneur, Mackenzie Kilshaw, and special guests in casual conversations that will educate and inspire you on your business journey. Winning will help you learn the hard lessons the easy way, with guidance from celebrated entrepreneurs and business leaders. It's fun, it's informative, it's Winning.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 0:53

Hello, welcome to Winning. I'm your host, Mackenzie Kilshaw, and my guest today is Nicole Romanoff. Hi Nicole, hi Mackenzie, how are you? I'm doing really well.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 1:04

How are you? I'm so good. I was just telling Nicole how I'm so excited to have her on, because Nicole is what I would say is such an amazing, talented photographer who has built this career based on her talent, and I'm so excited to go through with you and how you did that. So, if you don't know Nicole, she is an award-winning photographer based out of Saskatoon. She started her professional career in 2015 and has quickly made a name for herself in the industry. She specializes in branding, headshots, commercial and fashion photography, which I think we'll talk about because we work together a few times on fashion. Nicole's work has been featured in print and fashion magazine in Canada and tons of other international magazines, and on billboards. She was on a billboard in Toronto's Yonge Street, which is super cool, and Nicole also owns a White Space photo studio in Saskatoon which is a rental space for photographers and creatives, so you have a lot going on.

Nicole Romanoff: 2:04

I do. It's a lot to manage, but I love it, but you love it.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 2:08

I love that. So I kind of gave the K notes version of you a Nicole. But why don't you tell the listeners a little bit more about you and kind of where you started and how did you get now to where you are?

Nicole Romanoff: 2:22

Oh gosh. Well, it's been a journey and I would say, unlike maybe a lot of photographers or maybe I shouldn't say that it kind of took me a long time to figure out what my path was and especially where I fit in in the industry. So photography has just always been something that I've been kind of interested in and passionate about, but never really. When I was younger, I would say, I didn't really think of it as a career path. I always was like, oh, that would be so cool to shoot for National Geographic.

Shauna Foster: 3:04

I'm not sure.

Nicole Romanoff: 3:08

I just love the idea of traveling to different places and just working with cool people. But I would say, once I hit university I was like oh gosh, I'm at a real crossroads here. I don't really know how to pursue that. So I ended up going into commerce, getting my commerce degree, as I think you do as well.

Nicole Romanoff: 3:34

Yeah, you bet Alumni and I feel like that really helped me in a lot of different ways, just with more of a professional aspect and understanding business. And then, once I graduated again, I was like, oh god, what do I do? So I ended up working for Coca-Cola for a number of years and actually more specifically for Vitamin Water and Smart Water. I worked as the business development manager for the province, which was such a cool job and such a great opportunity. Just worked with all these super cool people from across Canada and got to travel the country. I learned so much. And then, once the brand was more established, I was actually laid off from the company, which happens, and I think I really do believe that everything does happen for a reason because, as much as I loved it, I knew that it wasn't my passion. And so again, here I am at this crossroads Do I take the corporate route? Do I venture off and do something on my own?

Nicole Romanoff: 4:52

And as you know I ventured off and tried something on my own, but I would say it wasn't an automatic decision for me. It took a couple years. I was doing all sorts of things. I've always been a dance teacher and so I was doing that full time and I was also nannying for my sister who had just had a baby. I was working at Lulu emon and I'd picked up my camera again and I always tell the story that it was really like nannying for my sister. I would just practice taking photos on her and just getting into it and really what it was was.

Nicole Romanoff: 5:31

It was people that would be like why are you doing this? And I was like I don't know. I just didn't think that. It was like, oh my goodness, I don't know. So that was really my journey. And then once I got this affirmation from people or they opened my eyes that no, you can do this, so you should do this or at least try I jumped with both feet in and it's been yeah, I haven't looked back like nine years now and just to think of the progression and the evolution of even the business aspect of it yes, even like the photos that I've taken and now I have like a studio space. It's just, it's wild. So, yeah, it took me about 13 or 14 years to like actually turn it into a career, which is, yeah, it's been a journey.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 6:34

I think, though, Nicole, honestly, there are so many people like you that you know you go to university because you think that that's what you have to do to get a good job. I think it's changed a little bit now, but years ago, right, you had to get a trade, or you had to go to school and get an adult job all college. I have that same thing. When you said, you graduated and you're like now what? I felt that too, because I'm like okay, now I'm an adult, I'm done school, I'm in my you know, still early twenties, but now I need, like, a big girl job. So you just get a job because you're like well, I have to pay for stuff and have money. Right, I have to have an income, exactly.

Nicole Romanoff: 7:13

You get that job, yeah.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 7:16

And then even if you're thinking, okay, I like doing this, I really like to do this as a career, it's really hard to make that leap into leaving what you know, leaving an income in your what's called yeah, exactly, and in your case, being laid off.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 7:32

and so many people I talked to they're like, well, I got laid off. And then you're like, okay, now what? Right? And really, you, you still tried some other things, but you went right back to that taking photos and you are so talented. I'm sure that talent grew, like I'm sure, when you first started. You're not how you are now right. No, no, you gotta look back and think, oh geez.

Nicole Romanoff: 7:56

Yeah, totally, especially when I look back at like some of the photos I've edited, I'm like why would I do that again? It's like all it's all part of the process and just growing as an artist and yeah, so I try and give myself a little bit of like. You know, grace being like you know, like that girl was just on her way, you know, and she was just like learning and I, yeah, I don't regret not jumping into photography earlier, because I do believe, like what you're intended to do will find you if you're open to it. Yes, and it just wasn't like my time. I guess you could say, yeah, you know, like I wasn't ready. I had to like learn these other things or, you know, whatever it was, meet the right people.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 8:49

Yeah, exactly. Well, and think about you went through commerce so you learned a lot about business and that helps you run a business. Having you know job with Coca Cola, Lululemon, like the amount of people you've seen today in Lululemon. Right, that recognize your face, you maybe get to know them. That networking really helps you to build your own business, right.

Nicole Romanoff: 9:13

Absolutely yeah, and so even just you know, saying yes to all those experiences along the way is daunting and tiring as it can be. I think we'll always get you to where you need to be in the end, if that makes sense.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 9:30

Yeah, I totally agree. I always say never pass up an opportunity, because you will probably learn something from whatever that is and meet some people that down the line are really going to help you along, you know, along your journey.

Nicole Romanoff: 9:47

Absolutely.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 9:48

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. So when? Okay. So you're practicing on your excuse me your sister and people are like you're really good, Nicole, you need to do this, so you take this leap. How did you find clients to start growing your business when you first started?

Nicole Romanoff: 10:07

Right, well, kind of going back to my last, the last thing I said, I saying yes to everything.

Nicole Romanoff: 10:12

I said yes to everything. So if anyone wanted me to photograph anything, I'd be like, yes, I will. And just starting to market myself on Instagram or push out my work so that it was seen on a larger audience, and just starting to interact with more people. And actually my sister was the marketing director for the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival at the time and I was like, hey, can I just like shoot whatever shows I or like can I shoot it? And she's like, yeah for sure, here's the pass, like go at it. So I shot every single night like as many shows as I possibly could be at, as like one person, and I would stay up till like 3am just editing. So I was.

Nicole Romanoff: 11:02

It was a hustle, but you know, when people see you out with a camera, they start to identify you more as a, as a photographer or you know, whatever, whatever it is that you're kind of like putting out there. And so because I think I've, I've already, I've was that person that said yes to so many things along the way and already had that network. You know, when people start identifying you as something new, they start sharing your name and so really it was like very much like a grassroots sort of like spread and just saying yes and learning what it is that I enjoy to do, because I would say that, like, what I was shooting in the very beginning is is not what I'm shooting today, and so it's just really interesting to see, like, how wide my net was and now where, where that's brought me today in terms of, like, the style that I shoot and the clients that I have.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 12:03

So, yeah, and I think that's really important too, because when you have a talent and you make that into your career, you still have to niche where you are, because not many photographers shoot family photos and weddings and headshots and sports teams and right, like you have to fashion, like you have to find out.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 12:27

Okay, I love fashion, I okay, and if you, you guys got to go into Nicole's Instagram because you do love fashion, because I can tell by what you wear, and but also that I know I alluded to it at the beginning, but Nicole and I, the first time I ever met Nicole or knew who you were, you came to my store and I don't remember what it was for, but you said, hey, could I borrow some clothes for these models to wear for me to take pictures and then I'll tag you in the photos. And I was like sure, because I also was just starting out and for me that was a way to okay, Nicole's going to take some really awesome pictures that now people are going to see the clothes are from me and they're going to probably come to me, right, so it worked out really well, but that's that was how I first first met you and knew who you were.

Nicole Romanoff: 13:20

The collaboration and I kind of completely forgot. So you're part of my story in a way, because that was the issue that I originally did, and it was I was volunteering for SFDF, which is the Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival. N time and I was running their blog, and so I was trying to like bridge those relationships by you know getting partners like you who own like cool clothing stores and then you know creating like these sort of editorial blog pieces for them, and I yes, I remember that that was like one of my first sort of like I guess you could call it like fashion shoots with Megan Kardash and it was actually.

Nicole Romanoff: 14:07

She was like a big part of you know encouraging me as well. She's like you know, you're really good right. I was like what?

Nicole Romanoff: 14:15

Yeah, you're like well, not good yeah you always don't yourself everybody else see the talent and in your own self, I'm like well, I'm fine, I'm not that great oh yeah, this is just me, I don't know like, yeah, oh, anyways, yeah, I can't believe I, yeah, forgot about that, but I love, I love how those images turned out. But, yeah, really comes down to collaboration as well. And yeah, just trying to offer something, yeah, and offer something, and then networking a little. You know, I did. Sometimes that word networking can sound a little bit too like I don't know.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 14:57

Yeah, use car sales m kind of. I know exactly, yeah, I feel.

Shauna Foster: 15:02

I feel the same way too.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 15:03

It's building relationships for me right, more than just like handing out business cards and like, oh hey, nice to me too, and then you never talked to that person again.

Nicole Romanoff: 15:11

Right, yeah, it's like what can you do for me? And versus like, okay, let's get to know each other and see, yeah, help one another.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 15:20

Yeah, exactly, and really when you came to me I didn't know that you were just starting out. You are so professional and to me I'm like she's really good and I remember you sent me some of the pictures to use. I put them on my website to and I never once doubted you like that. You were professional and talented and you were very friendly. You were great to work with. So if those times ever came Like, I would have always said yes, because it was good for both of us and you're so awesome to work with.

Nicole Romanoff: 15:50

Well, thank you for saying that.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 15:52

Well, that's a testament to where you started, to where you are now. Right, really, it's, it's a lot it's you, it's a lot of just you, and your personality too. That's something. Yeah, okay. So you started out. You're like I'm gonna do this, you take every job that you can take and I'm gonna just put it out there that probably a lot of those jobs you didn't get paid for.

Nicole Romanoff: 16:15

Oh, I would say the majority, yeah.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 16:17

Yeah, yeah. So you're putting yourself out there. How do you get from that to being in all of these editorials? And you're on billboards in Toronto and internationally. How is that journey of growth?

Nicole Romanoff: 16:36

I think it's just persistence and consistency and, I think, just never giving up right. So, like I, I've always been someone that's really driven to achieve my goals and I've been, you know, very inspired by fashion and just I guess there's like a competitive part of me too that's like, oh, I really like, I got it. I got it like be my best or see how good I can get, like can I be on a billboard, can I get a magazine editorial? And just always started challenging myself and pushing myself forward. So I would say, just yeah, I am not someone that takes a lot of breaks. I know that's, that's something I'm working on and I am getting better at it.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 17:30

Yeah, but it's important to get me.

Nicole Romanoff: 17:32

Yeah, it really, really is, and but I would say just constantly like, continue to do what I do, so kind of shooting as much as I can, and just continue to put high quality work out there. I catching work, stuff that's relevant, and then, yeah, it will just catch the eye of those people that you want to to work with and those opportunities will come.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 18:06

Yeah, yeah, 100%, and, like we said, it's building that community and it's the connections that you have with other people, because now you've taken my headshots and you know, like you're like, oh, I know someone, they're really great. I'm just I'm gonna just call right, like it just kind of I think branches from there. Yeah, absolutely yeah, we talked before we started recording. Of course, we always talk before and I always say we should have been recording this, but I just want to touch on your Instagram page. We all know how important social media is for businesses and we kind of were chatting about but I think this is kind of cool subject to talk about.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 18:43

While recording, we chatted about how, when your page started, or when you first started your pages, was most likely people that liked your photos, right, like, oh, that's an awesome photo, the photographer is great, I'm gonna follow her. But now you have really branched out and you're giving so much advice now to other photographers and how I did the shoot, how I change the lighting, all things like that. Clearly, I don't know anything about photography. You have really branched out and let's talk about that, because you said, so many of your followers now are worldwide and they're photographers, right, so that's also changed your business yeah, it really, really has.

Nicole Romanoff: 19:29

I would say that for several years I, oh, to be honest, I feel like I kind of had like this negative mindset around Instagram and kind of like what it was about, and in the summer or early fall even, I think, I really sort of like switched my mindset around that and thought about like okay, like how can I use this as a tool to kind of serve and provide value, as opposed to just like? Oh, here's something I did and I would say in the last few years, just overall in my business, it's really come down to you, how can I serve? And more so than like, how can I just serve me? It's like no.

Nicole Romanoff: 20:19

I like provide value and share and so in the fall I kind of I joined this challenge is 10 day real challenge, and so that really forced me to get in the habit of just posting every day and trying to share something useful and knowledgeable and learning about hooks and in all, all of things. That kind of get more eyes on you. And I've kept up with that really good and I've kind of switched like who who I've, I guess, been targeting. So it has been more of like how can I serve other photographers? Because in the beginning I would say that I didn't really I didn't have a mentor, I just practiced all myself, I studied as much as I could online, and so I was like how can I provide value and what sort of tips would be helpful for photographers, and kind of thinking about it in those terms.

Nicole Romanoff: 21:29

And I think it's grown my account since geez, I feel like since even November, it's grown like 13,000, like for photographers, like from all over the world, and it's been so great and there's so much encouragement and people like finding value in what I'm sharing and like it's wild, it's so cool and just to hear from people you know, like in Norway or in the States and it's really kind of leading me down this path that I didn't see for myself, in terms of more of like a mentor and kind of opening up like more mentorship opportunities for people that were, you know, in my shoes, you know, a few years back, so it's been so cool.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 22:22

It's so crazy with Instagram and we've had an episode recently on just Instagram and how you can be successful on Instagram really, whoever your target audience is, if you provide them content that's valuable and they're interested in. Like 13,000 new followers in just a few months is insane.

Nicole Romanoff: 22:46

It is insane, it's wild. I congratulate every day. I'm like what the heck you're like what is?

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 22:53

happening. Yeah, but me, as a non photographer that's followed your page for a long time, I'm like this is cool, like I watch it real. Because I'm like this is so cool I'm not going to use it, but it's still interesting to me, right, like I'm a photographer, but it's still interesting to me. I'm like that's really cool.

Nicole Romanoff: 23:09

Oh, that's great.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 23:10

But yeah, but the photographer you've now opened yourself up for a whole new line of business really is that you could, and you likely will, have a mentorship program. Someone can work with you and learn how to do these things yes, absolutely.

Nicole Romanoff: 23:28

And that I have been starting to hop on calls with people that are interested in me, mentoring them from all over the world and just hearing what they need help with and how can I help them. And yeah, I'm just so excited about it and I just want to help others. I think that's it's really interesting, because becoming a photographer it's almost like we do it for us. It's like this is what I enjoy, and now it's kind of transitioned into how can I give and how can I be of service, and then, once you kind of figure that out, it really changes business.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 24:15

For sure, and you're such a genuine person and I think people see that like you can tell someone's personality from these. People in Norway don't know who you are, but they can tell you're a genuinely good human that wants to help other people and you're probably going to benefit from it financially and getting more clients and whatnot, but you're not doing it for that. You're doing it to serve people, which is what's important.

Nicole Romanoff: 24:46

Right, yeah, absolutely, and that's really what makes you feel good. You know, yeah, helping people, I think, is really what I don't know. That's why people volunteer, that's why people donate money. You can't beat that feeling. I don't think any sum of money would give you the same feeling as helping others.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 25:12

Oh, I fully agree. I know you have done lots. I've done lots in the community. You don't do it for recognition. You do it because you genuinely want your community to be better, right, right, yeah, I love that. I want to talk a little bit about White Space because, ok, so you're a photographer, you're really well known in Saskatoon and now you have White Space, so tell us a little bit about it and who maybe would use it. But also, why did you do that? What made you branch out into having a space?

Nicole Romanoff: 25:50

Yeah, well, that's a great story. Because I'm so interested in fashion photography, I have really focused a lot on studio lighting, and that's led me down the path of what I'm mostly shooting now which is a lot of headshots and branding and experimenting with fashion, lighting and that sort of thing, and I used to shoot out of my home or I did for many, many years and I would have to clean my house first of all.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 26:25

Yeah, yeah, yeah, people are coming right. Yeah, I got that.

Nicole Romanoff: 26:29

All the furniture or like moving out of the way. And then I had two cats and people are allergic to cats, and so I was like, man, I really need to find a better solution here, plus something that would give me the opportunity to shoot in a different way. So, more natural light photography, because in my home I was very limited. I could really only do a certain number of studio lighting setups. Yeah Well, I would say that it was a few years of looking for different spaces and it just seemed like rent was ridiculous and I was like, yep, this worked, and nothing really looked like it would work, like it wasn't.

Nicole Romanoff: 27:15

It didn't have the aesthetic that I wanted, it didn't have the natural light that I wanted, and so it was just a few years of looking and then one day, around Christmas time this would have been two years ago I was like I'm just gonna check and see what's out there, and I saw this space come up and I was like, oh my God, this is it, and I like instantly messaged the real estate person and I want this.

Nicole Romanoff: 27:45

Yeah, eventually, this place, yeah.

Nicole Romanoff: 27:48

And so that was two years ago around this time and I completely like renovated it, I painted it, I painted the floors and then a year later I was like I really need more space and so I took over the unit next to mine and then knocked down the wall. So now it's like twice the size and it's been so great Like not only has it been great for my business and like me as an artist and working with other people, it's been great for the community too, because I now rented out to other photographers which in the when I first started that wasn't really part of what where I saw the space, I was like man, if people like if a couple people a year, I did that so great. Now it's like like several renters a week and people love using the space and and it is so different Like I chose white floors because I rented the studio in Seattle a few years ago and it was completely white, like white hardwood, like original hardwood floors that were painted white white walls, and I was like I want this.

Nicole Romanoff: 29:06

And yeah, there was nothing else in town like it and and then I just made it happen. I kept that vision in my mind and, yeah, made it happen. So it's been. I love that story and that inspiration that you got from that Seattle studio and then.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 29:19

I loved when you said there was nothing like it in Saskatoon. That resonates with me so much. When I open my store, I'm like I don't want to be like anybody else, I want to be unique. Right sets you apart and that's how you get more clients right. Yeah yeah, absolutely. You have done such a great job on the. I think okay, just want to back up a little bit.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 29:37

I think when people have a talent and they're like, okay, I want to make this my career A lot of limiting thoughts come in like they're like well, I'm just me, right, like you're just one person, so I can't just take one person. I can't just take one person. I can't just take photos all day long, all day, every day. I need that many clients and you know it's burnout editing all of that stuff, but you have done such a great job in growing your business with White Space, with mentoring other people right.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 30:11

You have taken yourself as the talent and look what you've done, like it's amazing the growth you've had in nine years. I mean, most people don't do these things, you know. You know, you're just one person. You're just one person. You have taken yourself as the talent and look what you've done Like it's amazing the growth you've had in nine years. I mean most people don't do these things in their entire career.

Nicole Romanoff: 30:38

Yeah, no, it is. It is really cool. And even if you asked me a year ago if I would be, you know, mentoring other people or growing this following on Instagram, I would have thought you were crazy.

Nicole Romanoff: 30:52

I wouldn't like that. I don't see that for myself. Yeah, I've just always been someone that has just stayed open to opportunities and just always just continuing to find new ways and to listen to you, to my intuition and and that's something that I would say that I'm still working on you know, learning like, okay, do I enjoy this? Okay, do I enjoy this? Like now I'm at that point where I can only say yes to so many things, and so, in order for it to be a yes, it has to be, you know, something that I really, really want, because, as we all know, time is like a very finite resource, right? It's precious. There's only so much of it and there's only so much energy that that you can give right.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 31:48

Yeah, exactly, you've done so like so well, though, and I don't think that this is the end. I don't think it stops here. I think, if I talk to you in two or three years from now, there's going to be something else, because really, you were very talented, but you're also a very great business woman. Like you, you look at all the branches you've done. They still all come back to you, they all make sense, right, but you've got all these other revenue streams and different ways to make your business more successful without stretching you too thin right as one person.

Nicole Romanoff: 32:28

Yes, yeah, and I think I really do see my business moving in more of like a, you know, a course, you know, like doing more courses and teaching ways that I can reach more people a little faster, I suppose. Yeah, you know what I mean.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 32:52

Oh, yeah, for sure. And, like we always say to, the dream is to make money while you sleep right, or make money while you're on vacation, That is as an entrepreneur. You're like how can I be more successful and maybe financial success isn't what you see as successful, but how can I do more and do better without me? Actually yeah, without. Like you said, you're not great at taking breaks. Well, most entrepreneurs aren't. It's important to you learn that along the way. But maybe you have an online course that people can purchase and take the course right, right yeah, and I do.

Nicole Romanoff: 33:30

I love teaching too, you know. So if I can like share my knowledge on a greater scale, then I I'm definitely like open to that, you know. And yeah, so I find that really exciting because I absolutely love working with my clients, but I love working with other photographers and I love and honestly I love business. Like I, I love thinking of new ideas and ways to grow and expand. So, yeah, I would say I'm really excited to see, like, what comes next.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 34:06

I am too well. ollow me on Instagram and then we'll all know. Yeah, I love that. Do you have a most important lesson that you've learned that you want to share?

Nicole Romanoff: 34:17

Yeah, I do. I would say that it's so important to take action. You know, like it's, it's one thing to like have these dreams, or if there's something that you're really passionate about and you want to happen, you need to take the first step and you need to be brave enough to take it. I would say that that is like the number one thing. Even in my daily life it's like, oh, I need to be brave, I need to take step out of this comfort zone and take chances and take action, and that's how you'll grow and that's how you'll learn. And you know, stumbling along the way is good, like you know, I agree, I think that my biggest teachers have been like those mistakes, or yeah, so I would say that my biggest lesson, or the biggest lesson I could share, is just to not be to get over that fear and just to take action, however small, as long as you're working towards your goal, whatever.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 35:44

I agree, it's so important. And guess what? If you trip and fall, you just get back up and keep going right.

Nicole Romanoff: 35:50

Yeah because, no one cares, like the only person that really cares if you make a mistake. Is you i?

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 35:57

No one else even knows.

Nicole Romanoff: 35:58

Focused on their own lives and what's going on. So Isn't that true? Yeah, like we gotta get over ourselves, I agree.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 36:08

I agree, and most people don't even know. That's the funniest part. I remember when I had my store and I would try things that flopped and I'd be like, oh, I'm so embarrassed. And then I'm like, wait a minute, nobody even knows. Like just in your own self you get so concerned and then you realize actually it doesn't matter because nobody else knows the difference.

Nicole Romanoff: 36:30

I know you learn something, move along right, yeah, exactly yeah. And I think as you get older, you'll become more confident with each of those learnings, like the more chances you take, the more willing you are to take bigger chances and then just grow exponentially. Do you know what I mean? Like I just-.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 36:51

Oh, 100%. I was actually just gonna ask you if there was one thing that you wish you would know, but I think that might just be the perfect answer, right.

Nicole Romanoff: 36:59

Exactly, yeah, just to try, yeah, try.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 37:02

I love it, Nicole. Where can people find you? I know people are gonna wanna learn more about you. Where's the best place for them to search you?

Nicole Romanoff: 37:10

Right, I hang out on Instagram quite a lot. It's a NicoleRomanoffPhoto, and then I have a website it's NicoleRomanoff. com, and I'm also on the other social media sites as well. But I think if you wanna really follow along on a daily basis, Instagram is like the place to go.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 37:35

Awesome. Thank you so much for being on, Nicole. I really appreciate this and I know there's so many people listening that have a talent. They're like I really wanna do this and I really think that seeing your success will help them make their choice to do it.

Nicole Romanoff: 37:49

So thank you, thank you. Well, that gives me such joy, and thank you so much for having me. I love this and I'm so excited for this podcast.

Mackenzie Kilshaw: 37:59

Awesome, me too. Thank you so much again and for everybody listening. We'll see you on the next episode. Thanks for listening to Winning. Be sure to subscribe to get all of our new episodes. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post about it on social media and leave a rating and review wherever you listen to Winning. To all T catch catch. To catch all of the latest from us, a can Winning Podcast on Facebook Instagram at Winning Podcast underscore podcast, facebook a Winning podcast and on Twitter at Winning pod. Winning was created Mackenzie and is produced by me, mackenzie Firby Kilshaw Music, created by Summer Furby, editing by Seth Armstrong. Special thanks to Shauna Foster for voicing our opening and, of course, a huge thank you to this episode's guest. Thanks again for listening and I'll see you on the next episode.