How a Photographer Gained a Virtual Teammate and Peace of Mind
Background
Celie Nigoumi is a photographer for purpose-driven people, brands and organisations — the sort of work that actually means something. She runs the whole thing herself from Somerset.
And that meaningful work is the bit she wants to be doing. Not the fiddly little admin jobs that quietly stack up in the background of every solo business.
"Not enough time or brain power to do all the little bits and bobs that are important, but my ADHD brain struggles with."
Problems
Here's the thing about the little bits and bobs, they're small, but they're important. Miss them and things start to wobble.
They're also exactly the sort of task an ADHD brain finds hardest to pick up. Not because they're difficult, but because they're dull, scattered, and never quite urgent enough to jump the queue. So they sit there. And sit there.
Meanwhile the actual work you love, the photography, the purpose, the good stuff has to share headspace with a to-do list that never empties. That can be so frustrating, overwhelming and demoralising.
What I Did
Celie didn't want someone to hand her a rigid system and wish her luck. She wanted someone she could actually talk to.
In her words, she picked me for:
"Colourful, direct, great communicator, down to earth, creative problem solving!"
So that's what she got:
Someone to hold her accountable and on task with her accounts and admin.
Help in researching and creation of assets when her workload was busy.
Someone at the other end to talk to when she needed support. So no faff, no waiting around
She summed the working relationship up like this:
"Fun, quick responses, easy to talk to and always there when I need support."
No overhaul. No lectures about productivity. Just steady support that fits how her brain actually works.
The Outcome
The bits and bobs stopped being an overwhelming pile and started being a process, she could work through.
"Smooth processes."
Having sorted admin is lovely. What Celie actually noticed was something else:
"Like I have a teammate!"
And the unexpected bonus?
"Way more relaxed knowing I don't have to do everything on my own."
When I asked her how she felt about our work together, she gave the shortest and best answer I've had:
"Wonderful!"
It made my year!
Lets Wrap-Up
Celie is still the one behind the camera doing what she does brilliantly, I mean, seriously go check her out.
She's just not carrying all the invisible bits on her own anymore.
Sometimes support isn't about doing something complicated. It's about not having to do it all yourself.
Would she recommend it?
"Yes and I have!"
Top Tip
Next time you do one of those fiddly little jobs, write down the steps as you go.
Not a polished branded system. Just the actual clicks you make, in order, on a sticky note or in a doc that you'll find again.
Because the hard bit usually isn't in the actual doing but rather it's the deciding.
Having to work out where to start, from scratch, every single time can be draining. So take that step out of it by writing it down once.
That's all a smooth process really is. A decision you only had to make once.