In this episode, we introduce Daniel Madden, owner of Optical Opium Productions, who shares his journey from being a pastor to transitioning into the field of marketing and content creation. Daniel discusses his decision to leave pastoral ministry and pursue his passion for photography and videography. He talks about his experiences in the industry, his struggles with finding a niche, and the importance of tracking data to make informed business decisions. Kymone and Daniel also discuss the value of outsourcing, automation, and setting a vision for business success. They offer advice on balancing family life and building a business and provide resources for further personal development.

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Follow Daniel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/optical.opium/

Visit Daniel's Website: http://opticalopium.ca

00:00 Intro to Podcast

[00:04:21] The career switch and burnout
Daniel talks about his career switch from being a pastor to doing marketing and content creation, and how he experienced burnout in ministry.

[00:07:39] Restrictions in pastoral ministry
Daniel discusses how he felt creatively restricted in pastoral ministry and the limitations imposed by the church structure he was a part of.

[00:09:39] Finding a new identity
Daniel shares his journey of realizing that pastoral ministry was affecting his mental health and finding a new identity outside of being a pastor.

[00:11:58] The first camera and rediscovering photography
Daniel talks about receiving his first camera at 16 and how he initially didn't pay much attention to photography until later in life.

[00:13:07] Interest in photography revived in college
Madden discusses how his interest in photography was reignited when a roommate allowed him to use a professional DSLR camera in college.

[00:15:25] Transition to videography and storytelling
Madden explains how they eventually became more interested in videography and storytelling, and how it became their primary focus alongside photography.

[00:24:01] The importance of niche specialization
Madden discusses the value of specializing in a particular service and how it can attract customers who are willing to pay more for quality and convenience.

[00:24:56] Experimenting with different services
Madden encourages guests to try out different services to see what resonates with both the market and their personal preferences.

[00:27:10] Tracking numbers and profitability
Daniel Madden emphasizes the importance of tracking data, such as the number of clients, revenue, and profit, to make informed decisions about which services are most profitable and worth investing time in.

[00:36:19] The importance of social media for showcasing work
Madden highlights the significance of using social media to display one's work and attract potential clients.

[00:37:33] Targeting commercial clients in the videography industry
Madden expresses a preference for working with commercial clients, particularly in the trades and construction sector, and discusses the potential opportunities in this market.

[00:41:01] Tips for selling to organizations and building long-term relationships
Daniel provides advice on selling to organizations, including understanding the longer decision-making process, not competing solely on price, and building ongoing relationships through package deals and contracts.

[00:47:21] The importance of outsourcing and automation
Discussion on finding ways to outsource tasks and automate processes to save time and increase efficiency.

[00:47:49] Scheduling visioning times for your business
Exploration of the need for regular visioning sessions to set goals and plan actions for the next 90 days, year, and beyond.

[00:49:13] Promoting the podcast and guest's online presence
Invitation for listeners to follow the podcast host and guest on Instagram and YouTube, and the guest's presence on LinkedIn.