Welcome back to the second part of my blog series on how travel can enhance the efficiency and profitability of your small business. In the previous blog, I looked into my approach to travel, its impact on my life, and the initial three secrets that have helped to contribute to the success of my two scuba industry-related businesses. Now, let's dive into the final secrets that complete this journey.
Both Channel Islands Dive Adventures (CIDA) and Ultralight Camera Solutions (ULCS) are integral parts of my life, both professional and personal. CIDA, my side hustle based in Oxnard, CA, offers local dive trips and scuba vacations in the SoCal Channel Islands area. ULCS, my full-time venture, specializes in manufacturing underwater and cinematography camera accessories, catering to international and domestic dealers and customers.
To recap, the initial three secrets emphasized the importance of hiring an extra employee, choosing the right person, and knowing when to reprogram our thinking. Now, let me share the remaining secrets.
Secret 4: Embrace Expertise Outside Your Skill Set
Recognizing our limitations is essential. Not everyone can be a master of all trades, and knowing when to enlist the expertise of others is crucial. Whether it's website construction, SEO, social media management, or accounting, finding the right professionals for specific tasks is a game-changer. Conduct thorough research and ask the right questions when hiring individuals with expertise in areas critical to your business.
Secret 5: Balancing Business and Personal Time Away
Achieving a work-life balance while traveling is challenging but can be done. Having a trustworthy employee who can manage operations in your absence is key. Equipping yourself with internet access, utilizing communication apps, and implementing technology like VPNs can facilitate remote management. Share clear instructions with your employees, and invest in technologies like signal boosters, Starlink systems, or both for reliable connectivity on the road. Remember, it's possible to enjoy your vacation without compromising business efficiency.
Secret 6: Disconnecting and Enjoying the Present Moment
Taking time off shouldn't come with a delayed realization that you're on vacation. Avoid the trap of needing days to unwind from work mode. I have friends and family where it takes them at least 2-3 days to realize they are on vacation. Allow yourself to disconnect mentally and emotionally from work, even if it's just for long weekends. Embrace the freedom of being present in the moment, savoring the experiences that travel brings.
Secret 7: Seize the Present, Cherish Life
In the grand scheme of things, time is unpredictable, and there are no guarantees. An in-your-face reminder of this came to me while writing this blog with the sudden passing of a family friend. Her unexpected death serves as a stark reminder that life is precious and unpredictable. Don't postpone your dreams and aspirations, assuming there will always be time in the future. Embrace the present, enjoy every moment, and hopefully my secrets will help shape you into a better person and a more fulfilled small business owner.
In conclusion, these secrets remind us of how the essence of travel has been instrumental in running my small businesses efficiently and profitably and being a better person overall. May they inspire you to think of your business success in new ways enriched by more travel. Safe travels and enjoy the only life we get!
Running two small businesses in the scuba industry keeps me constantly on the move. Channel Islands Dive Adventures (CIDA), my side hustle based in Oxnard, CA, offers local dive trips and scuba vacations in diverse locations. Juggling this with my full-time venture, Ultralight Camera Solutions (ULCS), which manufactures camera accessories for underwater cinematography, adds a layer of complexity. ULCS requires attendance at trade shows, visits to current dealers, and meetings with potential ones. Despite the demanding schedule, I find ways to manage both businesses, seeking continuous improvement and personal growth.
The key to navigating this dual business ownership lies in the desire to excel and evolve. While financial success is rewarding, it's not my sole motivation. Instead, I prioritize experiences and learning from others, valuing the insights gained from different lifestyles. This broader perspective enriches my ability to lead my businesses and be a better employer.
Many small business owners struggle to step away due to various reasons, such as a lack of reliable employees, a desire for personal control, or financial constraints. However, refusing oneself time off can lead to burnout, stress, and other issues affecting both personal and professional life. This is why I believe that traveling is not just a luxury but a strategic tool for enhancing small business efficiency and profitability. Below, I share the secrets that have proven effective for me and others in my network.
Secret 1: Invest in Your Business by Investing in People
Recognizing the distinction between $20.00 per hour jobs and $100.00 per hour jobs is crucial. Although it may seem daunting to hire employees when operating a small business, the reality is that you can't afford not to. Investing in reliable help pays off, as good employees bring a significant return on investment. This creates a win-win situation and allows for a much-needed break, knowing that the business is in capable hands.
Secret 2: Treat Employees with Respect and Trust
Creating a positive work environment involves treating employees with the same respect and trust one would expect for oneself. Providing fair compensation, flexible hours, and a safe work environment provides a healthy employer-employee relationship. Striking a balance and understanding priorities contribute to a work environment everyone likes.
Secret 3: Reprogram Your Perspective
Sometimes, a shift in mindset is necessary. Drawing inspiration from a past colleague named Jim, who transformed his outlook on employee training, can be enlightening.
I spent 31 years working for Ventura County as a mobile heavy equipment mechanic. In one of the departments I worked in, there was a crew supervisor named Jim. Whenever I encountered Jim, I noticed that he seemed a bit down at times. It turned out that Jim was facing a challenge – he was training his crew extensively in water work maintenance, but they would often leave for higher-paying jobs in a nearby city once they acquired the skills.
One day, I found Jim in a surprisingly good mood, so I asked him about it. He shared a valuable insight with me – he had shifted his perspective. Instead of viewing his role as training people to stay in the Waterworks department, he realized that his job was to equip them with skills that would enable them to pursue better opportunities elsewhere. From that day on, Jim's mood consistently improved.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson and one I always will remember. Sometimes, we need to step back, take a deep breath, and reassess our mindset. Jim's decision to change his perspective not only made him a happier supervisor but also reduced stress in the long run. It's a reminder that adjusting our thinking can lead to being a better leader and experiencing less stress overall.
In conclusion, traveling has played a big role in both my personal and professional growth. By constantly being aware of these secrets they have aided me in being a more effective business owner.
By sharing my secrets I hope that they will serve as valuable tools to others to become a better business owner and better individuals in their personal and family life.
See Part 2 "Unveiling the Remaining Secrets: Leveraging Travel for Small Business Success" for the other four secrets I will share.
Welcome to Ultralight Camera Solutions, where we proudly offer a diverse selection of kits specifically designed for Underwater and Cinema photography. Our kits encompass three categories tailored to cinema gear and six categories dedicated to underwater equipment. In this blog post, we will be highlighting the first cinema category: Cardellini Clamp Arm kits
The Cardellini Clamp Arm kits come in various configurations depending on what equipment you have and what the use will be. The beauty of the Cardellini clamps is that they are incredibly versatile! They can mount to almost anything, whether it's round, square, or irregularly shaped, as long as it's not larger than 1 ½", this even includes GoPros. So, you can rely on these clamps to hold your gear securely in various situations. Below are some of the ways to use a Cardellini clamp.
The Cardellini clamps are made of stainless steel and cast aluminum and will work in any environment. Their jaws have vulcanized rubber and will not scratch whatever they are attached to making them the perfect go-to piece of equipment everyone should have in their GoPro kit or cinema kit. Below are three of the four different ones we carry at Ultralight Camera Solutions.
We carry nine different Cardellini clamp arm kits, four are smaller kits that do not include arms, four have arms included as part of the kit, and one is our special large Cardellini Tripod. Of the smaller kits, two are set up for GoPro's like the CCK-SMCGO and the CCK-MMCGO, both pictured below as GoPro mounting kits.
The other two small kits are the CCK-MMC14 and the CCK-SMCMB shown below. Both of these kits are for use with different monitors.
The next ones shown below are single-arm configurations using the DB-05 arm and AC-CSF clamps. The first, CCK-MMCMB-S5 comes with an AC-MB monitor mount and the second is the CCK-MMC14-S5 which uses an AD-1420 ball mount.
The last two kit configurations both use two DB-05 arms and three AC-CSF clamps. The CCK-MMC14-D5 as shown below comes with an AD-1420-2S ball mount and the CCK-MMC38-D5 (not shown) comes with an AD-3816-2S.
Last but not least is our special CCK-TRIPOD. The beauty of the design lies in the TRI-LEG's that are adjustable and the CARD-SMMC Cardellini clamps. Because of this, you can change the angle or position in minutes. We attached it to the back of a motorcycle in a matter of minutes for some awesome road video footage. Talk about a cool setup!
It might not be for everyone, but if you're facing a challenge finding the perfect mounting solution for your GoPro, this could be the answer. And trust me, it held up beautifully during our ride through the back hills – no issues at all as a GoPro mount.
If you don't find what you need, please Contact Us. We are always here to help!
Cinema Cardellini Clamp Kits:
Welcome to Ultralight Camera Solutions, where we proudly offer a diverse selection of kits specifically designed for Underwater and Cinema photography. Our kits encompass three categories tailored to cinema gear and six categories dedicated to underwater equipment. In this blog post, we will be highlighting the second cinema category: Large Cardellini Tripod, our new cinema camera support system!
Today, we're going to dive into something pretty awesome – our new tripod the CCK-TRIPOD, and the secret to it are the adjustable legs and Cardellini clamps. Let me tell you, it's really cool!
Here's the story behind it: I had a friend drop by with his motorcycle one day, and we got tinkering to see how we could fit GoPros securely on it for some filming. While doing that he had an idea to have the GoPro extend out to the side. This way you could get some really cool videos. With his help, we came up with this the PERFECT solution. The main parts that make up the tripod are a GoPro mount, tripod clamp, three adjustable legs, three Cardellini clamps, and a number of our special cutout clamps and other parts. This cinema camera support system is super easy to set up and will fit most anything you can mount it to, as its one of the most versitile professional support systems out there on the market currently. You’ll need to think outside the box for this one!
The beauty of the design lies in the TRI-LEG's that are adjustable and the CARD-SMMC Cardellini clamps. Because of this, you can change the angle or position in minutes with your cinema camera support system from Ultralight Camera Solutions. Talk about a speedy setup!
It might not be for everyone, but if you're facing a challenge finding the perfect mounting solution for your GoPro, this could be the answer. And trust me, these professional support systems held up beautifully during our ride through the back hills – no issues at all.
Remember, we're here to help you with any questions or problems you might have. Contact Us and we are here to help, that's why we're called Camera Solutions, after all! Happy filming, and have a fantastic day! We are always here to help!
Ultralight Cardellini Tripod:
Here at Ultralight Camera Solutions, we pride ourselves in manufacturing quality underwater photography and cinematography parts, all USA made with USA materials. These products include underwater video lighting solutions, camera arms, lighting clamps and many other products. Our assembly and packaging are done in-house as well at our warehouse in Oxnard but occasionally there are some problems.
Our customer service is extremely important to us and we are ALWAYS happy to help. Owner Ken Kollwitz has been on the other end as a customer and fully believes in the Golden Rule, "do to others what you would have them do to you". For such a simple idea it seems many companies have forgotten. Here at Ultralight, this is one of our main goals, to offer the BEST customer service possible.
This also carries forward to our warranty and Terms of Service. We believe in making products that last, no matter what type of environment they are used in and because of this, we offer a lifetime warranty on all our products. As we all know, there's always the possibility of a problem, whether it is a malfunction of a product, missing parts, or a customer issue. Whether you purchased a 1 inch ball mount for your camera or cinema lighting clamps and arms, we will work with you to ensure that you are satisfied with our products. No matter what the issue is, email us at info@ulcs.com, give us a call at (805) 485-0233, or reach out to us through our contact us page and we will be happy to help.
One important thing to remember is that Ultralight is a small company. It's not like calling a big company which can be very hard to get a hold of somebody who can help. You won't go through one of those automated phone systems that take forever and totally frustrate you. Call us and more than likely you will get Ken, the owner of Ultralight. We stand behind everything that we manufacture, and we're here to help. Also, one more very important thing is that we are ALWAYS happy to hear your feedback, good or bad because we can't make needed changes if we do not know where those changes are needed. If you are looking for professional lighting support systems or other underwater photography accessories give Ultralight Camera Solutions a call today!
