Learning new tech is hard. Here’s why you should do it anyway.

When my 19-year-old nephew challenged me to learn how to wakesurf, I was here for it. 

Not because I’m oh-so coordinated, but because just like Marty McFly, I can’t turn down a challenge, even when I should. 

I’m 45 years old. Old(er) dog. New tricks are not my forte. 

It wasn’t pretty. I face-planted seven times. I had water in places that water shouldn’t be. My muscles were shaking. My shoulders were not in their sockets, I’m fairly certain.

But I tried once more. That was the magic moment I FINALLY stood up on that board and surfed that wake like a friggin’ boss. 

Being “on the learning curve” with a new tech tool is a lot like those behind-the-boat face plants. 

You’ll feel slow and not-smart. You’ll think “I must be inherently broken because everyone else can do this, what’s wrong with me?!”

Some people are tech wizards who absorb this stuff like sponges. Others are out here drowning in the deep end, trying to figure out what a “workflow automation” even means. 

And guess what? That’s normal. 

Just like wakeboarding, none of us are born knowing how to do this. It comes easier to some than others. 

You’re not broken because you don’t immediately understand how to set up a CRM (that’s a Customer Relationship Management system, like Honeybook or Dubsado). 

But here’s the thing: you’ve got to face this fear head-on. 

Because the payoff is worth it. 

Why you need to suck it up and learn a CRM

A CRM isn’t just another shiny tool to add to your collection. It’s a game-changer. It’s the thing that’s going to save your sanity, streamline your business, and give you back hours of your life. 

But—and this is a big but—you can’t just sign up for a CRM like HoneyBook or Dubsado and expect it to magically fix everything. That’s not how this works. 

You need a process before you even touch the CRM. So if you’re currently doing everything willy-nilly, different for every client, every time… you’ve got to fix that part first. 

Then you’re ready for a CRM. Take that process and use your shiny new CRM to make it happen faster and easier. 

Don’t shoot the messenger, but inevitably, your carefully crafted process will have to change. 

No CRM is going to perfectly fit your way of doing things. Every system has its quirks, its limitations, and its strengths. 

Your job? Figure out what works and flex where it doesn’t. 

Flexibility is key

If you’re dead set on keeping your process exactly the same, you’re going to have a rough time. 

CRMs are designed to make your life easier—if you’re willing to adapt. 

For example, let’s say you’re using a booking tool like Session. It’s simple, it’s clean, and it lets clients book a session, sign a contract, pay a retainer, and fill out a questionnaire—all in one go. 

Now, let’s say you switch to HoneyBook. It has a similar feature called Lead Forms, but guess what? It doesn’t let you include a contract in the all-in-one workflow. 

Cue the frustration. (Side note: this will eventually get added, but the feature isn’t ready yet. Still, it IS coming.) 

Instead of ditching HoneyBook altogether, you flex: you set up an automation that sends the contract immediately after someone books. 

Sure, it’s an extra step, but once it’s built, it runs on autopilot. 

That’s what I mean by being flexible. 

You’re capable of learning new things

Let’s address the elephant in the room: “I don’t have time to learn something new.” 

Be honest… how much time did you spend doomscrolling last week? *side eye* 

You do have time. You just don’t want to spend it on this because it feels overwhelming. (That’s valid.)

But you are capable of learning new things. 

Even if you hate technology. Even if you’ve convinced yourself you’re “not good at this.” 

You’ve learned plenty of hard things before. You figured out how to run a business, how to use a camera, how to deal with clients who ask for discounts. 

Learning a CRM is just another skill to add to your arsenal. 

Support is out there. Go find it.

There’s a lot about this gig that’s lonely. Setting up a CRM shouldn’t be one of those times.  

SO MANY brilliant photographers are experts at CRM setups, and you can hire one to help you.

Some will do the whole she-bang for you (you’ll still have to learn how it works … you wouldn’t buy a stick shift if you didn’t know how to drive one, right?). 

Just Google “get help setting up [insert CRM name here] for photographers”. You’ll find several!

The payoff is worth it

Once your CRM is up and running, it’s going to feel like magic. Automations will handle the boring stuff. You’ll spend less time on admin tasks and more time doing what you actually love.  

But none of that happens if you don’t put in the effort upfront. Learning new software isn’t fun. But it’s necessary. 

And once you get over the hump, it’s going to make your life so much easier. 

You are capable and talented. Stop telling yourself you can’t do it. You’ve got this.