What is it about running your own business
that keeps you on your toes? I kept thinking about it and decided it’s
all about how to keeping focused and " clear of thought" is what
separates the winners from the has beens.
One
of the keys to running any successful business is being able to maintain a
clear thought process at all times. This may look easy from the sidelines
but in the heat of battle you will find it harder than you think. Clarity
of mind (and it’s partner, clarity of action) will help you at every stop in
your design career. From objectively
seeing when a job has been done right (or wrong) to knowing when to bring in
outside help to improve business, a “sharp eye and a sharper mind” are two
killer designer attributes that will never, ever go out of style.
But
contrary to what some of your professor’s may have told you, “success” isn’t
determined by how many “attributes” you have on your dossier. It’s more mysterious than that. Of all the intangible factors out there, the
four that will weigh heaviest in the early part of your career will be: staying
sharp, being resourceful, playing to your strengths and knowing how to
compensate for your weaknesses.
How does one go
about doing all this? Begin by developing the clarity of mind to see what
you do well and what needs work. Once you know the holes in your game,
you can address them through self-improvement or by partnering with other design
specialists who are experts in areas where you are not.
For example, if
you find you aren’t very good at organization, partner with someone who is. If you can see you’re having problems with
color, bring in a color specialist. If you’re a control freak, learn to
delegate. This is (frankly) the reason why so many of us designers go the
partnership route. Smart designers are aware of their limitations (before
starting their practice) and know that, to succeed, their business must be able
to do it all, even if they (as one person) cannot.
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