I’ve been at this design business stuff for well over a year and I thought I’d share some wisdom for your collective thoughts. Please leave your comments once you’re done, feedback is welcome!

Be Confident

I can’t stress this enough, but confidence is the key ingredient in the whole mix. It affects how you shake someone’s hand, what you say about your work, and how much you charge. It’s not always easy to feel confident when you first start out and try to figure out how to run all aspects of a shop by yourself, but it will come. And when it does, your energy and passion will show, whether you realize it or not. Believe in yourself!

Cashflow is King

The best business advice I can give you is to manage your cashflow well. You charge Person A for the work you did for them, but Person B (that vendor you hired) will most likely want his money before Person A pays up. I guess the awesome office furniture will have to wait, right? The concept is simple. Be smart with your money and make sure you have enough to cover it all. 3-6 months of income and overhead in the bank is a great ground rule.

Immerse Yourself in Culture

Designers don’t design for the design industry. They design for every other industry imaginable. It’s crucial that you feed yourself a healthy dose of culture and that you stay relevant to consumer needs. The more you understand the subject you’re designing for, the better your solutions will be. Approach every day looking for an opportunity to learn.

Enjoy Your Clients

The best design is done for clients who value design. Equally important is the value that you place upon them. The more you enjoy them and value who they are, the better your design will be. Make it your business to know all about their business. Sometimes a bad client can become a really good client if you spend the time to educate them about the design process and treat them as you would want to be treated.

Be Driven

The only person who is going to make this happen for you is yourself. Make the choice to step away from your comfortable job and take a crack at working for yourself. Your reputation is on the line in everything you produce. Sweat the details, make sure color is accurate, check your spelling, be organized, treat every job as a potential entry in your portfolio. Bottom line is effort on every front.

Don’t Lose in Winning

Being driven is good until you begin to hate what you do and never have time for your family. Wealth, industry awards and rockstar status don’t even come close to the feeling of contentment and investment in those you love. If I were to lose every accomplishment I’ve gained in my career but still had my wife and kids, I would be a very rich man. Don’t lose sight of what really matters.