Is AI (ARTIFICIAL Intelligence) Creative?

This is a question a lot of business owners are asking themselves. Can AI do a logo design for me? What about a website? I realize that AI seems like the best, most cost-efficient solution to your marketing needs, but I would like to give you some background information and things to consider before making this decision.

What IS AI?
I’m no expert on what AI is, but I do know what it isn’t: never created design and words. AI’s definition of itself is: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and act like humans. This includes tasks like learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. AI encompasses a broad range of technologies and approaches, with machine learning and deep learning being prominent subsets. " AI is no doubt intelligent, but it is not creative. AI is acting like human intelligence and it’s computing skills actually out perform humans, which is what the draw is to develop this technology. To me, as a human being, the key word here is “simulation”. The definition of simulation is “imitation of a situation or process”. AI can only pretend to be creative. AI can only do what humans have taught it do. But what AI can’t do is create something from nothing that hasn’t been created.

Human graphic designers and copy writers think OUTSIDE the box, come up with new ideas, and design and write new concepts. AI’s logo designs are made from designs that have already been made. The copy AI produces for your website is made from words humans have already written. Plus, it will only design and write what information you give it and if you’re not a marketing expert, you might not be able to input creative ideas that best describe your company.

MY PROCESS
My process for logo design is I prefer to meet with my new clients and get to know them. Every company is created by unique people with their own unique way of doing business. You’ll need a name that’s unique and a logo isn’t just about your name, it’s combining your name with what the business does. There is nothing “cookie-cutter” about your new business, so why try to cut corners on the logo branding and website?

I understand that talking with ChatGPT feels like a business meeting and it can certainly make you feel confident in it’s responses, but keep in mind that all it can do is simulate a business meeting. There’s no confidence in AI’s past experience in marketing. While it might have all of the information you could gain access to about marketing with a college degree, AI has no personality and soul. AI isn’t interested in who you are as a person, it only wants to know what you want and keep in mind that it will only agree with you. You need a human being who will challenge you and help you have the best name, logo and website.

If you’re ready to meet with your real business partners with unique marketing skills, contact us!

I've Come a Long Way Baby!

Year 26. That’s where I am in my amazing journey of working for myself.

1985 | College Graduate Searching to Find Herself
When I started in this career, it was rough going. Not gonna lie! Graphic Design is a tough industry to break into. I’m embarrassed to tell you just how many jobs it took to finally land a job at an advertising agency. Let’s just say in one year, I had 9 jobs and moved 7 times…or was it 7 jobs and moved 9 times? It’s all a blur now. I once decided to sell furniture instead of doing graphic design. Suffice it say, I’m a TERRIBLE sells person. LOL! Fortunately, several years in I finally got a job at a nice small advertising agency in Charlotte, NC.

Graphic Design in the 80s was a completely different, hands-on tactual job than it is today. Personal Computers weren’t even a dream. We had to draw hand-drawn “Comps” of ads and brochures or billboards and show the client what it “might” look like. Then once we’ve done our dog and pony show, the hard work started. Specking type (sending it out to the typositor. This software I’m writing this post in doesn’t even know that word. It’s a person who used a DOS computer to set words on paper so we could “Cut” and “Paste”), cutting poster board and drawing blue lines on it for size and crop marks. Then glueing the type down, hoping that on the way to the printer it would stay. Drawing illustrations. Working with a photographer who provided negatives. Creating art to be printed was a complex skill, but it was fun!

1998 | Mighty Mouse Productions, Inc
After 7 years at a local agency here in Greenville, I’d had 2 kids and I asked myself, “Why did I have kids, I never see them?!” After much prayer and giving God a challenge that I couldn’t quit my job on my own, I walked into work and was presented with the option to either come in on time or be fired. (Come on people, I’ve been late for the last 7 years!) I quit right there, giving my 2 week notice – which turned into 2 months.

The first work I got was designing a logo and I was hooked. How did I get so off coarse all those early years? I’d just gotten lost in someone else’s agency, but I learned A LOT and loved working there. After putting my name out there, the work started coming in. I’ve always had a deal with God. He brings the work and I try to be easy to work with and ultimately strive to create designs my clients love.

Just yesterday, I came across one of my first sketch books. Inside of it was my original logo sketch for Mighty Mouse Productions. I had no idea I had this! It made me feel so nostalgic I decided to write this post. It’s been an amazing ride the past 26 years. I’ve worked on over 2,400 jobs and hundreds of clients. I’ve kept my business simple and lean. I’ll only take a job if I feel I can do it well.

2014 | Mighty Mouse Gets a New Face
10 years ago I was encouraged to “redo” my website by some respected guys at a CoWork space I was at. In the process of doing that, I rebranded myself. Yeah, I had 15 years of equity in the brand, but it wasn’t me any more and it didn’t speak well for my business. That’s the question you have to ask yourself. Today I spoke with a new client who was hesitant to rebrand after 20 years, but I encouraged him to consider keeping an element of the old and doing something better. I’m excited for the challenge!

2024 | Still Going Strong!
People have started asking me, “Are you still working?” I say, “Heck yeah! I LOVE what I do. Why would I quit?” Not many people can say that! I feel completely blessed to be still designing logos, websites, ads, brochures and many other great forms of marketing.

Let’s Work Together!

Should You Name Your Company an Acronym?

Often creating an acronym is a go-to thing to do when your company has a long name, or it’s too hard to pronounce. I find that so many companies resort to abbreviating their name. I have to say, I’m not a huge fan for quite a few reasons.

Let’s look at the pros and cons:

Acronym PROs
It’s short and simple.
Easy to read small.
Makes a long name short.
Easy to design.
Can often save time which can also save money.
Typically the design focuses on the acronym. It’s usually an easy design to do, so if you don’t have a huge budget, just typesetting the letters in a cool font.

Acronym CONs
Hard for people to remember. You’re close to it, but remember others are not.
Seems like a cop-out design solution to me, but I wouldn’t tell a client I refuse to do what they want. ;)
Requires you STILL put your name on the logo.

I drove by a van the other day and it was just the acronym, no name, no description/tagline, no URL. Just the letters. I had to idea what they did and still don’t. I see this as failed marketing. If this is the solution you land on, you MUST put the name somewhere on your marketing.

It’s not a long discussion, but I felt one worth having. If you name is so long or not very creative, you might want to consider hiring a writer/brand-developer like Valerie Bickley at Bickley Creative. She’s my “go-to” writer who will go down a lot of paths with you to create a unique and memorable company name.

As a graphic designer specializing in logo design for the past 28 years, I would not suggest you use an acronym as your primary design on your logo. A logo needs to have some kind of iconic artwork that sets you apart-a design that shows the public that you’re different. I strive to create unique designs that give your company an edge. This recent job (above) actually used a partial acronym as it’s logo, but I didn’t stop there. I incorporated the letters with custom, iconic artwork that made their logo stand out way past their competition. As most of my clients will tell you, I’ll be honest with you about your name and once we’re in agreement on the direction, I won’t disappoint. Check out SC Roof Coatings website and give them a call if you want to expand the life of your commercial roof!

“I tease Janice that she sets a low expectation and then over delivers! She’s great to work with and has been very responsive in communicating. She has jumped right in and made us look good!”

— Matt Bradley, SC Roof Coatings

Moving Forward in 2022

Whew, we survived the Pandemic and I think it’s safe to say we’re all prepared to face challenges better in the future. What did I learn durning the past 3 years?

First, I learned we all need to be ready to rally rather than divide. If we’ve learned anything from this, we are all vulnerable to falling into the vortex of negativity that comes from social media and the news. We all need to remember that we are one nation, undivided and it is through our unity that we find strength. United we stand – divided we fall. Love your neighbor as yourself! Think the best of others, especially those you know. Lift up those who fall and encourage those who are discouraged.

Second, I learned that we are strong and resilient! The bounce-back of business that has happened in the last 9 months has been amazing! I have received SO many calls from people who need a logo because they’re starting a new business. I think the shut down caused many people to re-evaluate their lives and careers and many decided to take the plunge and start a business! The courage and discipline that venturing out on your own takes a massive leap of faith and courage.

Lastly, I learned that I’m happiest out in the workplace and world, rather than at my home/office. I’m an extrovert who feeds off the energy of others. My mind is better and my graphic design work is better when I’m around other creative people. I love my new co-work space called Comradery! It’s just behind where Greenville is building the new Unity Park. It’s been amazing to see all of the development around this office over the past 2 years. We are all meant to collaborate with others, cohabitate with others in order to love others. Walking past someone and being able to smile openly at them is something I don’t think I’ll ever take for granted again.

Also, meeting with clients face-to-face is something else I love. So if you need a logo, website or any marketing, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Let’s meet and create something wonderful together!

Words of Advice and Encouragement to New Entrepreneurs

We live in the land of opportunity…still. America is still a great place to start a business! If you’re reading this and have decided to do just that, I have some words of encouragement and support for you.

First, what you’re doing is hard! But if you believe in the business and put in the effort it’s going to take, you CAN be successful. I don’t have a secret recipe for success, but I do know a good bit about owning my own business. I started Mighty Mouse Productions in 1997 and have never looked back! Working for myself, setting my own schedule and not having a boss looking over my shoulder has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made professionally. But it hasn’t come with its own set of challenges., including self discipline and hard work.

All business requires two essential ingredients: time and money. You must be able to put in the time and take some financial risk. If you’re “keeping your day job”, just know that you’re going to be working a lot of long hours to make your dream a reality. And remember, at some point, you’re going to have to take a real risk and quit your secure job. That also goes along with the financial investment. I borrowed money to buy a computer and the software I needed when I started Mighty Mouse Productions. It wasn’t a huge amount of money, but I knew that it was necessary. All business ventures require money. If you’re not willing to put some in, don’t expect to get anything out of it. After your initial investment be sure to plan ahead and be ready for expected and unexpected expenses.

The next thing almost all companies have to have is some kind of marketing plan. Even if you’re not prepared to spend a bunch of money on advertising, it’s really easy these days to do it yourself through social media and word of mouth. If you don’t have the money, then you’ll have to spend the time. If you don’t really have to time, one of the best initial investments I think you should make is a good logo. I call it “putting a face on your baby.” With a strong, solid logo and brand, you can really launch your company and either align yourself with larger companies or beat even your competition! A lot of people try to create logos themselves, which of course I think is a mistake (LOL!), but hey, maybe you have hidden talents. Another option is to hire a professional like Mighty Mouse Productions to do what I do and I can promise you that you won’t be disappointed. My goal is for you to love your logo and be excited about using it on everything! Here are a few I designed just this past year…

My next piece of advise is in the arena of other people. If you’ve decided to go into a partnership, please think long and hard about who that partner is. I will say from experience that it’s like a marriage. You need to really know the other person/people you’re going into business with. And you all need to bring gifts and talents, plus money to the table. You MUST have a partnership agreement and a long range agreed upon plan for growth. I’ve had another business where I had a partner and I learned a lot about what NOT to do. We were not well matched and it was a painful process. But as far as Mighty Mouse Production, I’ve kept this business to just myself. But I do have “people”. Instead of a formal partnership, I have aligned myself with other equally talented people in the industry who are better at what they do than I am (hire a professional). For creative copywriting, I use the talented Valerie Bickley of Bickley Creative. And for web development, I have the intelligent and skilled people over at Tekli. Together we make a powerful marketing team, in an uncomplicated partnership! We’re like a virtual advertising agency but at a fraction of the cost of a traditional one.

The other side of the “people” conversation is employees. Are you planning on eventually hiring people to work for you? I decided years ago to keep my business a one person shop. I like my life simple and uncomplicated and so I’ve never attempted to grow to the point of needing help. I have had the occasional intern over the summer, but no other full time employees. As in any business, you need to make sure your bottom line is going to grow in bringing in more employees. It’s not always the case. You could end up working hard and managing people only to draw the same salary.

Lastly, hang in there. It takes time to grow a business and there will be lean times, but if you love what you’re doing it will all be worth it. The American Dream is still alive and kicking!!

Questions to ask a Graphic Designer

It’s not every day you call a Graphic Designer to design a logo or do some marketing pieces for your new or existing business. I get calls from all sorts of people who are just trying to get prices and others who are in LOVE with my work and are ready to hire me. However, it seems that a lot of people find it hard to know how to start the conversation. Here are some great ideas for “conversation starters”:

INTRODUCE YOURSELF
I’m “Old School”. I’ve been a graphic designer now for over 30 years and so I like to start with at least a first name. And, because I’m Southern, it’s just the polite thing to do! Once I know your name, I’m sure we’ll be great friends! Some people call and just ask me what I charge for logos like they’re ordering a pizza and while I’m happy to tell you, I’d prefer a little more of an introduction to you. So let’s start with a name!

TELL ME WHY YOU’RE CALLING
So many times people don’t know where to start because they’ve got so much going on, their mind is miles down the road and you’re way ahead of me. I’m super friendly and love talking to people, so slow down and let me know something like, “I’m starting a new business and I need a logo”, or “I have an existing business and we need a website.” It’s hard for me to give you pricing if I have no real idea where you are in your business plan.

KEEP YOUR EXPLANATION BRIEF
Remember, I get paid for my time and while I’m super friendly and want to be helpful, our first conversation should be a brief overview of your needs. If things go well over the phone, but you’re still not completely sure we’re a good fit, I’ll be happy to meet with you for an initial 30 minute consultation at no charge. Once we agree to work together, I’m happy to spend as much time as you need discussing your business!

IT’S OKAY TO ASK ME WHAT I CHARGE
Some people are uncomfortable asking this, but I’m assuming that’s why you’re calling. Every project is unique, so I will need to ask you some questions and we might even need to email each other before I can give you a quote. On the other hand, since I’ve been at this a long time, I have a pretty good idea of how long some projects will take me and can give you a quote over the phone.

I LOVE FOLLOW-UP CALLS
If we’ve talked and you’ve either decided to hire me or you’ve decided on someone else, I really prefer to know. I keep a pretty busy schedule and like to know if I’m going to be working on your project or not. It doesn’t hurt my feelings if you’ve found someone else. :)

I’M NOT CHEAP AND I’M NOT EXPENSIVE
There are always people who will do it for less than me and certainly those who charge more. I’m right in the middle and remember a lot of times you get what you pay for, but just because you paid more, doesn’t mean it’s better. With all of my experience, I bring a lot to the table for small to medium-sized businesses. I work fast with no drama. It’s a simple process of great graphic design in an a la carte menu. I work lean and keep your budget in mind.

Give me a call today. I look forward to talking with you!
Janice

Not Your Average Convenience Store Branding and Interior Design

When you’ve been doing graphic design as long as I have, you tell people, “You name it, I’ve probably designed it in my 30 years.” From logo design to interior design, I get to do some really fun and cool projects. Dang I love my job!!

In 2018, I had the privilege to rebrand Bountyland Quick Stop at 228 West Cherry Road in Seneca, SC, right outside of Clemson University. They were building an entirely new type of convenience store and wanted a new brand and look to go with it. The store has been around the Upstate of SC since 1969. They had been very successful in purchasing existing gas station and turning them around. This project was a new, ground -up venture for Bountyland.

Their old logo was really interesting and reflected the old Esso station tiger. Since this location was near Clemson, the owner, David Land really wanted to keep the tiger and use it to the brand’s advantage. I liked the vintage look of the old design, so we agreed to keep a portion of the old logo and work it into something that is suited for today’s consumer.

The one thing the old branding didn’t have from store to store was consistency. The fonts were often different depending on who worked on the signs. My goal was to design a logo that could be used across the board and slowly integrated into each location as signs needed to be replaced.

The initial designs revealed my desire to keep the 1960s look of the logo, but give it the new look they needed. But there was just one major problem…the tiger. His face was so strange I couldn’t make out just what the initial designer was going for. I knew he had to be redrawn. Creating a character is one of the biggest challenges for a designer. There have been so many over the decades of logo design, that its really challenging to do something original. I set out to do just that. I knew he had to have “attitude” and a relatability that consumers would be drawn to. This is a long, arduous process, but the end design was wonderful. It’s so interesting to see these characters literally take life on the page in front of me!

The final logo design was a hit with the client, so the next step was to turn it into an exterior sign. Any time I design a logo for a retail store client, I design it with signage in mind. This sign was a nice addition to the beautiful exterior of this store. After designing the sign, I also had the opportunity to design the exterior accent colors on the building, giving the building a consistency of brand without overpowering it.

Next the interior signs had to be designed. Each section of a convenience store has a specific products and it’s my job to make it fast and convenient for customers to find what they need. The customer needs to easily see where each major item is housed in the store. The client also wanted to go big with the Clemson tiger theme. He is a big supporter of the Clemson athletics program and even had the athletic director’s number on his phone. In one phone call, he got authorization to use the trademarked tiger paw on the walls. I hired a mural painter and engaged the sign company, Instant Imprints in Greenville, SC and set to work designing the interiors from early construction photos.

Initial rendering approved by the client.

After the rendering was approved, we set to finalizing the flooring and counter materials, bathroom tile selection and interior paint colors. The final project turned out just as designed and even better in real life. David Land was so fun to work with and at the end of the job he said in his adorable Southern twang, “Not only did you come in $85 under budget, we got so much more than we budgeted for. We wouldn’t have been able to do all of the wood an metal with the other quotes we got.” Makes a designer proud!

This was by far the most fun project I’ve done in years! Mighty Mouse Productions is a small, one-stop-shop for all of your branding and marketing needs.

Who Knew We Had a Music Museum?

Well, we do! Greenville, South Carolina is a wonderful city with lots to offer in the arts world. With the building of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in the 1980s, Greenville began it’s journey to become a city full of arts & culture. Eventually there were small performing arts theaters and museums that give you plenty of educational and creative entertainment in our small city.

Here’s a list of some theaters and museums you might like to visit:
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, The Logos Theatre , Greenville Theatre, Furman University Upstate History Museum, CentreStage, The Academy of Arts, Greenville Center for Creative Arts, Greenville County Museum of Art

But back to the topic of this post… Greenville’s Music Museum. It’s only one of three like it in the country!

Recently I was hired to rebrand the museum. What an exciting and fun project! Formerly known as Carolina Music Museum, they had been given a large instrument and financial endowment from the Marlo Sigal family, so they decided to change their name to the Sigal Music Museum.

The first challenge was to create an icon that represented music. I wanted something inspiring that flows and moves. Since music notes cross across all kinds of music, that seemed the right direction. The design took shape as a beautiful “flower” shaped, spinning notes piece of art. The next part was what to put in the middle. We were open to a lot of ideas, but landed on the piano keys, because one of the founders, Tom Strange, is a keyboard expert and his passion is restoring old pianos. Plus the museum hosts a lot of amazing pianos, including one Mozart played!

Next I developed a custom version of the classic font Bodoni for the word Sigal and combined that with a newer font for Music Museum to create a lasting “old with the new” font combination. Thus forming a complete logo design that will work in many different situations.

After the logo design is complete. I designed letterhead, notecards and business cards to carry the brand all the way through.

One of my favorite things to do with new logos, is to design complimentary pieces that begin to add depth to the brand. this design is reflective of a “record” from the mid-20th century era to be used as a coaster, magnet and other branding pieces.

Next in the branding process is the website design. This website needed to be extra ordinary and have inspiration and flow to it. You can check it out here. I wanted something that was colorful and interactive. On the home page you can listen to each instrument play, so you can see how they sound.

Lastly, I felt like the reason that a lot of people didn’t know we have a music museum is because the signage was high up on the front side of the building. Sign placement is critical in any establishment who is serving walk-in customers. Because the museum is in the middle of a curved, 4 lane road, I felt there needed to be a sign designed to suit a location at the corner of the building at eye level for drivers. This monument sign will draw a lot of attention to the newly branded museum.

All told, this was an amazing graphic design project! Tonia Hubbard has been a joy to work with and I look forward to this museum getting more and more notoriety in the future! And if you’re in Greenville, plan a visit.

Agency Quality Work at a Fraction of the Cost

That’s a pretty bold statement, but it’s true! So many companies think that if they pay more for something it’s better. But I couldn’t disagree more! Sure, at an agency you’ll have lots of people working for you at $200 an hour. But does that mean you’re getting better work than I can do for you? That’s not guaranteed. And what about those companies that are just one person or who have advertising needs without the giant budget? Everyone has to advertise, that’s a reality. But you don’t have to spend all of your profits to get your name out there. Just call Mighty Mouse, small yet mighty!

I’m a freelance Graphic Designer. who’s been at it for over 30 years. Heck, I can do some of this stuff in my sleep…just kidding. But I do love it and am passionate about delivering work that makes my clients look and sound great! By saying I’m a freelancer, that means is I work independently of a large staff with the overhead of an office and salaries and benefits, etc. It’s a simple way to do business. When you need work, you just call me and I do it. No waiting days to hear back from your account rep.

But don’t think I work alone. No one should. We all have gifts and talents and I focus on being a good graphic designer, who designs not just logos, but has the ability to add design to anything you need. I have a whole team of associates I enjoy partnering with. One is Valerie Bickley, a very high-level, concept-driven copy writer. She and I have worked as a team for over 18 years. I also work with some very talented web developers who are great at what they do. It’s important to surround yourself with talented people who do what they do. It’s all simple and a la carte. No contracts, no retainers. Just great advertising and design at a fraction of the cost of an ad agency.

A Great Graphic Designer is A Copywriter’s Best Friend

By VALERIE BICKLEY

Beer and barbecue. Love and marriage. Soup and Sandwich. Dogs and bones. Some things just go better together…like a copywriter and a graphic designer.

All you need do is watch an episode of Mad Men to see that writers and graphic designers (back then they were called art directors) have been teaming up for ages to create award-winning advertising campaigns.

There is just a special synergy between a someone who is good with words and someone who is good with pictures that produces true marketing magic.

I’ve said more than once: “ Every writer is at the mercy of the graphic designer.” It’s so true! Without the expert eye of a talented graphic designer to take those fabulously crafted words and showcase them in their best light…”the copy,” or content can lose its luster and get lost in a poor design.

Professional graphic designers feel the same way about working with professional advertising copywriters. When they have bland content that doesn’t hit the mark or copy that has no focus or strategy, the entire creative product suffers.

 I’ve been fortunate over the years to work with some fantastic graphic designers. One such person is Janice Antley, of Mighty Mouse Productions. We’ve been collaborating for over 18 years because we believe our work is “better together.”

As a writer, it’s important to me that certain sections of content have more emphasis than others… in order to optimize the brand messaging and the impact of those words. I can share my thoughts with the graphic designer, and then let her/him utilize their skills in font selection, graphic elements and artful design to create a visual communication masterpiece.

Really good creative teams switch hats sometimes, too. I’ve found I can often make some pretty insightful design suggestions and that my graphic designer partner has come up with some great suggestions on the content.

Together, we tweak until we get it all just right. We make sure all the necessary elements are included: logos, taglines, disclaimers, NAP (name –address-phone) web address, etc., and make sure that it is all correct, too. We both proofread…me for content mistakes, inconsistencies and those extra spaces that seem to always pop up, and my graphic designer… to make sure that backgrounds, sizing, colors and graphic specifications are all correct.

Bottom line: Great graphic design/copywriting teamwork results in the best possible creative product. To our mind, like the ending of that iconic Campbell’s Soup jingle from the 60’s…Soup and Sandwich…”You can’t have one without the other.”

Written by Valerie Bickley of Bickley Creative. Valerie and I have partnered for over 18 years as a strong marketing team.

Restaurant Design

It’s not every day I get to design a logo for a restaurant, so I was pretty excited to get a call to rebrand the Peddler Steak House in Spartanburg. They had decided after almost 40 years to move the restaurant to a more visible location on Main Street.

One of my best friends, Lucynda Moore of Rare Design, is an architect and she had been hired to design the renovations. She invited me in on the project and I was thrilled to do it! Getting in on the ground floor for a project is the very best way for me to have the biggest impact on branding.

The Peddler’s concept is pretty unique. They bring a rolling chopping block out to your table a cut the meat right there! You can decide how thick or thin you want it. So I wanted to give them an old world image of a butcher and I wanted the logo to look classic.

After the logo was finished, we moved on to signs, menus, the website, etc. It’s great to be able to make everything go together and cohesive.

The space was a restaurant before, but they still had to do extensive renovations. They moved the front entrance to the side where a walking street has been added in recent years.

The next step was to design the website. Valerie Bickley of Bickley Creative and I turnkey websites from writing to design. The outcome is a fully custom, unique website with a marketing message to help you set your business apart.

The business cards were printed on Trifecta’s 38 point Red with Velvet Finish paper. Which means the “inside” of the paper has red that shows around the edge. I wanted to emulate a “rare” inside.

When it was all done, the Peddler was my one of my favorite projects of 2018!

Are You Open to Be Mentored?

I’ve been a graphic designer now for over 30 years, and one of the big things I’ve learned is learning. As a person who is type A, I struggle with admitting that I don’t know something. But what I’ve never done is think I know it all. Early on in my career I worked under some pretty talented people who I admired. This mentorship was invaluable to me and has helped me get where I am today.

In the early days of my career, I worked with some very talented and creative designers who not only showed me how their creative processes worked, but allowed me to experience the much needed hand over my work that I desperately needed. It was a constant reminder that I had so far to go and a lot to learn.

If you’re reading this and just getting started in your graphics or creative career, you might get what I’m saying. But in this high tech world we find ourselves in now, I have a feeling that the young creatives these days don’t respect those who have gone before them. Personally, I’ve been treated as if I’m behind on the times and that there’s nothing I could teach them. Technology-wise this is probably accurate, but creative thought and delivery are not things you can learn from watching a You Tube video or just “figure out” as you go. Working under successful people in my opinion is not only smart, but a necessary element in your success. I want to say thank you to all of my mentors!

That leads me to the second point of this post: A LOT of websites are lacking in depth of thought and creativity, because I’m guessing a lot of developers and designers have not learned from those who came before them how the creative process works. Yes, the websites might look good, but what is the message? Is your website actually saying anything that your competition isn’t also saying? Just making a nice website isn’t enough. The content and marketing message have to have an original and creative basis for you to be able to stand out from your competition. This is something my writer Valerie Bickley and I have struggled to get across to some people we’ve talked to. Content writing isn’t just about telling people what you do. It’s about saying it in an engaging message format that makes your audience want to read more. In my opinion as a graphic designer, I think the content on your website is WAY more important than the design.

Website development isn’t just about getting hits and driving traffic. It’s a place for your clients and customers to come get a feel for who you are and what you do. Slapping up a vanilla template and throwing some nice photos and words will not be doing your company justice. I would encourage you to consider digging into who you are as a company and figuring out what your message should be to the world. Valerie and I would love to discuss this further with you! Please contact me today.

What's in a Name?

It all starts with this "big idea". That moment when you realize you've got a great concept for a new business and you know you're ready to step out there, take a chance and go for it. It's been compared to having a baby. The moment your "baby" is conceived, you begin preparing for it's arrival. The second thing that happens is typically to come up with a name. What are you going to call it? The ideas start to flow... You brain storm over a glass of wine with friends or a partner. It's a big deal, so you want it to be perfect. It has to have meaning, strength, purpose. It has to be sounded out, spelled right, etc. You land on a few ideas then the research begins. You go out there to find out if other people have that name you start realizing you might want to trademark it. It's very important that you get it right. Then you realize perhaps all of the names you have come up with kinda fall short. They're just not that great or they've already been taken. The names you have might describe what you're doing, but they're not unique enough, not powerful enough... Then discouragement sets in. You can't agree with your partner or friends on the right direction. What's next?

Copywriter
What some of you might not know, is there's help! Believe it or not, there are people who have made careers in naming companies. That's right! They are called Copywriters, but not just any copywriter will do. As in hiring the right graphic designer, you need to find the right copywriter to help you come up with the perfect name. You need someone with a lot of experience in branding companies. Someone who's not just good with words, but looks at your business from a marketing perspective and can take your beautiful "baby" and do it justice with an outstanding name. There are a lot of great copywriters out there, but I work with Valerie Bickley of Bickley Creative. She and I have worked together for many years and we've branded many companies together. I tell people she's words and I'm pictures. We go together like peas and carrots. Valerie has a great way of looking at creative challenges with confidence and a spark. She does not disappoint and has always come through with flying colors for all of my clients.

Some Things To Consider
In a time where everything out there has practically been "done" and a lot of names are taken, it can be very challenging to name your business. A lot of people first consider using their own name. While that's not a bad idea and it is certainly appropriate for some businesses, you must take into consideration the lifespan of your business and whether or not you plan on selling your company in the future. If this is something you hope to build and some day sell, you might want to consider NOT using your name. Your business will have a greater impact in the long term if the name of the business has staying power. This is not to say that your last name isn't the perfect name for a business, but keep in mind the following questions:
• How long is the name? The longer the name, the smaller it will be.
• Does it sound good and is it easy to pronounce? For instance, if your last name is Mictlantecuhtli, it's going to not only be very long, but difficult to pronounce for the average person. 
• Does it look good in print?
• Is your name a really common one?

Last, But Not Least
Words have meaning and they produce opinions. Your name and logo are the face of your "baby", and since so often it's the first thing people see, first impressions are powerful. The perfect name will have what we call "legs" and carry you a long way. So make sure you take the time and often spend the money to get this right. Your name is the one thing you don't ever want to have to change. I'm sure you're goal is to build a brand and reputation that is long lasting and in the end successful, it's important it to get it right.

Should Your Company Use Social Media?

Social media has become a monster of a thing to undertake when starting a new business or trying to integrate it into an existing business. You'll need to learn the ins and outs of all of the platforms. You'll need to decide who will be in charge of running social media and you'll need to commit real time to it. The real question is, "How necessary is social media for your business?" In my opinion, the answer to that question depends on what kind of business you have. For some businesses, Facebook is a great tool, but for others does it really make sense? Let's work through this.

Facebook
Facebook was originally created for interaction between friends. You had to ask to be someone's friend and then once you agreed you were "friends", you could begin to read what the other was writing and what photos they were posting. Then as an added perk, you could see what their friends were posting. It was totally designed to "network" friends. Jump forward 13 years and Facebook has transformed into a business, complete with businesses joining in, ads and spam. Everyone who's "anyone" has a Facebook page. Not only do millions but as of today, 1.86 billion people are on Facebook. So to answer your question, should you be on Facebook, my question to you is "What do you have to say?" Yes Facebook is a great place to do some "free" advertising, but Facebook is on to people running their businesses off of Facebook and they are making it harder and harder to post things to promote your business. Let's say you have 1,000 people who have liked your page, Facebook is only going to show your post to about 35 people, unless you share your post on your personal page or pay to boost your post. Another option is to run digital ads. All good options, but the thing you need to remember, Facebook is a social app. The best way to communicate with your audience is to post social things about your business. If you're just constantly trying to sell people things, they'll get bored and stop paying attention. The most successful Facebook pages show the inner working of businesses, what the business is up to in the community, etc. Next you need to remember, photography is king. Great images will go really far. Take the time to set up shots that are great and interesting. Investing in a really good camera could take your photos from okay to amazing (of course the iPhone camera is getting ridiculously good, so there's that...)

To sum it up, if you don't have anything social or interesting to say, Facebook might help people find you and give you company some recognition, but if you don't take the time to post often and post interesting, it might not be worth the effort. It might be worth hiring a graphic designer to help you make your post look great.

Twitter
Twitter is two years younger than Facebook. It started off as a way to send short, interesting messages to other people who follow you. It was created as an online news and social networking service where users post and interact with messages, "tweets," restricted to 140 characters. Twitter is a social platform, but is used mostly for promoting ideas and opinions. It's a great way to announce new things your company is doing, but not in depth articles, unless you post a link to the article. Twitter is a smart, intelligent form or social media, not to be ventured into lightly. Before launching a Twitter account, your company needs to have a plan and a person who will be in charge of your messaging. As with most social media, consistency is key.

Instagram
Instagram came on the scene in 2010. It is all about the photography. Instagram is great way to showcase great photos of your business or your product. It's a very glamorous platform. If you don't have great images, I would steer away from Instagram. Another aspect of Instagram is the ability to tag companies and people and you can also communicate with hashtags. They are working on allowing new types of images and now videos. Before the image was limited to a square image only and no links to websites. Instagram reaches a younger crowd, if you business is targeting that age group. Another thing to remember is take time not just posting things people will like, but you also should spend time liking other people and company's posts. It's important to build these relationships and it's not just a one way street.

These are just three forms of social media. There's also Pinterest (a kind of black hole for me) and Snapchat (definitely more for kids). One thing to keep in mind, once you venture into the social aspect of your business, don't neglect it. It take diligence and sometimes daily effort. But the rewards can be huge!

Not All Photographers are the Same

At a time when every phone has amazing cameras, everyone tends to consider themselves as photographers. Granted, photography has made major leaps forward. Heck, I want to go back in time and graduate from high school, get married and have children all over again... simply for the photography! If you compare the photography from my wedding and my kids growing up, you'd laugh when compared to the "Pinterest" images you see today. Everyone's expectations of images have increased greatly over the past 10 years, and this has led me to write this article attempting to help you hire the best photographer.

In the world of advertising, great photography is a graphic designer's best tool, but not all photographers are the same. When searching for a photographer for your business, here are some things to consider:

1. What KIND of photography do they specialize in?
Not all photographers are good every type of subject. Photographers tend to specialize in particular types of photography. There are wedding photographers, photographers who are great at people and head shots, architectural photographers, exterior/outdoor photography, product photography, model photography, etc. Choose the photographer who has a lot of experience in the types of images you need.

2. How much does it cost?
I've found the cost of photographers all over the board. Some charge by the hour and some charge by the day. Then others charge by the image. Keep in mind that photography isn't just about the time they spend the day of the shoot. Most photographers take 100s and sometimes 1000s of images in one shoot in order to get the perfect photos. After the shoot, they have to go and whittle those images down to a working amount. Then they have to whittle it down again for final picks. After that, they have to edit the images, color correct and crop every single image. The images then have to be uploaded onto a site that allows for previewing. It's very time consuming. But any great photographer is going to want to give you only the very best of the shots. Keep in mind, there are many hours involved and their time is worth money. So if the price seems high, remember everything involved in getting those images done. Also remember, the images are forever, so they're worth the extra money. With that said, be diligent and get several quotes before making a decision and as with anything, there is always space to negotiate.

3. Does your photographer need help?
The job of managing a photoshoot is huge. There are so many tasks that have to take place. There's the pre-shoot planning: What to shoot, how to shoot it, where to shoot it, models, etc. Organic, spontaneous photoshoots are considered more social or journalistic. Professional, corporate photoshoots for advertising need lots of planning and structure. This is where graphic designers and assistants come in handy. The photographer needs to be free to "focus" on lighting, content, positioning. Most photographers have an assistant there to help them with small tasks like lighting and lens selection. Also, having a designer there to oversee the project frees them up to do what they do best. It is an added expense, but well worth the money. A good designer should have each shot planned out to the point where they know where it will go in the marketing piece, what type has to go on the image and how the image will be used. This alleviates the need to reshoot things that didn't work the first time. Seriously consider bringing your designer to the shoot.

4. Be clear with the photographer how you plan to use their images
Some photographers hold licenses on their images unless you make an agreement to buy the images outright. If you're planning on using the images for multiple uses, have that discussion with them when you hire them. Once the images are released, you're on the honor system and it's not honorable to take advantage of them. If you're going to need the image for multiple uses and it's going to sell your business on many different platforms, it's worth the money to pay them for a full buyout and keep on good terms with the photographer for future needs.

5. Stock photography versus original photography
Many websites now offer very inexpensive images. Some that I use are shutterstock.com istock.com and stocksy.com. Very often I can get exactly what I need from them. However, there are times when the job calls for something more personal for the client. A product line needs to be shot, images of actual employees are needed, interiors of the business are featured, etc. That's the time to bring in a professional photographer. Again, choose your photographer based on the need. Be sure and review their portfolio carefully, looking for experience in that subject.

Lastly, don't forget, a picture is worth a thousand words... literally. People respond emotionally to images and it doesn't require time to read content. It's a quick and easy way to get a message across. So keep in mind, all of your marketing will be improved with great photography. For a graphic designer, designing without photography is like designing with your hands tied behind your back. However, on the flip side of that, too many images confuse the audience. One great image that communicates your message is often enough. Take the time and spend the money to get that right and you'll find people will respond to your business!

Should you work for yourself or someone else?

I've been in business for myself as a graphic designer for over 18 years and I've seen both sides of this question. For the first 13 years after college, I worked for someone else. I've had so many jobs, some good, some bad. But the one thing I learned is not everyone is cut out to be self-employed.

In the beginning of your career, it is imperative that you work under someone who has been successful. I've worked for wonderful mentors and some I could have done without, but in all of my jobs, I've learned and grown. Working for someone else brings with it a type of security and peace of mind that you don't have to worry so much about the business in general. It's your job to do a good job, and at the end of the day you can go home and sleep easy knowing the ultimate success of the company doesn't rest on you. You don't have to deal with employees, insurance, paying bills, etc. You just have to focus on your job and being good at it. At my last job, I also enjoyed being a part of something I felt was larger than me. It was a small advertising agency here in Greenville now called Brains on Fire. I loved going to work most days. I got to do what I love without worrying about tomorrow. It was an exciting time and a great job!

However, as most things do, all good things must end and I found myself wanting to spend time with my young boys. So one day I got up my courage to leave and work as a freelancer. It was such a hard thing to do, and very risky. Once I left, I had no promise of income, no insurance on my own (my husband has a corporate job and I was insured), and I was working alone in my home. I suddenly was on my own and my career survival was squarely on my head (and God's blessings). There were days I wondered what in the world I'd done, but I kept pushing through. I had times of loneliness and wishing I was back being a part of something exciting. But then I would see my kids smile and have the option of taking them to the pond to read a book and was reminded of why I did this. I had to discipline myself. I got up every day and showered and got dressed and went into my office to work as if I were going to a job. Sitting on your couch is a really bad idea and I wouldn't advise it ever...unless you're sick, of course AND you don't have to call in, so a plus to self-employment! In the early days, I had a tiny desk in my dining room, which was very stressful. Eventually I dedicated a room in my house to work in and in the past few years I rented a desk at a co-working space called Atlas Local. Working from home has it's challenges, and renting a desk or office space gets you out of your home and around other talented people.

As the years have gone by, God provided the work and I've worked hard. I've made a consistent income every year for 18 years. I made the decision early on not to build this business beyond myself. I did that to keep my life simple. I knew I could take on more work with help, but that comes with complications and not always more income. I've enjoyed partnering with a great copywriter, Valerie Bickley of Bickley Creative, a website company, David Haskins at Haskins & Company and many others who are great at what they do. It's been a good career and I get to do what I love every day and set my own hours.

In 2014, a friend and I decided to start another company completely unrelated to graphic design. It's a small company that manufactures pet products called AllyJay Pets. Now I get to do graphic design for my own company! This has been a wonderful change! It's also been one of the hardest things I've ever done! I'm still working full time as a graphic designer and work on a start-up. It's been a complete game changer to have a partner after so many years of just working for myself. The closest analogy I have is I feel like I've married someone I didn't date. You learn a lot about someone when you live with them after marriage and you equally learn a lot about someone when you go into business with them. Don't get me wrong, I could have NEVER done this without her, but it does come with it's challenges. You have to run every decision by your business partner. I've gone from making my own decisions with no one questioning me to a partner who questions most things I say (which she should!). My only advise to you on this matter is choose your business partner wisely. Make sure they have the same ethics, beliefs and commitment you have. While my business partner and I have lots of challenges, at the end of it all, we come together with a common belief system and purpose. We are both growing and learning together as a team.

The challenge I'm facing now is growing a business that will have employees. Gone are the days of my simple life, but ahead lay challenges that will help me grow beyond myself. I look forward to mentoring young people and giving back what was given to me. Not a day goes by where I don't ask myself, "Why are you doing this?". If you're starting a business, you need to know your "why". It will be the only thing that drives you through the tough days. Your "why" can't be just to earn money. If money is your only motivation for starting a company, you might find yourself in a position of doing something you hate! Make sure you're building a business where you can find fulfillment in your job. Sure you're going to have to do things you don't like to do, but your goal should be to do something you're good at for your own company. 

In building a new business, I have a lot of stress and fear for success. Fear is the only thing holding me back some days. I'm now realizing that fear is nothing more than moving toward the unknown. Once you take that first step toward fear, it begins to lose it's power over you. I hope that will a little courage and God on my side, I can face each fear and become a fearless leader! 

In summary, should work for yourself or someone else? Both are great, but from my perspective working for yourself is liberating! I wish you success either way!

Is the New Year the right time to make resolutions?

This time of year everyone looks at the opportunity to start fresh and resolve to make changes in their lives. I tend to think this is the worst time of year to start something new. For many of us, you're exhausted from the rush of the holiday season and your mind is at it's most exhausted state. Starting something new requires a tremendous amount of effort, so is this actually the best time of year to resolve to change your life?

8 months ago, after 40 days of fasting from shopping for Lent, my husband and I decided to make a major change in our lives in April. We decided to change the way we eat. It all started for me as a desperate attempt to lose weight and combat the symptoms of Hypothyroidism. We agreed to do the Paleo diet for 30 days. We figured we could do anything for 30 days. After the month was over we were both down quite a few pounds and decided not to stop. Now after all of these months we're thinner than we've been in 25 years and feel awesome! 

Spring Forward!

I've asked myself. "Why did it work this time? What was different than all of the other times?" For one thing I feel God blessed the fact that I Fasted. Fasting from something you love can be really hard and this was the first time I had done it. Secondly, I think it was the right time of year... Spring! It's a wonderful time of year! Winter makes me just want to hibernate and hide from the cold. But Spring offers us the hope of the end of a long, cold winter and the excitement of beautiful, warm days. It also offers us another hour in our day for us Southerners, which always makes me feel better mentally. Spring is the beginning of vacations, time on the beach or lake with friends and family. It launches me forward every year!

Making major changes in life is never easy. It take commitment and hard work. In the beginning all changes pretty much suck. Changing the way I think about food took some research and much prayer. It also helped to have a partner to do it with. Not eating junk food isn't very popular either, so expect push back from all of those around you. But the reward as amazing! Not only are you doing something a large majority of the population will never accomplish, but you will gain admiration from places you never expected. Is it hard when my girlfriends are sitting around eating pizza and cookies, sure. But I always make sure I have things around me to eat that l love: nuts, grapes, Paleo desserts, etc. 

Now I'm asking myself what can I change about myself this year. As a graphic designer and creative person, I'm notoriously a late riser in the morning. It's been a problem my entire life. Heck, I even remember running to school in the first grade! Changing my sleep habits will be a major accomplishments. I love staying up at night! But the problem is I'm not productive at night, I just want to sit around and watch TV. If I could work at night, it would all be okay, but I just can't. So this year my new goal is to go to bed earlier and get up earlier. I'm only trying to shift one hour. It sounds like a simple thing, but to me it's HUGE. Again, I'm going to need the partnership with my husband who would definitely use more sleep. Mostly I'll rely on God to help me and hopefully by this summer I'll be a new person professionally!

What will you Spring forward and commit to do in 2016?

What Type of Client are You?

Today I emailed a client who is struggling with figuring what it is he wants in a logo design. The design process can be very difficult for certain types of people. I know it's not "PC" to say that there are "types of people", but when it comes to the creative process, everything is subjective to how you personally see things. The right side of the brain processes things differently for everyone. It's part of what makes art so wonderful! In logo design, however, this can be a frustrating element for some clients who have trouble figuring out what they want.

So let's discuss the different types of clients.

The Open Minded Client
This client comes to the logo designer with a completely open mind and does not have any major pre-conceived ideas of what the logo should look like. You know everything about your business except how to represent it through a brand. You're giving the designer a blank page. This can be quite challenging for the designer, but also very liberating! Most designers want free reign in the design process. This allows the creative juices to flow to a maximum. Keep in mind that you've hired a professional to do a job, not just a flaky, artsy fartsy person (I hope you didn't hire a "flaky, artsy fartsy person"!). Let them do their job just like you like to do your job. That comes with a certain level of trust. Be sure you've done your homework when hiring that person and looked at their work and interviewed them. If you haven't seen their work, you won't appreciate their expertise. The Open Minded client will and should pleasantly have their minds blown with the designs that come out. They will be more open to taking risk and connecting with their customers in a way they never thought possible. A great logo design will do this.

The Visual Client
This client has the ability to be visual on their own, so they usually come to you with a few basic concepts to help jump start your designs. This can be helpful, but it can also be a hinderance. It's helpful in that the designer gets an idea of how you think and what you like. The hinderance is that now you've put ideas into the designers mind that might stifle the creative process. A great quality of a visual client is they do already know what they want and so if the designer hits it, we have a winner early in the process. The down-side is if they don't it can be a long a painful process for you both. Be sure and communicate in very specific ways in commenting on the designs at this stage. Your designer needs to know what it is you don't like about what they've done, including why you don't think it's a good solution.

The "Designer" Client
For a graphic designer, this is the most difficult client to work for. We as designers appreciate your desire to create and be a part of the process, but having the client step into the role as designer pretty much rips the heart out of your designer. Most designers feel that what they do has very much to do with who they are, designs come from within. We're not making widgets in a factory. We're creating something out of nothing. It's a huge task to undertake and it takes a LOT of energy to do this. To have a client come and give you a sketch is one of the hardest things a designer encounters. At this point, the creative process is over for the designer and they are now just order takers and production artist. My suggestion is to be very upfront with you designer before the project begins. If you want to be that heavily involved in the design, tell them, then they can decide if that process works well for their work process. Another option is to hire a production artist. They charge much less than a logo designer and often are more open to multiple changes and variations.

The Collaborator
This client is a very sophisticated professional who has previous experience in branding a company. The design and client come together as a team. For a designer this can be a little intimidating at the beginning, but as the process develops, they'll see the benefit of working with this client. The Collaborator Client needs to realize however, that the designer is the stronger person as far as design goes in this partnership. I personally haven't had very many of these types of clients, but would be open to working with this person. I feel that most great ideas come from good collaborating!

Which kind of client are you? Have you stopped to consider your expectations of working with a graphic designer on your brand? Do you make decisions easily or with great difficulty? I'll write later about how to narrow down the decision making process when it comes to branding.

Taking the Leap – Starting a New Business

Have you been thinking about starting a new business? If so, how long have you been thinking about it? Many of us dream of going into business for ourselves and being our own boss, but keep in mind that being the boss is not all it's cracked up to be. The flip side of that is being your own boss is awesome! I own two businesses: Mighty Mouse Productions and AllyJay Pet Designs. I've learned a lot over the years and would like to share some with you. Let's discuss the pros and cons of being a business owner. 

Competition Breeds Challenges that Can Lead to Success
I've been self employed now for 17 1/2 years. When I first started out as a graphic designer out of school, I wanted a job with benefits. I wanted what I considered "security". Back then very few people worked for themselves compared to today. In 2013, an estimated 10 million people claimed to be self-employed. That doesn't even include owners of incorporated business and freelancers. That's a lot of people! Therefore the first thing you need to remember is that means there is a lot of competition in most industries. The first thing you should consider is just how much competition there is in what you want to do. Don't be discouraged by competition too much though. A lot of competition usually means it's a good business, but you have to find a better way to do it to set yourself apart. Spend a lot of time researching those who would be your competition. Do it better and more efficiently. Never settle for mediocre. Try to look at it from a different perspective. Make a list of the weaknesses of the product or service that currently exist and then make strides to correct those things.

Can You Afford it?
You need to be very clear about this: Are you set up to financially afford going into business for yourself? I started freelancing as a graphic designer because my husband had a stable corporate job and benefits. If you get in over your head too soon, things might turn south. Keep a tight reign on your expenses in the beginning. Make sure you make a complete list of your monthly expenses and work towards making enough to pay those to start with. Keep yourself in the black for a long as possible. If you need help in this area, ask a friend who's really good at managing money to spend an evening with you to show you their tricks. Financial issues are the #1 reason most businesses don't make it.

If You Don't Advertise, Don't Expect to Succeed
Be realistic about your need to advertise. Advertising can be a huge help and a huge hinderance. It's expensive and there's a LOT of options out there. You can hire experts who know what their doing, or you can try and do it yourself. I personally believe that starting with a great logo is one of the most important things you should do, if you're doing a business that will be seen by the public at large. Some small, service driven businesses can get away with a simple type treatment, while retail stores can draw in customers just from a great brand development. 

Social media will be your #1 advertising source in the beginning, if you're starting with a small budget. It's free and there are tons of websites and blogs on making the most of each facet of social media. One thing you might not know is Facebook has tightened their reins on business accounts (they're in this to make money just like you are). It won't matter how many people like you page, Facebook will only show your post to about 35 people. As an owner of two small businesses, the way we get around that is by sharing our business post on our personal pages. Then if you have a special promotion going on, you can ask friends and family to share it. One suggestion I have is to pay a little money and boost your post. Facebook will let you choose how many people you want to see it according to how much you want to spend. Keep in mind that they will only let you put text on 1/6th of the page. Focus on interesting photos and don't only post products and sales pitches. People want to know you're interesting and involved in your community. Put photos from every event you attend.

Being the Boss Takes a LOT of Discipline
How disciplined are you with your time? Being self-employed requires an enormous amount of self-discipline and the ability to manage your time. When I first started working from home I decided in the beginning to get up, shower and dress every day. If you're planning on working from home (which is cheaper in the beginning), set up a strict routine every morning. Pretend you're going into the office. I even had to have my shoes on! LOL! If you're dressed and sitting at a desk, you will be more productive. Also, on the working from home front, you need a room or designated space to work in that's efficient and large enough to spread out and feel free to do whatever you're doing. If you're starting a company that will eventually have employees, you need to be the example that you want your employees to be. If the slackness comes from the top, you'll have no one to blame but yourself. Being the boss is a very hard job, so make sure you're up for it. Going easy on employees in times where you shouldn't will cause problems in staffing. Can you be the person who has to make tough decisions?

Setting Goals is Hard Work, but Worth It
Set goals. This is probably one of the hardest things to do. I personally set a monitary goal of the money I needed to make. Since I charge by the hour, I knew at that point how many hours a week I HAD to work in order to make my goal. If you're starting a business where you're selling a product or service, you need to know how much you need to sell in order to make a living, minus all of the expenses. If you're selling a product, you need to set your profit margins correctly. Also take into account all of the small expenses that will drain your profits, if you're not careful.

You're Not On Your Own
There are reources and organizations that can help you. There are many organizations– private and state run – designed to help small start-up businesses to succeed. In my pet business, my partner and I attended a "New business" class that a group of retired business men put on. It was a Saturday well spent. You might also need investor groups for when you're ready to take it to the next level. Start with your local Chamber of Commerce to find the best connections for that. 

I've loved working for myself all these years and feel very blessed to have been able to do that. A year ago I started the online pet company AllyJay Pets, and I have to say it's the hardest thing I've ever done. Sometimes you have to just take the leap, but never without weighting the cost. A lot of time and effort went into launching this company, but we have made it a year and my partner has worked very hard to keep us afloat. If you have a great idea, don't just sit around and wish you could do it. Take steps today to make it a reality! I encourage you to go for it!

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone Keeps You Moving Forward

I come from an ad agency background and after having kids, I decided to quit my job and work from home. That was a frightening adventure with no real promise of work, but at the time my children were coming along, it was the right decision. I was able to be there for them and have my career. I felt blessed and happy, but it took years to build a client base and get used to being alone most of the day. I'm very social and outgoing, but after time I adjusted and settled into a great routine with wonderful clients. 15 years went by in a blink and I found myself staring down the "empty nest" time in my life. In the back of my mind, I thought, "What's next?" My work had dropped off and after trying to "beat the bushes," as my momma calls it, nothing was happening.

Two years ago a good friend told me that there was this cool place downtown Greenville, SC that rented desks called CoWork Greenville. My curiosity got the best if me, so I made the decision to check out. After looking it up online, I emailed them and they encouraged me to drop by any time to check it out. A few days later, I decided to just do a "drive-by" to see the building. I felt intimidated to go in, but then felt silly, so I just got my courage up and walked in. I met Matthew Smith who gave me a tour and after it was over, I told him I only had two comments: "Uh...there's no women in there..." and "I'm A LOT older than all of you!" He just smiled and encouraged me to give it a try. They offered day-to-day "Cafe memberships", so there was no risk.

After I left I felt like it was exactly where I needed to be, but fear creeped into my mind. I asked myself, "How was I going to justify paying rent? Can I really work with a bunch of young guys? They have standing desk, can I stand all day as a middle aged woman?" However, the more I thought about it I began to tell myself that I had to do what ever it takes to work there. I mean, what's the worst thing that could happen?! So I thought about it a few more days and set a start date. The moring I started I probably changed clothes 10 times. I mean, heck, I'd been working at home for 15 years! What did people wear to work now? Add to that the fact that the place was full of 28-38 year old men! Ahhhh! So I did my best not to look like an old lady and set off to my new adventure.

Once I got here I was greeted by an extremely nice guy who introduced me to everyone and made me feel very welcome. No one made me feel different and most of them stopped and introduced themselves to me, asked what I did, and we proceeded to get to know each other. Immediately, I knew I'd made the right decision. Within a week or two I got an email from Matthew saying "Hey, you might want to think about redoing your website." My intrepretation of that was: "Your website sucks, and we're embarassed!" and he was right! In working from home, I'd gotten very lazy in keeping my own website fresh and current. I just kept putting it on the back burner. Now I had accountability! I told them that my problem is that I didn't have the knowledge to do my own website or money to pay someone to do it. So the guys put their heads together and suggested I use Squarespace. Even then I was hesitant to start it. So Matthew went one step further and encouraged me by starting a site for me while I was standing at his desk. He said it was free to try it and not hard to do. So off I went and dove into the experience. It wasn't extremely simple, because I wanted to design my own, but I was able to get it done within a few weeks. 

In the process of creating a new website, I then got inspired to design a new logo for myself. (It's crazy how we don't spend time on our own marketing when we're working on other people's businesses!) 

Once I finished the site, I launched it and the guys said it turned out really nice. One of them, David Haskins,  noticed I'd done a logo for a local restaurant called Soby's. He was so impressed that he asked me to design a logo for his new business The Haskins Company and for trade he would optimize my website for Search Engines and help me with social media. This turned out to be one of the best things that's happened to my business since I started. The Haskins Company got me on page one on Google and all of a sudden the phone started ringing!

So now, two years later I'm sitting back reflecting on how far my graphic design business has gone in the time I left the "safety and comfort" of my home office for an office full of young up and coming guys in their industry. I can't put a dollar amount on my decision because of everything it's done for me professionally, mentally and even spiritually. While working from home was the right decision at that time in my life, taking a chance and renting office space has been the change my life needed. I've learned to never settle for the easy, contented life. Do new and different things often and with a free spirit and your life and career will always move in a forward direction.