Want More Business? Invest in Your Personal Growth
For a freelance professional, business success and personal growth go hand in hand. You really can’t have one without the other.
If you aren’t in a continual mode of learning, then your life and business will stagnate — real fast. Clients will become harder to get. Work will become harder to do. Things won’t be fun anymore.
In this business, learners are winners. That’s true whether you’re a graphic designer, writer, photographer, consultant or any kind of creative entrepreneur.
How do I keep my brain well-fed? Here’s what I do:
READ.
This can be a tough one if you don’t like to read much, or if you can never find the time (which is what I was like for many years). But reading is an important learning tool that helps you challenge and reshape your thinking. Pick up some good business books. Ask colleagues what the “best reads” are.
TAKE A CLASS.
You should have some time throughout your year where you schedule in some hard “class time”. This can be a night class or a part-time class but it certainly doesn’t have to be limited to that. You can go to scheduled professional development days (like the RGD Ontario is having this month). Many design groups, associations have scheduled events throughout the year. Contact your local associations to find out more and join in.
LISTEN TO AUDIO PROGRAMS.
One of my favorite ways of learning is to “take it on the go”. I love to buy and listen to learning modules or CD’s that I can listen to during my ‘unproductive times’. I use my mp3 player and car CD player to learn when I travel to clients or I am working out. Learning modules are available on all types of topics and are available on the web for download. Or you can purchase great CD’s from your local book store. They are well worth the small investment.
HAVE A MENTOR.
This can happen by spending some direct time with a professional you respect in the business. This can be a professional mentor you pay for, or it can be more informal by just taking a mentor out to lunch. It can even come by studying someone you admire and respect from a distance. The bottom line is, you will learn a lot from spending time with another respected pro.
JOIN AN ASSOCIATION OR BUSINESS GROUP.
Connecting with others is a great way to learn and grow. By sharing (and allowing others to share with you) you benefit directly from their past experiences.
Be a learner. Your business will grow. And so will you.
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Michael Huggins, RGD, is the President of Mindwalk Marketing and the host of the popular iTunes podcast: For Graphic Designers Only. His most recent learning program is www.MarketingYourDesignBusiness.com.
Michael Temple says:
August 1st, 2008 at 9:50 am
Michael, I would agree with all of the ones you listed here. I have personally done and still do all of them. However it is the reading one I would like to comment on. I read a lot of books every year, in fact, I make it annual goal to read so many books per year. I believe this is critical. I know you mentioned business books and I read a lot of those as well, but Joe Sugarman, whom all of us as copywriters probably know, says in one of his books that reading a broad range of books (not just business) is very important to being a broad minded person that can think and write well. The consultant Alan Weiss often says in his books that if all you know is your profession then you don’t know every much.
I try to read a lot of topics which is both fun and interesting as I am learning about stuff that isn’t just business. Personally I like a lot of history and various forms of fiction such as science fiction. These don’t necessarily teach you a specific business technique, but I believe it helps your writing just the same.
Regarding the time to do it. Brain Tracy, whom is a big advocate of reading, recommends blocking out 1 hour every morning and reading before you start work. By using his math he says that this can translate into 50 books per year and put you at the top of your profession very quickly. I like the technique and have been doing it for a year or so. I am not always perfect and miss days or don’t do the full hour, but I can say that the amount of reading I have managed to do in a year has definitely increased.
Michael Huggins says:
August 1st, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Michael,I agree with your comments on reading - it’s essential!
You’re absolutely right about the scope of reading a person needs too. I personally like biographies, psychology and various human interest stuff. As well as anything on the topic of design, branding or marketing.
Because I’m not a “writer” I try to assign my ‘1 hour in the morning’ to writing and an hour at night to reading.
Some freelancer-types might find this easier to do than others however. Some freelance designers, illustrators and photographers (and other creative professionals) may feel a little out of their element with this routine - as compared to those who are freelance writers (I know I used to).
But your point is well taken - Read. Read with scope. And read often.
You can’t keep going to the well if you don’t replenish what’s there. Sooner or later you’re gonna run dry.
Dianna Huff says:
August 5th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Michael T — I constantly read. It is the #1 practice that has made me successful. I can’t imagine running a business and not being *informed* — about everything!
Michael H — I agree about reading outside your industry. I read anything that looks interesting. I find stuff at Borders, the library, and on other people’s Websites and blogs. Plus, now authors send books to me!