No, that’s not Felicia Day. It’s the ever creative Megan Clark! She wants you to become exceptional :)
Before Going Independent:
• What did you do for a job?
I was an art director at an advertising agency in Portland, Oregon. I worked on local, regional and national advertising campaigns and did a lot of branding work, too.
• What convinced you to make such a drastic change in your life and career?
Long story short: the ad agency went bankrupt! I had always known that one day I would work for myself, but planned on devoting a few more years to "the man" before making the leap. The bankruptcy turned out to be the perfect kick in the pants.
• What did you worry about that turned out to be totally untrue?
It's hard to remember, but I think at one point I worried that my husband and I would have to move in with my parents. As it turned out, the company he was working for went under a short month after I was laid off. (Yikes!) Thinking we might not be able to support ourselves was terrifying. And totally untrue. (Thank God.)
• What was the hardest thing about going independent?
What overwhelmed me most were all of the logistics: figuring out an office space, upgrading my equipment and software, launching a new website, producing promotional materials, keeping records for my accountant, knowing what to charge and how to bill appropriately. Contracts, invoices, spreadsheets and the like was what kept me up at night. (And that's why I created A Toolkit for Designers (http://www.theexceptionalcreative.com/organization-profits/) . It's a serious shortcut, people!
• How did you prepare to go independent?
From the moment things got shaky at the agency to the day that was it's last, only three weeks had passed. Needless to say, I didn't have a lot of time for preparation. One of the first things I did was run out and buy a 2TB hard drive to back up all my work and assets from my work computer. Probably the second thing I did was order new business cards. I had my files and I could share my contact info. I was ready to roll! (Not.)
When you left your “job” and went independent:
• What went easier that you expected?
The overall concept of self-employment was easier in action than in thought. There were definitely some bumps along the way (including the super overwhelming logistics, crazy taxes and business legalities), but as it turns out, I'm wired to work for myself. I think there are others out there who are too, but just haven't given it a whirl yet. It's not easy, but it might be easier than you'd expect.
• How did you find client work?
Oddly enough, I didn't have to search out much work at all. The work found me, through various means. Fortunately I had been working freelance nights and weekends while at the agency, so I had a pool of previous clients to tap into and they were eager to pass along my name to their colleagues, family and friends. I am grateful for their graciousness to this day.
• What would you like to have known before you became and independent designer?
I would have liked to know that I could actually make more money….how happy I could be…..flexibility….it's tough.
• What positive life change did you experience as a result of going independent?
Freedom! I realized that I had been harboring a lot of unhappiness and bitterness working for someone else, mostly because I was responsible for things that someone else promised to the client, not things I had personally committed to. There's nothing worse, in my opinion.
Now that strangers ask you for interviews:
• What would you say to encourage other designers to go independent?
If you're good at what you do, you have internal motivation and you know how to stay on top of your email inbox, do it! I've never been happier in my career and wish the same for others with even an ounce of entrepreneurial gusto.
• How do you continue to find work?
My studio's business is probably 99.99% referral-based. So, I focus on serving my current clients exceptionally well. In turn, they come back to me for all their design needs and they tell their friends. Doing work well is the best business development technique out there.
• What can most small business learn from one of your biggest successes?
1) Professionalize yourself. Get your personal/studio brand up and running, compile all your forms, outline your processes, organize your files, answer your emails, return voicemails, dress well and show potential clients they can trust you by doing so. I did all of these things fairly quickly (and now consistently) and am convinced it's made all the difference.
2) Surround yourself. Find a virtual team to support you and your business. A mentor, a lawyer, a bookkeeper and a CPA are the top positions on my 'executive board' list for other free agents.
• What can most small business learn from one of your biggest failures?
I've got two:
1) You can never communicate enough. Clients get nervous when you're silent. Speak up more than you think you should. Almost every time a client relationship has gone south since I've been on my own has been because I didn't communicate enough in either frequency or depth. I've learned that same lesson several times and now go out of my way to check in with clients, even when the ball is in their court, per se.
2) You can never save enough. Taxes and unexpected expenses can be the death of your business if you don't plan ahead. I don't feel I've narrowly escaped entrepreneurial death, but the margin has been a little too close for comfort in the past. The first year I was on my own full-time, taxes were a nightmare. I tracked everything and hired a meticulous accountant, but there's no way around having not paid or saved enough throughout the year. Trust me, that will never happen again.
Plan to set aside 30-40% of all profits to pay your taxes (depending on your state/country). Keep this, and all business funds for that matter, in an account that's completely separate from your personal account(s). That should go without saying, but there was a time when I functioned with an all-in-one banking system. That too will never happen again.
Want more Megan? Find her here:
Owner and Designer of Clark & Company (www.clark-and-co.com) @clarkandcompany)
Founder of The Exceptional Creative (www.theexceptionalcreative.com) @exceptionalc)
Co-Founder and Partner of hi, friend (www.hifrienddesign.com) @hifrienddesign)
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