Looking back on the last 5-6 years of my life, I can wholeheartedly say that going all in on my design business has been one of the most fulfilling, rewarding, and best things I've ever done.
It's changed my life for the better in so many ways (one of them is super apparent as I write this…freedom).
Just for context: I'm writing this email at 8am in the morning on a balcony in Thailand.
Obviously this isn't the norm for me, I don't think I'd get anything done if I were traveling all of the time (I'm more of a routine girl, if I'm being honest).
But still, it's nice to occasionally celebrate the perks of being your own boss as these moments remind me why I wanted to build my own business: to create the life I want to live.
I’m saying all this to say, while building my own business is one of the best things I have done, I actually don’t think it’s for everyone.
Here’s why ⬇️
No Work Left Behind
Ever since my business became fully established (with a consistent stream of clients, regular content like these newsletters, social media posts, and other commitments) I haven't had a holiday or break where work wasn't on my mind.
This is because when I chose this career path, I made a commitment to myself to be the most consistent person in my field.
I know that I may not be the most talented designer or the most knowledgeable business owner, but being consistent was something I could fully control (I haven't missed a single social media post in over 4 years).
This commitment makes it difficult to switch off and fully relax. For some people, this constant mental burden can become stressful and overwhelming, which can lead to taking the joy out of the fun things in life.
For me, I've learned to navigate this by setting 2 hours aside each morning (when I'm away) to get the non-negotiables done, which leaves the rest of the day to enjoy and relax. And call me weird, but Jack and I normally come up with some really cool ideas and directions for our business when we're on holiday, I think it's the combination of being relaxed and having time to think.
This works for me but I know it might not work for everyone.
Not Everyone Will Understand You
The average person works Monday to Friday, does a hobby or two in their spare time, and generally sees work as a burden - there isn’t anything wrong with this btw.
But for many business owners, the work they do is something they're really invested in.
They have a goal or vision, and every week they work toward getting a little closer to achieving it.
This means (and I'm talking about myself here) that they're often more enthusiastic and motivated by their work, because they're in the driver's seat with their hands on the wheel, determining what direction and how far they'll go.
To many people, this mindset seems strange because they view life through their own rose-tinted glasses (meaning they see life only from their perspective) and as I mentioned earlier, for the majority of people, work is simply a burden.
This is why if you're a business owner, you've often heard things like "you work too much" from those around you.
They don't mean it unkindly, they're just expressing how they would feel if they put those same hours into their own job (remember those rose-tinted glasses).
It can feel isolating when others don't understand, and you feel like you need to constantly justify your decisions, but just remember: if what you're doing aligns with the type of life and person you want to be, then that's good enough.
Selling Yourself
If there's one thing I've seen over my time spent in the design industry, that artists are reluctant to sell.
They view it as something sleazy, almost taboo.
But I'm here to tell you that if you want to work for yourself and build a successful business, you need to get comfortable selling.
This is because great work doesn't always speak for itself. You'll need to put yourself out there, chase leads, network, and market your services.
A lot of creatives shy away from this for two reasons.
First, they would rather focus on the fun, creative work (but what does that matter if you have no clients?).
Second, they have a negative connotation with the word "sell".
They believe there is something inherently wrong with trying to sell someone on something.
But I believe that this is a self-limiting belief.
There is nothing wrong with selling if you know that what you're offering will help the potential customer.
Reframe what it means to "sell" and be confident that what you're offering makes a difference to your customers' lives (or in case of brand design, their business).
Now, I don't write this newsletter to discourage those of you who one day want to start your own thing (in fact, I wrote it to do the very opposite).
See, those of you who read this and thought "Okay, I'm still going to do it regardless, it's what I want to do and I understand there are negatives with everything in life" are the ones who will make it no matter the circumstances.
You’re clear on what you want, and don’t let your values or goals change just because something might have difficulties or bumps in the road along the way.
And to those of you reading this that are still unsure if building a design business is for you, well it’s for those who are:
Passionate about building something of their own
Willing to push themselves out of their comfort zone
Embrace uncertainty and risk
Able to trust their vision, even when others don’t see it yet.
If this sounds like you, then you're on the right track. But if it doesn't, don't sweat it.
Building a business isn't for everyone, and that doesn't mean you can't become a very successful designer.
My main message would be to figure out what you want, and don't be deterred by the negatives that may come with it, because every choice, every direction, and every journey has its ups and downs, it’s your job to chose the path with the downs that you can endure.
After all, regrets are inevitable whatever you do, but life is about choosing your regrets, so choose wisely.
Sorry, went on a little spiritual awaking message there 😅
Hope you found this weeks email helpful and we’ll chat soon!
Abi.
P.s if you’re looking for something to help make the business side of design easier, I’ve created a FREE 5-day email course that goes through the ins and outs of working with clients. You can enrol here.
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