Have you ever stopped to think about the incredible journey designers go through to bring their projects to life? While some projects run smoothly, more than not, it’s a rollercoaster ride filled with challenges, unexpected twists, and tight deadlines that rarely leave room for their creative process.
Building a solid client base can be a challenging yet crucial aspect of your success as a freelancer, contractor, or entrepreneur in the design industry. This article will explore ten actionable tips to help you overcome the hurdles and establish yourself as a sought-after professional. By implementing these strategies, you can attract clients, boost your reputation, and pave the way for long-term growth in your design career.
As a creative professional, I’ve experienced firsthand the pressure and expectations that come with hustle culture. The world around us glorifies nonstop hustle and constant obsession, making it crucial for us to redefine what true peak performance means.
The current process for hiring designers is broken. It’s plagued with ridiculous requirements and qualifications, lack of communication, multiple rounds of interviews, unfair design exercises that border on free work, undisclosed salary details, overselling of job and company culture, and a lack of respect and empathy for candidates. And let’s not forget the glaring issue of diversity and inclusion. It’s clear that we need a better way to hire designers, one that is informative, confident, and engaging.
There are twenty-three thousand certified coaches in the United States and over seventy-one thousand worldwide. In fact, the number of active coaches has increased by 35% in the last five years in the U.S. alone! Despite industry growth, access to coaching is limited, especially among minorities. A recent survey from the non-profit Jobs for the Future found that 55% of Black learners and workers have never had a coach. One of the main reasons found was simply the high cost associated with personalized coaching programs. Personal coaching sessions can vary depending on the coach’s certification, expertise, or program. According to the National Coach Academy, hourly rates can range from $100 to $600 per hour!
Many years ago, I was bullied at work by my supervisor. He’d recently been hired as the Executive Director of Corporate Marketing, and my creative team fell under his guard. I was quite excited about his hiring as our department had been without a director for months and we were in desperate need of a visionary leader. Unfortunately, we had no idea what a terrible boss he would be.