Comments on: My Journey of Self-Employment in the Design World - Part 1 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/ Behind the web design and development. A daily blog of odds and ends. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:28:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: bizReader http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-16 bizReader Sat, 15 Jul 2006 15:28:26 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-16 Thanks enormously for taking this topic on, and I'm definitely getting the books that you recommend, as well as following this blog. I agree with the person who said, "keep your costs down." In my case, I saw a niche, went to the bank, and on the basis of my once-good credit was able to get a loan... then, I got sidetracked trying to figure out all relevant sorts of code and technology **that I thought would give me an edge,** without really making time for the social network piece. Let me add that in my case, NO ONE ever asked me for a biz plan, helped me with a biz plan, talked with me about a biz plan... it's incredible to me now, but I never had that element and having a good plan would have saved me at least 18 months 8-p I'd like to recommend, "The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What To Do About It" (Michael Gerber). It's available in paperback, and I'm still working my way through the activities and finding it extremely helpful. It's humorous, practical, and has some superb insights. I'm very much in agreement with your advice to Read! Read! Read! Reading is The Only Thing That Has Saved My Bacon because my background was in education and intellectual areas, and I didn't know squat about business 8-p I'd also say, the world greatly underestimates the value of a personal thank-you note. Good samples, caring about customers, and being willing to lose money to 'get it right' 8-P are all factors. I feel confident about the technical aspects now, and increasingly confident that I can use biz as an avenue to do good things in the world, but the marketing and contract pieces are incredibly time consuming. But it's been remarkable to me to see how one nice little hand-written 'thank you' note will ease things the next time you see someone. (Perhaps because they are so rare these days...?) In my case, I just met with someone yesterday to say, "Hey, if I do the work, can you nail the contract end and cover the appointments?" I don't know where this will go, but it can really be tiring covering all the bases. I didn't have enough savvy to charge for time going to appts and that can add up. My hat is off to you for starting this blog, and I'm really looking forward to other topics. Thank you. Thanks enormously for taking this topic on, and I’m definitely getting the books that you recommend, as well as following this blog.

I agree with the person who said, “keep your costs down.” In my case, I saw a niche, went to the bank, and on the basis of my once-good credit was able to get a loan… then, I got sidetracked trying to figure out all relevant sorts of code and technology **that I thought would give me an edge,** without really making time for the social network piece. Let me add that in my case, NO ONE ever asked me for a biz plan, helped me with a biz plan, talked with me about a biz plan… it’s incredible to me now, but I never had that element and having a good plan would have saved me at least 18 months 8-p

I’d like to recommend, “The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What To Do About It” (Michael Gerber). It’s available in paperback, and I’m still working my way through the activities and finding it extremely helpful. It’s humorous, practical, and has some superb insights. I’m very much in agreement with your advice to Read! Read! Read! Reading is The Only Thing That Has Saved My Bacon because my background was in education and intellectual areas, and I didn’t know squat about business 8-p

I’d also say, the world greatly underestimates the value of a personal thank-you note. Good samples, caring about customers, and being willing to lose money to ‘get it right’ 8-P are all factors. I feel confident about the technical aspects now, and increasingly confident that I can use biz as an avenue to do good things in the world, but the marketing and contract pieces are incredibly time consuming. But it’s been remarkable to me to see how one nice little hand-written ‘thank you’ note will ease things the next time you see someone. (Perhaps because they are so rare these days…?)

In my case, I just met with someone yesterday to say, “Hey, if I do the work, can you nail the contract end and cover the appointments?” I don’t know where this will go, but it can really be tiring covering all the bases. I didn’t have enough savvy to charge for time going to appts and that can add up.

My hat is off to you for starting this blog, and I’m really looking forward to other topics. Thank you.

]]> By: artbitz http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-15 artbitz Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:09:31 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-15 Low overhead is absolutely key as well when considering a startup, allowing you to go through the lean times as you build the business. That's where alot of my friends fell down...big mortgage, two car payments, studio supplied all their computers...it simply cost too much for them to break away. Low overhead is absolutely key as well when considering a startup, allowing you to go through the lean times as you build the business. That’s where alot of my friends fell down…big mortgage, two car payments, studio supplied all their computers…it simply cost too much for them to break away.

]]> By: Brandon Houston http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-14 Brandon Houston Mon, 10 Jul 2006 21:48:28 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-14 Definately! There are a lot of pitfalls in starting a business and I'm sure I've found just about everyone one of them. If I can spare even one person from the same fate I'll be happy :) Definately! There are a lot of pitfalls in starting a business and I’m sure I’ve found just about everyone one of them. If I can spare even one person from the same fate I’ll be happy :)

]]> By: Mr K http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-10 Mr K Mon, 10 Jul 2006 21:19:32 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-10 Hey Brandon ... Brilliant .. maybe this is another area we could explore in studiowhiz.net a place for us to discuss, advise and assist as people go through this process ey! K. Hey Brandon …

Brilliant .. maybe this is another area we could explore in studiowhiz.net a place for us to discuss, advise and assist as people go through this process ey!

K.

]]> By: jeremy http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-9 jeremy Mon, 03 Jul 2006 20:49:39 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-9 Wow, its almost like that was written specifically for me. I am finding out there are a lot of little things you dont take into account when you are first starting up. Im interested to read part 2 to see what kind of problems you have run into. Possible mistakes that maybe my company can avoid when we finally get running at full speed.... Wow, its almost like that was written specifically for me. I am finding out there are a lot of little things you dont take into account when you are first starting up. Im interested to read part 2 to see what kind of problems you have run into. Possible mistakes that maybe my company can avoid when we finally get running at full speed….

]]> By: Oliver Hooper http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-8 Oliver Hooper Mon, 03 Jul 2006 00:48:03 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-8 as a recent graduted student looking for work in webdesign around london this is a very interesting read! online portfolio http://www.ruthlessgravity.co.uk as a recent graduted student looking for work in webdesign around london this is a very interesting read!

online portfolio
http://www.ruthlessgravity.co.uk

]]> By: Alli http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-7 Alli Thu, 29 Jun 2006 14:11:43 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-7 Great job! I think it's important to discuss things like this because a lot of people think that if you're in a job you hate, self-employment is the key to career happiness. Not to say that it isn't, but it's not as easy as it looks. You've offered some really good advice for people on how to learn from others' mistakes and hopefully others will take what you say to heart. Sometimes it can be a little discouraging, but just remember to keep on going... what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger :) Great job! I think it’s important to discuss things like this because a lot of people think that if you’re in a job you hate, self-employment is the key to career happiness. Not to say that it isn’t, but it’s not as easy as it looks.

You’ve offered some really good advice for people on how to learn from others’ mistakes and hopefully others will take what you say to heart.

Sometimes it can be a little discouraging, but just remember to keep on going… what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger :)

]]> By: Jill Matuska http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-6 Jill Matuska Wed, 28 Jun 2006 23:57:14 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-6 Excellent. I can't wait to read more! Excellent. I can’t wait to read more!

]]> By: Daphne http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-5 Daphne Wed, 28 Jun 2006 12:51:01 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-5 I'm glad you're writing about this Brandon. I'll be keeping up with it, especially if down the lines I end up with my own business if I follow through with the Landscape Design. That won't be for years yet, but I'm glad I also have that in the back of my mind so I can start doing things correctly right off the bat. It amused me that a bunch of the things you suggested were followed by 'I didn't do that, but...'... lol No wonder you ran into hurdles. Alas, you learn from your mistakes and now others can too. bwah haha. ;) ttyl Daph I’m glad you’re writing about this Brandon. I’ll be keeping up with it, especially if down the lines I end up with my own business if I follow through with the Landscape Design. That won’t be for years yet, but I’m glad I also have that in the back of my mind so I can start doing things correctly right off the bat.

It amused me that a bunch of the things you suggested were followed by ‘I didn’t do that, but…’… lol No wonder you ran into hurdles. Alas, you learn from your mistakes and now others can too. bwah haha. ;)

ttyl

Daph

]]> By: 4barrelcarb http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-part-1/#comment-4 4barrelcarb Wed, 28 Jun 2006 02:13:33 +0000 http://inside.logixstudios.com/2006/06/27/my-journey-of-self-employment-in-the-design-world-%e2%80%93-part-1-%e2%80%93-the-beginning/#comment-4 Nice read but too short can't wait for the rest Nice read but too short
can’t wait for the rest

]]>