Get Your Head on Straight for 2009

We're closing in on the end of 2008 and quickly approaching the new year. If your goal for 2009 is to start your own design firm or to just do a little freelancing on the side, I highly recommend The Business Side of Creativity: The Complete Guide for Running a Graphic Design or Communications Business by Cameron S. Foote.

This book walks you through the ins-and-outs of being self-employed at any level. Foote offers suggestions and advice for formatting contracts/estimates, learning how to defend your pricing and just promoting yourself and your business in general. Here's the formal summary from Amazon.com's website:

A comprehensive business companion for those just starting out or expanding operations in the design field. It covers getting launched to running a multi-person shop to retiring comfortably, and is aimed at freelance graphic designers, art directors, illustrators, copywriters.

Keep in mind that this book isn't just for designers. It's for any creative profession. This is a must-read and a great resource that I refer to time and time again.

Note: The above cover reflects the 2002 edition of the book. I believe there is a more recent version for purchase.

Small Business Survival Book

I just finished reading The Small Business Survival Book by Barbara Weltman and Jerry Silberman. This guide is a quick-read and offers great advice on twelve different facets of owning/operating a business. I've been reading a lot of marketing books lately, so this was a nice change of pace; a little insight and refresher course on the financial/administrative side of running a business.

As mentioned on Amazon.com, the book covers many points, including the following:

* Delegating effectively
* Monitoring cash flow
* Extending credit and staying on top of collections
* Building and maintaining credit and restructuring your debt
* Meeting your tax obligations
* Growing your business with successful marketing strategies
* Using legal protections
* Planning for catastrophe and disaster recovery

Resources for Green Graphic Designers

In working to keep my business as eco-friendly as I can, I like to pick up a few resources here and there to help generate some ideas, keep me informed and to offer inspiration. As of late, I've come across two new books that I thought I should point out.

The first is one I just ordered (used, of course) and is available on Amazon.com. I haven't gotten the chance to crack it open and really truly read through it yet, but I was very impressed with the full-page design examples they included along with the wonderful reviews it received. If you're interested in green graphic design at all, be sure to check out The Complete Guide to Eco-Friendly Design by Poppy Evans.

The second book, which I just found online today, isn't really geared towards graphic design itself. It's more for those who are interested in running their own design shop or business. I haven't ordered this one yet, but it's definitely on my wishlist. Has anyone read Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage by Daniel C. Esty and Andrew S. Winston? Can you offer a little feedback?

Green Resources

I've been somewhat green in my life for a while. Within the last year, I've been devouring more and more books and listening to podcasts about how to be a greener individual and to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible. About six months ago, I had an epiphany - if I'm trying so hard to be greener in my personal life, why not carry that over to my work life?

As of recent, I've applied with the Co-Op of America to be a member of their green business organization. In doing so, there's a long questionnaire one must fill out to describe how their business operates in an environmentally fashion. In doing so, I realized that I could never have greened my business (or my life) to the extent that I have without the resources I've tapped into.

The following is a list of books that I've read, websites I've looked over and podcasts I've listened to. Hopefully you can make good use of these resources as well.



Green Talk Radio: podcasts featuring conversations about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

GreenLivingIdeas.com: host site of Green Talk Radio.

IdealBite.com: daily tips for living a greener life. Sign up and you'll receive one tip per day in your email box.

TheGreenOffice.com: online office supply store offering office products that are more sustainable.

Co-Op America: organization for individuals and businesses to join. Mission statement: "To harness economic power - the strength of consumers, investors, and businesses - to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society."

GreenGirlGuide.com: haven't read this one too much, but I think the design is cute.

BooksForTheFuture.org: not really a resource for making a lifestyle change, but this is a great cause. If you purchase a book, they plant a tree!

GreenHome.com: next time you need to replace something in your home, make it a more sustainable something.

These are just a few of my favorite resources. I hope this is helpful!

Greener Printer

I've always thought helping the environment and making an effort was important. But lately, I've been on a green-kick much more fierce than ever (did you catch my Project Runway lingo?). I've really become passionate about living a greener lifestyle and its affected every aspect of my life - the hand lotion I use, the furniture I'm buying, even the podcasts I listen to.

Bringing such a lifestyle into my work is only inevitable. I may have mentioned them before, but there's a great printing company out there called GreenerPrinter. I recently received a kit full of their samples, and let me tell you, these soy and vegetable-based inks look good.

Not only does this company run entirely on wind energy, but they limit themselves to the use of one paper line only. "GreenerPrinter uses exclusively New Leaf Paper, which leads the paper industry in the development and distribution of environmentally superior printing and office papers. New Leaf’s papers use high post-consumer recycled content and most are whitened without chlorine or chlorine compounds." (see About Us section on company website for more info)

While the prices for printing might be slightly higher than the average Joe's costs, I thinking helping my clients to work with a company such as this is a reward in itself. It's one thing to have great-looking printed pieces. It's another to have them look great and to be great for the environment as well.

Book Review: The Savvy Gal's Guide to Online Networking

I found the Savvy Gal's Guide to Online Networking (Or What Would Jane Austen Do?) on one of the blogs I frequent, The Savvy Gal Blog. It's a small, conversational style read that focuses only on ideas about how to get you networking online. From everything to blogging to joining LinkedIn to submitting press releases online for free, this book is thorough, but a fast read.

I highly recommend this book for not just business owners, but anyone looking to gain more of an online presence. And it's not just for girls (despite the name) - guys can get something out of it too.

References

I think books are a great resource for guidance and inspiration. They allow designers to self-educate on current trends and issues, running a business and dealing with clients. I try to keep my library of design books close by and try to add to it regularly. My latest find is Beyond Logos, a book by Clare Dowdy.

The piece is interesting as it discusses corporate branding and it's importance beyond just logos and marks. It references the topic as an aesthetic, a service, a mission, etc. Very interesting. Case studies are reviewed on real companies and their corporate branding successes. A good read for anyone trying to educate themselves or their clients on the importance of corporate branding.

creative block

Everyone gets creative blocks every once in a while. As a designer, I custom design everything I do for my clients - no templates. It can be difficult at times to think of new ideas and to never recycle the old.

I have written posts before about ways to find inpsiration. But recently, I came across a book called Getting Unstuck Without Coming Unglued by Susan O'Doherty. It looks very interesting and provides ideas for not just designers, but writers and other creative professsionals.

I haven't yet had the chance to open it, but I thought this could be an interesting point for discussion. How do you suggest finding inspiration when ideas are running a little dry?

a little light reading

I'm not sure how many people reading this are thinking of one day starting their own business. Such a task can seem daunting, intimidating and consuming. When I was ready to leave my full-time job at an advertising agency to start my own thing, I wasn't really sure how to go about it. I couldn't afford not to have a dependable income and the thought of having almost no clients to start with wasn't too appealing either. However, I knew more than anything that I wanted to run my own design business; it was just a matter of getting there.

I started reading up on how other people made the leap. I figured that I could do some learning from their mistakes. One of the best pieces of inspiration and guidance was The Anti 9 to 5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube. This book is filled with not just motivational tips, but actual step-by-step suggestions for even a person who's indecisive about what type of business they'd like to start.

I found it to be incredibly helpful and, in all actuality, a real page turner. Suggestions for networking organizations and websites are also inserted throughout. I strongly suggest to any gal looking to go out on her own!