Successful soloism is about 80% mindset and 20% mechanics. I’ve learned from experience that you can get the mechanics right, but still not be thinking right. Much of what holds us back as creatives and independent business owners is our mindset.
To be promoted in our design-driven culture, a product must be packaged in such a way that it becomes meaningful to the person using it, so that they become an evangelist for it. This requires thoughtful planning and execution of a design strategy
Having a different sort of spirit when pitching to prospective clients can prove to be the difference for your creative brand and business. What do
Aesthetic sense and talent are raw materials. They amount to nothing without discipline. Education forces you to add skill, discipline and expertise to your talent. And in order to meet project deadlines, you learn to steward your time.
I wish I hadn’t said, “Yes” to certain design projects. It’s not that the projects were a problem, but something about the clients’ approaches, actions or expectations
I keep a Don’t-Do list. I spend most of my efforts on my to-do lists, agendas, and getting things done, but a few years ago I
Every project and every client is different. Freelance creatives need to consider the unique needs and objectives of each client when determining their fees.
For freelance creatives facing changing markets and uncertain futures the end of the rope is an immediate reality. When doing what you’ve been doing is not going to work anymore, getting another rope becomes necessary.
Creative thinking requires us to cease from thinking as we always have. This is neither automatic nor easy because we automatically default to doing that which requires the least amount of effort.
I’ll get to it when I’m ready. I’m sure you’ve had the experience of planning to get something done and then putting it off until
© Alvalyn Lundgren. All international rights reserved. Risk. It’s a small word with big impact. Taking risks involves change and the unknown. We’re usually not
Creativity requires action and effort to actually make something. We can mull over our ideas all we want, but to make a difference, at some point
To be meaningful, design needs to connect on five successive levels of significance…
As a part-time freelancer, knowing the difference between having a hobby and running a business might seem confusing. And actually running a business might seem unnecessary. The thing is, it’s more necessary to have a bona fide business as a part-timer.
I recently read Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, in which the author, Cal Newport, makes the case for engaging in sdeliberate, uninterrupted
We’re on a mission to cultivate a business mindset in support of our creative work. If we want to profit from our creative work, we
Recently, I met with a start-up business. As we discussed the scope of work and began putting the design brief together, it became clear that
How we can best respond when client relationships end? Here’s a professional, non-emotional approach you can take when a client informs you they’re leaving or have left.
To begin with, social media is not about selling, but about conversations and providing value. Be knowable, likable and trustworthy. To make the most of
The commonly-given advice is: Do what you love and the money will follow. This is a great ideal, because no one wants to spend the majority
When a client is looking for a creative firm, process and procedures are not obvious priorities in evaluating performance. The prospect is going to look
You need to identify what’s at stake. I often reflect on how blessed I am to work the way I’ve always wanted to — independently, and why
When you’re in business, you use social media differently than you do personally. I was an early adopter on many social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook
Early in my freelance journey I joined a business networking group through my chamber of commerce for the purpose of generating leads and referrals. Networking groups