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Want to be a better creative? Build in some downtime.

[Your Name Here] — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:08:07 +0000

You probably know (because I sang it from the rooftops!) that I had a baby recently. After the novelty of returning to work subsided, it dawned on me that unless I developed superpowers or gave up sleep entirely, I was going to have to make some conscious choices about how I spent my time.

The business, the husband, the baby, the never-ending domestic ‘to do’ list - not to mention luxuries such as going to the hair dressers or taking a yoga class. I wanted to do it all and I wanted to do it WELL. That said, I wasn’t interested in become some harried mum/martyr….so what was I to do?

Clarity came in the form of a story that my husband emailed me about a classical Spanish guitarist named Paco Delucia. Some years ago Paco was due to play Concierto de Aranjuez in Japan. With one month to go, he still had not learned the very complicated piece so decided that the only solution was to take himself to Mexico for a month and hunker down. Here’s how he recounted that time:

“Those were some hard days, but I think back on them with pleasure. Every morning I would grab my speargun and I would walk along the beach for about 5km, to the little bay of X-Caret, which was still virgin back then. It was my beloved fisher’s spot. I would dive for a few hours until I would get the catch of the day, usually a red snapper. Back home I would clean it and fry it. A delicacy. After lunch, I would sit with my notes and my tape recorder until midnight.”

Grabbed a spear gun and fished for a few hours!!!! What???? I was astonished that, even with his back against the wall, he had the calm confidence to walk 5 km, fish for a few hours, come back and cook his spoils and THEN start work.

What an incredible example of knowing that in order to be his best he had to take of himself and make room for his creativity to blossom. I could learn a thing or two from this guy.

So you know what I did? Instead of tackling the list of dreary errands I had planned, I grabbed my baby and went for a run in Central Park instead. I returned to my work and life feeling refreshed and all the better for having done something for myself.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. What do you do to enhance your creativity?

Look where you want to go

[Your Name Here] — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:20:06 +0000

My sister just came over from England to spend Christmas with her new nephew (and apple of my eye), Teddy. Among other things, we were chatting about the Porsche she just bought and the free (!) training day that came with it. The day out involved some supervised hacking around the driving track and learning how to handle the car in all sorts of situations (as opposed to just looking really good in it!)

One piece of advice really resonated with me - if you go into a tail-spin, don’t look at the tree you want to avoid, but rather where you want to go. The logic being, if you look at the tree, that’s what you’re going to hit.

I thought that was great advice for life in general. Focus on the negative and that’s what you’ll get more of. Alternatively, if you set some clear and positive intentions, you’ll move in that direction.

So this new years day, take a little time to think about where you want to go in 2012.

Happy New Year!

Do you have good chemistry with your clients?

[Your Name Here] — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:39:50 +0000

I recently started working with a new client and she’s just a delight. She’s invested, receptive to being outside of her comfort zone and willing to roll up her sleeves and get in there. Not only is the process more energizing for both of us but it yields much better results (which are good for everyone!)

So why do we continue to try to stick a square peg in a round hole and work with clients that we don’t have that chemistry with? After all, didn’t we go into business so we could choose who we work with?

I’ve learned that ignoring my instincts and taking on a client who’s not a good fit usually comes from a place of insecurity. That unhelpful little voice that says “surely you’re not going to turn down work”. But at what cost do you ignore those signals? You’re miserable, your client is less than satisfied and the results suffer.

So next time you think about taking on a new client ask yourself the following questions:

What can I do for this client?
How do your services benefit your client? Be honest about where your expertise lies and how that jives with their needs.

Am I the best person for this project, or could someone else do a better job?
Passing a client on to someone who you feel might be a better fit makes sense because:

it creates good will by showing that you understand their needs and have their best interests in mind. Good will = good Karma.
Referring a client within your professional network builds relationships and referrals go both ways.

Am I excited about the work we could do together?
When I’m genuinely invested and excited I’m just more on my game and it shows in the results.

Do they feel the same excitement?
It takes two. If this relationship's going to work, both parties need to be feeling the love.

Do we have a similar outlook/approach
Trying to persuade a fearful conservative client to live outside of her comfort zone can be hard work. Know your style and be sure that your client’s temperament is aligned with that.

What would the consequences be if I passed?
Try to stay away from the dark side on this one i.e. focusing on the money you’ll be passing up. More often than not, the only real ‘consequence’ is that saved both parties a lot of aggravation and left the door open for another client who will be a better fit.

Calling all copywriters. It’s time to up the portfolio ante

[Your Name Here] — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:26:18 +0000

When I first got into artist representation 15 years ago, the only way freelancers could showcase their work was with a portfolio (isn’t it crazy that there was ever a time that we didn’t have websites and speedy email)? And how they ran the gamut – from the big shot art directors with their gorgeous leather embossed books and glossy print outs to more haphazard (and dare I say it, cheaper looking) books. But one thing that was alarmingly common was the lack-lustre presentation of the copywriter's work.

To be fair, copywriters face challenges those in the visual arts don't. Copy doesn’t always end up on a glossy ad that lends itself to being showcased - but there had to be a better way to share their work in a visually appealing way.

Well I’m happy to say that with the rapid growth of user-friendly websites and on-line tools, everyone has the ability to create a polished arrangement of their work. Of course you can create your own website (and I'm happy to say that all of my copywriters have lovely ones). Another great on-line tool is Issuu, a website that allows you to easily create gorgeous looking on-line books out of your articles and work. Just check out this one for copywriter Mark Welsh…..not bad huh? You can easily tailor presentations to your target customer and if you use Behance ProSite, you can also embed the presentations on your website.

So no more excuses copywriters – it’s time to showcase your work as beautifully as those big-shot art directors.

What do you do when a project goes wrong?

[Your Name Here] — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:01:48 +0000

If there’s one thing I’ve learned being a creative agent is that it’s not about getting the job, but about making the perfect match between client and creative. Creative magic happens when the client’s vision and goals are perfectly aligned with the unique skill or services you offer and that shared vision is a key factor to the success of a project. But life isn’t always perfect and sometimes we find ourselves working on a project where disconnect or miscommunication can de-rail the job, not to mention our confidence.

So what do you do if you find yourself in this situation? First of all, know that it happens to everyone. Secondly, do everything that you can to ensure that both you and the client walk away feeling good (or as good as possible) about the collaboration.

Here are a few tips:

1) Don’t beat yourself up about it
Hindsight is 20/20 and it’s very easy to dwell on what you could have done differently and imagine all of the possible disastrous outcomes (the client bad mouthing you and you never working again etc. etc.) Keep everything in perspective, which leads me to point 2.

2) Be objective
It’s very easy to become defensive and emotional in these situations, so make a conscious choice to take your ego and emotions out of it. Look at the facts – what went wrong and what solutions you can offer to get things back on track.

3) Acknowledge the problem to your client
Just by acknowledging the fact that things have gone a bit pear shaped and hearing your client out can stop a potentially contentious situation from escalating. Listen to them and offer constructive ideas.

4) Be proactive
Don’t wait for the client to come up with a solution. Have an action plan (or 2) of how you can remedy the situation. Clients don’t want excuses, they want solutions.

5) Don’t take it personally if the project gets killed
Some situations can’t be fixed and it’s better that the project gets killed. It’s a bummer, but try not to take it personally. No one has a 100% success rate.

I know it’s hard to not let these set backs bother you, but remember what your mother used to say - ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. Learn from the situation and move on knowing you’ll be a better creative because of it.

New Workshop - Kick off September and get better clients’

[Your Name Here] — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:45:33 +0000

Saturday, September 10th from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Despite the fact that I have a typically British complexion, I love New York’s scorching summers. When you come from a country where it’s always cloudy or rainy, you never knock a sunny day, not matter how uncomfortable.

That said, summer can be challenging for freelancers – what with summer Fridays and holidays, clients put new projects get put on the back-burner. But come Labor Day that all changes – there’s a distinct ‘back-to-school’ feeling and along with that, lots of energy and work to be done.

So are you prepared to approach those new clients and land the juicy projects, or are you frustrated by your workflow and quality of your projects? If you’re feeling less than positive about your career then I’ve got just the solution – my ‘Kick off September and get better clients’ workshop. This step-by-step workshop has been developed to help freelancers position and market their unique skills to their ideal clients and manage the ensuing avalanche of great projects like a pro.

The workshop will be on Saturday, September 10th from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. and will be held at In Good Company in Manhattan.

Please click here for more detials and to sign up.

I’ll look forward to seeing you there!

What turns a great idea into great business?

[Your Name Here] — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:35:01 +0000

Flying home from Europe last week, I grabbed a copy of British Vogue for the flight. I read it from cover to cover, but one thing that really stood out (aside from the fact that jewel-toned fedoras and below the knee hemlines are a must for Fall) was an article about Burberry’s Creative Director, Christopher Bailey. In the 10 years since he’s been at the helm, Burberry has gone from stuffy British brand, to one of the leading luxury brands worldwide. So much so, they just posted 40% increase in profits in this economy!

So, what’s the secret? Naturally, talent has a LOT to do with it, but I think this statement was particularly telling:

“anyone can have a great idea. There are a million ideas out there. A zillion ideas. And some of them are amazing. But if you can’t execute them properly, it’s worth zilch”

It got me thinking about my own business and how well I execute ideas. To be honest, sometimes I’m better at it that others so I started thinking about what factors are key in creating and maintaining momentum:

Create some excitement
Businesses are like relationships, you need to keep the spark alive. When you’re excited about what you’re doing, others get excited too.

Rules of engagement
Being passive won’t cut it. In order to grow you need to be proactive and develop new business relationships and opportunities.

Stay focused
Know what your mission and vision are and stick to them. If an idea or action doesn’t meet your criteria, put it on the back burner and review at a later date.

Just do it
It’s easy to procrastinate, especially if you’re feeling less than sparkly about how it’s going. Do something, anything….it’ll create the momentum you need to move forward.

Surround yourself with like-minded people
You’re as good as the people you surround yourself with, so whether it’s employees or a business support group, choose people who naturally support your vision.

How to be fearless when you feel anything but

[Your Name Here] — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:42:09 +0000

Running your own business has many upsides, but can we all agree....it’s not for the faint hearted? It can feel like an emotional roller coaster at times - some days you’re flying high – business is booming, you’re powering through your to-do list and feeling great. And then there are those days where nothing seems to come together.

I had one of those days yesterday. I just didn’t hit my stride and felt really unproductive. Of course, the more unproductive I felt, the worse I felt and I became even less focused. It was one of those days when a large glass of wine usually puts things into perspective, but I’m pregnant so that was out. So what did I do? I took it home with me.

Luckily for me I have a wonderful husband who, after letting me whine for a bit, gave me a dose of my own medicine. Yes, he gave me the Pitch Perfect treatment..and it worked! (I must be on to something). I went to bed resolving to make today a better day.

So this morning I got up early – read the New York Times and WWD (to put myself in a business frame of mind) and got a few tasks/emails out of the way before leaving the house. By the time I got to work I was already in productive frame of mind and was able to devote myself to work that would build my business– right down to writing a blog post.

So here are my recommendations for beating the solopreneur blues:

1) Identify exactly what you’re feeling. Disempowered, scared, unproductive…?

2) Ask yourself why. Did you not get enough sleep? Is there something you should have done, and didn’t? Once you know why, you can often find a remedy fairly easily.

3) Acknowledge your feelings, but don’t dwell on them. It’s boring for you and those around you!

4) Come up with a plan to make tomorrow a better day. Write a list of things that you want to achieve/prioritize, it'll help focus your energies.

5) Have a large glass of wine (unless pregnant or in recovery!)

Thoughts on time management from this mum-to be

[Your Name Here] — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:56:45 +0000

One of the top five challenges of being an entrepreneur is effectively managing your time. When you’re chief marketing officer and bottle washer, managing your list of daily to-do’s can be quite the juggling act. In one of my recent newsletters, I shared the system that works for me and we’ve been getting along just fine.

But systems are meant to evolve and boy…..is mine about to change. You see, I’m pregnant (hurray!) and while I’m enormously excited about it, I can’t help but wonder what my new boss is going to make of my time management system. I have a sneaking suspicion that he/she won’t care two hoots about it, so I’m thinking about how my system could evolve to accommodate our new addition. Based upon what I know now*, I came up with the following ideas:

1) Plan ahead
Figure out what tasks can I do in advance. This could be anything from
new-business development to pre-paying standard monthly bills.

2) Target key areas that need my attention
Target the tasks that only I can do such as writing proposals, having key conversations/meetings with clients?

3) Schedule quiet time to take care of those tasks
Planning childcare so that I can focus on that proposal/conference call uninterrupted and guilt-free.

4) Determine what I can delegate
Hire a virtual assistant to scan my emails, answer phone calls and direct inquiries.

5) Don’t try to do both things at once
Plan my time so that when I’m working I’m working and when I’m with the baby I’m all his/hers

6) Get plenty of sleep
Ha, just kidding!!

*I hope you noted that my thoughts were based upon what I know now, and are therefore purely hypothetical and possibly delusional. Like most working mums I’ll probably figure it out as we go along, but I’d LOVE to hear any thoughts from those of you who’ve done it. Tips, tricks and resources are all welcome.

Can you really take a vacation?

[Your Name Here] — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:42:08 +0000

I apologize for my rather lenghtly absence, but I've been on vacation. It was just a little trip home to England to visit my family, but I decided not to take the laptop (though I confess I did have my ipad) and take a week off. Novel concept, huh!

As a solopreneur, I totally appreciate how difficult it can be to up and leave your business. I mean, how will your clients manage? What if something goes horribly wrong? We're all great at imagining worse-case scenarios but with the right planning you can take your holiday with a clear conscience. Here's how I did it (and I came back to an in-tact business):

1) Give your active clients plenty of notice. Tell them when you'll be gone, for how long and assure them that you will take care of any upcoming needs that they have before you leave. Not only does this give you both time to take care of business, but it encourages your client to plan ahead.

2) Dot your 'I's' and cross your 'T's'. You need to follow through on your promise that you'll have everything taken care of before you leave. This includes provisions for any work that you discussed would be happening while you're away.

3) Record an out of office voicemail and turn on your out of office email reply. These should clearly state how long you're out for, if there's someone they can contact in your absence, or if there's an emergency number. Even if you're checking both, it's prudent to give clients an immediate heads up.

4) Follow up with all clients as soon as you return. I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar that the place didn't burn down while you were gone!

The simple fact is that we all need and deserve a holiday. There are no additional team points for not taking care of yourself. Fully enjoy the moment and you'll come back energized, full of ideas and raring to go. Everyone wins!

I'm attaching a few pics from my trip (the only thing I used my iphone for)