Random Goodness

Remember I mentioned a couple weeks back that I had a "No Fucking Around" sign posted next to my desk and behind my front door? It was a suggestions a couple years back by my brother as a way to keep self-motivated to chug away at work and not to goof around. It's worked...but after a couple years now I think the only people that notice it anymore are the guests I have come to the house. "What's THAT?!" they ask me. It's not the world's best wall decoration.

Anyway, mom sent me one of these emails today meant to help us kids stay motivated & positive. I'm not one to regularly read these chain e-mails all the time, but today's message seems pretty simple. I think I'll print this out as the new replacement motivational phrase to stick next to my desk:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill. It will make a break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it." -- Charles Swindoll

The other day I ran across some good basic tips provided by a seasoned graphic designer to an aspiring designer on the LinkedIn board. The question was, "How do I market a design firm?" I agree with his thoughts and I asked if I could post it here:

Call and email everyone you know. Brothers, cousins, classmates, aunts, ex-spouses— everyone... see more has a relative in business or in a marketing department. Explain EXACTLY what you do. "I create logos and brochures for companies to sell their products" works with laymen better than "I conceptualize and brand companies and supply collateral materials." That will meet with a blank expression or a big smile and a "sure, I may know someone! You're a printer, right?" Put together a "killer" on-line portfolio web site. Keep it simple, friendly, and don't try to be too "high-tech" and flashy. If someone can't access your portfolio within 10 seconds, you're dead meat. Put together a nice, small, brochure explaining what you do (with biz cards) to hand to friends and family. Again, keep the explanations simple. Join guru.com as a premium member. The work usually ain't great, but if you want consistent work, you can get it there. It's a good starting point anyway. The pay usually sucks, but you can get some nice portfolio pieces. Most of the clients are small businesses who are not marketing or design savvy, so... (sometimes you can get a good one though). What's your niche? What industries do you want to work in? Go for your strengths. Avoid working on spec unless it is for a large, trustworthy account with a killer budget. Make sure you "copyright" your designs (property of John Doe on the back of the comps). Make sure you have a contract signed wherever possible prior to starting work so each party knows what they are buying. Is a company buying the usage or full rights for a logo design? Get paid a percentage up front with new or smaller accounts. I ask for 50% in advance with people I don't know. Once you know them and trust them, then you can give them terms. Save money. Put away at least 3 months worth of living expenses. You WILL experience a lull somewhere along the line. Finally, at some point, you are going to get screwed. Either someone refused to pay you the final amount and stops the work, someone goes belly-up, and on and on...tough luck, move on, and don't beat yourself up over it. Hindsight is 20/20 and learn from the experience. BUT...your spidey sense is usually right on when you meet or talk to a new client. If you think they may take advantage of you, you are probably correct, so protect yourself. The hours are long, the weekends are just 2 more working days, and the deadlines are tight, but... I have made a very nice living working from my home for the past 20 years, have made some great friends, and have been able to be home when my kids and wife needed me, so all in all it's a nice life. -- Saul Fineman Fineman

Finally I found this little fun design tidbit today while surfing around. Customized fruit! Sweeeet! It looks real doesn't it? But I'd place a bet it's probably just some good Photoshop warping and displacement work. But still an impressive typography example anyway.