pasttips

Check out the complete list of Designer Sobriety tips:

#76 Want to Give Your Team Perspective and Appreciation for Each Other? Try Role Swapping. Job switch for an hour, 1/2 day or a full day.

#75 You can either talk to or listen to your clients. We recommend learning to listen; otherwise, there will be nothing to talk about.

#74 Don’t dread the cold call; own it by being prepared, strategic and ready to promote yourself. It’s an opportunity. Get ready to nail it.

#73 If you’re not sketching enough, start collecting images or ideas on your phone. Visual reminders are just as important.

#72 Want to be better at conversations or more interesting in meetings? Talk about things other than the weather.

#71 Busy or bad day? Like Grandpa said, your response is your responsibility.

#70 Today, stop and look at something differently.

#69 Have you done a personal inventory lately? Have you asked if there is something you want to do, change or learn? What is stopping you?

#68 Utilize your social media outlets for research. Ask your connections via LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. Also, think about Twitter as a search engine.

#67 Taking time to rest is an essential part of your day. Do you take time to unwind, kick back and enjoy your day? If not, start now.

#66 Promoting through design shows can be a good marketing, PR & team boost. Some shows cost money, some are free, like books. Start local.

#65 Consolidate & promote your social media with apps like extendr & card.ly by using as links in email signatures, website or other networks

#64 Think about ways you can connect your clients to each other. There are some great opportunities for you to create deeper relationships.

#63 One of the greatest sources of inspiration is simply meeting new people. So…are you out there introducing yourself?

#62 Have a good supply of unique gift items to send to clients & business amigos for birthdays, anniversaries and any sort of special occasion.

#61 Think bigger & think beyond the world of design. Participate as a team in a community event that will impact others & escape the studio!

#60 Try to make time to do an assignment with a college class – maybe even overseas using SKYPE. Teach and learn. Inspire and be inspired

#59 Pull out your college portfolio now and then. Celebrate the ways you have evolved and remember where you came from.

#58 Pull back from the desk and use a No. 2 pencil and eraser now and then. Feel like a designer, artist, & kid again by sketching everything.

#57 Dream about where you want to go, by making job descriptions for the future. For you and your team, even if they don’t exist…yet

#56 Hand write a thank you letter to a client, friend or mentor. Emails are great, but taking time for that personal message is a lost art.

#55 Regularly review student portfolios whether you are hiring or not. Great way to stay connected, help grow community & even be inspired.

#54 Keep image/video gadgets for inspiring shots, recording a thought or just to have an excuse to be creative. Love this: http://tr.im/j52k

#53 Create education tune-ups by watching demo podcasts or videos. Or, do a quick group project to learn technology or techniques together.

#52 Take time to learn from each other. Have regular lunch & learns where someone on your team presents about subjects that matters to them

#51 Have additional titles for employee initiatives like SMO – Social Media Officer – to encourage ownership and to get things done

#50 Intern programs provide the ability to give back, stay current, see diff approach, teach, challenge yourself & always have fresh coffee.

#49 Great tools can make all the difference. Save time and have fun with design tools like wacom: http://www.wacom.com/index.html

#48 Are you comfortable? Make sure you are, trust us a great chair makes a day that much better. Check http://www.hermanmiller.com/mirra

#47 What makes you happy? Are you doing it? If not, quitting may be the right option. Seriously. Read: http://www.squidoo.com/theDipBook

#46 Does everyone, including you, have a job description? Make sure your employees know what is expected of them and how they can advance

#45 Who in your profession inspires you? Connect with them. May seem impossible but if you don’t try it won’t happen. http://moourl.com/45

#44 Make a strategic list of clients you want to meet. Analyze various networks to reach out to. For ex: Can you meet through Linked In?

#43 Educating yourself on better ways to conduct business is a must! Great reads are Tribes, Brand Gap, ZAG, and a must read Groundswell.

#42 Make a geographic list of clients you want to work with. Start with the clients closest to you and slowly circle out from there.

#41 Is the database up to date? When is the last time you edited? Time to do it. Check out web based tools like: http://www.highrisehq.com

#40 Web survey your clients & employees. Find out if people think the same way you do about the company. Make tweaks when you get results.

#39 Schedule an end of year cleaning. There is usually time to organize, straighten, repair, & back up during those few slow holiday days.

#38 Start next years biz plan now. Where can you improve marketing? Managing? Services? How do you get there? Simple or complex have one.

#37 Make a list of clients you need face time with. Jump on a plane to take the time to meet if need be. Relationships are still king.

#36 No matter the econ condition have a holiday promotion to reach out to clients. Remember it says something about you, so be strategic.

#35 Take time to do tech reviews for studio. Bring in your team & ask what they think or wish they had. Great resource: http://www.cnet.com/

#34 In honor of sweetness (Walter Payton), have fun things around to give you a little fix in your day. Like: http://www.vosgeschocolate.com

#33 Make time to sketch, do visual plans, or have fun doodling again. Check out @behance products: http://www.creativesoutfitter.com/#cat2

#32 Project management & billing is key. You have to know your profitability. What do you use? We use @37signals products and designsoft.com

#31 Organization is key. Lets start with the fun stuff – have a good work bag you will love and will keep you organized check out @timbuk2.

#30 Do you have a rainy day plan? What will you do if you lose a bunch of work? Key Employee(s)? Make a mistake? Take time to make a plan.

#29 There is only one tip for this number: Make Creative Matter™ in all you do.

#28 Collaborate with a printer, copywriter, photographer, illustrator orother
design & web disciplines. Promote together for a common good.

#27 Generate some business by allowing the calendar to help. Look at holiday promotion opportunities, trade show seasons, sales cycles, etc.

#26 Make a list of the items that depress/overwhelm you to work on. Can you delegate them? If not all – some? Can you tweak your process?

#25 Create community online through social media. It is a fun way to market yourself, network & stay connected. Hopefully this is not news.

#24 Use plugins, shortcuts, shareware and online tools to increase your productivity. (Ask us about our favorites – or tell us yours)

#23 Take time to assess your company’s culture. Is it what you want; does it encourage the type of work and employees that you strive for?

#22 Learn to delegate & encourage your team. The formula is simple: Assign task, cast a vision, be available & assess the outcome. Repeat

#21 Budget inspirational & useful conferences for you & your team. Too much? Subscribe to magazines both in & out of the design industry

#20 Do a yearly audit on costs you don’t think about(ie. Web hosting, office supplies, postage/shipping) you may be amazed by what you discover.

#19 Make sure you take time off, go on extended vacations & make sure your employees do as well. Work will be there when you get back.

#18 Do a yearly insurance audit: Life, health, liability, E&O, WC, keyman, etc. It’s not about saving money, it’s about saving your butt.

#17 Contact and thank a teacher or mentor who inspired you.

#16 Create promotions that attract the kind of work you want to do. I know you have heard that before, but are you doing it?

#15 Work on a network of interns & freelancers. This way you can be ready to
have the help you need when you need it, help teach & employ.

#14 Build an advisory group that you can go to for advice, guidance and support on all facets of the business.

#13 Schedule time to take great clients & connectors to lunch, food also makes the world go round

#12 Don’t worry about where you are at, you can be great anywhere.

#11 Constantly do new things…you need to schedule it.

#10 Be a link in the love chain. Be a part of your community and create, support and promote your local network.

#9 Work where it makes you happy.

#8 Don’t be afraid to evolve.

#7 Reduce frustrations by creating great systems and work with decision makers.

#6 Believe in something bigger than you.

#5 Create a great work eco system.

#4 You need to collaborate and grow from the brilliance of others.

#3 You need to commit to both of your lives: personal and work. Don’t let work interfere with your personal life, and live a personal life that inspires your work.

#2 Don’t be a secret wizard; show your employees how the business works so they understand how they fit and affect the business.

#1 No matter what – do this only if you love it, both the good and the bad.