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

For some of you this is easy. Going to social events or client “mingling/networking” events, you find it almost second nature to work your way into conversations or opportunities. But for some of you, this experience is like getting hot pokers stuck into your eyes. Either way, getting out to inspiring lectures and going to networking events are crucial to building your personal and professional networks. I have come to love meeting new people and hearing their stories, what makes them tick and what inspires them in life. That gives me energy, ideas and exposure to different ways of thinking that makes me a better designer and communicator (especially when the people are very different then me).

Still not sure where to start? You can join your local AIGA chapter, Art Directors Club, Marketing Associations, or a community organization. Or you can meet new people through your favorite social media or build up courage by reading books. We recommend a combination of all of it.

For some book inspiration it’s hard to beat this classic:
How to Win Friends and Influence People

Something more recent:
Never Eat Alone

What do you do to get out and meet new people? Any great book suggestions? Who is the most inspiring person you have met or that is in your life?

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

As we all are becoming more “wireless,” we must remember gifts, especially for business. Who doesn’t like getting a personalized care package recognizing an anniversary, promotion, new birth, or a random occasion? We talked about personalized notes a few tips back, but giving gifts is also a great relationship builder (plus it’s fun!). For more along these lines, we have a post coming up about listening to and “dating” clients, but for now we just recommend taking notes on clients’ unique interests. Then when a special occasion comes up you will have a better idea of what will really make their day.

Also, keep on hand a collection of your own note cards and other swag to send along. This adds a personal touch as well as extending your brand. One of the things we do is we buy several copies of our favorite something - usually a business book or a great kid’s book for our clients’ kids.

Some of our favorite business gift books are:
Brand Gap, Zag, The Designful Company, Made to Stick, Groundswell

Some of our favorite kid’s gift books are:
Where the Wild Things Are, Little 1, Charley Harper ABCs

We also send gifts that are special or unique from our locale. We have a great caterer/deli/sweets mecca in Geneva called Movable Feast. We send their brownies whenever we need to. We also will send Lou Malnati’s pizza or Eli’s Cheesecake.

Anyway, I think you get the point. Take a few minutes to brighten your clients’ days. I guarantee they will appreciate it.

Any other suggestions? What do you send to your clients?

As art directors and designers we are constantly giving feedback on the design, the overall idea, and just how successful new business ventures might be. However, when is the last time you critiqued your business and its structure? Lets face it, every day you encounter several frustrating processes or to-do list items that you dread completing. Streamlining these necessary evils can help take your business to the next level. Now is the time to pay attention to those details and how you can innovate. Below are a couple ideas to get started.

Paper Audit - How much paper passes through your office each day? Have you taken a look at how much you throw away versus how much you recycle? What creates the most paper in your company? Maybe it’s time to convert those fax invoices to a .pdf email solution.

Software Audit - Take time once a month to check out newly released software. Is there a new online meeting system you can be using? Or a great FTP software that works much better and saves passwords? Even though it’s hard to keep up with software innovation, make time to assess your process and how software can help. Don’t forget your design/creative software either!

MOJO Meetings™ - As often as possible, get your team together and meet about how to innovate your processes. One of the easiest ways to innovate is encouraging ideas. A group talk about new ways to do those annoying tasks and ways to be more efficient will lead to a leaner and meaner business.

Failure - The best way to learn is by failing, right? If you are consistently trying new ideas, some are bound to fail. Learning and innovating from these failures propels your business into greater efficiency over time.

If you spend time auditing, assessing, challenging, and asking questions about your business, ideas will emerge. Whether business is booming or is rather slow, this always seems to take the back seat. You have to schedule time to meet about innovating and generating ideas for your and your clients. Empowering yourself and your team to generate ideas is crucial. And remember, it is okay to fail.

Innovation Inspiration Links:

Business Innovation Factory

The Genius Machine

Disruptive By Design

TED

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

Admittedly this year I have been more stressed than usual. I think most of us have, due to the current state of things. Busy or not, it has just been an odd year so far. I’ve found that doing something to benefit others, more than anything gives perspective, but also helps to get my mind off the minutia of work, bills, clients, etc. Better yet, rather than doing something just yourself, get your team involved with an event or cause you all can rally around and be a part of.

Now I’m not talking about pro-bono work, or some design project, I’m talking about something completely different. Help raise money by doing a walk, ride, or run, or volunteer at a food bank – something other than a design project is the best. Now admittedly I have not done this yet with my team yet, only with family members and friends, but I plan to.

Their is no better “team builder” than doing something for someone else. Some of you may already… what do you do? Or what events can you recommend?

#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.

Someone once said that you’re never too old to learn. I would add that it’s also never to late to teach.

I recently was asked to participate in a class project next year that we will do primarily over Skype. We’ll define the scope and goals and then be the “client” and “teacher” on the project. I’m excited for this opportunity, both for my team and for the students. While we get a chance to go back to school, we’re helping the future leaders of our profession learn some practical wisdom with some real-world wonderfulness sprinkled in.

So if you are itching to teach, want to try it, or just think giving back to your profession is something you want to do, contact a design professor. It can be anywhere in the world with the internet and the need to bring practicing designers into students’ curriculum.

I’m curious – how many of you out there do this already? Any professors want some volunteers? Come on and let’s connect.

Many think that working with non-profits on their design and marketing initiatives turns out to be unprofitable because of smaller budgets, tighter deadlines, and stricter rules. On the flip side, designers & marketers are always looking for the next opportunity to be creative and really challenge themselves with new thinking for clients and their brands. Now put these two together for a surprising result: oftentimes non-profits are the types of clients that are open to challenge and innovation, allowing you to take their brands to the next level all while doing some good for the community.

As a designer, you can stay sober by finding a non-profit to work with on a regular basis. Whether it is a paid gig, a reduced rate or simply donating your time and skill, you will learn, grow and be challenged along the way. You might just discover that your new client is far more appreciative of your work and can easily see a strong return on your creative investment.

As a business, volunteering creates a great story to share with clients both current and future. Sharing your passion for a non-profit client whether it is the local dog shelter or a big national organization creates a conversation. At the same time you might just find it easier to connect with new clients who share the same passion or interest in what you’re doing. Not to mention the connections that will come through working with the non-profit and meeting other donors.

Finding a non-profit will help strike a balance with the other clients that may be restricting your creativity or out-of-the-box thinking. Choose a non-profit you are passionate about today and offer them your creative services.

A little design can go a long way, and you might find that it will be the most rewarding work in your portfolio!

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

On those days where you feel frustrated, uninspired or just plain stumped…grab your college portfolio and take a trip down memory lane. Revisit all those pieces that you, at that time, deemed your best work. These were the examples of the work with which you were going to impress your employer, get you your dream job and catapult into Communication Arts.

Now look at them through a critical eye. See how far you have come, what you have learned since then, how you have grown, changed and improved. Better yet, have everyone else bring in their books and talk, laugh and grow as a group. (Oh yeah, bring in your interns too, they need to know things usually only get better.)

#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.

As a design student, the first thing I was taught was to sketch out my ideas. To draw the words and descriptions of the concept. To use my sketchpad constantly. And today, the first thing I say to our interns is, “Sketch.” If the designers are stumped, I tell them to go back and sketch. It’s an integral part of our process in the studio. Unfortunately though, when we are busy, it can also be one of the first things to go.

Like us, you know that visualizing your thought process is crucial, but do you still sketch? The bottom line is that we have to make time. I sometimes find myself sketching my to-do list or people I need to call. Or maybe while watching TV or on my lunch napkin. Make it a priority to set aside some pencil and paper time at the beginning of each project. No matter what your role is, remember to sketch.

Here is a video and a cool book to check out for inspiration. What do you think? Any cool sketches to share?

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

I’m a big fan of writer C.S. Lewis. And one of his quotes that I reflect on often is ” We are what we believe we are.” This couldn’t be more true when it comes to your business. Whether you are a one person firm to 30+, having the right perception and future image of your company and career is a key component to growth.

One tactic to help you plan ahead is by writing job descriptions for you, your team and even the employees you haven’t met yet. Every year I take some time to review our team members, and I write how I would like to see their jobs evolve. Then I write job descriptions of the type of people I would ideally like to have on the team in the future. (Dream big - what if money and clients weren’t an issue?) I also look at my job, review what I have been doing, and write a description for myself as well.

This has helped me in several ways. First, it allows me a chance to dream about the company or my career. It helps me see what things we are doing well and where we can improve. Secondly, it will helps me see if the direction we’re going is a direction I like. Are we doing the type of work that we love? If not, how do we get there? Third, it helps identify key employees and their value to the company. Conversely, it highlights the employees you may need to replace or help grow.

As a manager or leader of your team this simple exercise helps you get a perspective and set goals. It makes you aware of the path you are on and how to adjust it for future success. It allows you to celebrate and dream of the future and show you areas you may need to calibrate and make some hard decisions.

Take the time to do this exercise and it will give you a road map of your company’s future.

#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.

When I was a kid, my grandma would send me a handwritten card on every major holiday. I usually would open it up, wiggle it for any loot to fall out and skim the handwriting. I took those special, handcrafted words, meant just for me, for granted. What I realize now, that I didn’t know then, is that the best part of those cards was not the dinero, but the time and the thought she put into it. So now when I get a card that is handwritten I stop and actually read it. I realize every time I open up a handwritten business or personal note how much I appreciate the experience of reading a letter. So next time you need to send a thank you letter or some other correspondence for business or someone important to you, take time for the personal touch. It will make much more impact than being 1 of the 300 emails your recipient has piled in his or her inbox. (And if the card is for Grandma…take your time; she’ll love it.)

Here are some of our favorite card resources: Hammerpress or Three Potato Four or Snow and Graham. What are yours?