In 1996, Israeli author and politician Natan Sharansky beat the chess world champion Garry Kasparov. He’d gained his chess expertise during nine years in a Soviet prison, and he did so without the benefit of a chessboard or a partner. Rather, he’d spent those years visualizing himself practicing to oust the standing champion. Likewise, research…
It’s hard to imagine, but as of 2015, 1 in 2 small businesses still have no business website. The reasons given for this oversight may appear varied at first glance: People don’t find me online. People don’t use Google for the sorts of merchandise/services I offer. People already know about my business. All of my…
I’ve talked before about the importance of having a clear business vision. But is it possible to have a vision that’s too focused? When business vision turns into tunnel vision, it’s possible for even the most insightful entrepreneurs to miss out on opportunities for growth and progress. A focus that is too narrow limits our…
Back in May, Tina Roth Eisenberg of SwissMiss fame, shared a quote by Adrienne Rich that struck a chord: “The possibilities that exist between two people, or among a group of people, are a kind of alchemy. They are the most interesting thing in life.” In order for alchemy to occur – in…
While perusing the Being Boss Facebook page, I stumbled across a discussion about the unique stressors that women in business face. Though men have taken on more responsibilities in relationships, families, and home maintenance, the majority of the weight still falls on the shoulders of women. As we embrace our roles as titans of enterprise, as…
Where do design trends come from? We designers certainly spark our fair share. And designers, in turn, are influenced by other artists, by entertainers, by fashion and music. We’re influenced by preferences and pop culture. But the influence goes deeper. When we as people respond to Beyonce’s new video or to Apple’s new iPhone, it’s…
During wintertime, the color drains out of the landscape. We hunker down in our familiar studios and apartments to avoid the bitter cold, effectively cutting ourselves off from novel sights and sounds. It’s dark and drab and a bit depressing. It’s not uncommon for creatives to hibernate during the winter. Even if we don’t choose…
While your brand represents your business story, if done well it also becomes representative of your audience’s stories. For many Americans, McDonald’s is a fixture of childhood happiness that makes it difficult to disentangle from the brand (even when you know it’s not good for you). It’s too entrenched in memories of kiddie birthday parties…
You are a designer. I can hear some protests now. You might argue that you’re not a designer. You’re a baker or a marketer or the owner of a small retail shop. After all, design is something professional designers do. Engineers. Inventors. Architects. Nevertheless, you are a designer.
Achieving success as a designer in a crowded market is enough to make any graphic artist giddy. You’ve put in the time. You’ve earned a reputation for professionalism, skill, and ingenuity. You’ve got more projects lined up than you know what to do with. Which is the only real drawback to success. And it can…