#TransformationTuesday and Two BIG Business Lessons!

How Two Days Taught Me Two Valuable Business Lessons

  I recently had the honor of lettering a huge, overhead chalkboard menu for Zweli's, a Zimbabwean restaurant that opened up its doors to customers in Durham, North Carolina in late June 2018. It was a great opportunity, especially with it being the first time I had ever done such a large-scale project. Although I had the pleasure of getting this job under my belt and having much of the process video documented, two major and hard lessons were learned as well through unexpected challenges I had to face first-hand. Check out the video below and continue reading for two things all creative business owners and/or DIY-ers should know when tackling similar projects!

​1. Plan the Work, and Work the Plan!

  Part of the plan starts with making sure you have a contract. The contract should include an itemized list of your workflow, all of the things needed to successfully complete the project, and the rate of how much you charge as standard or if there is a fee associated with rush orders and how it will be processed. For example, for me this includes listing an hourly rate or price of service per surface area, costs of materials and travel, and stating that at least one ladder on site is needed. Depending on what creative services you provide, these details will vary.
  If you will be working with at least one other person, which you more than likely will be... remember the significance of good communication! Plan to over-communicate if you have to! That applies to communicating with your client as well as with the person assisting you [if applicable]. Having a plan on paper and communicating that plan well is the first lesson working on this job taught me. Doing so will allow you to prioritize what's most important and will make your job a lot smoother, allowing you to work in your strength and to create your best work.

2. Know Your Worth, and Charge More!

  It may sound cliche, but knowing your worth is extremely important as a working artist. Being aware of how much it costs you in time, materials, and developed skill is so vital. Doing so will help you realize you must charge MORE.
  This is your business, and no longer a "passion project" or hobby. The goal now is to profit. Doing work for other people should not be costing you money or taking up your time. Quite frankly, your time can be spent working for someone else to earn a paycheck and part of the reason you are running your own business should be so you can pay yourself. Run your business; don't let it run you! Calculate how much it costs you to purchase your supplies and materials, then add in the amount of hours it will take you to do the job from start to finish for at least $20 per hour (because you would want to pay yourself a great rate for what you do, especially if a job would be responsible for paying you at least $7-$15+ with or without benefits)! For example, if you are a painter and a portrait will cost about $100 in supplies and materials and 15 hours of drawing and painting to create, then that piece should be priced at $400. You have to pay yourself well to do what you do or you will quickly get tired of doing it because you won't be able to afford to do what you do, and even faster if you're losing time and money while doing it! Again, making a list to break down all of the costs of your project is extremely helpful and a good reminder to know your worth and charge it [or more].
  I hope those two lessons are helpful to you as you move forward in your creative journey. The photos in the gallery below also document the menu chalkboard design process, so feel free to skim through them and enjoy! Until next time... peace!