13 Old-School Tips for New Wave Entrepreneurs

Check out this great article for simple, but challenging tips to keep moving forward as a "start-up", "entrepreneur", "small biz owner".

An experienced entrepreneur offers the freshman class lessons for building a startup.           ENTREPRENEUR.COM | RON BURR — *An experienced entrepreneur offers the freshman class lessons for building a startup.*
ENTREPRENEUR.COM | RON BURR

The introduction of the cloud for hosting web applications has made it easier than ever to have a new idea, build a new technology and start a new company. Open a major news publication any day and it feels like you'll see a new app or platform announcement. However, as anyone who has ever bootstrapped a company can tell you, startups are never easy, no matter what generation you fall into.

Certainly, looking forward, it's clear that millennials are entrenched as the next generation of leaders; the “new wave” entrepreneurs are here. They’re loud, disruptive and completely and utterly connected. Yet, while they’re paving a new path and the rules for how to build a startup from a laptop anywhere in the world, they're still realizing that it’s not all about "how many followers" you can get.
Instead, the core elements to building a startup begin with an unwavering belief in your product and the courage to know when your ideas are total crap. The remaining core elements include things like networking and relationship-building when all you want to do is keep working on your product or go home to sleep.
Having built and run several successful companies myself during the past 20 years, and maintained a strong commitment to mentorship, I can offer some "old school" advice for the incoming freshman class. They’re going to need it. It’s more competitive than ever out there.

1. Cash is king.

Conserve it and, even if you’re investing in tomorrow to buy profitable customers today, don’t forget that cash today is what makes payroll tomorrow.

2. Don't believe your own BS.

While you must exude unwavering confidence, don’t forget to maintain that critical eye toward your product or services.

3. Seek out and listen to good advisors.

This is key; don't ignore it.

4. Network.

Do this even if you hate it -- because relationships are key and businesses are never built in a vacuum.

5. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself and others.

Denial is your worst enemy; strive to find flaws in your ideas or processes and eliminate them.

6. Believe in, and have a passion for, your business.

This will come through in everything you do. Following tip number 5 makes this even easier.

7. Ask yourself, "What pain am I solving for the customer?"

This gets to the heart of what you’re offering. Is yours a great business idea or just something you like?

8. Follow the "ABC" rule.

Always Be Closing. Like it or not, as an entrepreneur, you are a salesperson. If that's not your natural skill, read, practice and learn.

9. Complement your weaknesses (yes, you have some).

Hire the most talented people you can find. Don’t be afraid that they will outshine you. Even if they do, that's the best possible outcome for your business.

10. Share your equity generously with early team members.

When everyone has a meaningful stake in the outcome, they will have the same 24/7 commitment you do. You don’t have to be an "island" once you get to the top.

11. Remember that every reason to quit is just another roadblock on your path to success.

Tell this to yourself -- over and over -- when things look bleak.

12. Know that you will continuously change business processes as your company grows.

Instead of sticking to an old winning formula, be on the lookout for the first opportunity that tells you your old process may no longer be efficient.

13. Keep in mind that customers are your best advocates.

Even if everything feels chaotic in your business, and you don’t know which fire to put out first, remember that the number one priority is customer satisfaction. In the spirit of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, customers are your business’ “air, food, and water.”

Free Graphic Download || June

HELLO APRIL, and HELLO Spring! Well...Instead of a graphic calendar for you to download this month, I thought...why not some truth? Instead of staring at numbers in tiny rows dictating your productivity and schedule...why not stare at some truth? Instead of looking at the days passed by and the days to come...why not look at some truth?

The truth is in fact that you and I are free. Free of guilt, fear, mistakes (past, present and future), anger, hopelessness, disappointment, confusion, lust, lying, comparison, loneliness, and on and on and on...and even free of death. The Word says, "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has FREED you from the power of sin that leads to death." - Romans 8:1-2

"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved....For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:9-13

So as we celebrate all that this month has—Spring with the lovely weather changes and colors, a day off of work for Good Friday, and Easter Sunday with friends, family and lots of colored eggs— let's also celebrate the freedom we have because of the blood, sweat, and tears that were so graciously poured out over our lives to bring us into freedom that we don't deserve and can not arrive at on our own. Thank you Jesus that you rose from the dead on the 3rd day to set me free. Where will you find more freedom this month by His grace?

Favorite Song write now, by the amazing Steffany Gretzinger.

Publication Articles Can = Puzzle Pieces

As a kid, and even now, I never have enjoyed putting together puzzles. Getting all the pieces out, organizing them into corner pieces, flat edge pieces , the pieces that look like they go on the top of the puzzle, and so on. Then you spend hours testing and trying each one to see which ones in fact fit together to make the final image. However, in my adult life and career as a graphic designer, this work is often very similar to a puzzle. As a matter a fact, publication design and layout is very much like a puzzle, and yet it is one of my favorite types of projects to work on. There are the pieces – copy, images, logos, and colors that all need to fit inside the parameters given. It's my job to come up with creative problem solving design solutions and make it all work cohesively into the final layout. This too takes hours of testing and trying the different pieces together to find out what works and what doesn't, but for me this process is energizing.

Have you ever come across an article or publication in which you were interested in the content, but visually it was disoriented and hard to read? They are out there, and my goal is always to come up with a nicely designed layout that should make you want to read the article. It should draw you in visually with the images and colors enough to give you an idea of
what you are about to read. It should be easy to read, enjoyable to look at, and cohesive in design and content.

Magnolia Rouge Feature

Simple. Elegant. Handmade.
I worked with watercolor to make the details of this wedding suite come to life. I started with an overall wash for the background, painting in some greenery, then adding some floral touches towards the end. This suite is both whimsical and sophisticated, which I enjoy. From the invitation to the menus, each piece has it's own "personality" tying them all together. I ripped the edges to soften it up allowing for a more handmade look, as well as adding in some of my handwriting to each piece rather than a typeface.
One of the best parts of this project was the local collaboration that went into making it perfect.

Country Club Wedding

From the moment these invites arrived in mailboxes, wedding guests knew they were in for a treat! Ben and Kristen had a vision for their wedding that was classy, elegant and timeless. Being asked to design their wedding suite was smiles and excitement from the first meeting to the final delivery of thank you notes.

Kristen and her mother Dwana were quite the duo to work with (in the best way)! Our first meeting was full of laughs, anticipation, and brainstorming as we discussed the many options that could be created solely for this event. Rich metallic golds contrasted with deep navy blues would guide the way in our color palette for this exquisite evening to remember. From the beginning I needed to visually communicate what was to come for Ben and Kristen's guests through each piece that was designed, and every added detail.

Seeing a client’s vision come to life is my favorite part of being a graphic designer. It doesn’t matter if the project is a wedding suite, brand identity or marketing collateral. I create unique work that reflects each client in a memorable way.

Kristen was having a country club wedding and wanted her guests to have a luxurious experience right from the start. Textured cream paper stock, typography and hand designed flourishes were the perfect way to set the tone for this elegant event. One of my favorite details were the antique gold patterned envelope liners. Their metallic shine and classy detail elevated the feel of the entire project. A timeless wedding suite for a timeless couple. Congrats Kristen and Ben!

Local Business Rebrand

I enjoy the variety of clients I get to work with, and here and there masculinity will pop in and say, "hello", which is refreshing. Kingdom Automotive is one of those clients. I had done some work with Kingdom Automotive a couple years ago, and when they asked if I would help them with their new re-brand, I of course said, "YES!"
It was important that this logo fit the brand that Kingdom Automotive has been building these last couple of years. That meant I needed to quickly communicate professionalism, trustworthiness, integrity, attention to detail, and loyalty to their customers through this new logo to come alongside their brand.
Going through my process of research, client questionnaires, and mood-boards, we were able to nail down some visual elements that we felt could be the main anchor of the logo. Kingdom Automotive has a desire to communicate honestly, provide trustworthy service, and always operate with the customer's best interest in mind. We both felt that the shield I created communicated those core business values that the company wants to portray.

AMITY RISE

Amity Rise is another perfect example of why I have the best job. Hearing the dreams, plans, and vision of a business before it goes "public" is being invited into one of the best secrets. Listening to the story of where a client has started, who they are, where they see their business going, and what they dream of it growing into is inspiring.

As colorful, personal, and maybe even whimsical as this project turned out to be in the end, there are quite a few practial steps that my clients and I go through to get there.

Yes, there is a detailed client questionnaire; yes, there are meetings, as well as emails, phone convos and revisions. However, there are also many deeper questions that need to be asked by me and answered by my client to allow for those personal touches to show up in the end.

One of our conversations was on how Sarah is very creative and free flowing. I discovered that she loves live greenery and color and tries to incorporate that into her interior design business when possible. Whereas her husband is a little more on the structured, methodical, and logical side of things--yet this is THEIR business together. How do I represent both sides of this partnership and the roles they play in their business visually?

Through the typography, the combination of the colors, as well as the structured geometric shape combined with the free-flowing illustrations, I was able to bring that balance into the logo.

People often think that a logo is the first thing you need to start a business. Although it's important and needed, creating a logo for a business or company comes after the content (mission, values, goals) are already in place. Sarah and Wes came to me with their "content", or sometimes referred to as their "brand" which is the fundamental characteristics which make their business distinct, authentic and relevant to their customers. From that place we were able to get on the same page in creating the visual statement of that brand which is AMITY RISE.

Insurors Indemnity

Insurors Indemnity Companies has recently rebranded. While they are still the same company, they now have a new look which I was able to help introduce. Although I didn't create their new logo, I did get to put together the design of their business cards, letterhead, and corporate envelopes. I started with the design of their business cards and came up with 5 initial layouts. As we narrowed it down from there and chose the best composition, the other pieces began to take shape. We wanted the business cards to make the best first impression when being handed out by their agents, so I offered a 16pt. silk laminate card as an option, which turned out great. Right out of the gate, trade show banners were also needed as a part of their new brand launch. Like a billboard, these needed to be bold and simply laid out in order to read from a distance and quickly comprehend. I look forward to working with Insurors Indemnity on more marketing pieces in the near future.