In the first half of Taking it Personally, we talked about the ten traits of successful business owners. Now, that’s all well and good, but does everyone start out successful? Or do they learn how to work with that they have? Below is how each of us got personal.

Stefan’s determined

For me a lot of what makes who I am suitable for running this business is guts. I am always willing to go out on a limb and take a risk in order to achieve success. But I also try to find opportunities and exploit them. I like to think big, too. I’m not willing to look at our business and say “we’re only suited for small markets, or we aren’t capable of getting the really prime clients.” I say, if we produce the best work possible, deliver on our promises and continue to get better all around, then we can get any job we want. Complacency does not fit into our business plan. However, I would say that despite being willing to take business risks, I’m quite a shy person when it comes to one on ones or group events. But I have had to force myself into uncomfortable situations in order to do what’s right for this business. If that means going on tv and doing an interview or speaking to a group or class on good design/business practices, I’ll do it simply for the exposure.

Stefan Bean | President/Creative Director
Pulse Creative Partners, Inc. | BoDo Author | Bean’s Biz

Leslie’s been practicing

If you are going to run your own business, you had better like people, or at least play well with others. It has been my experience that loners struggle more with their creative businesses than do friendly, gregarious folks. We have to work with people, even if most of our work is done alone at our computers.

In my case, I actually have a very deep sense of personal shyness, but no one who has met me professionally or seen me at one of my lectures (or read my writings, etc.) would ever think for a second that I’m shy. Like many actors, I can get up in front of a group of strangers and do almost anything, but inside, I’m just as terrified as anyone. So, if you find it hard to talk to strangers, I suggest working on getting past that (coaching, Toastmasters, therapy).

It’s also a good idea to be organized. That doesn’t necessarily mean organized like “normal” folk–creatives are often ADDers and they need to find their own best system. Timers, PDAs, notebooks…there are all sorts of tools to try and combinations to work out. Find the right one for you and your way of thinking.

Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua | Creative/Marketing Consultant & Coach
Burns Auto Parts–Consultants | Burns Auto Parts blog | Podcast | Book

Neil’s backpacking

I’m something of an introvert and office environments don’t really suit me. Being an introvert … and card-carryin’ hermit … doesn’t mean I’m shy. It simply means I need my own space and time alone.

In the old days, I was married to my business partner and she was, and still is, the consummate extrovert and dynamic sales person. She ran interference for me. When I found myself single, I needed to make some adjustments. I had to learn how to do the “people thing.” So, I found the most extroverted person I could and did what he did. It worked.

Although I’m still an introvert at heart, I have no problem at all with public speaking – a task that rates higher than death on the “stressful things to do” list. Actually, I rather enjoy it. I’m also the guy who starts up the conversation at a “dead table” during a club lunch or other event. I’m comfortable with it now, but it’s a learned characteristic. If I can learn it, you can learn it too.

Introvert or extrovert, to my thinking, I’m responsible for my own success … or failure. Being on my own makes me the captain of my ship and I steer the course. I decide who I’ll work with and who I won’t. Sometimes that works to my advantage, other times I end up shooting myself in the foot. But, either way, it’s a result of my choices and I need to do those things that will help insure my success.

Neil (nt) Tortorella | Marketing Manager
Tortorella Design | The Marketing Mind | Creative Latitude | BoDo Team | Marketing Minute

Alina’s evolving

I am an in-house designer and always worked in-house except for a few months when circumstances left me on my own. Because I was a single mom, I didn’t have the resources (or experience at that time) to go it alone. I wanted and depended on a steady income with health insurance, sick leave and other benefits. I liked knowing where I would be each day, and I liked the interaction with others and feeling like part of a team. When I was younger, I was more introverted, so it was difficult for me to market myself.

It’s interesting… as I become more experienced and less introverted, I am finding it more and more difficult to be in a corporate setting, perhaps because although I did work in-house, most of my supervisors allowed me to work independently, which worked very well.

Alina Hagen | Visual Communication Designer
Alina Design | Creative Latitude | BoDo Author | Alina’s In-sights

Danita has no regrets

Most of my career has been in-house for different corporations. For me at the time working in-house was more of a security issue while raising my family. It was nice to get a steady paycheck + benefits with no worries. Throughout the years I have taken on independent work on the side as well. Recently I gave notice for half-time at my current position so I can concentrate on starting my own design business.

I’m a go-getter and leader. I’m a solution maker and work hard to keep everything and everyone on track. Most people would be surprised to know that I was never like this. I had been shy for years. One day I asked myself “Why am I so afraid to take chances? What would I have to lose if I took a chance?” I realized then that I didn’t have anything to lose and if I didn’t take a chance now I would regret it later in life. I also realized that I had everything to gain from trying. I figured that whatever I decided to do didn’t work out then no harm done, right? It wasn’t easy in the beginning but not before long I was more confident of myself and my capabilities that it became natural to take on bigger responsibilities.

Because of my nothing-to-lose attitude I’ve become Sr. Graphic Designer for corporations, started and host a once a month meet-up for designers in my area, am on a local college graphic design advisory board, am a major contributor and a committee member for NO!SPEC, have judged design competitions, and now starting my own business.

It really is true, if you make the effort you will reap the rewards.

Danita Reynolds | Principle/Creative Director
Creative Expertise | NO!SPEC

Jay bites

I have an obsessive personality that is well suited to running my own business and managing my own time. When I sink my teeth into a project, I am totally absorbed, whether it is a job for a client or learning something interesting. ‘Office Hours’ are non-existent and it’s not unusual to work into the early hours of the morning. In my own business I do not need to engage in office politics, gossip, clock watching or other employee requisites.

I’m certainly not anti-social, but I can’t stand working with people standing over me, behind my back, watching me work. Or worse, watching me think. I love the freedom and control that I have by being in my own business.

Jeanette (jay) Wickham | Systems Manager
FastCoconut.com | NO!SPEC | BoDo Team | Ask jay

Cat’s bossy and barks

There’s no doubt that I have a bossy, take charge personality. I love to organise; I hate taking unnecessary orders. I thrive on being a group all working together (like NO!SPEC and Creative Latitude), but I also find it easy to work independently of others. I enjoy making the tough decisions, saying THIS is what we need to do, not THAT. And we need it NOW. Or not.

Back when I had an office to go to, I chose to stay away from office politics. I worked away in the quiet, at home. Yes, I do enjoy flesh and blood people, with their warmth and different personalities. But I find I can get more done working physically on my own.

And from my days working corporate, I discovered I don’t have the personality that easily wakes up by alarm clock, gets foofed with eyes still partially shut, eats breakfast on the run, then the dashes out the door to sit in traffic, arriving ready to work. I’m happier forgoing the stress by working in pj’s with a pot of tea at my elbow and a cat nuzzling my powerbook. Do I miss working with others? Sure. But design friends such Alina, Betta, Dawn, Jay, Nt and others are just a Skype away. And sometimes Jay is right here.

Catherine (cat) Morley | Project Manager
Creative Latitude | NO!SPEC | Katz-i | FastCoconut.com | BoDo team

The next post, Clients, Oh My!, gets serious with clients. Mine. Yours. Future. Past.

Until then,
The BoDo Team
cat - nt - jay