I recently finished two amazing books by Steven Pressfield: "The War of Art" and "Turning Pro"; where he brilliantly explains the differences between a professional creative versus someone who dabbles and doesn't fully commit.
Client wants professionals, not hobbyist.
Are you a pro, or a dilettante? How many can you check off the list below?
1. A pro has a website/portfolio (with no website builder branding)
2. A pro has a company email, ex: username@yourwebsite (not @gmail, @outlook, @hotmail, etc)
3. A pro has a logo (square and vertical) and set branding colors and fonts
4. A pro is incorporated in their state and have a corporate bank account (LLC, S-Corp, Corp, LLP, etc)
5. A pro has a finance and tax system to comply with all federal and local tax requirements
6. A pro has professional/industry grade production equipment
7. A pro has an insurance policy for my business/equipment
8. A pro has a profitable business
9. A pro’s business is their full-time job
10. A pro has a contract/legal system for clients
11. A pro has an invoice and payment system
12. A pro has a lead generating/marketing system to bring in new business
13. A pro has monthly, quarterly, or annual reports to track progress and strategize for their business.
14. A pro works 60-80+ hours a week on my business
15. A pro is constantly reading, learning and perfect my craft
16. A pro does not only study their craft, but also the art and science of business itself
17. A pro is all in
How many did you check off? If you didn't get them all that's ok! Turning pro is a long process that takes time and practice. This is by no means an exhaustive list but its a great start.
Every week Friday we will be sending emails design to turn creative and hobbyist into professional creatives, so make sure to stay tuned!
Have a great weekend!
Are You A Pro? Or An Amateur?