Mind Your Business

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I S B N : 9 7 8 1 9 4 4 5 15 7 2 0 Printed in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

MIND YOU R BUSINE SS A W o r k b o o k t o G r o w Yo u r Creative Passion Into a Full-time Gig

By Ilana Griffo

8 10 13 43 69 97 107 131 147 173 196

FOREWORD INTRODUCTION BIG PICTURE BUILDING A BR AND M A R K E T I N G M AG I C F I N D YO U R P E O P L E SC ARY STUFF GOODS & SERVICES MAKING THE WHEELS TURN E VA L U AT I O N & R E F L E C T I O N RESOURCES | 8 |

Foreword

Everything happens for a reason, I truly believe that. So, it is no coincidence t h a t y o u a r e r e a d i n g t h i s r i g h t n o w. S e r i o u s l y, e v e r y t h i n g h a s h a p p e n e d i n y o u r l i f e ­— m i s s i n g t h e b u s , t a k i n g a n i n t e r n s h i p , c h o o s i n g a c o l l e g e o r choosing to not go to college, picking up this book—to bring you to this moment. Reading this page.

For years I dreamed of owning my own business. In fact, I would fill notebooks with ideas and bore friends at dinner parties talking about everything in my head. But it was all talk, no action. There wasn’t a guide o r b o o k o r l e s s o n t o h e l p m e m a k e t h o s e d r e a m s r e a l i t y. S u r e , t h e r e w e r e business books, but they were BORING. Nothing spoke to me. And so I worked in a job I didn’t love because I didn’t know where to start or where to turn.

F a s t f o r w a r d t o t h e p r e s e n t : I ’m t h e F o u n d e r a n d C E O o f n o t o n e , b u t t h r e e s u c c e s s f u l b u s i n e s s e s . A n d a s a f e m a l e b u s i n e s s o w n e r, I ’m e s p e c i a l l y p r o u d t o o w n a m i l l i o n - d o l l a r b u s i n e s s ( m e a n i n g I ’v e r e a c h e d o v e r o n e million dollars in revenue in a year), something that only 2% of female b u s i n e s s o w n e r s d o ! I ’m m o s t k n o w n f o r c r e a t i n g U n i q u e M a r k e t s , t h e l a r g e s t i n d o o r p o p - u p m a r k e t p l a c e s i n t h e c o u n t r y, b a c k i n 2 0 0 8 w h e n t h e economy was in rough shape. No one thought thousands and thousands of people would want to pay an entrance fee to shop locally and support i n d e p e n d e n t d e s i g n e r s a n d a r t i s t s ­­­­ —except me. From that very first m a r k e t p l a c e i n D e c e m b e r o f 2 0 0 8 t o n o w, t h e c o m p a n y h a s a l w a y s b e e n in the black.

S i n c e s t a r t i n g t h e m a r k e t s , I ’v e h e l p e d t o r e j u v e n a t e t h e A m e r i c a n e c o n o m y b y g e t t i n g p e o p l e t o s h o p l o c a l l y a n d I ’v e w o r k e d w i t h a l m o s t

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1 0 , 0 0 0 s m a l l b u s i n e s s o w n e r s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y. I ’v e s p o k e n a b o u t i n n o v a t i o n a n d c r e a t i v i t y i n r e t a i l a t c o n f e r e n c e s s u c h a s S X S W, G i r l b o s s R a l l y, a n d C r e a t e & C u l t i v a t e . I ’v e w o n a w a r d s a n d h a v e b e e n f e a t u r e d in my favorite magazines. In fact, I was on the cover of one! I turned my dream of being a business owner into a reality through hard work, grit, s t r u g g l e , a n d m a n y f a i l u r e s . T h i s i s w h y I a m s o i m p r e s s e d w i t h I l a n a ’s b o o k . F i n a l l y, h e r e i s a b o o k t h a t c a n h e l p y o u c r e a t e a r o a d m a p ! L i t e r a l l y.

This book will inspire and educate, and it uniquely pairs actual exercises and assignments so that you are present and interacting. Instead of simply telling you what to do, Ilana has curated moments throughout the book t o h e l p y o u p u t p e n - t o - p a p e r t o a c t u a l l y d e v e l o p y o u r i d e a . Yo u ’ l l a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s s u c h a s , “ W h y d o I w a n t t o s t a r t a b u s i n e s s ? ” Yo u ’ l l u n d e r s t a n d w h a t o b s t a c l e s a r e i n y o u r w a y, a n d h o w t o s u r p a s s t h e m . S h e ’ l l h e l p y o u figure out when to start, what pages should be on your website, and how t o f i n d y o u r c o m m u n i t y.

Reading this book and working through the exercises and assignments w i l l h e l p y o u t o a n s w e r s o m a n y q u e s t i o n s . Yo u w i l l f l e s h o u t y o u r i d e a s and take one giant step closer to being a boss!

My best advice to hopeful and inspiring entrepreneurs has always been “ Yo u j u s t n e e d t o s t a r t ! ” P u t o n e f o o t i n f r o n t o f t h e o t h e r — e v e n w h e n y o u ’r e n o t s u r e t h e r e i s g r o u n d u n d e r n e a t h ­— a n d y o u ’ l l r e a c h y o u r g o a l s .

T h i s b o o k i s a g i a n t s t e p f o r w a r d . I ’m e x c i t e d f o r y o u a n d y o u r b i g i d e a !

Sonja Rasula Founder & CEO of Unique Markets

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CHAPTER 1

Big Picture

H e r e w e a r e . Yo u ’r e r e a d y t o s t a r t y o u r o w n b u s i n e s s . ( O r y o u ’r e a t l e a s t r e a d y t o t h i n k a b o u t s t a r t i n g y o u r o w n b u s i n e s s . ) E i t h e r w a y, t h i s i s a v e r y exciting time! This f irst chapter guides you through impor tant f irst steps: you will clearly ar ticulate why you want to star t a business, assess your own strengths and weaknesses, identif y obstacles and oppor tunities, and m o r e — a l l t o l a y a s t r o n g f o u n d a t i o n f o r y o u r n e w v e n t u r e . L e t ’s g e t s t a r t e d !

DOW N TO BUSI N E SS L e t ’s g e t r i g h t d o w n t o b u s i n e s s : w o r k i n g f o r y o u r s e l f i s u n c e r t a i n , b u t so is ever y other job! Being your own boss c an be the most rewarding, e x h a u s tin g, a n d f ul f illin g jo b yo u’ll eve r h ave. W hil e t h e id e a of s t a r tin g your own business may seem daunting, c ast aside those vulnerabilities for a hot sec. Believe me when I say that you can absolutely do this.

I s t a r t e d m y b u s i n e s s i n 2 011. Te c h n i c a l l y, I ’d b e e n f r e e l a n c i n g f o r a w h i l e , but mostly to save up for things I needed in college —like a legit copy o f A d o b e ® C r e a t i v e S u i t e ® . I s t a r t e d a b l o g a n d c a l l e d i t S u g a r & Ty p e b e c a u s e , w e l l , I l o v e d e s s e r t , a n d . . . I ’m o b s e s s e d w i t h t y p o g r a p h y. N o j o k e , I c a n ’ t g o a d a y w i t h o u t e i t h e r, s o t h a t 's w h a t I w r o t e a b o u t . T h e e conomy suc ke d, and I couldn’t f ind a de cent job doing what I w ante d when I gr aduated. I took whatever f reelance job I could f ind, made cont ac t s at all of the loc al agencies, and, no shame, even got a job at the mall. Ever y freelance job I took taught me a lit tle more about working f o r m y s e l f . I l e a r n e d a s m u c h a b o u t w h a t I d i d n' t w a n t m y c a r e e r t o l o o k like as I learned about what I did want it to look like. I worked f or tr ade, I worked f or minimum wage, I took on ever y projec t I could f ind to get experience. When I f inally landed a job in my f ield, I c ame home at night and designed some more. Those sleepless nights paid of f: my business g r e w, a n d o n c e I l e f t m y f u l l - t i m e j o b , I n e v e r l o o k e d b a c k .

While this book title references growing your creative passion into a fullt i m e g i g , I d o n ’ t w a n t y o u t o t h i n k t h a t ’s w h a t d e f i n e s s u c c e s s . Yo u m a y decide you love doing your thing par t-time, as a side -hus tle, or to f und y o u r p a s s i o n f o r t r a v e l . Yo u m a y r e a l l y l o v e y o u r f u l l - t i m e j o b ( a n d t h e h e a l t h b e n e f i t s ), a n d t h a t ’s g r e a t ! Yo u ’ l l f i n d w h a t w o r k s b e s t f o r y o u a s you make your way through the chapters.

I f y o u'r e s t u c k a t a j o b y o u d o n' t l o v e , s t o p w a s t i n g y o u r t i m e a n d e n e r g y complaining about it. Ins tead, think of it as a gif t: that job is paying you to be able to grow your own business. Use your lunch break to develop your business, schedule in time for your loved ones, and then hustle h a r d i n - b e t w e e n . T h e r e ’s n o m a g i c f o r m u l a . I t ’s a l o t o f h a r d w o r k . Yo u r b u s i n e s s i s y o u r n e w l i f e . Yo u r h o b b y. Yo u r o b s e s s i o n .

T h i s b o o k i s n' t f o r t h e d r e a m e r s , i t 's f o r t h e d o e r s . I t w i l l h e l p y o u s t a r t on your journey to growing your creative passion into something more.

D o c u m e n t y o u r u p s a n d d o w n s a n d e v e r y b i t o f t h e s c a r y, e x c i t i n g , wonder f ul ride of b eing your own bos s. Don’t worr y about what you don’t know or about your terrible handwriting. Just make a mark. This book has your back.

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WHERE DO I START I m i g h t a s w e l l s t a r t t h i s b o o k w i t h a c l i c h é . S c r e w i t , l e t 's s t a r t w i t h m u l t i p l e c l i c h é s ! I t 's s c a r y t o g e t s t a r t e d ­— b u t i t 's w a y e a s i e r t h a n p u t t i n g t h i n g s o f f . T h e y s a y t h a t i f y o u d o w h a t y o u l o v e , y o u' l l n e v e r w o r k a d a y i n y o u r l i f e . I t 's a l i e . Yo u' l l w o r k a l l t h e t i m e , b u t i t ' l l b e w o r t h i t !

S o w h e r e d o y o u s t a r t? S t a r t . . . s o m e w h e r e ! M a k e a p r o j e c t , d o a t h i n g , t a k e a p h o t o ! W e l e a r n b e s t b y d o i n g , s o g e t y o u r f e e t w e t . D o n' t o v e r t h i n k things. D on't quit your day job jus t yet; re m e mb e r that go o d things t ake tim e.

Starting somewhere now i s b e t t e r t h a n s t a r t i n g s o m e w h e r e l a t e r.

Yo u ' l l n e v e r k n o w u n t i l y o u t r y !

Some things take time.

Yo u m a y n o t b e t h e r e y e t . B u t y o u ' r e c l o s e r t h a n y e s t e r d a y.

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and think of what could go right.

D o u b t i s a d r e a m k i l l e r.

Make it happen!

BIG PIC TURE | 16 |

DEFINING SUCCESS O n e o f t h e b e a u t i f u l t h i n g s a b o u t b u i l d i n g y o u r o w n b u s i n e s s i s t h a t YO U g e t t o d e f i n e w h a t s u c c e s s l o o k s l i k e . R e m e m b e r, t h i s i s a l l o n y o u r t e r m s !

W h a t i s i m p o r t a n t t o y o u? A t t h e e n d o f t h e d a y, w h a t w i l l i t t a k e f o r y o u to f eel succes s f ul? How does this dif f er f rom conventional def initions of s u c c e s s? what you think success looks like

SUCCESS

what it really looks like

TIME D e f i n i t i o n s d i f f e r, b u t “s u c c e s s ” i s u s u a l l y m e s s i e r t h a n i t a p p e a r s o n the sur face! The things that are impor tant to you—your values—should inform your goals. Not what the Internet says or what someone else wants. Revisit your personal def inition of success from time to time to m a k e s u r e i t s t i l l a l i g n s w i t h t h e w o r k y o u ’r e d o i n g . W h a t d o e s s u c c e s s l o o k l i k e t o y o u?

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WHERE DO I START

NO DTYO C H I E F C R E AT I V E O F F I C E R | B A N D O . C O M | @ J EM NIG C HU R B U S I N E S S | 2 2 |

GET TO K NOW YOU RSELF I t c a n b e d i f f i c u l t to o b j e c t i v e l y i d e n t i f y yo u r ow n s t re n g t h s a n d w e a k n e s s e s and to assess your own communication style. There are a variety of personality tests (search online!) that can help you get to know yourself and how you work.

W H AT A R E M Y S T R E N G T H S ?

W H AT D O I N E E D TO O V E R C O M E ?

W H AT D I S T R A C T S M E ?

W H AT ’ S M Y S P E C I A L TA L E N T ? W H AT D O I D O B E S T ?

L e t ’s h o p e y o u f i n d “ s e l f - m o t i v a t e d , a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l , d e t e r m i n e d , a n d time management” on your list. If not, I suggest that you work to develop those traits or find a business partner or employee to help fill in the gaps. | 23 |

WOR K I NG FOR YOU RSELF Being your own boss is not for ever yone. Pause to consider the many aspects of owning your business and what your day-to-day work life will look like.

PRO

CON

BIG PICTURE | 24 |

BR A N DI NG 101 M a n y p e o p l e f i r s t t h i n k o f l o g o s w h e n t h e y h e a r t h e t e r m “ b r a n d i n g .” B u t branding is so much more than that! Branding is also about the experience someone has with your brand—how they learn about your business, the way they feel when they interac t with your business, and how they think and feel following their interaction. Branding involves the look and feel of your busines s c ard, the colors you choose, and even the tone of your v o i c e i n v i d e o s o r b l o g p o s t s . Yo u r i d e n t i t y i n c l u d e s t h e s t y l e a n d c o l o r s , a n d y o u r l o g o i s a n a c t u a l m a r k t h a t ’s c o n s i s t e n t l y u s e d f o r r e c o g n i t i o n .

Yo u m u s t e m p l o y a c o n s i s t e n t b r a n d v o i c e t o c r e a t e a m e m o r a b l e b r a n d experience for your clients and customers. Consider your core values (s e e exe r c is e o n p a g e 49). T h e s e v a lu e s w ill inf o r m h ow yo u b r in g yo ur brand to life —how it aligns with who you are as a business owner and how you are unique in the market. From your social media post s to your produc t packaging and ever y thing in bet ween, you should strive to create a cohesive brand experience that reflects the values and beliefs that drive your business.

W H Y D O YO U F E E L D R I V E N T O D O W H AT YO U D O?

W H AT VA L U E S I N F L U E N C E YO U R B U S I N E S S ? H O W ?

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ICING ON THE CAKE H e r e ’s a g r e a t w a y t o t h i n k a b o u t b r a n d i n g : i t ’s e v e r y t h i n g c l i e n t s h e a r, s e e , a n d f e e l a b o u t y o u r c o m p a n y. W i t h o u t a s t r o n g f o u n d a t i o n , t h e b e a u t i f u l l o g o a n d c o l o r p a l e t t e w o n' t h o l d u p . M y f r i e n d K e l s e y K e r s l a k e of Pinegate Road said “No amount of cake decorating is going to make t h e c a k e t a s t e b e t t e r.” S h e h i t t h e n a i l o n t h e h e a d h e r e . A s a f a n o f c a k e , I l o v e t h i s a n a l o g y t o i l l u s t r a t e h o w w h i l e f r o s t i n g i s d e l i c i o u s , i t ’s b e s t when eaten atop a really delicious cake.

ICING • • • • • • •

Logo Ty p o g r a p h y Collateral Color Content Patterns Visuals

CAKE • • • •

Yo u r “ W h y ” Yo u r C l i e n t E x p e r i e n c e Yo u r B r a n d S t r a t e g y Social Media Presence

BUILDING A BRAND | 46 |