There is a time in every business-person's life where they have to decide... am I happy where my business is at, or is it time to move it forward? For about the last year, I've been debating that very question.
As of right now (and for the last 6 years), my business as a solo freelancer has continued to be successful. A lone wolf operation that has a solid list of clientele, both revolving as well as a steady stream of new client contacts, with an exceptional image and set of standards. I've been so busy for the last year (for the most part) that I spend more days wishing I had help than not. I did take on a freelancer out of state who has asked me to send him overflow work, which I do now and then, but I often find it easier to do the work myself rather than take an hour or two to explain the expectations and/or restrictions of the project. So I keep going at my same pace, often starting work early mornings just to keep up, though I never take on enough work or clients to justify hiring a part-time designer. At this point, I feel sort of... stuck.
So the other day, I received a phone call from an old high school friend who has her degree in Marketing/Communications. We chatted like we usually do, planned a time and day to meet up for beer and tacos, and then I asked her how the job search was going. She still hadn't found her first marketing job, but in part, that's why she wanted to talk to me, and she went on with what I found to be a very interesting proposal. She would like to work for me, part time, as a marketing person. She would be in charge of bringing in local clients and helping me expand my business, while in turn I would be giving her the experience she needs to put on her resumé that could later on be very valuable in getting her a more permanent marketing-type position. It actually made wonderful sense.
I had always thought my focus should be on hiring a graphic designer to help me with business, but it's really (I suddenly realized) two people that I needed to hire... a marketing person to go out and get more clientele, and a graphic designer to take on the new work that person brings in as well as relieve me of some of my own overflow. My struggle was always the amount of time I would have to take to keep my designer busy, but if I have somebody doing that for me, as well as marketing my own business and doing all those things I just don't have time to do, then now I have more time to Manage, and less time to stress about my own deadlines. Yes, this could work.
I've circled the idea to some close friends and family and have been getting a very good (and relieved) reaction. I have a very good friend and businessman who is just beginning to expand into his second local Restaurant here in Boise, and his initial reaction was "It's about damn time." He said something else too. He told me that, at my age and level of experience, I should be more than just a Graphic Designer. I should be running a team of designers to be doing my work for me. I should be in my office, checking work and directing my team, allowing them to work at their own comfort-level, but guiding them into my standards and helping them to expand their own skills. And eventually, I should be out playing golf a couple days a week while my business runs itself.
The thought of that excites me beyond my wildest dreams. Of course I had always dreamed of one day becoming a "Firm" or "Group" instead of just a freelance studio, but of course there's always risk involved too. I'd have to put out the capital and pay my employees before I had enough work to support them. I eventually will need an office space and everything that comes with it... desks, computers, chairs, a conference table, etc. I've always preferred the slow and stead approach - it's how I got this far - but eventually the time comes to make that jump, take that leap and propel your business forward. For Elle Phillips Design, that time is coming soon. I propose it will happen this year.
So a personal shout-out to my friend Amy, who's out-of-the-box (and very forthright) proposal was actually the solution I was looking for. There's still a lot of details to think about and work out, but if all goes well, by this time next year I'll be Elle Phillips Design Group (or possibly operating solely under my parent company, Red Couch Creative, inc.?) instead of just Elle Phillips Design. Yes, that would be cool.
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