Ten Lessons Learned as a self-employed Graphic Designer

By Becky BayneThe Business of Graphic Design

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Next May (2012) will be my 20th year in business! Many things have changed since 1992, but I have 10 specific things I’ve learned since I started my business that continue to help me succeed today.

10. Plan well and be organized.

9. Don’t do what you aren’t good at – find help!

8. Continuing Education is extremely important.

7. An empty checkbook is a great motivator.

6. Bill collecting can take some creativity.

5. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK

4. Friends are more important than money.

3. Client Relationships really matter.

2. You can move a business across the country.

1. I’m braver than I thought!

to be continued…

About Becky Bayne

Becky Bayne is an award-winning author, book designer, and Self-Publishing Production Director. As founder of Becky’s Graphic Design, she leads a structured production studio managing 25–30 professional book releases annually for nonfiction authors and select children’s book projects. Her award-winning guide, "How to Format a Children’s Book for Self-Publishing," received First Place for Artistic & Technical Book Design from The BookFest and was named a Finalist by American Book Fest. Through the studio’s educational YouTube platform—serving 10,000+ self-publishing students and designers—technical InDesign instruction is led by Lead Formatting Specialist Kayla Snyder under Becky’s production oversight.