30 Posts In 30 Days – Day 28: Rules
This is Day 28 of the 30 Posts In 30 Days Challenge I set for myself to start writing online. This post was originally published on X.
There is lots of good advice on the internet on how to build and run a successful business.
But sometimes I get a little bit too distracted and lose sight of what’s actually important.
Which is why I’ve set up some rules for how I run my business.
Rule #1: I deliver what I promise
If I say I do something, I do it without question.
I deliver my work on time and on budget.
Rule #2: I make no promises I will regret later on
In the beginning, I often took on projects way below my price or on an unrealistic schedule.
But that’s the wrong way to win over a client.
Rule #3: This isn’t about me or what I want
This isn’t about:
- Building the most beautiful portfolio
- Winning awards or getting into magazines
- Adding the most awesome names to my bio
This is about the people paying me money for my services.
What do they want?
Rule #4: I try to impress the client, by listening closely
My clients often don’t know how to best describe their needs or what’s actually possible.
That’s a great opportunity to not only meet but exceed their expectations.
Rule #5: I make the numbers work
Sometimes I can’t control how much money I’m going to make by the end of the month.
What I can control are the costs:
- My salary (to an extent)
- Software and subscriptions
- Hardware and infrastructure
- Marketing/advertising
- Education (courses, etc.)
The question is, what am I willing to pay for, and how much?
If I find a way to make the numbers work, I’m going to stay in business.