Guest
speakers in my program are almost always a painful experience to live through. I
smile, I`m polite and I try to make it as unnoticeable as possible that I am
playing scrabble on my iPhone, but it is what it is: a headache. So imagine my
surprise when Debbie Repke of Eyelight
Marketing comes in and blows my socks off.
In walks
Debbie looking very businesslike and proper, a self made woman with years of
experience telling me not to be afraid of my chosen career; enjoy what I have
elected to pursue, be excited for my future and when you stumble along the way,
pick yourself back up and move along. Often is the case when we hear horror
stories of missed deadlines, nightmarish expectations and unreasonable clients
who don’t respect designers and who think the industry is frivolous and too
expensive in a cost cutting world. Maybe this exists and maybe in a dosage that
is at times daunting and discouraging, but there is also light in the darkness
that makes it all worthwhile.
I am
forever grateful to Debbie for quelling my doubts and inspiring me to aim high,
shoot true and remember that, `nobody ever died from the work a designer does.`
Here is
a list of twenty-five lessons Debbie has learned over her twenty-five years as
an owner of her own marketing firm:
25
lessons I’ve learned along the way….
- Empower
and trust others. You can’t do it alone.
- Recognize
your strengths and do them really well.
- Great
design is everything. But nothing kills it faster than a typo.
- Get
involved personally – business relationships create lasting friendships.
- Shut
up and Listen. Understanding is the key to the solution.
- Be
yourself. Trying to be someone you aren't is a tough and tiring act.
- Don’t
burn bridges. Respect others and take the high road – it’s always the best
path.
- If
you don't have the answer, admit it and then find the answer.
- Speak
your mind and share your opinion. Saying 'yes' all the time is not what
clients pay you for. They want our input.
- Learn
from your mistakes. We learn far more from risks and errors than
accomplishments.
- Be
in the moment. Distractions come far too easily. Be engaged with what you
are doing or who you are talking to.
- I
love the ‘AH HA’ moment. Developing the right logo, the right slogan, or
the right plan.
- Learn
to put things in perspective.
- Balance
your life. Creativity needs time to refuel.
- Ditch
the diva routine. This is a group effort. We all share in the failures and
the glory.
- Follow
your gut.
- Computers
didn’t give me more free time as promised. But they did take away the need
to do marker layouts.
- Do
things in life that excite, motivate and inspire you.
- Don't
wear white shoes to a meat slaughter house … enough said.
- Get involved
with your community. Give back.
- Don't
take anything for granted. Life is full of twists and turns.
- Surround
yourself with smart people. They teach you a lot.
- It’s
not the mistake – it’s how you fix it that defines your character.
- Watch
Mad-Men! Don’s ‘pitch’ never gets old.
- Deliver more than expected. Always.
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