Background
Since May, I’ve teamed up with my university friend, Gigi, to start our design studio called From Mars. Although we have past experience freelancing, this is the first time we’re running a proper business, properly.
In other words, besides doing what we do best (designing, duh), we’re the entire department: accounting, human resources, operations, sales, business development and The Intern 🐥.
I’ve recorded a vlog about my decision to resign early this year and how our company.
How It’s Going
The main reason I’m writing again (instead of vlogging on my YouTube channel, which I should be doing more consistently) is that I felt so overwhelmed and anxious last month. I kept worrying about finding new and meaningful clients to grow our company while juggling ongoing projects and business proposals.
Sometimes, I worry so much that I constantly find things to do just to gain a sense of control by feeling productive. As an overthinker, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking “I’m not making significant progress”, totally forget that I have to trust the process and let miracles happen.
But on the other hand, I enjoy the current momentum of working on exciting projects and knowing that I have a design partner who shares the same goal. As of writing, we’ve wrapped up a few projects from different industries—wellness, real estate, and finance—with a scope ranging from graphic design to branding, motion graphics, and UI/UX design.
Then, we also had the chance to attend a few talks at Singapore Design Week 🇸🇬.
If you would have told me years ago that I’d be attending SDW as a business trip for my own company, I wouldn’t have believed it.
It’s chaotic, but I’m still glad to stay busy productively. So much has happened within the four months of launching our studio that almost every few days, we’ll have recurring conversations about how we should position and run our company.
We’ve also met many mentors and agency founders who have shared their knowledge with us. Maybe the real design portfolio is the friends we’ve made along the way.
Reminders
As with my previous “reminder” series essays, I try to document thoughts that serve me both practically and spiritually. The only difference this time is that most of these reminders relate to what I feel is the most efficient way to run an early-stage business.
All opinions below are my personal opinion, and may not represent what other founders feel when running a business.
- There will be times you have to turn down opportunities, and you can only do so if your vision and goals are very clear.
- Weekdays are for execution, and weekends are for business development and logistics (so you can have productive weekdays).
- Not sure if you should meet someone? Go.
- Not sure if you should take the project? Ask clarify questions.
- A client or vendor with a good work ethic is more important than a good project.
- No matter how busy you are, do things that don’t make you sick, or better, do things that prevent you from getting sick.
- Just by talking to other business owners makes you feel less lonely and helps you believe in yourself again.
- As you’re running a business, the biggest fear is knowing your fears are most definitely rational. It’s ok to feel anxious, but don’t panic.
- Every missed opportunity is a valuable lesson. At early stage, it’s even more important to test hypothesis by failing quicker in succession so you can succeed quicker.
- There’s no such thing as “the industry is too competitive.” If you truly know your craft and the field, you should know how to differentiate yourself. Otherwise, you should stay as an employee and continue to observe.
- A big paycheck was never the main goal, nor is it an indicator of growth. Producing good work is, and a big paycheck is the outcome.
- Your business is only as big as you could dream about it.
- Being able to run a business is a privilege, but it also requires you to forgo certain freedoms and intimate connections. That being said, simply being aware of these trade-offs isn’t enough to stay sane. As you become the minority among your circle who runs a business, people will respond to your thoughts in a way that makes you question your ethic, logic, and sanity. Be honest and do what feels right to you in the moment, because everything that comes from a place of honesty is the best outcome.
- Producing good work compounds your business better than any advertisement.
- When running a business, you don’t get to choose between working hard and working smart. There are plenty of smart people who also work hard, so you have to be both—not even to win, but just to sustain.
Some of the reminders might sound pessimitic, which is why I think it’s very important to acknowledge them upfront because it is what it is, i.e. when these thoughts are presented as facts to me, it’s up to me to decide what to do with them.
To anyone else out there who is also working on their goals, I wish you godspeed. Ending this essay with a mixset that I’ve had on loop almost ever day. Four Tet has been favourite artist spinning that high-octane energy mixset.
Alas, keep that W Sigma grindset cuz shits about to go down this this Winter Arc. LOCK IN.