Happy Birthday, humble onion!
10 years ago I used Adobe InDesign for the first time, and today I’m saying Happy Birthday to Humble Onion Creative.
That just absolutely blows my mind.
To celebrate the last year of humble onion and the last 10 years of my graphic design journey, I’m looking back on 10 things I would have told myself in 2013. While I feel like I can still relate to the woman from 10 years ago, I can’t lie: A lot of this is advice I’ve shared with student designers.
BUT it’s good for us all to get a dose of reality and affirmation, so read on!
1 - It’s not personal.
Sometimes the person didn’t return your email because they had an emergency. Or they got busy. Or they genuinely just aren’t the right fit. Don’t panic, because your people are out there and when you find them you will feel so at home.
2 – …but it kind of is personal.
Your people can’t find you if you’re hiding.
I think I felt so defeated at points in my design career, like such an imposter and fraud and talentless hack, that I closed myself off as a sort of self-protection. But if the haters can’t see you, neither can the fans. Be you, unabashedly, and learn from the negative. It’ll teach you how to be a better designer, client, teacher, and student all at the same time.
3 – You’ll figure it out.
There is one metric butt-ton of information out there and it is absolutely overwhelming. You’re riding the roller coaster of design and some days you feel like you’re about to win Publishers Clearing House while other days you’re considering a career change. When those latter days happen, I hope you’ll hang on if it means you’ll be closer to reaching your goals, because it WILL happen. It always does.
4 – It’s OK to say no.
It’s called boundaries, and we are here for it! You don’t owe anyone an explanation except for yourself.
5 – It’s OK to say yes.
Try new things. Fail at new things. Get better at new things. You’re allowed to grow and thrive!
6 – Invest in yourself.
This looks different for different people, of course. I’ve invested in myself by paying for annual dues as a member of University and College Designers Association, where I’m constantly learning and growing (and serving on their digital strategy subcommittee). I
’ve invested in myself by purchasing tools that make me more efficient. I’ve invested in myself by hiring others so that I can wholeheartedly work on projects instead of piecemealing and feeling stressed out. I’ve invested time in myself to take breaks and set boundaries.
7 – Try new things.
Someone reached out to me the other day and said they were proud of me, that they can see I’ve grown in confidence. Truth be told, I didn’t think my confidence grew over the past year, but when I look back at things I tried, I get it! You build confidence, determine what works and what doesn’t, and keep going. That’s growth, baby.
8 – Never. Stop. Learning.
This kind of feels like the previous one, but it’s different, I swear! I feel like trying new things can be just for fun, whereas learning is a more intentional listen-and-apply type of situation. I’ve learned how to work more efficiently in InDesign since a year ago. I’ve learned more about Email Marketing. I’ve learned more about Marketing, in general.
There is always something new to learn, and I never want to get bogged down in the details so much that I’m stagnant. When that happens, I’m not doing myself or you any favors.
9 – Make time for inspiration.
This. Is. Huge. When I graduated college, my uncle told me, “Life is what happens outside of work.” I’ve really clung to that. Work is work, even if it’s creative. Try to build in an hour or two each week to do things that are inspirational: Go to a museum; sit outside and take notes about what you see, feel, and hear.
10 – Make time for you.
Without you, your business will fail. And burnout is real. Really real. It sounds corny but it’s so true – listen to your body, take breaks, hire help, re-prioritize, and step away.
I’ve done a lot more learning, but I didn’t think anyone would read a blog list that was 500-plus long….
I hope you’ve stuck around because you’re the first to hear about all of the amazing things I have coming!
We want to celebrate with everyone all month long, and you’re the first to hear about it!
Every Friday I’ll be announcing a giveaway on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Just like, share, and comment, and you’ll be entered to win free goodies like custom sticker designs, art prints, and even a free month of social media strategy!
We’ll also be launching some new programs like a free-to-join book club focused on marketing, psychology, and art, and Designer Days where you’ll be our ONLY client for the day!
I’m so grateful for what has happened over the last year, and I’m excited for what we can accomplish in the next year. It’s going to be spectacular, in my humble onion.
