In January 1990, mid way through my final year of art school, I started a business. I was 20 at the time, had zero qualifications to be a businessman and had only had one real job (if you don't count paperboy at 12 and the fry guy at McDonald's at 14). That one real job was a part-time sign painter in high school and college. I am really dating myself, but my time at art school didn't even include computers (yikes).
20 years later and half my life invested in this business, I've learned a few things.
- Do what you love
- Work with people and companies you respect
- Tell the truth
- Get really good at something
- Never stop learning
- Abandon what's not working
- Learn to say no
- Don't take it too personal
- Strive to achieve a work-life balance
- Give your people freedom to excel and to fail
- Have a vision and stand for something
- Differentiate your offering
- Don't underestimate the power of luck
- Learn from your mistakes
- Don't be afraid to ask for help
- Treat people well
- Not everyone will believe in what you are trying to do
- Don't steal ideas
- Never screen back red, it just turns pink
- Laugh often
Thanks to everyone who has enabled me to do what I love and here's hoping for another fun 20 years.
Tim