Nature reminds us that small beginnings aren't something to be skipped over. Slow starts aren't meant to be rushed. In fact it's in these moments that what seems impossible is made possible.

This idea – that if we simply perform a set amount of tasks, “make our point”, or finish our presentation – has matured with the PowerPoint generation and now rules the boardroom. Yet long before clipart, spoken word moved man to act. What we have lost with our use of technology is a self-awareness.

When a clients want to spend an inordinate amount of time in the logo design process, I've often found it's not because they're obsessed with their brand—it's because they don't know what to do next. Colors matter. Fonts matter. Textures matter. It's all important. But none of those things are more important than the business idea itself.

Long-term, focusing  too much on productivity deemphasizes the most important link in any business: people. When a business focuses more on productivity than people, priorities inevitably shift to the output of the business instead of the business as a whole. 

No, you don't need a website. At least not now. What you need is a plan. What you need is a business that's viable. What you need it time to hash out your ideas. And no, I don't recommend "putting something up," and changing it later.

When I think about all the businesses I’ve worked with, what comes to mind is not so much the design, but the relationships. Yes, design is the foundation, but I finally built a referral business only after learning that people wanted much more than good work.

When it comes to new business start-ups, we’ve found that the simplest questions get lost in the details. Oftentimes owners find themselves battling their thoughts – fighting to silence the never-ending “good” ideas about where they want the business to go.

Not saying what you really mean can have huge implications when it comes to emailing. Why? Because emails are devoid of tone and context. If you're thinking to yourself, "Do I need to explain this better?" you probably do. 

While tomorrow's ideas may seem more immediate, more impending, more exciting—today's needs may be more critical to the survival of a brand or business. Before we discuss where we want to go, the best practice is to evaluate where we are.

Dreams are wonderful. But in order to make them a reality, you'll need more than a dream. With the right plan and team in place, dreams move from a destination of what could be, to a journey of what is. 

What is your purpose for writing—to inspire, teach, convince, entertain? Keeping the intent of your post in mind helps to both focus your writing, as well as maintain consistency. If we ignore the intent of the post, there's a chance of diluting the message.

Important moments are being missed. Event photography may seem like an unneeded expense, but you’ll want your event to be captured with the same level of detail that you put into planning the event. Good photography captures a moment. Poor photography captures images.

Make it “pop.” This phrase is frustrating. Both the designer and client have different interpretations of this word…and experience shows they’re never the same. Instead of trying to make things “pop” take the time to think about your brand.

Unless you're wanting to be an astronaut, chances are that you're more qualified to pursue your dream than you think. Often when I hear clients speak about qualifications, what they're really referring to is that they haven't had formal training, or they're comparing themselves to other individuals.

Here are 7 reasons that designers make awesome friends—and even better spouses! (Yes, clearly I'm biased.) 

Regardless of your tweets, your likes on Facebook, or your sales results, eventually clients return to THEIR comfort level. At this time, the focus shifts from “Who is bringing in the most business?” to “Who will I want to do business with in the future?” Again, the first is based on ROI, while the latter is based on relationships.

Talk about what you love AND what your customers love. You’ll be most apt to write about topics that fuel your passion. Additionally, if you know your customers, you already know the topics they love, too. Use this to your advantage. Your goal is not to write the funniest post or entertain the masses. Your goal is to connect with your audience

WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD – Ugh. This sentence provides no additional direction or clarification during conversation. It’s a pointless phrase – a filler. We have enough fillers in our food; there’s no reason to add them to our speech, too.

I believe that a strong business is supported by three main pillars: Sales, Profits, and Story. Your story can also be referred to as brand identity, and answers questions about the business. It’s the message, tone, and vision of your brand. Who are you? What do you sell? Why do you sell it?

Google knows that technology has changed. And more than technology, the way we search has changed. We now search with expectations, desires, entitlement.  When it comes to small business websites, what we’re seeing is a shift away from providing objects and information, to experience and meaning.