Hobbyist or Professional - Which one are you?
There are two types of business owner:
1. The Hobbyist
2. The Professional
In this post I share the characteristics of each type.
Which one are you?
HINT: If you want a profitable design business you want more of the characteristics of the professional then the hobbyist :)
The Hobbyist
Characteristics of the hobbyist:
🎲 the business is something that brings enjoyment but isn't financially viable
🎲 not sure how to price, likely under charging
🎲 no business structure, legals, accounting or other back end systems set up (or these have been done DIY - which is not a good idea)
🎲 happy if money comes in the door but don't have a clear path for how that happens or where the next money might come from
🎲 sometimes post on social media but don't have a consistent posting schedule - generally inconsistent
🎲 don't track or report on numbers, analytics, goals or vision
🎲 done in spare time rather than done with purpose and time carved out to achieve particular activities that are planned in advance
🎲 generally more reactive than proactive (e.g. if a client or project comes in then it's a nice to have but not actively out there seeking new projects or clients and have no focus on who they work with - i.e. accept most jobs that come their way)
🎲 no sales strategy or pipeline in place - not tracking leads or conversions and don’t know where clients are really coming from
🎲 no strategic systems or processes in place - start from scratch every time you do something
🎲 days and weeks not well planned - limited forward thinking or planning
🎲 projects not well tracked or planned - scope creep is common (and unpaid!)
🎲 poorly defined (or non-existent) project management system
🎲 low confidence - high levels of imposter syndrome
The Professional
Characteristics of the professional:
👩🏻🎓 clear purpose and intention to make money and be profitable - generally focusing first on what will bring in revenue (rather than tasks that are just busy work)
👩🏻🎓 detailed qualitative and quantitative metrics tracked via a dashboard - you know what is actually happening in your business
👩🏻🎓 consistent posting of regular content on social media and other content platforms (e.g. blog/video) - even on days when you don't feel like it! Professionals realise this is the way to grow a community (and therefore revenue!)
👩🏻🎓 activities are carried out in a professional way with the intention of building something of value in the marketplace
👩🏻🎓 systems and processes are clearly defined and regularly updated
👩🏻🎓 your legals, insurances, accounting and other professional areas are set up (by a professional) and running well. This gives your business a professional look and feel to clients you are working with
👩🏻🎓 proactively anticipate and address issues that arise. Proactively out searching and networking for new clients and new business opportunities
👩🏻🎓 strong sales strategy and pipeline - a mix of lead generation strategies and a steady low of new leads that generate a steady flow of new paying clients each week/month
👩🏻🎓 strong brand presence in the market - people know who you are and want to work with you
👩🏻🎓 have a clear niche to work with and know who their ideal clients are and the problems they can help them with
👩🏻🎓 client workload and waitlist is mapped months in advance - individual projects are tracked in detail via timelines and deadlines
👩🏻🎓 fees are set via value based pricing - charging what you are worth
👩🏻🎓 take action, take risks and do the things that scare them
👩🏻🎓 confident in what you are doing and able to lead clients in projects and feel confident in delivering exceptional outcomes
If you want a profitable design business you want more of the characteristics of the professional then the hobbyist :)
And if you want help moving away from being a hobbyist and towards becoming a professional then download my Success Blueprint, which is your path to a 6-figure + design business (all laid out step by step).
Courses and Templates for Designers and Architects
DO YOU WANT TO….
Improve your professionalism?
Find more clients?
Bring in more revenue?
Create better systems and processes?
Then check out my business courses and templates for designers and architects.
These courses and templates leave you with work done - not just a long list of things you need to do next. We have a really strong focus on taking action and getting things created that improve your business.
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy
