People often ask me for the ‘secret’ of business success. Is it sheer determination, a good education, a great business idea or just pure luck?
In my opinion, it’s a combination of several things. I don’t think the level of education is important. Although, of course, you need to know the basics of business, your audience and your product.
Hands-on experience is invaluable. However, much more important is your passion, determination, mindset and ability to get on with suppliers, customers and staff so they also want you to succeed.
You have to live that passion. I can honestly say I’m a designer wherever I am and in any situation. When I walk down the street, I tend to question everything around me, from the way a building is designed, to how it’s decorated, to how the garden looks and how it all fits together – or doesn’t.
I even redesign road signs and cars when I go to my local newsagent. It’s strange because it’s slightly obsessive and can feel like a curse – albeit it a good one!
When you have that kind of brain it’s hard to switch-off but even though my brain is working all the time, it doesn’t feel like work, it’s stimulating.
A lot of designers are like that. We don’t tend to totally shut-off and are very finicky, we can’t just go out and buy something because it’s alright, it has to be a lot more than alright. When I started my record collection it had to be the best music collection of all, I couldn’t tolerate any rubbish in it.
So I think an analytical mind and a drive to be the best certainly helps if you want to succeed in business. You also need people around you who believe in you and are willing to back you.
By all means start with friends and family, but also embrace sales people, manufacturers and bank managers. Nobody is an island, especially in business, and nobody can do it on their own. The better the team you have around you, the better your chances for success.
You have to look after yourself too and, for me, there’s nothing more important than maintaining a healthy work/life balance and being able to spend time with my family.
I have a studio in London but a beautiful home on the south coast and if I got too busy to get to spend time there I’d wonder what the point was. It’s not easy prioritising time for yourself but I make the most of technology and that really helps.
For example, I have a T-Mobile BlackBerry that allows me to keep on top of my emails even when I’m out of the office. It means that during all the previously wasted time spent in the car or on a train, I can now be productive.
My final piece of advice is to work hard. You won’t get anywhere without working hard."
Wayne and Geraldine now run HemingwayDesign, which specialises in affordable and social design. www.hemingwaydesign.com
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