Slow It Down
It can be tempting to race through tasks to one quickly right after another. Many creatives feel the need to rush through the business operation tasks to move back to the creative tasks, or to move from one creative project to the next in order to keep the income flowing and keep the business operative.
I get that. However, oftentimes, its better for business in the long run to slow everything down a tick. Not enough to where it hurts business, but to a paces where you can be thorough and get tasks done right the first time.
As creatives, when you rush through projects too quickly, what typically suffers is the creative process and things end up being formulaic. You compromise on research, you pull from work you did in the past with little new inspiration. At the end of the project or job, especially after you have some distance from it, there’s a greater chance you’ll look back and say, “Eh that wasn’t my best work. I wish I had time to do that differently.”
Mistakes often happen more frequently when you’re rushed - something I probably don’t need to tell you twice. My creative background is in interior design - a field where mistakes are often costly. I like to say there are no mistakes in art, and while that’s kinda true for the art process, we all know that when your art is your business, mistakes aren’t something we can afford. As creatives, the margins simply are not there. So, the solution? Slow it down. Take your time.
What happens when things take longer? Will the clients be mad? Will they turn away to another artist or designer? Maybe! But that can often be avoided by being upfront with them and communicate your timeline for their project right off the bat. From there, work with them on their expectations, and stay in communication throughout the process.
Also, as you are going through your creative process, it’s helpful to put into practice time management skills to help keep yourself on the timeline that you set out.
Interested in hearing more about how I can help your creative business thrive? Email me! Hello@dovetailcreativeconsulting.com.