{"id":26369,"date":"2019-06-11T09:24:56","date_gmt":"2019-06-11T09:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/?p=26369"},"modified":"2019-06-11T09:24:56","modified_gmt":"2019-06-11T09:24:56","slug":"first-business-lessons-for-web-designers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/first-business-lessons-for-web-designers\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Business Lessons I\u2019d Teach My Kid If He Wanted to Be a Web Designer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"26369\" class=\"elementor elementor-26369\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1389b36 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1389b36\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d2f2cf5\" data-id=\"d2f2cf5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e1f3c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e1f3c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As of writing this, my son Oscar is young enough where I (mostly) have control over all his movements and decisions. Heck, I was pushing him along in a stroller as I worked out my thoughts for this article.<\/p><p>But what happens when he grows up and wants a different type of direction and guidance from me? What if he says something like, \u201cDad, I\u2019ve decided to <a href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/start-web-design-business\/\">become a web designer<\/a>\u201d? Should I wish him luck and let him blaze his own path? Or should I share some of my business wisdom, even if he doesn\u2019t ask for it?<\/p><p>Here\u2019s the thing: my journey to this point was not a smooth one and I would never want that for anyone trying to make a living in web design (or any creative field, for that matter).<\/p><p>That\u2019s why, if my son were to tell me he wanted to follow in my footsteps, <b>I\u2019d tell him to ignore the footprints I\u2019ve left behind and to set about a different path.<\/b><\/p><p>I started on this journey as a university dropout and struggling musician. I now run a very successful business training program where I teach web designers and other WordPress creatives to close the gap between barely surviving and thriving in this space.<\/p><p>Similar to the strategies I share on a daily basis, I would want to instill three key business lessons upon my son and anyone else attempting to make a living as a web designer. Really, what it boils down to is a reconfiguration of one\u2019s mindset.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4dde109 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4dde109\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/resources\/how-to\/create-business-website\/\">How to create a business website in just a few steps<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-69a3d78 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"69a3d78\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b57be1\" data-id=\"6b57be1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-049dd90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"049dd90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Business Lesson #1: Be Resilient\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3168ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c3168ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>My original dream was to be an actor. But you know how it goes. Parents, friends and anyone else you share a dream like that with will say: \u201cOh, that\u2019s nice.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><p>But what they really mean to say is: \u201cWhy don\u2019t you find a more realistic and practical career first?\u201d<\/p><p>So, that\u2019s what I tried to do.<\/p><p>I went to university with the goal of becoming a drama teacher. But, of course, I was miserable. I dropped out and moved to Melbourne to pursue a career as a rock star.<\/p><p>I recognize that this part of my story doesn\u2019t have anything to do with starting a business in web design or WordPress. However, I think it demonstrates how important it is to build up a tough skin and confidence in yourself early on. Otherwise, you run the risk of:<\/p><p>Complacently accepting a job you\u2019re not meant to do and wasting your life being bored, unhappy, unfulfilled or all of the above.<\/p><p>Spitefully accepting a job you\u2019re not meant to do and hurriedly quitting with no clear aim or direction other than you want to be \u201canywhere but here\u201d.<\/p><p>Look, people are always going to have an opinion about what you choose to do with your life. It\u2019s up to you to be emotionally resilient and secure enough in your skills and business savviness to say, \u201cThanks, but I got this.\u201d<\/p><p>And, trust me, there are going to be times when the chips are down and you start to wonder if they were right. This is the time when you need to leverage your confidence so you can pick yourself back up again. If you can see the path clearly before you, then you shouldn\u2019t give up at the first (or second or third) sign of trouble.<\/p><p>Like Rocky Balboa once said:<\/p><p>\u201cIt ain\u2019t about how hard you hit. It\u2019s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f606d5b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f606d5b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e7926a4\" data-id=\"e7926a4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8e55fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c8e55fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Business Lesson #2: Be Resourceful<br style=\"font-size: 18px;font-weight: 400\"><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9fc99b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a9fc99b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If I\u2019m sitting here in the WP Elevation offices telling you this story, it\u2019s obvious that my days as a rock star were numbered.<\/p><p>It\u2019s not that I didn\u2019t have some success with it, but it also doesn\u2019t mean I didn\u2019t experience the lowest of the lows with it either. Which is how I ended up working in software. I needed to pay the bills because my main gig wasn\u2019t cutting it\u2026 and Microsoft Office paid.<\/p><p>I did a lot in my earlier years to survive. I taught corporate teams how to use Microsoft products. I worked as a voiceover artist. I published s***ty websites for my friends. I did whatever I needed to do to cash a paycheck.<\/p><p>It would\u2019ve been easy to give up at that point. But I didn\u2019t. I wanted to stop feeling so vulnerable and working at the whim of employers. I wanted more control over my life.<\/p><p>In 2006, I decided to get more serious about designing websites so I worked on strengthening my coding skills. I kept at it, kept teaching myself new things each and every day. Then, a year later, I discovered the power of WordPress and everything changed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8672b4f elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation elementor-blockquote--align-center elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon-text elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"8672b4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tThe only way you\u2019re going to succeed in web design or WordPress development is if you actively work on learning and growing within your space, and continue to do so no matter how far you get with it.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=The+only+way+you%E2%80%99re+going+to+succeed+in+web+design+or+WordPress+development+is+if+you+actively+work+on+learning+and+growing+within+your+space%2C+and+continue+to+do+so+no+matter+how+far+you+get+with+it.&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Felementor.com%2Fblog%2Fblog%2Ffirst-business-lessons-for-web-designers%2F\" class=\"elementor-blockquote__tweet-button\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-twitter\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-blockquote__tweet-label\">Tweet<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a98fcb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a98fcb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Now, I\u2019m not suggesting that you take on any side hustle in order to make ends meet. That\u2019s not the kind of resourcefulness I want to promote.<\/p><p>It wasn\u2019t until I found my niche in web design that I really felt like I could stand on my own two feet and support myself. And I needed that stability in order to do what I eventually did. However, I never would\u2019ve gotten to that point if I\u2019d simply said \u201cI\u2019m a web designer\u201d with my crappy intro-to-coding skills and tried to sell myself that way.<\/p><p>The only way you\u2019re going to succeed in web design or WordPress development is if you actively work on learning and growing within your space, and continue to do so no matter how far you get with it.<\/p><p>This isn\u2019t just beneficial because you acquire more knowledge and skills that allow you to charge more (though that\u2019s a nice perk). Having a continual desire to discover things on your own and to be resourceful enough to find answers to your questions will help you run a business successfully, too.<\/p><p>When you go into business for yourself, you\u2019re constantly having to solve problems, deal with clients and pivot sharply between and within projects. If you get into the habit early on to always be learning, you\u2019ll find that running a business isn\u2019t all that difficult since research and problem-solving will already be second nature.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9244f2b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9244f2b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f5844a\" data-id=\"3f5844a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03d494f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"03d494f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Business Lesson #3: Be Committed<br style=\"font-size: 18px;font-weight: 400\"><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d557099 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d557099\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When I first started building WordPress websites, I was selling them for cheap. It\u2019s not that the websites I designed were super bare bones either. I just thought that, in order to win contracts, I had to start with lower prices and then eventually work my way up.<\/p><p>So, I did that for awhile, slowly making the upward climb. I could see the top \u2014 the designers and agencies charging tens of thousands and, gulp, hundreds of thousands \u2014 per website. I desperately wanted to get there, but I had convinced myself that I had to \u201cpay my dues\u201d before I deserved to be there.<\/p><p>This is why so many creatives are willing to accept a measly payday for years, all the while struggling to get by. Worse, they do this for long enough and it becomes an accepted way of life.<\/p><p><i>\u201cWhy would anyone be willing to pay me more than $500 for a website?\u201d<\/i><\/p><p>But that\u2019s flawed thinking. There\u2019s absolutely no reason why a skilled web designer can\u2019t start at the top.<\/p><p>Why is it that so many web designers and creatives feel as though they have to start at the bottom then? Ultimately, it comes down to a lack of clarity around and commitment to their business:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a1f4e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8a1f4e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Finding the Sweet Spot<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-173f3bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"173f3bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When web designers commit themselves to ill-fitting activities, take on draining clients and fail to make much of a profit in the process, of course each day is going to feel like an uphill battle.<\/p><p>But there is a sweet spot for everybody \u2014 a place where you do what you do best and spend your time on tasks that make you happy. That\u2019s why I host podcasts, webinars, and live events. I feel energised by this kind of work. For others, it might be the act of creating websites, writing content or analysing data. And there are those who feel at home when they work with certain kinds of clients \u2014 like the designer that works with socially good companies.<\/p><p>If you can\u2019t find that perfect place where you do something that comes easily to you and that feels right, your business is going to make you miserable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d433aea elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d433aea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Knowing Your Why<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78f90ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78f90ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you ever feel as though you\u2019re charging full speed ahead just so you can get to the end of the month or year and look back at how much money you made? If there\u2019s no \u201cwhy\u201d powering your business, you can\u2019t expect yourself to stay motivated or committed to what it is you do.<\/p><p>That\u2019s why every web designer needs to take a good hard look at themselves and ask:<\/p><p>\u201cWhy do what it is that I do?\u201d<\/p><p>In other words, without clear motivation, it\u2019s easy to get lost in your business. You take on any job because it helps you pay the bills. You negotiate on price because you\u2019re nervous about where the next client will come from. You work in order to survive, rather than work with a purpose.<\/p><p>That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to nail your sweet spot and identify your why. When you feel great about what you do, you won\u2019t mind working hard, putting in long hours or doing what needs to be done to realise your dream.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9db5760 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9db5760\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9d1f972\" data-id=\"9d1f972\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa275ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"aa275ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Final Thoughts<br style=\"font-size: 18px;font-weight: 400\"><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cde50fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cde50fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There\u2019s a lot to say about how far passion and happiness will take you in this line of work. But I think many creatives are so used to compromising. They took the boring route in uni. They took the safe jobs afterwards. And now they\u2019re taking on bargain-hunting clients. Why shoot for the stars if you didn\u2019t earn it, right?<\/p><p>Wrong. You can start at the top so long as you\u2019re resilient, resourceful and committed to what it is you do.<\/p><p>Keep your head up no matter how hard it may seem at times. Always be learning. And stay in your sweet spot so you\u2019re always doing something you\u2019re good at and that makes you happy. Do that and you\u2019ll never have a day where you wake up and realize you\u2019ve made a huge mistake and regret the life you\u2019ve created for yourself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Troy Dean wants to spare you the hardships that he experienced at the beginning of his career. Here are his 3 crucial key business lessons for anyone attempting to make a living as a web designer.\u200b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19730,"featured_media":26543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,39],"tags":[79],"marketing_persona":[],"marketing_intent":[],"class_list":["post-26369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-business","tag-build"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The First Business Lessons I\u2019d Teach My Kid If He Wanted to Be a Web Designer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Troy Dean wants to spare you the hardships that he experienced at the beginning of his career. 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