What should I be when I grow up? WANT EVERYONES OPINION...pleeeease...

[ChargerBill]

I'M SOMEWHAT DESPERATE AND FRUSTRATED and could use your input.

Many of you guys know that I'm a graphic designer and that I work for myself. And quite a few of you know that working for yourself isn't always that great of a deal...case in point, money gets very tight for me at times. I'm just not sure what I'm doing wrong, or where to look, or how to promote myself...or if I even should, but instead just get a regular 40/hr week job. There are a lot of intelligent, well educated and successful people on this site, so here I am to get some opinions and advice.

About me: I have been in graphic design since I was 13 years old in the family business. I have been using Adobe Illustrator since 1988 and Photoshop since 1990. I have been designing and building websites since 1993. I am capable of retouching photographs to museum quality. I design logos, brochures, cataloges, websites, flyers, posters, signage, product packaging for retail, CD and DVD covers and labels for retail, slide show presentations, DVD presentations for memorials, anniversaries, events, etc..., t-shirt and embroidery. I am expertly familiar with the technical aspects of pre-press for offset printing, embroidery set-up and digitizing, screen printing on textiles, sublimation and stamping on all forms of media, signage materials specifications and installations, vinyl letter application on cars, trade show booths, windows, etc..., I am a novice at airbrushing techniques and design, I have designed paintjobs for hot rods and choppers, I have created and sold frameable art, I have created ad campaigns, marketing campaigns and print media advertising for national magazines. I have written copy and edited copy for radio spot ads, television commercials, data sheets and all forms of advertising collateral. I have taken photographs of customers products ranging from precious gems and jewelry to chopper tanks and fenders and custom cars.

Basically, I know the ins and outs of all forms of advertising and marketing....except when it comes to specifically 3D animation and TV commercial creation (which I will be getting more into here in the near future). I feel that I could run a large companies design department as Creative Director, or I could function as Creative Lead in an ad agency, or do something as off the wall as hitting the road taking pictures for Hot Rod Magazine and writing features. The main problem is that since I am capable of many things I really don't know where to focus; should I keep promoting my own freelance/broker design business (where I can average $30 to $100 per hour with sporatic work that isn't always available) or should I look for a full time job. And if I DO look for a full time job, where would my talents be best suited? I have a degree in Corporate management, am 3 units away from a Bachelors in Business Administration, have my teaching Credentials, passed the LSAT years ago and am proficient at mathematics, problem solving, linguistics, customer service, sales, design, marketing, managing employees, project mangement, etc... I recently took a career placement test at the local Employment Development Center and the results said that I was suited for pretty much ANY JOB I WANTED (except a highly specialized or technical jobs such as CPA, MD, or electrical engineer, etc..). I wish that were an exaggeration (because it would make it easier to focus), but it's not...she said she has only ever had one other person test that way in 18 years of working there. The problem is that a result like that I am even MORE confused. At 37 years old I HATE the fact that I am not stable in a career and yet have 100 different talents. What does a guy like me do? I'm somewhat lost and frustrated...

Do any of you guys who love your jobs, or retired happy and comfortable, or are self made have any ideas at all? I just think that sometimes it's easier to see the obvious from the outside looking in, rather than when you are the one trying to analyze yourself. Thanks in advance for reading my long winded post and giving advice.

[Brock Samson]

 quick hint, don't try to play guitar for a living.. 
really...

[my69]

Bill,
If I had any answer to your question I be helping my self as well.
  I kinda know what your saying And I made my mistake right after high skool.
  I was and maybe still have wanted to get into auto body figuring I be stable and maybe happy   I just couldn't face the fact on going to skool. SCHOOL. I didn't do well in highskool (school)
So I ended up on a lost trail of jobs here and there.  Oh This is a high winded reply FOR THAT I"M SORRY!!

But to find a carrear for me is probably my biggest fear yet. (besides getting married) again:icon_smile_big:

Regards,
Winston

[Lowprofile]

Mid-Life Crisis??

The only advice I can give to you Bill is Do what you love to do. There is nothing worse than looking back at your life and saying "what if" or "Maybe"

Or......you could buy a Viper and get a big boobed blond girlfriend.   LOL      

[bull]

Maybe do both. Work a regular job in your field for the steady employment and benefits and keep your design job on the side. I bet you could easily land a job at any local publication such as newspaper, magazine, non-profit organization or advertiser. There are plenty of web publisher out there too so you no longer have to relocate to work for many of these places.

[adauto]

Well first off free advise is rarely free... that aside.
Do you really enjoy what you do? Thats the first thing. I've been Self employed for over 25 years, and you dont want to be my age (THE BIG 5-0) and wonder what the hell am I doing? As for myself it aint always easy and it aint always fun.But I wouldn't have it any other way. Set your goals and follow them. Just don't give up..Winners dont quit-Quitters dont win!

[NHCharger]

One question you have to ask yourself is would you be happy having to answer to someone else. I left the corporate world over 20 years ago because I saw the brown noses getting promoted over the people who did the real work.
There are also alot of pitfalls to being self-employed, no insurance, no 401k(whatever that is), paid vacations HA.
Maybe you should just shop your resume around to several companies, might get an offer you can't refuse. Seems to me you have alot to offer, also your at the age where the partying and bar hopping day are long gone, or should be. Employers also look for people who have a stable lifestyle and can show up sober on Monday mornings.

[ChargerBill]

Lowprofile:

I guess this could be considered a mid-life crisis, but then I have to admit I'm getting old, and I don't want to do that just yet.

bull:

I have considered trying to do both. I know I could realistically land a 50K to 70K per year job, and making an extra 41,500 to 2K per month would make life sweet. I just don't know how easy it would be to get customers to wait until after traditional business hours during the week, or the weekends to talk to me. AI also don't know how long I could keep up 14 hr work days... I have to admit, knowing that I can telecommute to certain jobs does help me focus in certain industries, but it also kind of adds a disconnection from fellow workers and the workplace.

adauto:

I very much enjoy graphic design and being creative all day. I don't think the question is so much one of completely changing directions as it is of just picking a segment of the design industry that I would fit well into, where there is demand, and where I can make decent money. The hard part is just knowing where my skills would be need, wanted and paid for. Basically, where does the demand currently exist in the design industry?

NHCharger:

You know, I do have a hard time answering to people...especially when the management types out there know SO LITTLE about the actual industry they are supposed to be managing. there have been times in the past where I felt like I was taking orders from a HS flunky who just happened to put enough BS on his resume and was in the right place at the right time. I really don't think I would necessarily want to work in "corporate" America...maybe just a medium sized successful firm within commuting distance from where I live.

Keep the ideas and advice coming everyone....

[Blown70]

Well I think you have to judge what you like,,,,, sounds like what you are doing.  A job can be good as you would have benefits, steady pay, and well vactaion.  (what is that by the way I hear a lot about it)

You can still do thinks on the side weekends... HOWEVER are you going to get burned out.  I would say only take on what you can handle and try NOT to over dot it. Ohh and charger good for it as it will be your night weekend time.... If you do this make sure and say take 1-2nights a week to do hobbies, something other than work,, ie. cars, boats, family, dinner out...Helps keep the sanity...

I think you know the pros and cons of working for your self..... I to have my own business, love it all with the exception of not knowing what a vacation is....

I guess you would have to look into some jobs and make a choice based on what you see at the company.  NO one says you have to got find a job,  be picky about the place job and people you work with.  It is not like you just got fired and then now HAVE to get a job? right?

Best of luck in your decision.

Tom

[Mefirst]

What ever you decide, don't over do it.. so you don't wake up one morning and wonder what the hell happend to your spare time.. There is so much more to life than working 50-60h weeks and in that profession you have, my guess is that it wont be even difficult to get carried away with work hours..

I hope you find what you look for Bill.. -Good luck in your search..

/Tom

[ChargerBill]

There is so much more to life than working 50-60h weeks and in that profession you have, my guess is that it wont be even difficult to get carried away with work hours..

Yeah, I find myself eating in front of the computer, checking email 10 times a day...sometimes I sit here for hours until I realize the day is gone. I find myself getting cabin fever quite a bit lately sitting in the same spot day after day... That is one of the reasons I think being around co-workers might be a nice change, but I know the downside too. People have their quirks and can get really annoying after a short time. Maybe I need to venture out and promote myself (outside sales) a day or two a week...it could actually solve both problems...boredom AND lack of work. hey, why didn't I think of that?

[Todd Wilson]

I used to work in the printing field years ago.   Depending on your location in the country the offset printing industry is booming or in a depression.   


Looking at all the things you say you are capable of and I dont doubt your talent because I have seen it    you might be getting involved in too many things. Over the years the only thing I have seen in my area that has any longevity and money making is in the printing world. I've seen t shirt/embrodiery shops come and go. The vehicle graphics places seem to come and go.   We have a screen printing giant in my town (Lowen Company) and they do a lot of screen printing of stuff you see on the side of semi trucks and so forth. They have some fancy printer and for like 500$ they can turn your delivery van into a rolling picture.      No way to compete in this department. No way to compete in the bigger screen stuff as you dont have screen press's that size.


The only way I can see you using ALL of your talent in various markets would be to work for or start an advertising agency.   But even then print shops usually have their own in house talent and the print shops usually dont like printing for ad agencys because they can be a pain in the ass to deal with. They design all this fancy stuff and then trying to produce the piece on an offset press can be next to impossible to do. If you have the prepress knowledge and can design a piece that you know will work in the offset world then you might have a chance. Working for a print shop might also put you in a "typesetting" position part of the time and not just designing fancy logo's and stuff. But sitting there for hours upon end typing in the words for a printed piece.

Theres plenty of places for you to get a job I would think. Any big company that makes a product needs a graphic designer. We have a place in town that makes valves and had their own designer, Place that makes school buses and so forth.    Anything big to small   needs color brochures of their products designed and printed   so sales can mail out and or pass out this stuff at shows and meetings.

Putting this color and design from print to internet is another good side you have but the stuff I have seen   the companys that want to be on the internet are already there and the ones that dont need internet arent really interested in putting their products on the internet.




Todd

[Troy]

You only check email 10 times per day?

Ok, I have gone through almost the exact same situation recently. Working for myself is/was great and all but I hate selling and lack of external stimulation. I was going stir crazy and getting frustrated at times. Some things fell apart and I found myself back in the working world (well, contracting but it's at an office). I realized how much nicer it is to be around other people and not have to do my own administration or act as my own sales force. The downside is that I have to deal with other people all the time so it's a catch 22. Another bonus is that I'm guaranteed 40 hours per week even if the work isn't always ideal. This has given me the time and money to get back to working on the cars in earnest yet because the jobs are somewhat temporary I can keep an eye out for other opportunities to work for myself. Changing my environment also helped me to see things from new and different perspectives and revived my creativity. Some people may require a more stable environment but I look at it as a temporary stepping stone through my career. Working alone most of the time really limits your networking contacts so looking for a new job can be difficult. Depending on where you go, contracting/consulting can net a whole lot more money in the short term as well. Drop it all in the bank and use it to fund your next stint of working at home.

As for skills, I am again in the same boat - my resume looks like a huge pile of acronymns. By checking out a variety of jobs I can test each of my skills to see which ones I really enjoy working at all the time. I can also see which environments fit my personal style which helps me to narrow down what I want to pursue in the future.

Troy

[73dodge]

Bill

Why don't you hire or get a small business advisor? It sounds like you have your business setup but lack the formality. Why don't you just jump headlong into business with the goal of having enough work to hire an employee?

Set up the business and work towards expanding it get a small business loan to start out and launch it.

It sounds like you are just taking work by word of mouth and just letting it funnel in whenever it comes in. Maybe you should start a formal advertising campaign to get new business so that you have steady work and who knows maybe you get so big that you can hire someone and let them do most of the work while you make the money.

[Telvis]

Bill, Obviously you are great at what you are currently doing. If you enjoy working for yourself then keep doing it. Your problem might be focus and organization. I know that I have an issue with it. Try to find someone who has been successful and see if you can get some help from them. There are definite strategies that can help make a small business successful. Here locally the Chamber of Commerce has a program called SCORE. It's a pool of retired entrepreneurs who donate their time to help startup small business people. It's been a great help for me. As you probably already know I retired last year. I had two small businesses that I had been running on the side for many years. Since I retired I have tried to focus on one of the businesses in particular. It was always very seasonal and netted me almost no income in the cold weather months. With advice I received from SCORE and a friend who has a 30 year successful business I have been able to keep things rolling even into the cold weather months. I could not have done it without their help and advice. It's just an idea. it worked for me. Maybe it can for you.

[NYCMille]

Hey Bill -

Well - I've been in the same boat as you, as I am in the same profession. I've been a designer / web dude / Manager for the past 8 years and currently work for an investment bank in NYC running the web/design group. There are pro's to freelancing and pro's to being on the clock. I'm not sure where you are located but in NYC we are constantly getting resume's from designers so the competition here is pretty fierce so we can really be picky about who we hire especially if they post graduate degrees in design.

The pro's to working for someone are pretty obvious - steady paycheck, benefits, vacation and set hours (weekends off). The con's would be that as soon as your work for a corporation/company your creative outlets get cut drastically. I used to design all measure of stuff. Now I design exactly what they tell me and have to conform to what our compliance department dictates... totally takes the fun out being a designer. Plus there is NO job stability, if the market falls and they need to cut heads they go for managment first - that's me. On the other hand I now have my own department and make more money now than I ever did as a designer, plus the management side of it is a bit more fun and I still get to keep my skills in tune by taking a project for myself every once in awhile.

Just remember as a freelancer you have NO benefits, NO steady paycheck and you will be working weekends  - again, pro's and con's to both... I'm in the same boat dude... the same boat.

Mike

[6pkrunner]

...the brown noses getting promoted over the people who did the real work.

Unfortunately this is the way of the entire corporate world. If you are indeed any good at what you do, you cannot be promoted as that would leave a vacuum in your place.
Bottom line is you have to keep the wolves away from the door. I know its noble and ideal to find something you do enjoy and have a great time doing it. But in the interim one does have to live and survive. I've have had a few jobs that I had to do out of necessity to remain solvent. This is all part of it. The trick is to try to perform that job while keeping an eye out on the horizon for a better job. Without losing track of the one you are doing and getting fored and returning to the cycle.
I wish I could offer something more concrete as where to look Bill, but every city and geographicla location is different and the wants and needs of industry fluxuates with that. Yes the internet has made it a small world, but the true potential has yet to be realized.
You have substantial talents and I am sure there is a perfect job slot out there just for you. The trick is being able to connect you to it. Hate to say it, but its carpet bombing with resumes and face to face interviews. Painful and at times demeaning, but it may just pay off.

[Ponch ®]

About me: I have been in graphic design since I was 13 years old in the family business. I have been using Adobe Illustrator since 1988 and Photoshop since 1990. I have been designing and building websites since 1993. I am capable of retouching photographs to museum quality. I design logos, brochures, cataloges, websites, flyers, posters, signage, product packaging for retail, CD and DVD covers and labels for retail, slide show presentations, DVD presentations for memorials, anniversaries, events, etc..., t-shirt and embroidery. I am expertly familiar with the technical aspects of pre-press for offset printing, embroidery set-up and digitizing, screen printing on textiles, sublimation and stamping on all forms of media, signage materials specifications and installations, vinyl letter application on cars, trade show booths, windows, etc..., I am a novice at airbrushing techniques and design, I have designed paintjobs for hot rods and choppers, I have created and sold frameable art, I have created ad campaigns, marketing campaigns and print media advertising for national magazines. I have written copy and edited copy for radio spot ads, television commercials, data sheets and all forms of advertising collateral. I have taken photographs of customers products ranging from precious gems and jewelry to chopper tanks and fenders and custom cars.

Basically, I know the ins and outs of all forms of advertising and marketing....except when it comes to specifically 3D animation and TV commercial creation (which I will be getting more into here in the near future). I feel that I could run a large companies design department as Creative Director, or I could function as Creative Lead in an ad agency, or do something as off the wall as hitting the road taking pictures for Hot Rod Magazine and writing features. The main problem is that since I am capable of many things I really don't know where to focus; should I keep promoting my own freelance/broker design business (where I can average $30 to $100 per hour with sporatic work that isn't always available) or should I look for a full time job. And if I DO look for a full time job, where would my talents be best suited? I have a degree in Corporate management, am 3 units away from a Bachelors in Business Administration, have my teaching Credentials, passed the LSAT years ago and am proficient at mathematics, problem solving, linguistics, customer service, sales, design, marketing, managing employees, project mangement, etc... I recently took a career placement test at the local Employment Development Center and the results said that I was suited for pretty much ANY JOB I WANTED (except a highly specialized or technical jobs such as CPA, MD, or electrical engineer, etc..). I wish that were an exaggeration (because it would make it easier to focus), but it's not...she said she has only ever had one other person test that way in 18 years of working there. The problem is that a result like that I am even MORE confused. At 37 years old I HATE the fact that I am not stable in a career and yet have 100 different talents. What does a guy like me do? I'm somewhat lost and frustrated...

damn...do you walk on water too?

seriously, I dont know what to tell you, as im going through a 1/4 life crisis of sorts myself.......