Designer Boss
Designer Boss
How did you get so confident?
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0:04
Welcome to the designer boss podcast, listen, learn, love and level up with the ultimate success guide for web and graphic designers.
0:17
My name is Anna Dower. I'm a cake lover and success-slaying graphic design mentor.
0:23
And I'm Emma Kate, your personal sensei for mastering the wonderful world of the Web.
0:30
Together, we'll show you how to harness our tried and tested experiences and hard earned lessons while you soak up everything we know about building a successful design business.
0:48
Hi, everyone, you're listening to the Designer Boss Podcast with Anna Dower and Emma Kate. Today, we're gonna be talking about self-confidence. One of the lovely ladies in my designer Boss Lady squad actually posted in the group asking that we chat about self-confidence. Rene Vino writes I had a coffee with a local creative who is almost half my age. And in a friendly chat. We were talking about collaborating, but she is at capacity. Why does that make me feel so shit? Why does it make her feel shit Emm?
1:30
I can shoot you. And I think like that happens, I think that's naturally going to happen with anyone, especially if you've been in the game longer. And then you have this young hotshot coming home. That is, you know, has all is all booked out probably working with your ideal clients or you know, her ideal clients at least. And I've definitely seen that in the past. And it's it's comparing yourself to others can get, you know, definitely shatter your confidence a lot.
2:03
Yeah, and I don't know what it is like talking as an old person here. I feel like the younger generation who are doing those kinds of short courses in graphic design, maybe even like six months, 12 months come out really, really confident. Whereas people in older generation perhaps don't have the same confidence. And I'm not sure what it is like as a generational thing. I don't know if their parents told them they were wonderful and everything. But there is a difference there. And I do think it is only human as well, just like Emma said, to feel like oh, well maybe I'm not doing as good as her. I should be way ahead. But Yeah. Today we're going to talk about some ways to cultivate self-confidence, and talk about some things that we've done for ourselves in our own businesses to become more confident. Now. Firstly, before we dive into it, I want to say confidence isn't something that you just kind of flick a switch on. It's something that comes with experience, I think, and it's definitely something that you need to cultivate. And you need to be intentional with trying to build yourself up. So let's talk about confidence. How have you built confidence in your business Emm?
3:35
One of the main things that really helped me, especially getting into web and I see that with a lot of designers who are sort of trying to get into web and build websites for clients is there's so much to learn. And there's so many different kinds of websites you can build and things like that. And practising, practising on these, you know, just like installing having like a dummy kind of website set up where you can install plugins and play around with them or install different you know, themes or try out different things with your page builder or something can just really help build your confidence in you know how to use those tools, you get quicker at it. You start feeling like a total whiz at it. And obviously you're going to feel more confident in offering that service to clients and upping your prices. And obviously that can translate into whatever you're doing if you're not doing websites. If that's you know, with branding, maybe it's like practicing designing a whole bunch of different logos. Like I saw. I can't even remember who it is. But someone I followed probably on Instagram or something a while ago. And they were doing a challenge where they had to design a logo a day for like 30 days or something.
4:46
Yeah, was that Michelle Wintersteen. I think.
4:49
It wasn't her but it was a guy or something. So yeah, I'm sure a lot of people have probably jumped on board and done and I think that's a great idea if that's what you want to get good at just like give yourself that Challenge, have some fun with that. And practice makes perfect, almost perfect, I guess and builds your confidence.
5:07
Yeah. And, like, if you're practicing design, I think it's really important to continue designing for fun to design the fun stuff that you would love to be your niche, your specialty. And do it without pressure, you know, like design an invitation for your kid's birthday, or design a poster to stick on your office wall. And that's all practice as well. You know, we don't become illustrator whizzes, just because we've got the program, you've got to practice. So the next thing that I think you can do to become more confident, is to find a niche. I know I talked about niches a lot, it's like my thing. But seriously, when you focus on only the stuff that you're really, really good at, it makes you feel more confident. Because you're not pushing yourself to do stuff that you don't necessarily like and stuff that you're bad at. So by having a niche, you only do the stuff that's in your zone of genius. And when you're in your zone of genius, you can't help but feel confident, because you're nailing it, their clients love you. And it just flows easily. So if you're lacking confidence, chances are you're trying to be like a Jill, of all trades, trying to do all the things, and not really being a pro at anything. So find a niche, that is my confidence tip.
6:37
Yeah, and I think like on top of that, too, when you have a niche, you become such an expert in that niche, like if you're just working with like, beauty salons or something like you know exactly what they need, you know, all the things that they need, you know, all the different tools and apps and things like that, that they could use to make that you know, make their business easier. That's maybe not even necessarily related to branding, or their website or whatever, but you become quite an expert, because you deal with those types of clients all the time. So that really helps build your confidence and also the confidence of your client in you.
7:13
I don't know about you, but I don't have the mental capacity to learn everything. Like I can only retain a certain amount of information in my head. And yeah, being a specialist allows you to just really know something really, really well.
7:30
Another one I had on my list with upskilling. And like educating yourself, often, I think this is probably where, like you were saying earlier, these younger designers coming out of like school, you know, design school, or whatever. And they've got the oozing confidence, because they've just learned all the latest skills, like they've just learned from experts from their professors or whatever. And, you know, they think they know it all. And they because they've upskilled, they've just learnt these, like, you know, the latest programs, all that kind of stuff. And so I think when you've sort of been out in the game for like five years, and if you haven't actually sort of re-educated yourself, tried to, like keep up with certain things, you can feel like, oh, maybe I should be using Affinity Designer, or you know, like all these different programs that are out there. Because you kind of I'm like, I don't know what you're like on it. But I like sticking to the programs. I know, I don't want to go try another program. And it doesn't mean that the other programs are necessarily better. But when I hear other designers using it, I'm like, Oh, maybe I should be using that, maybe I shouldn't be using Illustrator anymore. And so I think just, there's a lot of ways that you can keep up, like upskilling and re-educating yourself that obviously don't cost anything just like you know, following certain blogs, or listening to certain podcasts or following different YouTube channels. And things like that can be really handy just to, you know, pick up new skills and see what other people are doing and what the sort of latest stuff is that's happening. And I think that's especially important in web because the web world changes quite a lot. But also with branding and design. There's definitely stuff that you sort of need to keep on top of there.
9:16
Whenever I'm asked How did I become so confident? I think back to maybe 10 years ago, I was not confident at all, I wouldn't talk to people on the phone. I didn't let people see me. And I think about what the turning point was back then. And it was 100% taking the step to invest in myself. Not necessarily in an equals but I hired my first ever business coach, and just having someone to educate me and taking the leap to invest in myself was the turning point for my confidence. So I know it seems scary. do that, but it's so important to keep doing it. And upskill at the same time.
10:05
definitely. And I think I was probably similar like thinking back to where my confidence really grew and my business kind of took on, you know, a life of its own in a way, like it really became what I wanted it to, I wasn't just like, fluffing around taking on jobs here and there, I was actually kind of niching down and creating my own sort of brand, I guess. And that was from working with my first business coach, you know, because that just really gave me the confidence to develop these processes and just feel like a business person, I guess that really helped, you know, feel like a legit business, not just a freelancer who's just like, fluffing around. Yeah, I think like investing in yourself, whether that's, you know, working with a coach or just, you know, making a concerted effort to follow podcasts and YouTubes and try to learn new skills often, or like even doing, you know, mini courses or E courses or things like that, and memberships. Like, I think your squad is a great one in that, you know, you're constantly kind of just doing little projects to really, you know, boost your creativity or like you know, you know, fix up your website, add new things to your portfolio, little things like that can really help. And you're also surrounded by more designers like more people that you can sort of bounce ideas off and learn from and see what they're doing and that kind of thing.
11:29
And I think the last thing to keep in mind is everyone who is posting on Instagram, Facebook, is just showing you their highlight reel. So Renee, you had coffee with this young hotshot, she's only telling you the good stuff. I have no doubt she's had shitty clients, she's been underpaid. Maybe she's like working seven days a week who knows what the real story is. So that's why I think it's so important just to keep your eyes on your own work. If you're following someone who makes you feel like shit, unfollow them, you know that saying, what is it? comparing yourself to other takes away your joy or something. Something along those lines 100% true. surround yourself with people who feel good. That's why I created the uncool designer, because I'm not one of those kinds of trendsetting, cutting edge cool designers. I want to hang out with the uncool designers. So find your people and stick with them. If someone makes you feel like shit, there's a reason, you know, unfollow, and stay away. And like I said, they're not telling you the full story. No one's business is easy and a dream. 24/7
12:56
Yeah, no, definitely not as much as we might, you know, love our businesses. Now, there's still, there's still parts that we don't like, but they're probably not the parts that we share so much. You know, it's all like, especially on things like Instagram, or the first time meeting someone like what happened with you, Renee, you know, so I think when, when someone makes you feel that way, obviously unintentionally, like, she's probably a lot like, we're not dissing her, she's probably the lovely designer, a lovely human. But if she makes if someone makes you feel that way, like what I tend to do is sort of reflect on okay, why is it making me feel that way? You know, is it something that I want to change about myself or my business? Or, you know, what can I do to improve and obviously, take steps to do that. If there is something otherwise, you know, you can just dismiss it. I think it's good to sort of focus on it for a second, figure out what you can actually do there, and then try to let it go.
13:54
Yeah, move on. Another thing I think is really good for confidence is figure out how you learn, like how you better your mindset. It's different for different people. Like for me, if I read books that I can relate to connect with, that really helps me with tools for my mindset and self confidence. Other people might be like meditation or jogging, or, you know what I mean? Try to figure out a daily practice that can help you fill your confidence cup, even if it's like, I'm gonna be committed to doing a Facebook live every day for five days. Like, you need to be committed to trying to get better at self confidence as well. You can't just wish you wake up confident because it doesn't happen like that. Most things in life, you've got to work at it.
14:54
Absolutely. And I think like another thing too, is, you know, be kind to yourself. We don't have it together all the time. And, you know, one of the downsides of you know, I guess downsides of being a female in particular, is that, you know, some weeks, I am just like on top of the world oozing confidence. And then there's one particular week of the month that is another case. Yeah, so it's just like, I think just being aware that, you know, there is a cycle and if you feel really shit, now, chances are in five days, you're probably going to be feeling fine.
15:31
So much better. Yeah, yes. And there is a book about that. I think it's from Kate Northrup, I'll have to double check that she talks about, you know, planning your work around your cycle, and hormonal swings and stuff. Like it's a legit thing. If I try not to launch when I'm like going into the zone of craziness. Because it's just not going to be enjoyable. Yeah, yeah, that's 100%. Legit. So yeah, that's another thing to look into as well.
16:07
Yeah, I've I learned that before too, from I can't remember her name now. But her business is practical intimacy. And she talked about that a lot to where she when she launches. It's like she plans it around, like what even speaking gigs and things like that she plans it around her cycle, and it is definitely a legit thing. And I 100% notice it. And so it's good. If you've got certain things that you know, you're going to have a really important meeting or something like that. It can be good to sort of be aware of and be kind to yourself in those situations when you're not feeling as confident.
16:41
Well, that conversation took a turn. But we didn't expect the male designers listening. Yeah, so. Well, hopefully, those tips help Renee. Like we said, confidence isn't something that you can flick a switch on. It's something that you need to practise and hopefully those tips out. Bye. Thanks for listening.
21:25
You've been listening to the designer boss podcast with Anna Dower and Emma Kate. If you'd like to learn more about us and our upcoming digital summit for graphic and web designers, head to our website designerboss.co