A founder is not a CEO
Some people are better at founding and starting companies than running them. In the startup world, there is an undeniable myth that founders make the best CEOs. This myth was probably started by founders looking to retain […]
Why Your Marketing Isn’t Connecting
Demographics, a cornerstone of marketing, is quickly being replaced by Customer Personas. Marketing theory has traditionally said that customers all fit within prescribed demographics; age, gender, socio-economic status, education, profession, hobbies and more. While the traditional way […]
Why Founders Need To Invest In Their Startup
Founders are the first to place a bet on their company because founders are investors. These investments come in a few forms; seed capital, sweat equity, partnership or in-kind contributions. Regardless of the structure, one truth remains […]
10 Tips To Write An Effective Creative Brief
Think of all the great creative work we see on a daily basis. How the right image paired with the right words evoked reactions. How a new interface felt like a friendly piece of software that you […]
How to Stay Creative While Under Stress
The bags under your eyes betray the forced smile on your face. It takes twice as long to get ready in the morning, picking the right clothes feels like a monumental chore, and in the end, you’re […]
5 Ways to Keep Revisions & Their Costs Under Control
Nothing kills the good feeling of deploying a great looking product to your audience than receiving a bill far higher than you had anticipated. Sure, there were some revisions but the back and forth for those final […]
5 Habits Of Great Design Leaders
Being a designer is a dream for many. Full days creating beautiful pieces and stunning interactions. This is great for members of a design team, but it’s only the beginning for a design leader. We’ve all seen […]
How To Avoid Picking The Wrong Investors
Many first-time founders don’t realize this, but it’s crucial to understand that an investment round is not only the investor choosing the startup to invest in but also the other way around. Choosing the wrong investor can […]
What Entrepreneurs Look For In An Investor
Practically every startup founder has or is on the hunt for the right investor to seed their vision. While the wrong ones won’t necessarily ruin a company’s chances, the right ones can make your life as a […]
Spending Less on a Freelancer (is it worth it)?
“That seems like a lot for a freelancer, why don’t we find a cheaper junior option?” And with those words, the start of the project from hell came to be. Not because the project had crazy requirements, but […]
Agency vs. Freelancer? What Is Right For Your Business?
“We really need some design help on this! Should we get an agency, or does anyone know a good freelancer?” This phrase has been uttered one way or another in practically every startup’s office within their first […]
12 Types of Difficult Clients & How To Effectively Deal With Them
We’ve all dealt with difficult clients — every studio has them. You know the one, the client who frustrates you to no end, who seems to have no respect for your craft/business, monopolizes your time and makes […]
10 Things to Know About Fundraising
The moment you start fundraising, you begin running two product lines. The flagship product that you sell directly to customers (what most people know you for). AND Your company Investors are not clients of your product, they […]
How RenderLife Failed
Update: Feb 2020 After five years, this was reposted on social media after spending time talking about the experience with the community. Below are my reflections over the past five years, and then the original post. Please […]