Learn To Say No

For my friends who are just starting out in design, this is for you. One of the best skills to have in design is to learn to say no. Once mastered you will notice things start to happen. You start to get more of the work you want and less of what you have to do.

Why is this so important? It's because you are responsible for the work you put into the world. Is your portfolio full of PowerPoint presentations? No? Then say no to the client who wants a deck made. You're a designer, and if PowerPoint is not your thing, don't do it. The world doesn't need it. The world needs you to do more of what you love and let everything else go.

Saying no shapes who you are. It's a powerful word to use with clients because when you say no to a project they respect that. You are not just someone who produces work. You solve problems and communicate solutions, you think for a living. You will start getting better work from saying no. Don't be afraid of missing out on a project. If you're not working on the things you want then you're not moving forward. A common mistake in art school is students fill their portfolio with every class project they've done and the professors always ask "is this the type of work you want to be doing?" If it's not then get it out of there.

Next time a new project comes up ask yourself if doing it will move you forward in your career. Can you put it in your portfolio? Will you learn from the experience? Is it something you genuinely enjoy doing? If not just remember it's good to just say no.