1. Honesty is the best policy. When dealing with clients, I am always thinking of them FOR them, not just about how many billable hours I can get out of this project. If by leveraging an open source project it can help them save $x versus in-house solution that may not be necessary, I tell it like it is. And they appreciate this kind of input and will more likely trust you with bigger and more important projects.

2. Relentless self-education is your ticket to greatness. I agree with the 1-month to 6-month to-do lists, except also make one for self-education on what you’d like to learn or become better within the given timeframe.

Thanks for the “wear shoes” trick. I’ve gotta do that… Wearing pajamas from dawn to dusk is just not healthy for my mental health anymore… I’ve gotta learn to separate “work” from “home” more clearly by something visual and tactical… Usually my 2-year-old son is the mandatory break-enforcement agent. But something that allows him to associate “daddy’s working” would be good too…

Thanks again!

I have to say one of the most important things Mark has said in this article for me is

“the clients we choose to work with, and being able to handpick colleagues”

it took me a few years to find out who are the right clients to work for but also the more you do the better the people are and the more they respect you. expect to learn a lot about how lazy other human beings can be. there is nothing worse than having someone not quite listening when you are trying to explain something to them.

also I love choosing who I work with, in a bigger company where I am accountable as part of team that I haven’t chosen I find people like to blame others and take credit for work they didnt do. Sorry if this sounds snide but it is true in many workplaces I encounter, not when I am at home or as an individual working on a day by day basis as a trainer.

I can walk away from a bad situation, other people can’t so easily, I like that a lot.

Plus I have been finding as times get difficult it isn’t myself losing my job instead I seem to be getting more offers whilst other staff seem to being laid off due to issues with funding in the education sectors. I am used to months of not so much work and it doesn’t worry me as I plan for it, for bigger companies this quickly becomes a major problem.

Oh and if anyone looking for a nice book on this subject I bought “how to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul”

Thanks, that was really inspiring for me, i am currently studying graphic design at uni and i’m in my 1st year. My ambition is to start my own design company, i have a lot of plans but i feel i need to experience the working environment so i can understand what my strengths and weaknesses are. Reading your article has helped answer alot of questions i had about the way to start and a little of what to expect.

To register as self-employed in the UK, you have to register with the Inland Revenue as one of several company types:

If you form a Limited company you are no-longer self-employed – you are actually an employee of your own company. Don’t want to be pedantic but it makes a big difference with how you are treated tax-wise!