Taking a Chance During Difficult Times
When the Great Recession arrived, many businesses were pulling back. Many very gifted people including myself had lost their jobs. Through fierce determination, I chose a different path. I opened my own design studio.
Looking back, it was probably equal parts determination, optimism, and stubbornness. I believed I could build something meaningful by combining strong creative work with exceptional service.
The early years required a tremendous amount of effort. At times, I maintained a full-time position while simultaneously building the studio during evenings and weekends. Like many small-business owners, there were long days, short nights, and more than a few moments of uncertainty. I wasn’t simply designing projects. I was responsible for every stage of the process. I met with clients. I developed concepts. I built production files. I coordinated vendors. I managed timelines and budgets. From the initial conversation to final delivery, I was involved in every step. It was a true turnkey operation, and I loved seeing an idea evolve from a discussion into a finished product.
The Reality of Small Business
Unfortunately, creativity alone is not enough to sustain a business. One of the most difficult lessons I learned as a business owner had nothing to do with design. It had everything to do with collecting payment for completed work. Some clients were honest and professional. Some were not.
Over time, I encountered situations where clients commissioned projects, approved work, accepted final deliverables, and then simply refused to pay. I spent significant amounts of time and money pursuing unpaid invoices. In some cases, the legal costs and collection efforts exceeded what would ultimately be recovered.
One particularly difficult situation involved a client who used bankruptcy proceedings to avoid paying numerous debts. The case eventually escalated to the point that federal authorities intervened and converted the filing from a reorganization proceeding into a complete liquidation. Unfortunately, that was not the only experience of its kind.
Experiences like that were emotionally draining because the losses extended beyond the financial impact. Every hour spent pursuing unpaid invoices was an hour not spent creating, designing, or serving clients. Over time, those situations became increasingly difficult to justify.
For businesses like mine, the outcome was unavoidable. The money was gone. The work had been completed. The loss had to be absorbed. Eventually, I made the decision to close the studio. At the time, it felt like a defeat. Today, I view it differently. There is wisdom in recognizing when your time and energy can be better invested elsewhere. Closing the business did not erase the experience I gained. It simply marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
