We caught up with the brilliant and insightful MANDY LEHMAN a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
MANDY, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Over the past 7 years of owning my own biz, I’ve met a lot of insanely creative people that find it difficult to earn a livable (and even prosperous) income from their creative work. I’ve noticed that many of them have common (even simple) issues that are preventing that from happening…things that I feel I was lucky to have learned at my different co-ops in college and then agency jobs once I graduated.
I didn’t realize, myself, how much I had learned until I was working for a start-up and found that I knew more how to run a business than some of those leading the company I worked for. That experience is what gave me the confidence to go out on my own and are what I’ve found have prevented my business from going through famine phases and have continued to keep my plate overflowing with options.
0. ALWAYS DO STELLAR WORK. This is number 0, haha because I should not have to even say it. This is a MUST every time. Choosing otherwise is guaranteeing yourself future famine phases and negative WOM/reviews from clients.
1. Communicate in a timely manner. This is one that clients have repeatedly told me has won my company jobs over others. Respond within a day (if not faster) to every email/text/etc, even if it’s just to say “Hi! Wanted to let you know I got your message and will get back to you on…” Clients want to feel they are a priority (and just know that you got their message). When you don’t answer in a timely manner, you’re showing they aren’t important and it’s a much higher likelihood they’re going to move on to someone else who DOES make them feel valued.
2. Be on time. For your meetings and DEFINATELY for turning projects in. Doing otherwise is showing a lack of respect for your client, their time, their money and their trust. If you have built a good reputation of being responsible in this way with them prior, they are much more likely to be graceful when you do have a medical or family emergency.
3. Don’t be a know-it-all. One of the biggest lessons I learned from the small agency I worked for before going out on my own is that when you act like you know everything or try to bs your way through answering questions, instead of convincing people you know what you’re talking about, you actually project incompetence. Instead, say “I don’t know but I’ll figure it out for you!” No client expects you to know all the answers. The key difference is being confident. Admit you don’t know, then be self-motivated to find the answer….even if it ends up being “I don’t know that answer but this person will!”
4. Be nice to everyone. That means if a client is rude, respond kindly. It also means if a college student reaches out for advice, give it to them. If a new biz owner wants to meet up to pick your brain, do it if you can. It also means recommending others, going above and beyond whenever you can and giving back to your community. It ALL comes back to you. Even when you think something can’t possibly benefit you (like talking with someone in your field who is way below you in skill), you don’t know how things will play out. I’ve had so many situations like that result in work…(for example, that college student could have an uncle that just started his biz and needs a website. The don’t have the skills yet so they recommend you who were so kind to answer their questions). It’s a small world…in every industry. Try not to burn more bridges than necessary.
Ok I have so many more tips that I could give you guys that I could write a book…which I’m planning to do this year! Ha so be on the lookout if you’re interested in that!
MANDY, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hey! 👋🏽 I’m Mandy! I live in the @1890brickyhouse with my husband, Aaron, a mini Boston terrier named Luna and a rainbow parakeet named Oliver.
We own @MANMANstudios, a creative boutique that does graphic design (websites, print, packaging and branding) and interior design (airbnbs, corporate or homes at any budget). We’ve done work for companies like Nestle and Nike, as well as for start-ups, small businesses and non-profits locally and nationally. We also rent out a sound-proof music studio for band practice or recording (@DarkSunRecording). People love working with us because we’re down-to-earth and because they get high-end results at small business prices.
@Socialsbymanman is a collaborative photoshoot party company I started after I saw a need for small businesses to get pro pix, gain exposure and connect with others (in a non boring way) that can help their businesses grow. We all join together to create themed parties that include every type of creative or business: boutiques, models, makeup artists, decorators, chefs, bakers, photographers, venues, graphic designers, influencers, anyone & everyone, and then we quite literally, party together!
Reach out if you ever need graphic design, interior design, a music studio or if you just want to party with us at a Social! Already excited to meet you!
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Side-hustles are the best way to test the waters on new ideas! I love starting a new side hustle and seeing where it goes. Some succeed and some fail but I learn something from all of them and they all help me grow my next idea to be even better! I don’t recommend starting side hustles until you know your main source of income is super secure. That way, you can feed the side hustle thoroughly with what it needs to be successful, give it your all right off the bat AND, most importantly, if it fails, you still have your main source of income to fall back on.
One of the best stories I have of a successful side-hustle is Socials (@socialsbymanman), themed photoshoot parties that are all about connecting creatives in the community in relationship so we can all help each other grow.
I started this company after trying out a model of something similar with a friend of mine. That one didn’t work out (for many reasons) but primarily it wasn’t making us enough money financially, even after a year of putting a lot of hours in. I wanted to pivot it into a give-back to the community/not for profit co and change up some of our core values so we dissolved the original company and I started the new one on my own.
This new version, Socials, has become more than I ever dreamed (and actually really different than the original idea was now). It’s such a huge source of joy and connection for so many creatives and newcomers to the city. I’ve heard over and over again how the people that come to these parties are so approachable and welcoming (and so much fun, who doesn’t love a themed party afterall?!). Everyone really is there to make a new friend, not just get new business!
I’m really proud of what we have all created these past two years with Socials and can’t wait to see what unfolds with it this year. One thing I always do with my side-hustles (and my biz in general) is let it evolve as it needs to, never shying away from trying something new with it or course correcting!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Building up your reputation is soooo important! On so many levels. It ends up advertising for you and creates less work for you in the long run, you don’t have to hustle for work if everyone else is hustling for you bc they love you so much!
With MANMAN Studios, I think my reputation was being built when I was in college. I did 5 interns with 5 different design companies in town, even though we were only required to do 1 to graduate. But I loved what I was doing and I got to test out (and meet) a lot of people in my industry by doing this. By the time I graduated, I knew exactly where I wanted to work (and they offered me a job 6 mths before graduation)!
After working in agencies for the next 7 years (post-graduation), I worked HARD. All the time. I was dependable. I got my work done on time. I always, always tried my best, no matter what I was doing…even if it was a job usually given to an intern, I didn’t care, my goal was to blow my coworker’s and client’s minds with everything I touched. I also felt it was important to be humble and kind, no matter how many wins I got or didn’t get. I never boasted about my accomplishments to my peers, even when I was told that it would get me a promotion if I did. I didn’t want to change who I was for money.
The work ethic and good attitude paid off when I left working at agencies to start my own company. I reached out to everyone I’d ever worked with in the past 12 years (including internships) and my email inbox has been full of jobs ever since! And, just in case you’re wondering how profitable a good attitude is…my income more than quadrupled when I started my own business! Be nice! It really pays, haha!
Contact Info:
- Website: manmanstudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manmanstudios/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themanmanstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manmanstudios/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyHqfd4NDgXzFuJuLiHDycQ?app=desktop
- Other: Socials (free themed photoshoot parties): https://www.instagram.com/socialsbymanman Interior Design: https://www.instagram.com/manmaninteriors Our lives: https://www.instagram.com/the1890brickyhouse/
Image Credits
Cassidy Brage, Robby Barnett