We recently connected with Quantal Langford and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Quantal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

As far as my process goes, when I initially started my design + creative business, and deciding to go full-time, I had a few freelance clients at the time. I had a full-time job, while I was doing freelance work, but I really felt like I could go full-time with the business. With a blessing from my wife, I sent an email to everyone that I had been doing freelance work for and told them I would be starting business as Langfordesign.

It was one of the scariest moments of my life. I had no real backup financially, it was either make it work, or go back to a 9-5 job. I started working on marketing ideas, cold-calling, and reaching out to contacts for potential leads that could turn into client work.

But within that next month, I started picking up new work, and encountering new challenges. From a business perspective dialing in on what people would know me for, finding clients that are a perfect fit for the business, and being profitable as well.

Set up I started off with was an Apple iMac, all-in-one printer, sketchbook, planner, and storage devices.

Like all freelancers, figuring out where your next project is coming from, was one of the scariest things. Currently I’ve been fortunate to pick up annual business from clients I’ve worked with over the years, coupled that with the content marketing through my podcast and video show, has helped promote the business and my personal brand, doing speaking engagements with art/design classes and events.

Quantal, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Langfordesign, founded by Quantal Langford, specializes in brand development and intellectual property creation for a diverse field that includes sports, small-to-medium businesses, schools, and publishing companies.

Langfordesign also produces and hosts a weekly show called The Creative Brew, clothing brand Just Heart Apparel, and is currently working on his creator-owned sci-fi graphic novel series called Seed, and other creations all under the Langford Studio umbrella.

Being an advocate for the arts, hunger and homelessness, I continually give back to organizations on the east and west coast that I’m passionate about. Helping others that may not have access to art, to food or to showers and resources to help their lives.

Through Langfordesign I help others create and magnify brand stories and identities that connect with their core audiences. Langfordesign builds bold and unique identities that help amplify one’s vision. Langfordesign is built on relationships. That many of the clients that I work with, has been with for years. I strive on consistency, high-quality, design solutions that generates results for clients.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For me a specific mission is to create things that will outlast me. I’ve always been fascinated with stories, myths, and characters. And how things are able to endure for years after the one who created them has been long gone. For me I want the Langford Studio and the intellectual properties and brands under this banner to endure. I have a sci-fi book series that I’ve been developing for some years and would love for audiences to still connect with the book even after I’m gone.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn was learning to ask better questions. Working with clients over the years, even at the beginning I would just take the information from clients on projects and just run with it, normally going through unnecessary rounds of back and forth and turning potentially profitable client work into a time waster. So I’ve learned through trial and error to get the answers I want, by asking the right questions. If you can do this you’ll get everything you need from a client to produce work that your client will love.

We’re not the best at mind-reading. You only know what you know. So if I can really dive into what a client wants, budget, and expectations. Asking the right questions-i can get answers that helps me as well as the client. If I knew that tip when I had started it would’ve made my life so much easier.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.langfordesign.com
• Instagram: @quantallangford
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Langfordesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quantallangford/
• Twitter: @Langfordesign
• Youtube: @QuantalLangford
• Other: https://soundcloud.com/thecreativebrewtv https://heliumradio.com/shows/the-creative-brew/