I am Michael Janda, an executive level creative leader with more than 25 years of experience in both in-house creative departments and agencies working with some of the greatest brands in the world including Disney, Google, Fox, ABC and NBC. I create books, courses, workshops, lectures and other training materials to help creative entrepreneurs run successful businesses.
Hiring feels terrifying—even when you’re financially ready. It took me almost three years to hire my first employee, and the reason was simple: I kept thinking in annual numbers. I looked at a $60,000 salary and thought, “There goes $60K of my income.” But that’s not how hiring works. You’re…
Your proposal price and scope can’t last forever. It’s a business offer—and conditions change. Yet too many creatives send a quote, then leave it open forever. A year later, the client comes back expecting the same price, even though your workload, costs, and experience have evolved and likely become more…
I grew up in a house with four brothers, no sisters, on a lake in Indiana. And as a Gen-Xer, people like me aren’t supposed to cry. We’re supposed to stuff it down and power through. So I was shocked when business brought me to my knees while I was…
Need more clients and project opportunities for your freelance business? This article is for you! I can’t believe I haven’t written a version of this content before. I have a whole module about this in my freelance course, and I covered it in detail during a session in my community, More Creative Academy. I…
You’re probably not charging enough. You probably feel that every day. It is because your prices are not fair. That’s often the case for freelance designers or creative agency owners. Too many of you are making your prices “fair” to your client at the expense of them being “fair” to…
