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.
These 08 Common Mistakes Are Causing Damage to Your Creative Business I started freelancing 22 years ago. (Holy freak, how has it been that long?) You may know my story, but in one summary statement: My freelance business took off and grew into an agency that I sold in 2015….
A potential new client finally dropped into your inbox. You’ve wanted this client for so long and they are finally here with an RFP. It is almost impossible to believe it! You haven’t wanted anything this bad since you first crushed on Sally during hormone-raging, junior high years. The Qualifying…
You tried every tactic in the book to extract your client’s budget. “How much do you want to spend on this?” “Are you wanting a high-end solution or a low-end solution?” “An Audi R8 and a Chevy Malibu will both get you from point A to point B. Which of…
“Too many cooks in the kitchen” can lead to traumatic projects. You’ve probably been there. The client greenlights the project. Everyone is thrilled to get started. In fact, they are so thrilled it seems the entire company wants to have input on the direction and deliverables. You might have seen…
Is this you? A potential client approaches you for a new project. You have an initial conversation. You’re excited! They seem excited. Everything appears to be going smoothly; you have the “cat in the bag,” as the saying goes. You work up the scope and create what might just be…
As I was laying by the pool yesterday, relaxing in my full on midlife crisis birthday (it was number 52, if you really wanted to know), I had a flood of thoughts come to mind. It was a lot of stuff I wish I would have known when I was…
We’ve all been there: a client approaches us with a project, and in their mind, it is going to change the world. Unfortunately, their “world-changing” idea is attached to a budget that is too small to accomplish their vision. You want to politely tell them they are unrealistic and need…
At the start of my business journey, I was like most other creative freelancers. I was decent at my craft, but I had no clue about how to run a business. Opportunities came because I could do the work, but I knew if I wanted to grow beyond being a…
Get More Sales With This New Year’s Resolution During my 15-year agency run, I was mostly a passive salesperson, far too passive. I built great relationships, and the work would come, but in fear of ever coming across as “a salesy scumbag,” I made the error of being far less…
