This is graphic design tip #64 from the post 101 Graphic Graphic Design Tips for Business Success

Time Can Be The Greatest Challenge For Graphic Designers

Respect the client’s time…and YOURS! Be on time, every time. If another client is holding you up, they need to respect that you’re a business person and they aren’t the only client. Schedule your time wisely and this won’t be a problem.

Imagine if the pilot of your plane showed up thirty minutes late. Not only did the pilot delay you and the entire plane, but also has delayed the entire airport. You are stuck in this seat and off of schedule due to someone’s lack of discipline. Wouldn’t you say that was unacceptable? The same thing applies to you and your job. Many people rely on you to be there for their projects. Arriving at work late is an inconvenience to everyone and sets a bad precedence.

For designers, time can be your greatest challenge. Creativity is hard to keep on schedule, the process is a little scattered compared to other forms of work. But the hard truth is that your success will be based on your use of time. The better you use your time, the more successful you will be.

Clients Must Also Respect Time

On the flip side, the client must also respect your time. It may be hard for them to grasp the complexity of a project and equate it to the time needed to complete the project. Educate them the best you can and if they delay the project with unnecessary edits or by dragging their feet on approval, firmly let them know that the delay will be based on their choices.

Time can be hard to wrangle. If you have trouble with this, don’t despair. Try, try, try by taking little baby steps like leaving 30 minutes earlier than usual or setting time aside where you don’t allow yourself to be distracted by the Internet. Your time is important so treat it as a precious resource that you don’t throw away.