Things someone much smarter than me has already learned...

• Get everything in writing. Always.
• Very little goes according to plan – be prepared to adapt, especially in this fast-paced industry.
• Play to your strengths – focusing on your weaknesses is soul-sapping and counter-productive.
• Hire experts to fill any gaps in your knowledge base and/or skill set.
• Surround yourself with talented, motivated people and treat them like gold.
• Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket – diversify at the earliest opportunity.
• Undertake to work with clients on your own terms.
• Managing client expectations correctly, from the beginning, will save you a lot of unnecessary stress and trauma later on.
• Saying “no” is completely liberating.
• Don’t work for or with people that you clash with – the relationship will not survive.
• Look after your existing clients – it’s easier to up sell than cold sell.
• Word-of-mouth is the most effective marketing tool in your artillery.
• Admit when you’ve made a booboo and then fix it. It can lead to unexpected doors opening.
• Making tough decisions is part of the package. Deal with it.
• Never undertake spec work – you’ll set a dangerous precedent that will come back to haunt you.
• Most meetings are a total waste of time.
• Backup your data regularly.
• There will always be someone else cheaper, faster and better than you so position yourself to add unexpected value.
• Under promise and over deliver – exceed all expectations.
• Honesty and integrity will serve you well.
• And guess what? The learning process never ends! In fact, the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. That’s incredibly humbling!