What I learned at HOWlive 2014 Conference

in Marketing

“You need to work on your business, as well as in your business.”

While true, doing so is often easier said than done.

 

The HOW Live 2014 Conference this year in Boston, MA, gave me some new insights to work on my business. The conference was my “cleansing breath,” especially as a creative entrepreneur, offering a new perspective on our rapid growth, emerging reputation, and future vision as a company.

I flew home more excited than ever about my purpose — our purpose as Epstein Creative (EC) — feverishly writing down every memory, snippet, and thought from the conference. I was somewhere between inspired and possessed!

EC is about designing with purpose. As a tagline, “Design with Purpose” sounds good, but what does “purpose” really mean, and how is what we do genuine to that mission? We have a laser-like focus on serving the needs of mission-driven organizations that work to improve the lives of women and children. I am deeply passionate about these causes and already have many clients who focus on topics surrounding women and children. In essence, this is our calling, our mission, and our purpose.

I was touched by the warmth and welcoming camaraderie of my design colleagues from all over the world. We were there to help, encourage, and support each other. I made several new friends and learned a lot from the workshops and interactions with other attendees.

You’re likely wondering what I scribbled down on the flight home.

WHAT I LEARNED AT HOW:
  • Chill out, Alizah! Stop stressing. Let the growth process happen organically. I need to own this experience and acknowledge and embrace this rapid growth. EC is growing, and I am nervous, excited, and ready!
  • Authenticity of purpose. I know exactly what Epstein Creative is about and why we do what we do. Let’s spread the word to help make a real difference.
  • Support is all around me. There is a great support system of other creative entrepreneurs who are encouraging me, cheering for me, and even holding me accountable to stay on track.
  • Set limits and boundaries. I am a mother, wife, and successful creative entrepreneur. That’s a lot. Being out of the office is okay and will help me stay focused and balanced. “Serenity, now! Serenity now! Serenity now!”
  • Take time to reflect. It’s important to take a business retreat or a step back to retain or regain some clarity and sanity.
  • Boston taxis and iPhones don’t mix. Vincent, our taxi driver in Boston, thinks it’s perfectly okay to watch TV on your iPhone while driving without a seatbelt. I wore my seatbelt.
A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM FROM SPEAKERS ABD ATTENDEES:
  • “It’s never too late to be what you could be.” – Alina Wheeler
  • “Age is of no importance…unless you are cheese or wine.” – Alina Wheeler
  • “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” – Orson Wells
  • “Your life is your most important project.” – Alina Wheeler
  • “Armies of algorithms are waiting to take your jobs. Protect your creativity; your survival depends upon it!” – Alina Wheeler
  • “Don’t compete on price, compete on personality.” – Jen Lombardi
  • “Focus on progress, not perfection.” – Jen Lombardi
  • “When a client calls for a rush job, I say, ‘We don’t do hurry.’” – Jason Blumer
  • “Knowledge spreads better than peanut butter.” – Jill Anderson
  • “If you call after office hours, I will return your call the next day. Set limits and stick to them.” – Jill Anderson
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Alizah Epstein
Founder and Chief Creative Officer
Epstein Creative | Branding and marketing design studio
www.epsteincreative.com