How I Built a Lean, Profitable, One-Person Design Business

In 2021, my career took a transformative turn. I discovered a book titled "$100M Offers" by Alex Hormozi, and it was nothing short of a game-changer. This book taught me how to make my services so irresistible that clients felt they had to buy them. It combined psychology and modern sales strategies to help position services as must-haves. Reading it ignited a passion for business reading that stayed with me for months.

The Mindset Shift: From Time to Value

The most profound impact of the book was the shift in my mindset. I moved from thinking about "trading time for money" to "providing value for money." This change in perspective was crucial. Instead of viewing myself as just a designer who gets paid by the hour, I started seeing myself as a problem-solver who prices based on the solutions I deliver.

This new approach gave me a fresh perspective on packaging my design services. Suddenly, I had the secret recipe for endless sales. However, the book's principles were broad and not specific to any field, which presented a challenge. Determined to apply these concepts to my design business, I read the book five times, extracting ideas and tailoring them to my needs.

Unveiling the Secret Sales Strategy

Here's the strategy I developed: Aim high with your promises and then over-deliver. This approach not only attracts new clients but also retains them. Think and act like a business person, not just a designer. Make bold promises, demonstrate that you can solve significant problems, and deliver results that exceed expectations.

The core idea is to create a repeatable process that takes little time to execute but promises a specific result within a specific timeframe for a specific market. Your job doesn't end with making promises; you need to over-deliver on them. It's not about the hours you put in; it's about the value you provide.

When you deliver massive value, you’re entitled to charge more, regardless of the time spent. Remember, clients are not just buying your time; they're buying the results you deliver. From now on, focus on selling the outcomes, not the time spent achieving them.

From Insight to Outcome

After adopting this "Secret Sales Strategy" and thinking like a business owner rather than just a designer, my career took off. While still in my 9-to-5 job, I landed my first big client, earning $4K in less than two weeks. This initial success confirmed that presenting my design services as a product and selling solutions rather than time was the right approach.

I kept refining my process and increasing my rates. Within a few months, my earnings soared to $22K per month. By 2023, I left my 9-to-5 job and started running my own business full-time.

The Path to Freedom

Building a lean, profitable, one-person design business is possible. It starts with shifting your mindset from trading time for money to providing value for money. By aiming high with your promises and over-delivering, you can attract and retain clients. Package your services into a process that delivers specific results, and charge based on the value you provide, not the time you invest.

If you're ready to take control of your career and build a life of freedom, start applying these principles today. The journey may not be easy, but with dedication and the right approach, success is within your reach.