1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,880 One of the most important things when running a lifestyle 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,190 business is to invest in your people. 3 00:00:06,190 --> 00:00:09,460 Now when I say your people, I'm not just referring to your employees, 4 00:00:09,460 --> 00:00:11,550 I'm referring to you as well. 5 00:00:11,550 --> 00:00:16,280 It's just as important to invest in yourself as it is to people you take home. 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:22,370 If you do have a team, socialize with that team. Build a team spirit. 7 00:00:22,370 --> 00:00:27,150 You need to be a group of people that come together and do fun stuff together. 8 00:00:27,150 --> 00:00:29,620 It shouldn't be all work all the time. 9 00:00:29,620 --> 00:00:32,960 Otherwise, you're going to drive each other mad before too long. 10 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,900 If you're by yourself, I encourage you to get out and meet people. 11 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:40,940 It can be a very lonely and isolating experience running your own business 12 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,730 and it's so important to hang out with people 13 00:00:43,730 --> 00:00:45,720 that are in the same situation as you. 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,450 So I encourage you to go and meet up, conferences 15 00:00:48,450 --> 00:00:51,370 all those kinds of things, any opportunity to hang out 16 00:00:51,370 --> 00:00:54,300 with other freelancers and web designers. 17 00:00:55,020 --> 00:00:59,150 You need to be interacting with other people that are working on the web 18 00:00:59,150 --> 00:01:02,740 and you certainly need to grab every opportunity that's available. 19 00:01:02,740 --> 00:01:09,750 Another really important part is to invest in yourself through training. 20 00:01:09,750 --> 00:01:13,320 Now you already know this. You see in here, watching this video right now. 21 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:16,380 Of course you know that training is important 22 00:01:16,380 --> 00:01:19,060 but you also need to make sure that all your other 23 00:01:19,060 --> 00:01:22,110 members of staff have the opportunity as well. 24 00:01:22,110 --> 00:01:25,320 I'm also sorry to break it to you that watching 25 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:28,260 Treehouse videos isn't enough by itself. 26 00:01:28,260 --> 00:01:29,950 There are other things you can do as well. 27 00:01:30,070 --> 00:01:32,010 You can attend conferences.That's great. 28 00:01:32,510 --> 00:01:34,310 What about reading some books? 29 00:01:35,110 --> 00:01:40,470 The most important thing is to set aside time to learn and experiment. 30 00:01:40,470 --> 00:01:43,420 For example, I know of many web designers that set 31 00:01:43,420 --> 00:01:46,320 aside a day or week for personal projects. 32 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:49,180 An opportunity to try out new things and all the stuff 33 00:01:49,180 --> 00:01:52,470 that you're learning on courses like this. 34 00:01:53,470 --> 00:01:57,210 Training is important but so as time to recuperate. 35 00:01:57,210 --> 00:02:01,260 We push ourselves too hard as business owners. 36 00:02:01,260 --> 00:02:04,200 Keep working hours under control. 37 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:08,490 I know a lot of you love your job, you love playing with the web, 38 00:02:08,490 --> 00:02:11,320 you love technology, you're a geek at heart 39 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:16,220 but that doesn't mean it's healthy or good for you to be working long hours. 40 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,240 You need to have generous holidays. 41 00:02:20,170 --> 00:02:22,310 You need to have interest beyond the web. 42 00:02:22,330 --> 00:02:27,660 Yes. There are things like real life too. Get out there. Do other stuff. 43 00:02:27,660 --> 00:02:31,550 Christmas for example. Consider closing down over Christmas. 44 00:02:31,550 --> 00:02:33,110 Nothing ever happens anyway. 45 00:02:33,110 --> 00:02:35,260 No work gets done between Christmas and New Year. 46 00:02:35,260 --> 00:02:37,410 So why bother working? 47 00:02:37,410 --> 00:02:39,900 Have a life beyond web design. 48 00:02:39,900 --> 00:02:43,940 It will improve the quality of your work and I'll tell you something else, 49 00:02:43,940 --> 00:02:45,860 they'll win you more business.