Every book I have ever read on being in business for yourself includes a chapter on business plans. Do you need one? Yes and no. How do you like that answer. Many people say that lack of a business plan is the number one cause of startup failure. It is required if you want to…

The following is my short course on do’s and don’t s for starting up a business: Don’t waste your time (and money) making everything perfect before you begin. You are as ready as you’ll ever be. Your idea of what you are and what you need will change with experience, so don’t lock yourself in…

Rather than focusing on a single source of income the lesson is to develop several. This covers you during seasonal slumps, tough times and boredom (you can switch off from business to business or client to client). It also helps you spread the risk around. The key is to build your businesses that they support…

Having to do everything yourself limits your growth and your career. Control freaks struggle. If you plan to write, direct, produce, act in, edit and publicize everything you miss out and burn out. Even the most creative person can only be in so many places at once. More important, you can only be an expert…

The difference between successful creatives and unsuccessful creatives comes down to this: a healthy support system. It is wonderful, intoxicating and addicting to find people who believe in you and want to see you do well. It is the antidote for your inner critic. Sometimes you can’t see how special your work and your talents…