Like all legitimate forms of marketing, dating requires you to be real about who you are, your intentions and your ideal “customers.”

As life events force us to slow down and turn our attention inward, our jobs compel us to keep producing inspired ideas — no matter how uncreative we feel.

As someone who has been designing for more than a decade, I can tell you that my most successful clients are those who come to me with a strong business foundation and a solid marketing plan.

Despite all of the amazing, talented professionals I have met and worked with in the graphic design community, I can’t tell you the number of “My Last Designer” horror stories I’ve heard over the years.

Like most big life transitions, leaving my part-time job of three years was full of complicated emotions. There was never a moment where I felt I was sticking it to the man, like Mr. Jet Blue Flight Attendant or that episode of Roseanne where the gang finally walks out of Wellman Plastics. There was never a moment of regret, either.

Comparing yourself to others — almost always a bad idea.

Five tips for hiring a graphic designer.

Like what you see on this blog? Become a fan of Mike Watters Design on Facebook at facebook.com/MikeWattersDesign. I post interesting design and marketing news once or twice a day. (I’m still tweeting at @mikewatterspdx.)

Or, how to bring authenticity to your business.

How do you launch a new brand message or design without annoying — or alienating — your existing customers? It’s a matter of respecting your known brand.