Against a backdrop of uncertainty, Jonathan Cleveland, founder of Cleveland Design and author of Designing for the Greater Good: The Best of Cause Marketing and Nonprofit Design, shares:

• The key to his success
• Why he has no interest in retainer clients and
• How he’s preparing for the possibility that many non profit clients will have their funding slashed

So listen here (or below) and learn….

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AI Notes:

Jonathan's Journey to Business Success
Jonathan shared his journey from freelancing to starting his own business, highlighting the challenges and opportunities he faced. He discussed how he pivoted his business model to adapt to changing market conditions, particularly in the political environment. Jonathan also shared his experiences working with major clients which helped him build a reputation in the event and conference industry. He emphasized the importance of standing up for oneself and showcasing one's work to secure opportunities.

Building Personal Relationships for Business
Ilise and Jonathan discussed the nature of their business relationships, with Jonathan expressing his preference for project-based work over retainer arrangements due to the challenges in managing expectations and maintaining a balanced relationship. Jonathan emphasized the importance of trust and strong relationships in securing work, and shared his approach of building personal connections with clients, including inviting them to social events. He also noted the occasional downside of becoming a client's therapist, but overall, he believes in the value of cultivating strong relationships for business success.

Pivoting Pitch Deck for Stability
Jonathan discussed the company's pivot toward different sectors including tech, finance, and legal, due to the need for the company to focus on more financially stable markets to ensure its survival.

Quality Work and Hiring Challenges
Ilise and Jonathan discussed the challenges of finding and managing good people. Jonathan shared his experiences with hiring and managing employees, highlighting the importance of a good personality and team fit over technical skills. He also mentioned the difficulties of judging the work of younger or less experienced individuals, suggesting that it's more about their potential to fit in with the team. Jonathan also expressed his preference for in-house work over using freelancers, although he acknowledged that they occasionally use freelancers. 

Building Client Relationships and Pricing
Jonathan discussed the importance of building strong relationships with clients to facilitate growth and referrals. He emphasized the need to identify opportunities with larger clients and to track time and money effectively to avoid undervaluing services. Jonathan also shared his experience with Upwork and Fiverr, highlighting the importance of identifying the right talent and personality for a project. He concluded by stressing the need for accurate pricing based on actual costs and time spent on projects, rather than relying on subjective estimates.

Time Tracking and Business Growth
Jonathan discussed the importance of tracking time spent on various tasks, including project management, to understand profitability and billing rates. He emphasized the need to consider time spent on non-billable tasks like email replies as part of the business. Jonathan also highlighted the usefulness of software like Function Fox for time tracking and suggested it as a tool for freelancers.

Hiring Employees vs Contractors Discussion
Jonathan discussed the pros and cons of hiring full-time employees versus contractors. He emphasized that having a reliable partner can lead to more opportunities, but also increases responsibility. He also mentioned that he prefers to focus on design rather than managing the business side. 

Collaboration, Business Development, and Design
Jonathan discussed the collaborative nature of his work with his employees, emphasizing the importance of respecting their talent and expertise. He mentioned that they work together on business development, with each employee contributing their own relationships and contacts. Jonathan also mentioned the team's involvement in creating a monthly newsletter. He shared his experience of transitioning from an administrative role to a design role, emphasizing the importance of finding the right balance between business and design. Lastly, he highlighted the crucial role of his office business manager in managing the administrative aspects of the business.