What ‘Dips In Cash Flow’ Taught Me About Optimizing My Time

Bootstrapped

Before starting my own business, I worked as a graphic designer for Goliath.

From at-the-time criminal defence attorney Wayne Sturge to nobodies like SKIN LUV. I constantly engaged with self-funded 1-3 man shows.

Sometimes work spilled over after production. I attended an Upmarket with SKINLUV once and got to observe how money is raised. It’s not through investors but curated spaces like Kenwin's very first local trunk show, which he invited Nicholas and me to. 

Clients get to immerse themselves in what the business has to offer.

Why is it trusted?

It kills two birds with one stone: fast money without losing control over what you’re building.

Your idea might have the potential to grow quickly, but if 100% control over what’s in your hand is the goal, that's an important distinction not to lose sight of.

That took a while to click, providing my own services.

When I decided to spend 12K on my Mac and 3K on my Canon, I didn't know who I was. I adopted what I did working in Port of Spain, and what caused payment and follow-through issues there, showed up working for myself.

Thanks to investing thousands of personal finances in my education, today I no longer do free work to help someone “make up their mind” about working with me. I have a design interview to buy if the right kind of project is on the table. 

Investing in things that work is addictive. But money runs low and out sometimes, and in those moments, bootstrapping is the best situation for creative reimagining.

The One-Page website (instead of graphic design) was a perspective I tested that clients responded to. My design interview is four years of testing questions on clients, so I'll know why I’m asking them, but also understand how to position it within the bigger project.

When you're trapped performing for the veiled interests of voices that don’t care about the ebb and flow of your individuality, or respect what you’ve experienced to think differently, you’re not working on your weaknesses, but instead easily becoming the very thing you’re against because you don’t know who you are.

I've never seen any business, big or small, in Trinidad and Tobago openly embracing its weaknesses. The irony?  We hear about turning our weaknesses into strengths. But weakness is rarely leveraged.

And I heard you. Weaknesses are typically weaponized. 

But it surely takes the stinger out the wasp when you know your weaknesses no longer bother you.

Not every weakness needs to be a threat, don't you think?

Here's a scenario. It’s unprofessional to quote a price and come back for more money after payment has been made.

External investments might cushion the reality of paying $982 TTDS to clear 5 pairs of socks, but for how long until you have to pay it all back with your equity?

That’s how people lose their business.

You’re clients are playing a different game.

What would happen if 'leaking money' was at the centre of your marketing so your clients wouldn't have to raise their prices?

Can you help your ideal client overcome something specifically out of their control, so it doesn't become their client's problem?

This is how to optimize YOUR GREATEST RESOURCE when you're a self-funded business owner.

Perceive the weakness as an opportunity to work on how it hinders either providing your services or the goals attached to it.

Without the dips in cash flow, I’d be stuck executing some complicated strategy; worried over ‘the next client,’ rather than simply refining my messaging and getting better at pitching my marketing. 

I could’ve thrown AI at the problem with what stayed in my account, but in the same breath, I would've also been cheated out of learning what I said that converted my newest client.

Reimagine what your greatest weakness can become!

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I am the owner and Visual Brand Strategist at The BrandTUB **Let's see if you're a good fit for me to help you optimize your time. 

**Figure it out on your own with The One-Page Workbook™ **Sign up to receive these weekly articles in your inbox if you’re not quite ready to work with me yet.