The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones that do.

I wish I knew who wrote this quote, so I could give them credit, but I have no idea! But they have it right. If you are crazy enough to think you can change the world, then you can and will! I have plans to change the world, starting in Holland, MI and moving my way outward. I’ve heard my fair share of “you can’t do that” or “you don’t have the talent to go that far” or “that’s a stupid idea”. Those words stuck with me, but that’s why I am where I am today.

When people tell you that you can’t, it means they are projecting their own fears into the world, through you; because you are taking bigger steps than they are. It’s much easier to not do something rather than taking baby steps to further your future, business, and education. Quoted from a business seminar “we worship baby steps” is actually a powerful statement. Any step at all whether it is a baby step or a big step is proof that you are trying and that you are moving forward. There is always some fear of making a mistake, failure, change, or being embarrassed.

So take that step, whether it be a small or big step, take it. You and your business won’t grow to what you want it to be without taking steps. If opportunity doesn’t knock, build your own door!

Have a safe Thanksgiving! Thanks for being there for Monster’s first Thanksgiving!!

-From your local Graphic Monsters

“As long as you’re gonna be thinking anyway, think big.”

Really, though. As long as you are going to think, might as well think big. As humans we are always thinking, but not always thinking big. There a few steps to help achieve success and think big. The first, being okay with not being okay.

It is absolutely okay to not be okay, it’s okay to know that you are going to fall down. If you weren’t making mistakes, that would mean that you aren’t even trying! You didn’t just fail, you’ve simply found a few ways that did not work. So when you fall, you didn’t lose, you learned. You learned of a new way to NOT do something and what’s wrong with that? Nothing. You are great. You are powerful. You are successful.

The second, set your goals. You don’t need to dream big, just think it. You just need to set the right goals, at a steady pace that leads you to success. You can’t just look to be at such a high level that you end up miserable and unsatisfied. And that’s totally okay, set goals that benefit you in the most positive way. “Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by setting ambiguously huge goals” (Michael Port, author of The Think Big Manifesto).

Always find the right mentors and colleagues to surround you. The happier people are around you, the happier you will be, and the more successful. The best type of people to surround yourself with are the people who are honest with you. The more honest they are (and yourself), the better chances you have at seeking success. If you ask for advice or how something looks to a colleague, and they’re completely honest with you and tell you if its good or if it honestly sucks, good for them and good for you. Usually when we ask people to look at something with us, we are seeking approval from bigger company, so we have to be okay with hearing criticism.

And lastly, be easy to work with. Be someone that others want to be around, and who want to help you. Be pleasant, work hard, ambitious, and happy. Your attitude is everything here, success isn’t just all about you, it’s about others, too. Understand that you’re never alone in your journey, people will want to help and be around you, if you allow them.

“You don’t have to be a big company to compete with one”

“You don’t have to be a big company to compete with one”, words from one of Michigan’s most powerful and ambitious business owners. A military veteran, a politician, and a business owner of many years, Luciano Hernandez IV once said this about his company, Tiger Studio which is a small business in Michigan, but most definitely competes with BIG companies.

One of the most intimidating things for young entrepreneurs and business owners is having to compete with large companies and corporations. Some competitors can be as big as multi-BILLION dollar corporations. This is a struggle for many small startups and small businesses. But luckily with the right resources, I know my business, Monster Graphics Studio, will soon take off. It is affiliated with West Michigan’s regional leader Tiger Studio, as quoted above, so we’ve got a good, strong vehicle behind us. Monster specializes in signage and decals, so we of course have many competitors nearly everywhere. We also offer graphic design services, t-shirt printing, banner print and design and so on. The thing is is that there are a lot of companies these days who hire in-house graphic designers now. “‘It’s bittersweet when the economy goes down because corporations often downsize. Meaning they let their in-house designers go, then they come to us which is the “sweet” in bittersweet. But the bitter part is that the economy is down.'”

Bigger companies, no matter the area of business, will have more resources, that’s just how it is. They have their own everything. But what I’ve come to discover is that the FASTER you work, the more people, such as big companies, will continue to be loyal to you. There are a lot of design and print service firms that will give you at least a two week wait before they even START your t-shirt print or vehicle decal. Monster Graphics Studio gets started the DAY an email is received from even a potential client. There’s no waiting list, it doesn’t take a month to get a t shirt or logo, it takes a couple days at most. That is exactly what any type of client wants: fast work.

People also like persistence, it’s okay to hear the word “no” a million times. That’s NORMAL. But what clients actually like is your personal loyalty and willingness to grab them and their attention. Of course, don’t spam people all day everyday, just be persistent. Give them something to remember you by.  Even if it is one simple client, such as one small decal that doesn’t even require installation, the project may be worth $20 but thats $20 that YOU made because you were persistent and interested in helping someone. That $20 soon turns into $40, and then $80 and so on all because you did not give up, go you!

My business might be a start up, but I am not. I’ve been doing this for years and I often don’t get nervous or scared to compete with large companies because I’ve watched my dad do it for literally as long as I’ve been alive. Clients don’t want to know you’re scared of them, they want to see confidence. Be a leader and be passionate about your work. Showing passion shows that you don’t just care about making money, it shows you care about your client. Build relationships with these soon to be long-term and loyal clients!

But don’t stress. Good things will happen and you WILL see a difference and your company WILL grow. But not overnight. I’m currently writing a simple book called “10 Things All Small Businesses Must Have” to hand out to my clients, future/potential clients, and clients who even told me no! I believe that if for example I handed out 100 of them, I could get maybe 15 clients from that, but that’s what I need to get started! Once those 15 clients realize they’re happy with Monster Graphics Studio’s work, and they each tell just 1 person, that turns into 30, then 60, then 120! You get the point.  Give them something to remember you by. As a small business, that’s a great way to start. Give them something useful so they come back to you.