You need clients to provide you with an outlet for creative design and they need you for their business to grow. When I first started, I just wanted to work for someone and get it done. As I went through several contacts, I realized that I needed to focus more on who they were and what their business was about. I put my foot down and said to myself, this is most important before we discuss business.

Before you choose your clients, you need to figure who you are first. What are your expectations in life? What do you aspire to be? Who do you role model after? How do you want to be treated? Do you want to be loved or scorned?

I choose clients who love themselves first and are passionate about what they do. I don’t choose know-it-all’s. I look for that humble character and how they treat others. Are they only focused on getting it done and not interested in connecting with you? What do they value? Are you a person or a number to them?

When I choose my clients, I try my best to follow the gut feeling inside that tells me: “This is a great job!” vs. “Stay away from them, something is fishy!”

Usually, if I can visualize a finished design in the first two meetings, I determine that they are great to work with.

When you pick your clients, you are picking your new friends. Don’t go just for the money. Money is good to support you but when you get a client not worth the time, something that should have been easy becomes more of bear.