Business by Design this month reminds design professionals of an age-old prosperity principal: time is money.

THIS MONTH:
+ Fee, Not Free
+ 2005 Programs

Fee, Not Free
If you earn too little income, you probably give away too much time.

A key reason why many design professionals fail to achieve their financial goals: they give away their expertise. They donate too much time, too often.

They don't bill for lengthy phone calls from clients. Or for installing the window treatments. Or for meeting with contractors. Or for shopping. Or for "overseeing" the furniture delivery.

Fail to charge for your time, and you fail to attach a value to yourself. You invite others to take advantage of you. You make it more difficult for other design professionals to charge for their services.

The most financially successful design professionals I meet at my speaking engagements around the country bill for:

+ all their telephone consultation time
+ all their planning time
+ all their drafting and "sketching" time
+ all their measurement and installation time
+ all their project management time
+ all their travel time
+ every hour of every personal appointment

If you're reluctant to follow suit, call a lawyer, or visit a doctor. You'll find that all of their expertise comes at a price.

Yours should, too.

2005 Programs
Planning an educational event for your group in the year ahead?

I can help.

A preliminary list of my 2005 programs, most of which are CEU-accredited:

+ Supercharge Your Sales! Advanced Selling Strategies for Design Professionals

+ Methods of the Masters: How the ‘Stars” Do Business

+ Set and Get Higher Fees

+ Sell Yourself! How to Get Them to Buy from YOU
+ Overcome Price Objections! Ten Ways to Turn Budget Bellyachers Into Believers

+ Million Dollar Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

+ Dare to be a Different Designer

+ Do It Yourself Marketing for Design Professionals

INDUSTRY PARTNER PROGRAMS:

+ Get Designers in the Door -- and Coming Back for More

+ Build the "Buzz" that Makes 'em Buy

For more information, visit my website (www.FredBerns.com) or contact me at 888-665-5505 or fred@fredberns.com.