STEADFAST

Well, well, well if it isn’t a new blog from Joey G! I just figured it was time to get everyone caught up on what has happened with my life since I last wrote a blog post back in 2020. Frankly, A LOT has happened. My seemingly mundane life during the pandemic suddenly has morphed into a fast-paced, transitory adventure. I could go into long, highly attentive detail about every single event, but that would literally take a short novel to get through all of that (no exaggeration) but I will try to keep this as brief yet telling as possible. Get the popcorn out, sit back and enjoy! If there’s one thing that I can say regarding all of this, it’s that everything turned out alright in the end. Because really, it did!

As most of you know, I studied for real estate back in 2020 and got my license in May 2021. It was during that time I was studying that I began dating a young lady named Katelin. We got engaged and then married on March 19, this past year. You can read about our relationship story at our wedding website that also includes the video of our proposal. See it here! We are doing very well and still love (and like) each other more so than the day we said, “I do”. What most don’t know is what it took for us to get to this point. It’s not because of relational/personal matters. We get along very well and are still crazy about each other. It's been “Life” that made things more difficult at times.

There have been numerous trials to work through from Day 1. My grandmother suddenly passed away in February 2021 while Katelin and I missed each other during the year that our relationship was long distance. We saw each other about every 2-3 weeks, talked and FaceTimed as much as we could but still, it was hard.  I spent much of the time we were apart knowing that I would be moving away from Pittsburgh for the first time ever in my life, so I vowed to enjoy every moment from my little apartment on Fawcett Avenue, to quality time with my family and friends. Oh, Katelin and I were also in a car accident on Thanksgiving Day 2021 that resulted in her car being totaled. We ended up getting her a new car 2 days before Christmas that year as she was at the tail-end of recovering from Covid (don’t worry she followed quarantine protocol and wasn’t contagious when we got the car).

This was our fancy date at the Lemont, just a day after our car accident.

Just having a silly moment in the midst of the chaos! 🤪😂

Solid finish to 2021, but now let’s jump to 2022! I encountered a job scam a couple of months before we got married, and I got contracted a nasty stomach bug a week before our wedding. Katelin was also in the middle of the most difficult part of her medical schooling to date. She did her core rotations plus major shelf exams for each course and other major exams all the way until a week before our wedding. The wedding was the best day of our lives of course that we will never forget, but after Katelin and I got married and came back from our honeymoon, we had to prepare to move down to DC and I had a closing to attend for my final real estate transaction in PA. It was a very busy way to start our marriage off. We had to start our lives anew, our routines, our finances and even find a new church. Katelin’s schedule and rotations that she had to complete in what was her final year of medical school were constantly changing so there was always some level of adjustment and adaption that took place. It was also a process for us to figure out what was best for my career going forward. To be honest, I applied for jobs and went on several interviews for different companies. However, I found no good fits and decided to just keep doing what I had to do to grow business in the DMV, while working on getting my real estate license for Maryland. Then the pinnacle of our difficulties came to a head when in late July, Katelin’s car broke down in the middle of nowhere in North Carolina at night while we were on our way to a wedding near Atlanta, GA.

Well now, you might be thinking “Gee, Joe. You sure have talked a lot about difficulties and hardships! Is there anything good that happened?!”. The best part is here, and it wasn’t just me finding the love of my life and getting married. What follows is the summary of the “in-spite-ofs”.

My first brand design client out of the DMV! leadership4success.co

Overtime, I found that picking up new brand design clients for my first business J Graphic Communications LLC in the DMV was the best thing I could do for providing for my wife and I. I recently joined a fast-growing networking group called Nexco National Loudon County Chapter out of Northern Virginia, met so many wonderful business professionals and already got new clients from the group. The same week after our car broke down in North Carolina, I passed my Maryland Real Estate license exam and got my license, under Coldwell Banker Realty in Bethesda with my newly formed personal brand for realty called Joseph Gardonis Homes Advantage. As for the car, there was an extended warranty on the engine which failed us, so we ended up getting a brand-new engine for free and had essentially all expenses incurred from that affair reimbursed. Speaking of church, through a one-in-a-billion chance, we found a church home we love from the pastor to the people who have welcomed us in as family. To close 2022 out, after numerous relocations, pandemic-induced delays, long hours of studying, working, all-day exams, residency applications, Katelin finished medical school in early December. She’s an MD! Hello! She’s my superhero and I couldn’t be prouder of her! But wait, there’s more!  I had my first transaction for real estate in Maryland that closed 5 days before Christmas. And it was a $1.175 million property. Talk about putting an exclamation point at the end of the statement!

For Katelin and I, we’ve had some of the most difficult times of our lives. Yet, at the same time, we’ve had the greatest of times in which we can’t help but be thankful for. We got married, we began our lives in a new city and got settled in, advanced further in our careers. Yes, life hasn’t always been easy, and has put unique pressures on us that take more years for couples to go through. But we are okay. And not just ok, but better, stronger, well-bonded, and secure than ever before. We know that this isn’t over yet and there are still uncertainties ahead as we wait to hear where her residency will be, but the most important things that we take comfort in are that we still have each other, and above all things, God is truly faithful. It’s because of Him that we’ve continually overcome each obstacle, had all that we’ve needed provided for us, and have been at peace despite fill-in-the-blank. I can go on and on to the point of a near arrogant sort of confidence in how sure I am that God will take of us, and anyone who truly puts their trust in Him. In steadfast, if there’s one thing that I can say regarding all of this, it’s that everything turned out alright in the end. Because really, it did!

📸 by our Pastor, Curt Allen!

 ***Congratulations and THANK YOU if you really took the time to read this entire post! We have a special announcement coming very soon! Keep an eye open!

MUCH LOVE!❤️❤️❤️

Why I Can’t Just Grab That Image Off Google

Happy Late September! Can you believe this year is finally on the latter end? I know what you’re thinking, “It can’t end quickly enough!”. I get totally get it. We have to just keep pressing through and come out of the other side. 

Without any further to do, I want to write about a common problem I see with other graphic designers and I personally encounter. Sometimes, we just want to throw things together quickly just to put something up as far as a visual impression. Or maybe we’ve been searching far and wide for that perfect image to go on our website and we do manage to find it. But it’s a Getty, Shutterstock, or iStock image on Google that requires licensing purchase to use. Well, that can get expensive after a while, so we want to forgo what’s procedurally correct and just download it so we can use it how we want. Also as a side note, I’m not talking about famous company logos. 99% never allow the use of their logos for any reason at all unless it somehow promotes the brand. In any other case where there has been no written approval for usage of their logo/branding elements, it’s copyright infringement which is a violation of Federal Law which can result in civil and/or criminal charges.

Sometimes I get this request to use an image or I’ve even been provided images from clients in the past, in which they were unlicensed photos. In all honesty, most of the time people don’t realize how this is actually NOT ok to do. It’s innocence combined with a simple convenience of Google that seems like its ok. After all, if those images weren’t on Google, they wouldn’t be able to be used right? Wrong. Although Google has gotten better at preventing any of the images on their search engine to be downloaded by anyone on their Chrome browser, unlicensed images are still on display and they can still be downloaded on other internet browsers. Just because something is convenient doesn’t mean it’s always right. 

Photography represents someone else’s work of art that they created, which means that there are ownership rights involved. Whether to the photographer or the company/organization that legally obtained the rights to the photography, that image is owned by someone. Therefore in order to legally obtain and use that photo, you usually need to purchase a license for it. It gives you the ability to use that photo in your print ad or website. However, when you don’t have the license or proof of purchase of using that image and you use it, you put yourself at risk of being caught. 

It can happen. Some firms have what are called “trolls” and “spiders” which are systems dedicated to searching the internet for images that have been used without a license. Upon the discovery of an unlicensed image being used, the firm usually has the option to send a demand letter to whoever is the perpetrator. Those demand letters can vary from just a couple hundred dollars to as much as $5000. Very simple question: Do you want the legal hassle and liability just because you wanted one free image you could’ve purchased for maybe less than $70? I would think not. 

With all of this being said, no, I cannot just take that one image you found on Google or Bing and just throw it on the website because you like it. At least not without proof that you obtained the proper licensing for the usage of that image. If I were to do it, it would a potentially high-risk liability hazard for both you and me. So I wouldn’t say no just to be a jerk, it would be to protect both of us and help maintain our respective credibility and reputation in our fields. Just because it’s easy to do doesn’t make it right. You can only cut corners so many times until there just isn’t enough corners to cut, and then you end up getting caught. If you really like the image that much, purchase it one time and you will be fine. Do good. 

YOUR CURRENT BUSINESS CONNECTIONS MATTER NOW MORE THAN EVER

Here we are in August! How is your business been holding up in 2020? Are you still on pace to grow? Breaking even? Or are you struggling with losses the past few months? Chances are your ability to gain new clients have been limited by the lack of in-person networking. I know that there have been channels out there for virtual networking, but let’s face it. It’s just not the same as in-person networking. In fact, I would say at least in the Pittsburgh region, fewer people are doing it now.

No one is sure when we will get back to in-person networking. It could be a few months from now it could be another year from now. These uncertain times have forced all of us to adapt and get more creative with how we generate business in the middle of a pandemic. That’s why now more than ever, it’s important that you’re making the most of your current clients and business connections even if they’re not working with you. Referral based business may just be the way to go for many of us these days. Maybe perhaps it was always the way to go. But regardless, here a few reasons why your current business connections matter now more than ever…

Referrals can only be good for you. Somebody knows a somebody who can help somebody. It’s just a matter of if the choice is made to refer that somebody to that somebody. Referrals given convey a sense of credibility and trust. With opportunities being more limited for the average small business owner, coming through on those referrals is the key with timely follow-up and good work to come. This also includes GIVING referrals! Don’t just be a taker. Be a giver. If one of your business connections is need for a consultant and you know a good one, pass it along. Give freely and become wealthy. Not just with money, but with knowledge. And knowledge is power.

Touching base with a past connection. This is all about client relationship. Maybe the projects you worked on weren’t ongoing. But you handled all their requests brilliantly and executed their jobs to their satisfaction. Follow-up with them (I have a good blog series from last year on the lost art of follow-up). Maybe they had something they were going to reach out to you about anyway. Perhaps if you call them you or they could refer each other leads. You just never know what this kind of positive relational business model can lead to. Never stop thinking about your business connections.

With the current coronavirus crisis, opportunities may be more limited. I had already touched on this earlier, but to drive home the point even further, the reality is that networking has been reduced. In-person events are either entirely shutdown or capacity limited in best-case scenarios. For many of us, that was how we would generate leads whom would be turned into clients. We don’t know when things will be back to normal in that regard and for as much as technology has still made networking possible, I think we can all agree that virtual is just not the same as in-person. I find fewer people are networking at all let alone virtually. Therefore, making sure your relationships are strong with your current connections is even more important. Call and check on them, not just about business but personally. It’s not always just about what you need, but just about what they may need. 

The final word is that your business connections always mattered. Why? Because 1) they’re people and people always matter. 2) They’re your assets in business because as we all know, it’s not always about what you know, but who you know. And by “know” I don’t mean someone whom you just exchanged cards with 2 years ago whom you never spoke to once after that. I’m talking relationships in business, meaning you’ve had multiple conversations with each other and are on the same wavelength. Together we will make through this difficult time for most us personally and monetarily. We need each other. And that is why your current business connections matter now more than ever.

Basic SEO Settings That Don’t Cost A Dime

Ah yes! SEO. Chances are your ears may have caught this buzzword in conversations with other webmasters, Info Technicians, and or other business owners. But do you know what the term stands for and what it actually means? 

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. The definition of Search Engine Optimization is “the practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results”, per moz.com. Notice that social media is NOT mentioned in SEO. That’s because social media marketing and SEO are two separate things. Neither have any direct or significant impact on each other. 

While I will not get into everything that entails SEO because its so much more complex than what I offer in and of my services. But I will focus on SEO as it pertains to a website itself. There are many things that can be done within the website, that help boost it’s SEO capabilities that don’t have to come at additional costs. Much of it goes into the screenshot of the way my website shows up on the web.

1) Page/Site Titles. The page title is the reading of the website name in the larger font. Having this is an absolute must so that the search engines and visitors know what your site and each of the pages are about. There is a recommended limit by google of 50-60 characters maximum for the Page Titles. If you go beyond those limits, the page titles may end up getting cut out of full view on mobile.

2) Meta Descriptions. This would be the paragraphs below the Page/Site Title. The Meta Description provides a brief summary of the essence of the page. It should match the content of the webpage and if possible include the page title. In order to maximize the impact of the meta description, adding a call to action using phrased like “learn more about” and “contact us today” is a subtle thing that increases the number of clicks on the page.

3) Slugs. What are slugs? Nope. They’re not yucky bugs. They’re the page names in URL form like https://www.jgraphiccom.com/portfolio. The “portfolio” part of the URL is the slug. Having a slug that is using the same navigation or page title, further solidifies the page’s SEO ratings.

4) Alt-Text. Alt-text (alternative text) is a word or phrase added to a document (commonly images) to tell Web site viewers the nature or contents of that image. Typically you want to include the same web page name along with the phrase that describes the image. This is especially key to access for users with disabilities. These descriptions are read out-loud to a blind person so they’re able to understand what is in front of them.

What ties these 4 aspects all together??? A focus keyword is a word that describes the content on your page or post best. All 4 elements I listed should be consistent, with everything revolving around the keyword. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of information on what can be done with your website as it pertains to SEO settings that won’t cost you a dime…the catch now is that all of these things can be done through a specific plugin for Wordpress sites. Feel free now to message me for more details!

Trends vs Principles in Design

It’s no secret that the graphic/visual design industry changes frequently. It’s one of the many things that never lets there be a dull moment. There is a conflict that I believe most designers face. And that tension comes from the age-old contrast of trends vs principles in design.

The Merriam-Webster definition for the word “trend” is, “A prevailing tendency or inclination; a general movement; a current style or preference; a line of development.” The key part of that definition is the “current style or preference”. What was eye-candy 5, 3 years ago or even last year is not guaranteed to appeal today. Trends can be fickle. “But you need principles!” and “You need trends to stay relevant” are constantly being bounced back and forth. So where do I stand as a designer in this matter?

Current Web Design Trend of 2020 featured multiple layers involved in the design.

First, I’m not the kind of person who believes in “exclusive camps”. Meaning you have to believe entirely one way or not at all because you must be in the other camp (except when it comes to my faith beliefs). In this particular instance, I believe you need both in your design methods. I’ll highlight the pros and cons of my position and why I believe its best for anyone to take this approach.

PRO-PRINCIPLE

Picture a building. The absolute must to any building standing strong through the years, weather, and elements is a good foundation. Letting the elements and principles of design being your foundation is what keeps you when the trends change. It’s your artistic foundation for success. Another good illustration I like to use for any human body, having a working spine is key to the structure and functioning of the body. Without a spine, everything about the human body wouldn’t work at all. The same is true with principle in regard to a designer’s method. It would like trying to design a logo without any idea of what fits as far as text, graphics, symbolism, spacing, and contrast. Or even trying to design the structure of a website without a general approach that executes the message and design effectively. Principle is key.

PRO-TREND

Relevance is the key to any message. If a message is not relevant, then it is no good. What I like about designing with trends is that it keeps the message of your design fresh and relevant for the present time. Trendy design keeps things flashy and interesting. It’s a common language that the average person can understand. Adaption to current climate and changes keep you as a designer valuable to the world you work in. And if nothing else, it can stretch your creative limitations as a designer. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same kind of work over and over again. With trends, it forces you to max out your vision and creative juices to deliver a product that demonstrates you’re endless possibilities as a creative designer. 

CON-PRINCIPLE

When there’s a pro, there’s usually a con. The con of designing purely from principle without any consideration for current trends is that your work can become stale, basic, and overly expected. Doing the same kind of design method all the time leaves little room for creative growth which can leave you feeling left in the dust if you’re not careful. The logic of basing your work from principle is a win, but logic can’t be the only driving force into creativity. Creativity is meant to defy logic and use one’s imagination. One of my favorite teachers from college, Mark Bender, had a famous quote that most of my fellow classmates can relate to “Draw from life, but don’t be limited by reality.” The same concept applies here. Build from principle but don’t be limited by logic.

CON-TREND

The biggest con with a trend is in the name. A trend is a trend for a reason. It’s primarily based on what works for the moment. I’m all for utilizing trends in design but I stop short of agreeing with every trend. Most of the time they don’t age well. Hence why designers tends to move on from what worked in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, 2010s, etc to create something new. There are some examples of timeless brand designs like Coco-Cola (1887), Nike (1971), Chanel (1921), McDonald’s (1962), and FedEx (1994). However, those are far less common instances as most brands are designed utilizing the trends of the day they were created. Times changes, therefore trends do too. Rebranding and redesigning older logos cost time and money, hence that you can never dive headfirst into just trendy designs. You almost have to have fore-sighting of knowing which trends will last longer and use them in the graphic design.

In conclusion to this, I’m a believer that having a principle design method is a must not just because it’s principle. It’s what makes you a designer that sticks. I am also a believer in incorporating current design trends into your work because it keeps you connected and relevant to the ever-changing world around us. And being around is how you are able to receive opportunities to perfect your craft and produce really great design work. Stay hungry. Stay principled. Stay trendy, my designer friends.

Why Now Is The Time To Upgrade Your Brand

Happy 20th month of quarantine! Or so it feels like it. I commend so many of us for being troopers during this time. It is has been hard to watch our business plans and maybe even bottom-lines go by the waist side. Maybe you’ve been laid-off and have had to wait long days just get your unemployment check. Unless of course you’ve still been able to prosper and keep your job during this time. I also want to commemorate that it was one year ago this month that I wrote my first ever blog post here! Whatever the case is, if you have a side hustle, or a business, your brand is crucial to your success.

Do you have a brand? Looking at establishing a name for yourself? The reality is that this is a good time to do so. If you have a brand and are looking to revamp it, now is the time for serious consideration of that matter. What on earth could possibly make this a good time to establish or upgrade a brand? Below are a few initial thoughts you might have that would suggest me being crazy, followed by my answers to them.

Some of the most iconic brands of the past 60 years

1) “Joe I don’t have money right now for that!”  Right. You may not have the money to break the bank at the highest-rated design firm. But the first step in establishing a marketable brand for yourself involves an excellent logo design. Your logo represents the graphic face and visual impression for your business/organization. Having a good design doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars if you're a small business. It can a small investment under $600 that you can’t afford to not make. 

*My own rates are very competitive compared to average marketing firm costs specifically catered to the people most affected by the economic turndown of the coronavirus crisis

2) “Why does it matter if I have a good logo or not?” Simple. First impressions matter and bad branding can turn away potential business. A logo is the first necessary step in visual representation for the brand your seek to create. Do you want to get your business to the place where the brand sells the products just as much or even more than the product itself? (ex: Apple, and this is coming from someone who loves Apple products). Of course, you want to! People are going to want to go with a brand that isn’t about sales when the economy begins to rise again. They’re going to want to go with a brand that also looks good and conveys maximum value. Here’s a good resource on why it’s important for small businesses to have a strong brand from Deluxe.

3) “Joe, I can’t even wrap my head around this!” Ok. Pardon my forwardness, but that’s probably because you’re watching the news too much whether it be on your phone or tv. Take just as little as 20 minutes, clear your head, and just ask yourself the question, “Do I want to get ahead when my customers are ready to go full-board with their spending?”. If the answer is yes, then take a look at your current branding and where you are as a business. I know it can be hard to take a real assessment because of the Coronavirus crisis, but even before it occurred. Were you really particularly satisfied with where your business was before all this happened? Is it really communicating the kind of message you want your clients to receive? Honest and objective questions lead to better results for you and your business.

If you have a well-established brand, that is great! Let it continue to help generate revenue for you. But if you’re looking at your logo and are not entirely satisfied with it, now is the time to start contemplating what you really want it to say. Imagine when the economy opens up again, and you’re able to begin selling your services or products with a brand new, stylish logo that even further hypes up the rebound of your business. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, getting a graphic communication set that adds to your business presentation is NOT just another expense, it’s an INVESTMENT. Your brand is worth it. Give it a “glow up”. 

What Can You Do Before and When The Economy Opens Again?

Buenos Dias! I trust that we all managed to make the most of Easter weekend in spite of being quarantined. Whether you physically went over to a family member’s (don’t worry I won’t tell anyone as long as you didn’t hug your parents and grandparents) or you did a video chat with your family, I found a community vibe was maintained in spite of the lingering circumstance known as COVID-19.

Speaking of which, it appears that we’re finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel as far as this crisis. The amount of cases and deaths in the US has been in a steady decline, stimulus checks have been handed out and there’s already talk of re-opening the whole country for business again. Last month I highlighted some keys points about what to do for your business and self during this crisis when it was in the beginning stages. God-willing now we’re getting towards the end of the Coronavirus Crisis, the next question is this: What Can Do You Right Before and When The Economy Opens Again? Keep reading below in hopes that these 3 thoughts will give you some ideas on what will help your business hit the ground running during this time.

1) Get your ducks in a row now. We may not necessarily be able to predict when and how gradual the US will be fully open for business. But we should deem it wise to prepare AS IF it’s going to be broken wide open. Do you have projects being worked on in your current queue? Wrap them up and have space in your timeline to take on more work now. Stay on top and ahead of the workflow. Reorganize your business processes and resources. With the extra time and space on our hands, there’s little excuse for not getting your ducks in a row (unless you’ve been staying productive with business during this time which is a blessing). The bottom line is to be ready for a high volume of work that could come so your bottom line will be well-profited.

2) Strategize how you will reach your target clients/customers. While I’m working on their websites and they ask for my opinion on the messages they’re trying to communicate, I usually reply with this piece of advice, “Mirror your customer’s experience. Put yourself in their shoes and try to think of what you would want to see if you were shopping on your site”. The same principle is true for such a time as this. Mirror what your clients are looking for. Their situation and circumstances have likely changed due to the overall economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, so hear your client’s concerns and needs are and plan on how you will provide the solution for their needs within the principle of your business/product. Should you do targeted ads via Google, social media and website? Should you do more interactive medias for one on one contact (within social distancing perimeters? Media advertising via tv, radio, podcasting, etc? In the end, only you can decide what’s going to reach your target clients/customers so strategize wisely.

3) Promote upon VALUE. So many people have taken major hits to their incomes which equals their livelihoods. Business owners (especially small business owners) are itching to begin recovering losses and then some. And they’re looking to this as economically as possible because things are already tight. Therefore, promote your business or practice as being a winner in terms of value. In other words, keep your prices competitive and make that clear. You will win more clients early and often which in turn will mean more and better business for you in the long run. Remember, having your business around for a long time isn’t a sprint, its a marathon. Be in it to win at Mile 26. 

HONORABLE MENTION) DO EVERYTHING WITH EXCELLENCE. Nothing more to be said. Remember, you want your product to live up to it’s marketing.

Alas, do you find yourself pondering more on what you should do with the remaining down time we might have? I can see the smoke coming from your ears as your brain has entered overdrive on how to ramp up your productivity. What kind of strategies will you implement to get your business flying again? Are you ready to get busy again? Get prepared. We may just be turning the corner. Don’t squander opportunity. 

What Can I Do For My Work While In Coronavirus Quarantine?

I’m sure this question has crossed your mind in the past couple of weeks. I wish nothing less than health and safety to everyone during this sudden Coronvirus Pandemic we find ourselves in. It is truly incredible how this catastrophe has impacted every single person’s life in the majority of our world today. We have to be more mindful of our own personal hygiene, which in turn leads to better health of those around us, especially our senior citizens and those with pre-existing health conditions. It is rather humbling and teaches us so many lessons. 

What about if you’re a business person who’s income and work has come to a screeching halt or majorly slowed? What possible blessings can come from something as awful as this? The bad news is that we’re currently in the middle of the “fire” so to speak. The good news is that this too shall pass eventually. But below I have listed 3 main points and an honorable mention on what you can do for your business/line of work while in quarantine and downtime.

1) Explore creative ideas to generate business. There is no getting around the fact that any small business has been negatively impacted in terms of the model of how they generate business. If you’re like me and have certain goals to meet in terms of business and revenue, you can’t just easily accept this crisis as an excuse for why you’re “going under”. There’s a quote from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin in which one of his “Tomlinism’s” is “The standard is the standard”. Whatever your standard is, it is the standard. It may take some mental work, strategy, extra catering to your customers, prayer and meditation. But take advantage of this time and space to ponder on new and fresh ideas that will not just help you make it through a stopped economy, but even accelerate right out of the gate when eventually this pandemic begins to turn and things get back to normal. Maybe you can do more business through your virtual communication and computer than you originally thought. Perhaps putting in forced new practices for more efficient business during this time is something that can carry over and be adapted even when the economy starts rolling again. Don’t be afraid to try new (and physically safe) things.

2) Tidy up the “Back-End” of your business. Any time I get a break in the action, I go back through my processes, sales proposals, budgets and graphics to look at everything more closely in terms of how it’s helping my business. Maybe you’re looking for a new job. Now is the time to beef up your resume. Use good keywords and clearly lay out what makes you the best candidate for the job. For me, here are some of the questions I ask: Is there something I need to change with my proposals? Do I need to get leaner in an area of my budget? Do I need to update my own website? Think about your own practice or job situation and what you can do make it a better and more profitable experience for both your client and yourself. I’ve always said that I never want to get to the point where I stop asking “What can I do to provide a better experience for both my clients and then myself?”. Do you need to make your process less complicated and more efficient? Do you need to even improve your people skills so you are conveying care for your customers? Don’t be afraid to ask honest questions so you can come to better results, so long as apply the appropriate solutions.

3) Examine beyond the headlines about the Coronavirus. Wait. Aren’t you talking about business? Why does examining the Coronavirus Crisis pertain to my business? It does because regardless of the impression the news media is leaving us, there is good news out there in spite of all blaring headlines, the cases, and deaths from this terrible disease. By examining the good news like the record time of FDA approval of drugs that can successfully treat COVID-19, testing becoming more available, decreasing death rate in America per cases, and record-timing of trials for vaccination, this will give you hope for yourself and your business. Why? Think about it. When you’re anxious or in fear, its a lot harder to focus. Yet, a positive mindset helps you stay focused on just being in spite of the hardship we all are currently dealing with. Because when you see positive news, it inspires comfort and hope which in turn, steers your attention away from fear and helps free up your mind to commit to the first 2 points I outlined here. It’s very easy when we’re trapped inside of our houses to start getting a bad case of cabin fever and lose focus on what we should be doing. 

Honorable Mention) BE CHARITABLE. This can apply to your business but it more or less applies to how we personally interact with each other. This is a very difficult time for a lot of us. It’s the fear of the unknown that has really forced us to hunker down and lay low. If someone you know is in need of food or supplies and is short on cash, you can help them out through the CashApp or as simple as not hoarding all the toilet paper and not taking a 2-years supply of chicken. And most simply yet importantly, commit to social distancing. You never want to unknowingly carry the virus and then pass it on to someone unsuspectingly. 

We haven’t seen a pandemic with this much force and contagiousness hit us in quite some time. It’s flipped many people’s world’s upside. I can only imagine what the people who’ve lost loved ones to this disease are going through right now. However, let’s choose to believe in hope. Our society and our country have overcome many major issues and events in the past. And we can and will overcome this. We can only concern ourselves with what we can control, and that is our response to adversity. Let’s remain calm, use hygienic common sense, and focus on our business. 

Much love 

Joe Gardonis

RESPONSIVE WEBSITE. WHY HAVE IT?

Desktop Vs Mobile? The comparison is very relevant, yet it all correlates together. Desktop computers are still used today particularly in most workplaces and among elder people, however, we’ve seen a change in how people browse the internet and live. We’ve seen toddlers and kids play games on iPads, people use their mobile phone for more than just calling people. It’s become the central figure of technology in the vast majority of people’s lives. 

And it’s because of these factors that it’s critical that if you have a business or organization with a website, that you don’t just have a website that looks decent on a desktop computer. It’s even more important that your website is responsive. The term “responsive” used to describe website design means that your website and it’s pages render well on both the desktop and mobile views. Desktop refers to standard computers and laptops, while mobile refers to tablets and smartphones. I will be sharing 4 points on why you should have a responsive website.

1) A responsive website is easily adaptable to multiple screen sizes. Don’t you just hate it when you go to any older website (particularly one that’s a local government site), and you have to zoom in a lot just click menu options on it? Why the extra effort just to view a page? More than likely, it’s not going to leave you the best impression of the website. However, when a website is responsive, you don’t have to be zooming in and out just to see what you want to see. Rather the pages are very fluid, streamlined and consolidated to provide the user with a good experience. Examples of what a responsive site looks like are the “hamburger” style menu bar, stacked images and text.

2) A responsive website improves your SEO efforts. Ah, good ole SEO is popping up again. Many hear that term, only some know what it actually is or means. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which pertains to the website’s visibility on the internet with search engines like Google and Bing. Google especially responds well to a website’s responsiveness. In fact, it makes the website more likely to have a higher ranking for pages displayed on searches. An experience that caters greatly to the user on a responsive website increased the likelihood of “dwell time” which is the amount of time someone spends on a particular website, which then boosts the SEO score. 

3) A responsive website cater’s to the largest portion of your audience. What is the largest portion of the web browsing audience? Mobile users. How many searches done today are from mobile phones? According to this article from bluecorona, over 70% of web traffic comes from mobile today and rising. The article also claims that consumers spend more than 5 hours a day on their smartphones. Nothing much more needs to be mentioned on this point. Responsive website = reaching your largest audience.

Pardon the cheesy humor but anyone getting hungry for a hamburger…menu?

4) A responsive website comes at a lower overall cost and maintenance. Did you say it can save money? Absolutely that’s what I said. Have a responsive website offers the benefit of a lower overall cost of maintenance because you’re essentially getting a 2 in 1 deal, as opposed to the upkeep of 2 different versions of just 1 website. Whatever extra costs there are with building a responsive website are paid upfront but then never again. Another additional benefit is that it takes less time to setup. These types of websites are done more easily than ever before in various web building platforms which I will discuss more in my next blog post. 

All and all, with the advancements in technology, changing in consumer habits and easing of ability to build and keep this type of website in 2020, there really is no good reason why your website shouldn’t be responsive. We all want a good experience on the web. It’s not just another expense, it’s an investment that will reap a great return upon excellent execution. 

3 REASONS WHY GRAPHIC DESIGN STILL MATTERS IN 2020

Happy 2020! I wonder how many of us thought about what life would be like in 2020 20, 30 and even 40 years ago. Would it be like the Jetsons in outer space? Would we see more robots? Either way, it makes all of us feel older. The one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the fact that the graphic design industry is still very relevant and just as important today as it was 10, 50 and over 100 years ago.

First, we are going to cover what graphic design is by definition and what it looks like. “Graphic Design: the art or profession of using design elements (such as typography and images) to convey information or create an effect.” - merriam-webster.com. Its visual communication of a message plays upon our feelings and perceptions to speak its ultimate message. Think about it. Look at a movie poster for a romantic drama vs a suspense/thriller film. There will be 2 different visual imagery styles used to illustrate the types of movies they are because of the feelings that they leave you. A romantic drama will have you wanting to fall in love with the person of your dreams, while a suspense movie will leave you on edge, relieved or even a little scared. And in the same manner, a logo for a financial institution will look different than a logo for a non-profit organization for kids, because there are 2 different associations being communicated to.

Which brings me to my 3 REASONS WHY GRAPHIC DESIGN STILL MATTERS IN 2020.

1) Our world has become more visually driven than ever before. The most obvious sign of this is how social media has taken over the way we live our lives and do business. Whoever has the most interactive, relevant and well-branded social media content (videos, images, links, posts, etc) wins the most attention. This means that everything that represents your business or organization is on major blast to the civilized world. According to https://www.statista.com/statistics/278414/number-of-worldwide-social-network-users/, an estimated 2.82 billion people are social network users as of 2019, which is about 35% of the estimated earth’s population. Good graphic design matters.

2) It’s not about quantity. It’s about quality.

The quote just about says it all. Bad design gives a negative impression of your business/organization which in turn hurts credibility which then, in turn, hurts the bottom line. It permeates everything that is used for representation from images of your logo online and print, ads, business cards, etc. According to a report on The Journal of Behavior & Information Technology, visual appeal can be assessed within 50 milliseconds, suggesting that designers have about 50 milliseconds to make a good impression. When the elements and principles of design don’t work together, the design is bad. That includes the colors, symbolism, typography, graphics, and concept. It all works together. Clean-cut, unique and attractive imagery that stands out is 55% of the battle won upfront. Your competition obviously believes in the power of outstanding graphic design, and they’re the ones who will have an incredible advantage.

3) Competition. What about your competitor? How is their graphic design when it comes to their branding? If they have a well-rounded presentation and you don’t, you might want to think about a revamp. This point ties in with the first point I wrote in regards to visual drive. Technology has accelerated so much over the past 20 years and will continue to do so at a pace in which we blink, and then it changes. With that speed, come so many different things that compete for a customer’s attention. Outstanding graphic design will go a long way in gaining your customer’s attention. In the same manner, you can actually have a better product than your competition, but if it doesn’t your customers the impression thereof as a result of poor graphic design, then it’s being sold too short, and the customer is less likely to buy it.

2020 is here. And so is graphic design. It’s not going away anytime soon. It is not, I repeat, is NOT just another expense for your business. It is an INVESTMENT. Like any investment, you put funds into it so it can grow over time. When you invest into outstanding graphic design, you’re investing into your business/organization. It adds credibility and professionalism to what you have, communicates its essence in a unique manner and is pleasing to observe (from a very biased point of view I say this). Look at your own branding. Be honest. Is it helping you get more business or possibly costing you business? It might just be the latter. No need to procrastinate. Invest into outstanding graphic design and watch the glowing spark that will come with your products.

Much love

Joe Gardonis

3 STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU DIDN’T ACHIEVE YOUR 2019 GOALS

Progress is still progress. What if the glass is actually half full?

Happy December! Can you really believe that 2019 is almost over?! This really seemed like the fastest year that I can remember thus far. I can remember January 1st as if it happened a few days ago and now here we are December 5th. Now is the major part of the holiday season with Christmas and New Year's. This also means that for those of us who have career, business, and life goals, it is a time of reflection on what has happened over this year and where we currently stand. Whether we’ve exceeded our goals, hit them right on the dot, or did not reach them, I believe we can all be proud of what we have achieved. 

What were your goals this year? New higher-paying job? More sales in your business? Getting married? How did you do with them? Whether you are content or disappointed, if you’ve made progress, you’ve made progress. Congratulations!! You’re one step closer to your goals and the life you aspire to have! You might have been aiming for 50% growth and you got 30%. You might have wanted to job that pays at least 10k more and you’re at the same job with only a 4% raise. You might be like me still, being so single at the end of the year that you can hear your own echo in your home when you talk (why not make a little humor while we’re at it).

If I’m being 100% real and honest, I can say that I did not achieve the growth goal for my business that I aspired to achieve. I am finishing the year strong and finished with 40% growth from last year but my goal was higher than that and I will not be able to say that I hit it. I feel that a lot of us are in the same boat with not exactly meeting expectations for ourselves. So now the question is, what does one do when they do not meet their goals? Here are my 3 STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU DIDN’T ACHIEVE YOUR 2019 GOALS.

1) PAUSE. Why pause? Because if there’s one thing I’m learning more and more, it’s that being on a constant mouse wheel of chaotic busyness is actually counterproductive. Our minds are funny like this. We can easily trick ourselves into thinking that we’re being productive because we’re busy but then the final results prove otherwise. See this short video that explains Busyness vs Productive here. Taking a momentary pause from the chaos our days can bring will give you the opportunity to look at all you’re doing more objectively so you can begin to re-evaluate every part of the whole picture to determine what’s working, what is not working and what can be done about it.

2) BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. Continuing my last point on looking at everything objectively, you have to look at the shortcomings with a humble and honest viewpoint. I find that sometimes we don’t want to see what isn’t working because out a false sense of pride, we’re worried about outside expectations or fear of being labeled a certain way. Forget about that! This is your life which God gave you. Stop catering to insecurities that are illusions, to begin with. Swallow your pride and take an honest look at what isn’t working without lens filters and make resolutions on how to make changes. Don’t pin blame on outside sources. That’s taking the easy way out. Dig deeper. Get real. Be honest.

3) ACT. Ok. Now that you have found what needs to be changed in your approach to career, business, and life, it’s now your responsibility to make appropriate space and action to allow the changes to be made. Don’t get too down on what hasn’t worked and allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the problems. And certainly, there’s no need to just complain about it. There’s a saying that’s stuck with me for several years now that I only found out recently came from good ole Teddy Roosevelt as shown in the picture below via emilysquotes.com.

That’s right! “Complaining about a problem without posing a solution is called whining.” And I’ll take it a step further and say when you come to a solution to the problem, act on it! Talk is cheap. Just take action. If you need to master your current job position so you can get a promotion or a different job, then do so. Research more, work with purpose and have a good attitude. If you’re like me you need to make some changes in the way you do business, then make the changes and cut away the bait. And again if you’re also like me and you have some personal “you” things to work out, then follow through with them. Whether it’s just taking more time for yourself, talking with friends, counseling or going to God personally about it, make it happen. If you’re too busy, you’re too busy. No excuses. Notice that I’ve spent more time writing about action. The first 2 steps are for not if you don’t act. Let’s act!

Finally, now that we’ve covered pausing, honesty about what needs to change and action, the only thing left to do is to follow through (sound familiar with past blog posts?) The other key factor is to not get too down on yourself if you came up short this year and be thankful for whatever progress you did make. You only have reason to not be proud if you have not done a single thing to get yourself closer to where you want to be. Be happy but always be willing to do whatever it takes to be the best version of you that you can possibly offer to every single person you meet in work and life. 

Happy December, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Much Love

Joe Gardonis

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WHAT DO I ACTUALLY DO?

What if being a one-stop-shop is actually possible?

Hi all! What a crazy past month it has been for me personally. I had the best month of business ever in terms of clientele and revenue (no I’m not a millionaire now, so don’t get any ideas of posing as my long lost 20th cousin who’s in a bind and needs “help”). On top of that, I finally took a vacation. My first one in about 2 years and not just any vacation. I took the trip of my life and stayed in Tahiti in French Polynesia for a week. All I can say is that it was absolutely the most beautiful place I ever went to in my life. So many stories and things I learned from that experience.

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Without any further to do, I received a lot of good feedback from my last blog post about “4 COMMON THINGS I DO NOT DO FOR A LIVING THAT PEOPLE THINK I DO”. Not only do I believe it gave people a better understanding of what I don’t do, I believe it resonated with the occasional frustrations people in my profession and even other professions not related to mine deal with. For this blog post here, I decided that the best follow-up to clarifying what my services DO NOT include would be to promote what exactly I DO do (and no it’s not dodo). 

Before I address my specific specialties, I want to explain my “doing business as” title. J Graphic Communications is my formal business name. Personally, I’m not a fan of titles in general, hence why it’s ok when someone calls me by my name in business as long as the work gets done and everyone is happy. Why I call my services J Graphic Communications is because we use graphics to communicate our business/organizational identity. Therefore that doesn’t just entail one particular thing or specialty. I utilize 3 main branches with multiple subcategories to accomplish this goal for my clients.

1) Graphic Design. This is the most important foundational piece to my main business concept. The term “graphic design” has become such a broad, generalized phrase that I believe most people don’t really know what it actually is. By definition via dictionary.com, graphic design is “the art or profession of visual communication that combines images, words, and ideas to convey information to an audience, especially to produce a specific effect”. How is this art accomplished through what I offer? I do logo design, stationery design, print ad design (this includes flyers), web ad design, informational design, packaging and label design, photo-editing, book design, page layout design and more, using the Adobe Creative Suite as my tools to “work the magic”. The bottom line is graphic design is all geared around presentation, especially for branding. Having a great brand presentation is essential to the success of a product (and the product itself of course).

2) Web Design. As you might know, there is this thing called the “internet”. Also not sure if you realize this, but it has completely transformed our way of life. Paper as a whole is slowly vanishing from our daily lives in favor of web-based apps and sites. Therefore, having an aesthetically pleasing, well-functioning and solidly programmed website Is an absolute must for businesses and organizations today. Honestly, I’m amazed at the amount of really bad websites out there, and the amount of people who still refuse to allow their web presence to be updated and boosted accordingly. I design program websites and can write content for websites to be built in Wordpress, Squarespace, and Shopify. I do service from other platforms like Wix, Weebly, and Ionos, but the first 3 platforms listed are what I prefer to work in and I have found work best for clients in terms of budget, visual appeal, customer service, functionality, responsiveness (the working in both desktop and mobile), basic site SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and capabilities. Whether it be small updates to an existing site, small website design, and programming, e-commerce (online shops) or creation of large informational sites, I can do it. 

3) Social Media Management and Promotion. This very well intersects with the infinite value of the internet. Social media itself has changed the way we live and do business. It had become the way we connect with people and organizations. PM’s, reactions, comments, hashtags, DM’s, postings, reviews are our daily routine. According to a study based from brand24.com, 78 percent of small businesses attract new customers through social media. For me, I offer social media management and promotion to clients because most of the time, it’s small businesses that struggle to keep up with it. I do prescheduled postings, photos, simple graphics, video features, updating and maintenance of pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Business Listing), reviews and paid advertising for clients. 

4) “Wait I thought you said 3 main branches, Joe?”. Yes, I did. But I also wanted to include other extensions of what I offer:

- Blog writing (knock on wood)

- Product photography.

- Digital Illustration.

With all this being said, I have been asked why I don’t just focus on one area and make it my strength. I then ask the question, “Why can’t I just do all these services very well at the same time?”. I look at professional athletes. They never do just one single thing. For example, a basketball player has the job of shooting the ball into the basketball and engaging on defense. But there’s a tremendous amount of work involved in that sport or any for that matter. A guy like Lebron James is always training hard and practicing on every single facet of his game so that he can be what many are calling him today, The GOAT. 

He works on his shooting, his defense, his pivoting because its part of his job to be the best. In the same manner, I look at all I offer as something I’m capable of doing even if there are things I can improve which there always are. It’s a challenge for me. I don’t shy away from challenges. I face them head-on and don’t quit until I’ve mastered them. I have one job. And it’s to boost my client’s visual impression, and I aim to do that at the max capacity of the ability and creativity I carry. That’s why I aim to be a one-stop-shop as much as possible. I hope this provides a lot of clarity and definition of what exactly I do for a living. Any questions? You can always just ask me. More to come. Let’s Go!

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4 COMMON THINGS I DO NOT DO FOR A LIVING THAT PEOPLE THINK I DO

What if confusion was cleared up?

Misunderstandings? We all have had them. Whether they be about everyday life things like what the holes in a Chick-Fil-A nuggets box are for or how a person carries themselves. How about when it comes to a profession? Your cousin’s or even your own? Meaning people sometimes confuse your profession for something else. Do you find yourself having to clarify or correct people sometimes your own family about what it exactly is that you do? I can relate to these things. Of course, I don’t take it personally. However, I feel that is important it is that I actually offer thru my services, that way future and potential clients understand exactly what I DON’T do. (I’ll do another blog on everything that I DO do, and no it isn’t do-do; pun intended)

First, I DO NOT just swipe logos already made and registered and use them for clients’ own logo designs. Not only is that highly illegal (little thing called copyright infringement) that can get me and my client sued, that’s horrifically undermining of the very essence of my profession, creativity. C’mon! Do you really think I just do it for money? Wrong. I picked my profession and my business because there is never a dull moment. My mind is constantly stimulated and my projects always vary so I can never say “Same ole s—-. Different day” (not that I would anyway). Creativity is what helps me love what I do all the more. Money is obviously a very important factor, as I always say that you don’t go into business to NOT make money. But it’s not the only important factor. So no, I don’t reuse old designs and call them original for clients.

Second, just because my portfolio shows I’m very capable, DOES NOT always mean that it’s easy to do what I do. Every once in a while you get that client that actually thinks that their photoshop editing request of cutting out multiple faces and removing scenery is oh so simple or building a simple website for cheap is easy. If it’s that easy and you can “do it yourself”, why are you bothering me then? Aside from that occasionally condescending vibe I’ve gotten from people in the past, there are some people who legitimately don’t understand the challenges that a designer like me will face, just as I don’t understand the difficulty of an engineer or a transplant surgeon. Creativity involves attention to detail, and within details are complexities that involve the very programs and tools I work with. 

Third, just because I do my work on a computer DOES NOT mean I’m a computer tech support person. I’m kind of surprised how often this one comes up. And I’m honestly not really sure where it comes from. Pretty much anyone who works in an office works on a computer. It’s the same kind of method as me. I simply just know how to use the programs I need to do my job. I don’t build or design computers or programs. Don’t ask me to fix your motherboard that froze up, because chances are I’ll just make it worse and ruin your whole computer. When I have problems with my computer or the programs on it, I either look up how to fix it or I call the necessary support. 

Fourth, my profession DOES NOT include IT (information technology). This is probably the most common misunderstanding of what I do thus far. I do somewhat see where this misconception comes from. IT by definition according to bestcollegereviews.org/faq/what-is-information-technology/ is “The field of information technology, or IT, covers the support, administration, and design of telecommunications and computer systems. Being that web design is related to the internet and part of IT crosses over into it when it comes to cloud server support, it is somewhat easy to see how web design can get confused with it. But IT is NOT web design, and web design is NOT IT. Web design is purely the internet and has nothing to do with the computer itself. The same goes for graphic design.

All in all, it’s normal for there to be misconceptions about what exactly I do. I hope this explains all explain better what I don’t offer in terms of my services. Stay tuned for more blog entries and direction, including the launching of a couple of new surprise features that will help me connect better with you, the reader. And last but not least, I will be going on a vacation in 12 days to a tropical paradise dream called Tahiti. I still cannot believe I’m actually doing this trip and I can be assured it will be relaxing, adventurous and change the way I see the world as a whole. Pictures and videos from the island will possibly be featured in my next blog post. You’re not going to want to miss that!

Much Love,

Joe Gardonis

Why Employers Shouldn't Mistreat Their Employees

What if “It’s the way we’ve always done it” isn’t good enough anymore?

Good morning! I’m back. After wrestling with multiple topics like business strategy, part of my story in work life, etc. However, there’s a particular subject that I’ve been quietly passionate about. I didn’t really notice it until recently, but something that genuinely bothers me. There have been versions of it written about it before. But I believe my point of view on it, is something that hasn’t been dwelled upon as much. I’m writing about why employers shouldn’t mistreat their employees.

Some of us may have heard of or seen “Good employees don’t quit their jobs. They quit their bosses.” While there is plenty of truth and statistics that back up that point, I want to touch on a point that I personally believe in. I will share it but first I wish to put a disclaimer here before I go on. 

I’m not sure if any you have noticed but we live in a very politicized world. Everyone and everything seems to interject politics into things that growing up were normal everyday things. Personally I’m not a fan of it. There is way too much blanket statement-making and not enough personal conversation. I understand that we have freedom of speech and we’re all entitled to our opinions. None the less, I still believe there is an appropriate time and place to share specific topics, and that just because you can say whatever you want doesn’t mean you always should. So with all of that being said, what I’m about to write about IS NOT political or trying to promote any sort of policy. I’m simply trying to convey another side to employer and employee debate. I ask that you not put words in my mouth (or my hands since I typed this out) or take words away to fit a narrow opinion. Take it all in, as it’s written, and make your decision from there.

Good! Now that we got that out of the way, let’s jump into why employers shouldn’t mistreat their employees. Contrary to the highlight reel-esque instagram postings you see from your basic entrepreneur, being a business owner is not as easy or glamorous as it’s presented. It’s messy. There are ups and downs, and there are different kinds of stresses that the average person will never see or understand simply because they’re not in the employers’ shoes. So many people wish to be the boss without counting the cost. Bosses are under a lot of pressure too most of the time. Why? Because their higher-up is going to give them grief their department’s numbers are down or underperforming. There’s old saying the analyzes this situation well and its goes like this, “s— runs downhill.” They don’t realize the amount of work required to just maintain an establishment or just to get one client. There’s a reason why the percentage of people who own a business is barely beyond of the single digits in the entire workforce. It takes a special person with drive, determination, vision and appropriate funds to be a business owner.

However, there is the other side to being an employee and not an employer. I can say I was once the employee. I remember the first time when I saw the phrase “Good employees don’t quit their jobs. They quit their bosses”. It had me thinking about how different things would be if that weren’t the case. Upon doing more research, what I found was quite eye-opening at how true it is. Per medium.com, I compiled some major statistics:

• When surveyed, 82% of employees said they’d be more loyal, and less likely to leave if they had more flexible jobs.

• Money is not the problem. In fact, only 12% of employees actually leave their job because they want more money.

• 89% of bosses wrongly believe their employees quit because they want more money.

• Generation X, employees born between 1961 and 1981, reported the highest levels of stress in the workplace, and thus have the highest risk of leaving your company.

• In a survey of 2,000 employees, almost half (43%) said they are looking for a new job, and corporate culture was the main reason.

• 42% of millennials, who have worked at 2 to 4 different companies, said their job creates a huge amount of stress, and 36% feel their job has a negative impact on their health.

These still represent only a portion of the documented evidence out there. The rest can be read here. What this tells me is our workplace as a whole has a major problem, and its not just retention. It’s just a symptom of the real problem. The real problem is treatment of employees by bosses and employers. To me it’s even more nervy of why employees are mistreated. When you think about it in the grand scheme of things, employers (particularly those of big companies) fit in the higher-end level of the income bracket. This means that in essence, the employees are really helping the employers get rich. So then it brings up my biggest gripe with this thought in mind: Why do employers think its completely acceptable to treat employees poorly? When you look at it that way, higher-ups have a lot of nerve to make anyone else’s life miserable. They going to take home the biggest piece of the pie, while everyone else takes a very tiny sliver.

I’m not talking about when employees are fired for poor performance, detrimental conduct or thievery. At the end of the day, we all go to work to do a job and do it well. If that’s not being met, then there are rightful consequences. But I don’t believe that a company’s best workers deserve to get abused whether its thru direct words, actions (especially sexual harassment) and/or policies from the boss, or indirect means like forcing them to do a slacking employee’s work for them. It’s unfair and it runs good laborers out the door. 

This is almost 2020. Thinking outside the box is at an all-time high for better or for worse. So let’s begin to re-think how we’ve treated those who work for us and work together to create a better working environment. Facts show workers perform better when they’re encouraged, motivated and feel valued (see article here). Remember they’re still people, with feelings, emotions, souls and bills to pay. Not just a means to an end. Wouldn’t it be pleasant if employers refrained from screaming at them over petty mistakes that won’t make a difference on the bottom line. How about if they thought about how to give them raises when they’re taking home hundreds of thousands and millions by the end of the year. No need need to revert to old methods just because “It’s the way we’ve always done it.” Let a new trend begin.

Much Love

Joe Gardonis

It Isn’t Just About Your Expertise

Is there really a better way than just making a sale?

Good morning on this first morning of August 2019! No this isn’t “The Lost Art of Follow-Through Part 4”. While I enjoyed sharing my thoughts on how we need to be more intentional with everything we do, I’m looking forward to moving on to other topics because let’s face it, there never really is a shortage of positive things to talk about. With this being said, I will be covering how networking isn’t just about your expertise.

Have you ever attended a business networking event or found yourself meeting with a prospective client or business person? Pending on your personality type, you usually either find this intimidating, ok or you love it. For me personally, I love meeting people whether its in a group setting or one-on-one. I always seek to expand my network of connection in business. I believe the best and most lasting way business is done is through solid working relationships. And this might be a shocker, but I don’t just mean in by making a sale the very first time you laid eyes on each other. 

Honestly, I find this approach is very tired. I find it too impersonal and forceful. Call me not aggressive enough when it comes to making sales, but this approach is NOT the way to have long lasting business relationships. I get it, we’re all trying to make money. Few understand that better than me. I’m self-employed so every sale and dollar I make is more precious to me. However, instead of coming across like a money-grabbing, “Don’t care what your name is. I just want to make a sale even if you don’t need what I’m pushing” salesman, I want to be of value to someone in ways OTHER than just my services too. For example, here is a follow-up email I may write someone,

“Good morning John,

It was a pleasure meeting you last night at the network event. I enjoyed our conversation about what we do and why we attended the event. 

Please feel free to check out my portfolio site in the signature link below to see samples, blog, reviews and know more about me.

Also, if there are other networking groups or connections you would like to make, please let me know as I would love to pass that info along to you. Thank you!

Best Regards,

Joe Gardonis

Do you see how I took the time to thank the person for their conversation and then directed them to my portfolio so they can see my work, reviews and presentation? How about how I ended the email with offering them the opportunity to have access to my other connections? That’s networking at its finest! Mutual benefitting of networking.

This might seem like a revolutionary concept, but I’m imploring of a working relationship where there may or may not have been mutual services exchanged. But maybe you introduced the person you’re networking with to someone you know who can help them with their services. It isn’t just about you making money right away. Networking done right involves your character and perception before other people. You want to give people a good impression, because likability matters almost as much as your ability. And when someone likes you and trusts you, you’re estimated 70% more likely to do business with them. I’ve met people in business who have not needed my services yet referred me other people in their circle because I made such a good impression on them with my portfolio, personality and punctuality (3 P’s). On the flip side, that means you can have the world’s greatest product, but if people don’t like you or trust you, it will greatly undercut your maximum earning potential. How unfortunate that would be.

I wanted to keep this blog entry shorter but much more practical. Many of us in business network a great deal so much so, that its how we get the majority of our business. The impressions we leave people, especially the new people we meet in business, leave a lasting mark for better or for worse. We got to make sure we are doing the best we can to put up the best possible display of our craft, our personality and our professional image.

Much love

Joe Gardonis

PS I really audience participation because that tells me that you’re engaged, so if you have read this blog and its helped you, please let me know in the comments below. And of course if there was anything you weren’t sure on with what I wrote or you feel something can be improved, please let me know on that front too!

THE LOST ART OF FOLLOW-THROUGH PART 3

My 3 habits for small-business growth.

What if the little, unsung habits made the difference?

Good morning on this lovely Thursday. It rains a great deal here in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For once we’ve gotten 3 days in a row of sunshine, and I don’t take it for granted. Summertime is a pretty fun time of the year. People go on vacation, blasting social media with postings of themselves on a beach or lake. It’s part of many highlight reels that either boosts egos or rubs salt in the wounds of insecurities. It can be very easy to get thrown off course of your tangible career and life goals when you feel like you’re on a break from life. By all means, vacation and rest is essential for our spirits and bodies. It keeps us out of ruts and helps us to introspect and heal. However, if we get too disengaged for too long, we start tossing aside the little habits that help us with follow-through.

I get asked frequently how I get the clients and business that I get. The single biggest means that I’ve been able to serve whom I’ve served is through networking (also known as “getting your name out there”). Sure I’ve gotten some jobs here and their through social media, but vast majority of them have come through networking. This can also be called “relational marketing”; building business and working tenures through meet-ups and communication with the foundation of trust. However, its the little habits that have played just as big of a role. And they all revolve around CONSISTENCY.

The first habit is research. Research encompasses many things, but universally I would say researching your competition should be a top priority. My target clients is a start-up, self-employed, small business and non-profit organizations. They are my clients because I’m able to offer them all sorts of graphic design, web design and social media page management at much better price points than the average marketing firm. It took time, experience and research of other firms, designers and general business practices to know what exactly I could offer and for how much. This knowledge then led me to research the networking groups and events I attended just to begin to build my connection base in business. It involved trial and errors through tweaking my sales pitches, wardrobe, my mannerisms around people I interacted with and ultimately the kind of people I was meeting through these. I’ve networked very consistently for about 3 years and it’s paid off immensly. It’s a cliche saying but it’s very true, “It’s not always about what you know. It’s about who your know.” Keep getting your name out there and meeting new people in business. You just can’t always predict who or what it will lead to.

Second habit is craft. Your craft, whether it’s designing, producing, acting, retail etc. is a habit. You should never reach the point where you stop asking how you can make your craft better. I always ask what I can do to make my practice and craft a better experience for everyone involved. Have I made mistakes? You bet I have. But I’ve learned a lot from them. Or for instance, when a proposal I sent gets rejected, instead of getting offended immediately, I take a step back and reflect. Did it get rejected because they didn’t understand something? Did I not communicate what they were getting clear enough? Did I overestimate how much time and money it would take to undertake their project? How can I streamline by process better? These are all questions I’ve asked myself and it’s led to much better results for my craft and client’s experience working with me. You might have just completed a job at a satisfactory rate, but out-do yourself on the next job. Never stop wanting to get better! You’re going to be serving high-end people someday and thank yourself consistently challenging yourself to get better.

Third and final habit I’m sharing is following-up. Did you meet someone and have a good conversation with them on what they do and how you can help them? Did you exchange business cards? Great! What are you going to do about it now?. Take the initiative first and follow-up with your lead by the next day. Through my experience, I pretty much live with the expectation that if I don’t take the first step, there’s a 90% chance I’ll never hear from anyone I’ve ever met at networking events. I’d like to think it’s not because I rubbed anyone the wrong way but who knows (just kidding). Anyways, email them. Let them know how it was nice to meet them and talk about what you talked to them about. Point them to your site or social media (unless you have illegal activity shown on your Facebook or IG then don’t do that). Ask to have an appointment with them to further discuss how you can be an asset to them through your services and NOT through your services. Tell them about other networking events you attend and give them the information (as long it fits in the guidelines and rules of the networking event/group). Let them share how they can help potentially help you with their services or someone they know who can be a great resource to you. Didn’t hear anything back after the first email? Don’t give up. Check back in a week or 2 later and follow-up. DO NOT come across like a money-grabbing salesman. No one likes that. I get it, we all are just trying to make a living, but I don’t know anyone who likes a pushy salesperson. Be persistent yet gentle. NEVER follow-up out of desperation. Show confidence and value, like you have a really great thing to offer. Build from relationship and trust first on a consistent basis. I promise you, that you will get much better results and develop a good name with others in business.

Think outside the box and explore how you keep mastering the lost art of follow-through in a world that seems to be more characterized by fluff and no substance. Do your research. Perfect your craft. Consistently (not harrassingly) follow-up with your leads. You got this! I believe in you!

This concludes the “miniseries” of “The Lost Art of Follow-Through”. If these have helped you at all understand how to grow your business or just given you more help with how to go about job searching, please let me know in the comments below! 

Much Love 

Joe Gardonis

THE LOST ART OF FOLLOW-THROUGH PART 2

What if we really did just go for it?

What’s shakin’ world?! Is it the extent of how our lives are going? For better or worse? I sure hope it’s for the better. Life is too short, make it count. And before I hear someone go “YOLO!”, I’m sorry but I’m not a fan of cliches with a surface level meaning, so let’s try to stay away from that. I’m talking about what you do when you feel stuck, dissatisfied, or left wanting more than what life is giving you.

In case you missed it, this is The Lost Art of Follow-Through Part 2. I got so carried away in my last entry that I finally had to stop because realize that I was going off on passionate tangents that caused me to begin to scatter my original message. It made me realize the truth was that I had a lot to share on the general subject matter of Follow-Through. So I decided to break it down into 3 parts. In this posting, I will be primarily directing this to anyone who either is contemplating a career change or wants to start their own business. I will share some of what I went through in my own career/life that contributed to me starting my own businesses. Get ready!

I can remember the days when I was working my regular job months before I left it to jump into self-employed life completely. I was in a place where I couldn’t stop thinking about what life would be like if I were my own boss so-to-speak. How much of an adventure it would be. How difficult it would be at times. Yet how rewarding it could be. I felt like I was losing a sense of purpose and missing out on all that could come from my gifts and talents as an artist and potential businessman. I had worked this particular job for 4 years. When I first started, it gave me what most would consider “all that mattered”: Steady income, security and benefits. Yet I was still dissatisfied, feeling like I could be doing more fulfilling things with my time and efforts. It was in those moments I realized that I was meant for more than just ordinary.

(Attention aspiring people who want more out of their careers and entrepreneurs! You might want to take notes from the following paragraph!) 

What I learned was there were several questions I had to answer before I were to make one of the most drastic changes ever. First, would I feel more fulfilled to be serving clients out of the overflow of the abilities in me? Yes. Second, would I go into this with the mindset of making it as profitable as possible? Yes. Third, was I willing to fail? Yes. Fourth, did I really believe I had what it took to be successful? Yes. Since I was able to answer all 4 of those major questions with a “Yes”, I had to follow-through with my actions. My family, friends and sometimes my coworkers heard my personal frustrations plenty of over the time. In terms of practical, relational and personal limitations, I had very little holding me back from embarking on this endeavor. Heck, I just had a relationship with a woman I was dating at the time come to an end. That meant that even the chance of someone near and dear to me whose values were potentially different couldn’t stop me.

I was setup for primetime ready to go. I’ll never forget the day I turned in my resignation letter to my past employer. He calmly accepted it. It’s suspicion that he knew this day was coming, so it was of no surprise to him. I felt that much closer to my freedom. And then it was 3 weeks later that I finished my last day at that job. I made it. It was time to fly! It was time to go and soar! I was ready. It was time to follow-through.

If I ever get asked about how I did it, I’ll let the person asking and the world for that matter in on a very big secret. Are you ready?… I just followed-through on it. Sensed a little bit of sarcasm that time? Haha! But in all seriousness, it really was that simple. I took my energy, my drive, my work ethic, my passion and even my frustrations and directed towards what my true dream was: Become fully self-employed so I could receive the fulfillment of serving clients in a profitable fashion and having more availability to pursue all the personal things I wanted to do. 

One of my main rules I tell myself is (again, you might want to take a note here), “talk is cheap” -Ecclesiastes 5:7. If I say I’m going to do something, I gotta follow-through with it. Anyone can talk up a good game, but it takes a special person to actually put some action into their ideas. They’re the ones who get ahead in life. People are miserable because they feel stuck. They’ll often talk about what they wish they could have/do. The single, biggest difference between them and the ones who actually have those things is that the ones who have are the ones who actually did something productive about their frustration and discontent.

None of this would’ve been possible if I didn’t follow-through. Was there a lot of thinking, researching praying and some planning that went into it before I did it? Absolutely. But none the less, it was a calculated move that I can honestly say today, June 20, 2019, almost 2 years and 8 months since I jumped into full-time self-employment, it was best decision I could’ve made for my life and career. I’ve experienced significant financial growth every year since I began and most importantly I’ve grown so much as a person. It’s not just about money. Your soul is what matters the most. If it’s not in to what you’re doing, then you might be missing out on true fulfillment. With both personal growth and money, there’s still a long way to go for me. But this is the life you choose, when you have the drive that settles for nothing less than the very best. Wherever you are in life and your career, understand that sometimes you just got to make a decision that says, “I don’t want to play it safe and settle anymore.” “I want to chase my dream”. Sometimes all you got to do is get out of your own way, take the plunge and give it your all! No regrets. Go for it! I have faith in you!

Stay tuned for Part 3

Much Love 

Joe Gardonis

THE LOST ART OF FOLLOW-THROUGH PART 1

THE LOST ART OF FOLLOW-THROUGH PART 1

Do What You Say You Will Do

Hi again! I couldn’t help but write another blog post on something meaningful and its because of  everyone who took the time to read my first post from last week here. I want to THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I received nothing but positive feedback and its given me another good jolt of energy needed for me to continue with this endeavor. It’s encouraged me to follow-though on my commitment to blogging.

As I stated from the beginning, what kept me from blog writing initially was my questioning if I could really commit to writing on a consistent basis. It’s my goal to release a new posting every 3 weeks. And to be be honest, up until Tuesday I had a hard time putting a finger on which direction I wanted to take post #2. At first I wanted to stick with something expected and safe like giving you guys a general bio info writing my growing up, generic details and as well as a couple other side topics. There will be a day for that particular avenue, however for this 2nd post, it just didn’t feel right. I’m thankful I’m not the kind of person who believes in keeping everything basic. So it finally occurred to me that I should write about follow-through. What a better topic to discuss right now.

I’m not sure about anyone else, but do you feel like follow-through has gotten lost? So many of us talk about our aspirations and plans for the future. I’m not against processing those aspirations and ideas, however I can’t help but wonder how many of us spend a good amount of time daydreaming about what we would like to do, where we would like to go, what we’re reaching for, only to not actually follow-through with it.

Call me old-fashioned and rigid, but I’d like to think of myself as the kind of person where if I say I’m going to do something or reach for a goal, I’m going to do everything I can to see it through. If you’re feeling uncomfortable at my pointing out lack of follow-through and then reading about how I’m a man of action, let me back-pedal and just disclaim that I’m NOT perfect at this and sometimes I drop the ball too. In fact, I’ve noticed with myself that I struggle more with getting to an appointment exactly on time. I somehow always seem to arrive at exactly the time I’m supposed to be somewhere or 5 minutes late. You might laugh and think that’s petty, but it genuinely bothers me. I don’t like making promises no matter how big or small they that I can’t keep and I certainly don’t like being late.

I’m saying all of this because I feel like we like in this day and age, we have somewhat lost the art of timely follow-through on pretty much everything. I find it quite ironic because all this modern technology we have at our disposal like phones with calendars, reminders and alarm clocks. These things are actually supposed to perfect our ability to multi-task and be on ball. Yet to no seemingly no avail. It’s as if being a person of their word and punctuality has become an archaic idea. I personally blame it on a couple different factors: First, I’m seeing a growing pattern of our culture’s addiction to busyness. We have this idea that we can logjam every second of our day and then take a figurative sweep and accomplish everything we had scheduled. But things happen that aren’t in our plans and it throws everything off. Second, I also see a growing lack of intentionality in our everyday lives. We go through life in motions and mindless routines without any real thought and honest heart into our tasks, relationships and work. It’s as if we have settled for the motion and redundancy, only to leave the purpose and vision by the waist-side. Where’s the fulfillment in that? I’m sorry. Maybe that is good enough for most people. But for me, that’s not enough. I want everything I’m doing to be purposeful. And I personally believe that if people actually knew their purpose, they wouldn’t be so quick to settle so much.

At some point, we have to we have to stop and honestly ask ourselves this question: What if we paused for a moment, thought about the vision behind our plans, systems and work ethics? I honestly wish I could finish all my thoughts on this blog but there are so many details and points that I find it much more proper to divide The Lost Art of Follow-Through into multiple parts. I hope this has nudged you to reflect on your own commitments and even your lack thereof. Sometimes there are legitimate life circumstances that stunt our ability to follow-through on our intentions. Sometimes its our own selves that are just getting in the way. Whether it be specific business plan, simple follow-up email with that good connection we met at last night’s networking event, or just personal life goals, we can all get better at follow-through. 

Much love,

Joe Gardonis

PS Stay Tuned for Part 2

WHY NOT? A DEBUT INTO A NEW REALM

What does it look like to make the most of my life? 

What does it look like to just be?

Who am I?

It may seem overly cliche to start anything worth while off with some of the deepest questions life has to offer. But the truth is that we all have these thoughts in the backs of our minds, whether we’ve consciously or subconsciously minded it. So Why Not?

HELLO WORLD! I’ve officially entered the blogging realm. Aside from wanting to throw out some deep Q’s that have probably already got you in a trance of thought, there is a method to the madness so to speak, which should you continue to take this journey with me, you will begin to see more.

I say “take this journey with me” because this new adventure for me with blogging and how I got here is my journey too. For a while I had the idea of starting a blog come to me a couple years ago. At the time, I didn’t want it to become something that I did maybe once or twice and never thought about it again. If there’s one thing you should know about me is that I’m a very committed person to anything that I put my hand too. I’m very loyal to people and things I’m involved with (sometimes to a fault). I’m all in or not at all. So if I didn’t believe I could commit to blogging, I didn’t want any parts of it. 

However, looking back on the difference between then and now, I’ve come to see that it just wasn’t the time to begin this part of my journey. What changed for me was when I began to realize that I wanted to show everyone more insight into the main categories: Who I am. What I do (my expertise, living, careers, whatever you want to call it), what I’ve learned along the way thru the highs and lows, struggles, valleys and mountain tops, and how you or someone you know who can apply it to their life. While I like to pray, plan and think through this process or any process for that matter, I want to keep this as real and authentic as I possibly can.

With all this being said, you will get to see and know sides of me you either didn’t realize as much or didn’t know at all, step into my life, hear details about my story about how I got to where I am now that you probably never knew before. I do want to put a disclaimer about my faith specifically. I encourage you that even if you are not a believer in God, Jesus or anything for that matter, please don’t let my here-and-there “religious” terms and names push you away. We are in such a special time to be alive thru this digital age where literally we are able to communicate and share everything more easily and honestly than ever before. And because of that, aside from wanting to keep things real and authentic, I encourage you do just hear my story and the principles that come from what I’ve learned that I believe literally ANYONE can apply to their own situation, circumstance or crisis. I believe what I will share will especially helpful for anyone who is dissatisfied with their career, job, purpose etc and wants to do something to change it yet maybe isn’t sure how to go about that. 

I like to keep things real and genuine, so if you would prefer something very surface-level, superficial and manufactured, I suggest that this may not be for you. But I ask if you’re truly open-minded and/or you’re someone who loves sincereness, then I say, “Come along with me”. Don’t expect perfection, but expect my very best as this is a new endeavor for me. The first 3 questions I started this blog post off with are basically the backbone of the themes that will empower my blog. There will be practical elements, along with mental, emotional and spiritual themes. The bottom line is that you will get to know me better than before as a result of this starting of a debut into a new realm.

- PS I desire that this blog keeps a good measure of interactivity from you all, my followers on social media and in business. Therefore I strongly encourage comments and feedback (positive and constructive criticism). I have so much to share and with your input on what you want from me, I don’t think I’m wrong when I say that I can assure you that there won’t be any shortage of things to talk about. Thank you all for taking the time to read this. Be sure to stay tuned for my next blog post. Stay Curious ;) 

Much love 

Joe Gardonis