I'm Burnt Out!

[Moonjumper]

Part of it may be that you are resenting the need to earn money from the graphic design, and so it cannot be purely about the joy of a task you enjoy. Add in that you don't get to work on only the days you want, and have the clients relying on you. But after doing it for so long, more things are familiar than new, the excitement of your early career is not the same now.

Perhaps you need to revel in the quality of your craft instead. Take satisfaction in a job well done.

And looks to baking for the joy of something new.

 

[ILikeTurtles]

I think what I really need to do is - open my window and jump! lol

 

[citizenzen]

I think what I really need to do is - open my window and jump! lol

Don't jump.

 

[Apple Key]

I think what I really need to do is - open my window and jump! lol

Yes, don't jump. Glad you put an lol at the end.

If that's really how you're feeling, I hate to say it, but it sounds like you need to quit your job. You may find yourself happier scraping by doing something you love. Of course this might be the most difficult decision of your life.

 

[Macman45]

Without a degree in finance, thats a tough transition.

err...Baking? I doubt a degree in finance would help...

 

[ECUpirate44]

err...Baking? I doubt a degree in finance would help...

You got me

 

[Consultant]

...Found a new passion in baking,...

so that's the plot for sequel of The Baker:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783234/

How about charging more. I find the more the client are willing to pay, the more professional clients you'll get. (You have to offer something that's worth it for them of course).

 

[Moonjumper]

I think what I really need to do is - open my window and jump! lol

I looked back at my last post and it does sound depressing. Sorry if that what makes you think of jumping.

What I was trying to say is take satisfaction from a job you do well, and pride from providing for a family with it. Get your kicks from the baking.

 

[madaspy]

I know how you feel. i've been doing motion design for the past 4 years and I love what i do, but i understand crazy clients. They drive me insane, especially when they constantly contradict them selves and then deny it.

I started to become jaded and I realized that my passion for video never died it was just dealing with the clients and the type of design I had to do. So I found that personal projects where the key. Basically it allowed me to be creative in a manner that i saw fit with out all the bureaucracy and watering down that comes with the service market.

So in your case you have baking. I am assuming that baking is what you do for fun, I bet it is enjoyable, i bet you feel how you felt when you started learning design.

So, all i can say is bake all the time, weekends, weekdays, after work all the time.

Just remember that with any client service, the client will all ways rule for better or worse.

 

[steveash]

I am in a similar position. I have turned to photography which is equally as risky. My advise would be to make the transition in slow stages. I am doing it over 12 months with milestones planned out along the way. I can't afford to give up my design business just yet but having a new purpose is making it much less stressful. As my photography work picks up I am starting to say no to the design projects that I don't want or that don't pay well enough.

I know that baking is a a tricky thing to do without giving it all your time but You could start off just doing Saturday mornings and then move into some mid-week mornings while doing some design work in the afternoons.

Invest what you can afford when you can afford it and avoid going into debt. Plan the new business well and use all your marketing knowledge to make it a success. From that perspective you have a massive advantage over other bakers.

 

[ILikeTurtles]

I'm not depressed - just fed up.

Can you believe I had to revise a simple web banner graphic (1024 x 100px) 6 times yesterday!!! 6 Times! And the dumb client couldn't tell me the exact dimensions of their banner space. I had to estimate the size by taking a screen cap of their website. So once she hands it over to her IT people to plug in the new graphic, they're going to come back and say, "it doesn't fit." Then I will have to revise it for the 7th time, once someone tells her the true size. This is the kind of insanity I'm talking about - and believe me - this example is on the smallest scale of insanity. I have more stories. I could write a book.

Don't get me started on the time, a few months ago, when I had to revise a sell sheet design 27 times!!!

 

[Apple Key]

I'm not depressed - just fed up.

Can you believe I had to revise a simple web banner graphic (1024 x 100px) 6 times yesterday!!! 6 Times! And the dumb client couldn't tell me the exact dimensions of their banner space. I had to estimate the size by taking a screen cap of their website. So once she hands it over to her IT people to plug in the new graphic, they're going to come back and say, "it doesn't fit." Then I will have to revise it for the 7th time, once someone tells her the true size. This is the kind of insanity I'm talking about - and believe me - this example is on the smallest scale of insanity. I have more stories. I could write a book.

Don't get me started on the time, a few months ago, when I had to revise a sell sheet design 27 times!!!

Wow. That does sound awful. 27 times?

You might be onto something with the book idea. I would read it.

 

[newwavedave]

I could write a book.

Believe me, I know the feeling. A year and a half ago, I dropped out of the graphic design business. I'm sick of ********s telling me how to design. Every now and then I do some work for my wife as she is my sugar momma. Now I work as a trainer at our favorite fruit store and I teach people how to use their fruit products.

 

[Marcus PM]

I've been doing graphic production and design for over 30 years. I feel very lucky to have found something I enjoy that can make a living at too.
I also enjoy baking.

 

[ILikeTurtles]

Believe me, I know the feeling. A year and a half ago, I dropped out of the graphic design business. I'm sick of ********s telling me how to design. Every now and then I do some work for my wife as she is my sugar momma. Now I work as a trainer at our favorite fruit store and I teach people how to use their fruit products.

OMG! This post made my morning! Thank you. LMFAO

 

[odinsride]

Either way, it takes a lot of dough.

lol'd

 

[sxdev]

If you have any extra assets use them with the baking to set you apart. Two I can think of:

Do a niche product:

If near international folks, embassies, or other cultural centers, do Marzipan. Damn thing costs me $24.95/lb at my local shop and sells well. Likely you or others you know can design cute ones.

Sell yourself as part of your business:

For example in a small Virginia town (Culpeper), a charming gay French guy showed up, set up a tiny stand in corner or a store selling expensive Chocolates. He called it the Frenchman's corner. He was fun to visit for the town folks. Now he has boutiques and is retired so don't even see him when you visit his shop.

Good luck!

 

[B. Hunter]

I've been doing graphic design for 19 years - and I'm burnt the (bleep) out.

So sick of dealing with frustrating clients. I feel like I could snap. I've lost my passion for what I do. Found a new passion in baking, but I have no idea how to make the transition from one career to another. I have a mortgage, car, and a life to pay for, so I can't just "quit my day job."

Not whining - just needed to vent to the interwebs.

May I suggest you explore the gluten free baking industry.
A lot of potential for a growing market.

And while you are at it, would you mind sharing your current client list.

 

[ILikeTurtles]

May I suggest you explore the gluten free baking industry.
A lot of potential for a growing market.

And while you are at it, would you mind sharing your current client list.

HAHA. My employer would sue me if I gave that to you.

 

[Jong Tong]

Maybe you should just start being brutally honest with clients and fire the frustrating ones and find new good ones

 

[ArztMac]

Starting a new bakery is a risky operation. The failure rate is above 50%.

Just curious, where is this data coming from?

 

[LaWally]

Just curious, where is this data coming from?

"According to statistics published by the Small Business Administration (SBA), seven out of ten new employer establishments survive at least two years and 51 percent survive at least five years. This is a far cry from the previous long-held belief that 50 percent of businesses fail in the first year and 95 percent fail within five years."

This also has some interesting info:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/01/small-business-successfailure-rates/

 

[ArztMac]

"According to statistics published by the Small Business Administration (SBA), seven out of ten new employer establishments survive at least two years and 51 percent survive at least five years. This is a far cry from the previous long-held belief that 50 percent of businesses fail in the first year and 95 percent fail within five years."

This also has some interesting info:

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2012/01/small-business-successfailure-rates/

Wow, interesting. Thanks a bunch!

 

[lucasgladding]

Have you tried changing your focus in the industry? Obviously there are many things you can do outside designing brochures and banners. I started teaching myself software development 7 years ago, and am now primarily a software and web developer. A developer who understands design is valuable, and I find that development exercises the creative juices better than graphic design does.

I know what you mean about frustrating clients, though honest conversations often resolves issues, temporarily in the worst case.

Finally, why not combine the two? Start a site about baking/recipes/etc and do that during your free time. Having your own project to work on does wonders for morale, and might help you make the move to baking full-time.

I'm sure they're things you have already considered, but sometimes getting up voted from someone else helps with decision-making.

Best of luck in wherever you go from here.

PS: Is it design that is frustrating you, or interacting with clients? If it's the latter, a career change probably won't help in the long run.

 

[designs216]

I feel your pain. I've been at it nearly as long as you and every boss has been clueless. In my experience, they pretty much view designers as software operators as opposed to the professional who helps them communicate/sell more effectively to customers. I've come to terms with the fact that the boss doesn't have to trust my judgement (though he's paid for it) and though it is detrimental to business.

These days I give my advice with a smile and don't wear any angst on my sleeve bearing in mind that this gig pays the mortgage. The thing for me that keeps my love of this business alive is freelance work. One works directly with clients without all the account weenies or layers of bureaucracy to water down your ideas. I can lower the rate for a project I really believe in or raise the rate when I sense deep pockets. If a potential client proposes a job that I don't want or I just don't like them, I can turn it down.

The other idea that occurs to me is this: How about working in a bakery part time to see what it's really like? This way you learn the business and if the grass is truly greener before you kiss your bread-and-butter (so to speak) goodbye? You'll earn a little money without burning bridges. Don't tell the proprietor what you're up to so he/she is more apt to teach you what may be trade secrets.

Whatever you decide, best of luck.