About Mike

Simply put, I enjoy helping people achieve more with their business.

Everything I do – from design and consulting to speaking and writing – has that “helping people” thread running through it.

Obviously, as a business I need to charge for my services and experience just as you do.

But if you’ve done any research on me, you’ll know that I’m big on the concept of sharing ideas freely through my blog, podcast and other channels, whether you hire me or not.

The testimonials that design, consulting and speaking clients have freely offered also speak to my goal of creating a solid partnership with the people I work with.

I’m a big believer in “the right fit” with clients. Like me, you’ve probably dealt with very capable people who can do the job, but are such a pain personality-wise, you can’t stand dealing with them.

That’s why I’m most proud of the testimonials that mention how easy I am to work with. Life is just too short to work with people who are a pain in the rear, no matter how talented they are.

So here’s what you get when you work with me:

1. I’m easy to contact. My name, phone number and address are at the bottom every page. My Contact page includes my e-mail address.

2. I answer my e-mail. If you don’t hear from me within a day, my response either fell into your spam folder or didn’t get through at all. That’s rare, but it happens. Don’t feel guilty sending me another note if you think your first one didn’t get through. The direct marketing world, in particular, is usually on a fast schedule, so let’s not wait around if immediate contact is important.

3. I answer my own phone. Frankly, most clients and potential clients prefer to e-mail me, but the phone is right here next to my computer. If I’m not around, or on the phone with another client, you can leave a voice message and I’ll return the call, usually within 24 hours during the week if not the same day.

4. When you hire me as a designer or consultant, you’re working directly with me. I don’t outsource projects to other designers so that I can take on more projects. I’m a solo operation and like to personally handle client projects from beginning to end. If your project requires a skill I don’t have or is too large for one person to handle, I’ll be upfront about it. From there, I may be able to find someone to assist, or you may have someone else in mind. Whatever the solution is, we deal with it honestly and above-board.

5. I charge by the project, not by the hour. That means there are no surprises when you get the final bill. Obviously, project scope can change because of unforeseen circumstances. If that happens, we discuss how that might affect the billing. But again, it’s something that won’t surprise you when you see that final invoice.

6. I don’t disappear during projects. Ever worked with a freelancer whom you couldn’t get a hold of for a number of days in the middle of a project only to find out he or she took a vacation without letting you know? Believe me, it happens. Like anyone else, I do take vacations. But if they’re going to occur in the middle of long projects, my clients know ahead of time.

7. I’m not a Prima Donna. I’ll chalk this up to a being raised by good parents and spending my early working years in a small town where everyone knew each other. There are things I know that you probably don’t. But the reverse is also true. So there’s no point in anyone thinking they’re better than anyone else.

My goal here is to focus on some on the personality and “behind-the-scenes” business stuff that is likely just as important to you as my skill-set.

“So what’s next?“, you may be asking.

If the characteristics above are important to you – in addition to skills I bring as a designer, consultant and speaker – it’s worth your time to contact me. I offer a free project consultation by phone so we can talk about your needs. No pressure. No heavy-handed sales techniques. That’s not needed because after our conversation we’ll both have a pretty good idea whether or not we’re a good fit for each other.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I look forward to hearing from you.