Looking back, I know now that was never the case.

The Memo from the Desk

Before starting my business full time, I used to think there was some magic bullet that would put me over the edge. Course, videos, articles — I would consume them all looking for something that would make me better.

Something had to have been missing that was crucial to me launching my business and going full time.

Looking back, I know now that was never the case.

The truth is: there is no magic bullet that solves all your business problems and launches you into a successful business.

But there is hope, it's just not as instantaneous as we want it to be.

My wife recently started a diet and exercise program, and something the coach said on her videos really struck me:

“We strive for 1% better every day”.

That's right, 1% better. Every. Day.

It's not instant gratification. It's not a magic bullet. But it IS progress.

Little did I know that is what I was doing when I was searching for my magic bullet. I was learning and progressing to the person I am now. It just took time.

Here are some ways to get 1% better everyday:

• Maker Division Community.There's something special about a community full of individual's with a similar goal. I learn everyday from the collective experiences of our amazing members. We're all at different points in our journey, we can guide those who are at the earlier stages.
• Courses & Videos.When I first started freelancing, I charged $50 for a logo. I had no idea what I was doing. I saw a noticeable change in my abilities after taking courses, many of which put on by the one and only Ben Burns. We have a special branding related course dropping soon, keep reading for details.
• Books.There are some books that I still reference on a day to day basis and when I was just starting out I read a lot of books. Some of my favorites include Designing Brand Identity by Aline Wheeler and the EMyth Revisited by Michael Gerber.

If you would like to hone your skills in branding, stay tuned for a very special launch coming soon to Maker Division. This will be open to the public, but members are getting first dibs on April 15th,so why join us?

We hope to see you there! And remember, we strive for 1% better everyday. So start today.

Cheers,

Zach Ebert,

Maker Division Community Manager

Designing brand identity

On the Bookshelf

Alina Wheeler's Designing Brand Identity is one of the best resources for a brand identity designer. I find myself going back to this on a regular basis.

Get Your Copy

Wizard of barge

Artist We Love

Meme's plus wizard core equals an all around good time. I get old school DND vibes from Dakota Cates work and love every second of it.

CHECK OUT the instagram

Japanese jazz when driving on a warm night

Now Playing

Not a specific song but a playlist of jazz that you play…well…when you're driving on a warm night. When else?

GIVE it A LISTEN

We're thrilled to celebrate Suzanna Bunch and her breakthrough moment that perfectly shows the power of building genuine relationships and having the courage to try something new.

Suzanna landed a $3,000 facilitation project with an existing client who was expanding their business. The magic happened through her Power 150 network — a referral came from someone on her list who recognized her expertise and made the connection. But here's what makes Suzanna's approach so powerful: she was completely transparent with her client, letting them know this would be her first time applying what she'd learned in this particular area.

When the client asked her to take on this new type of work, Suzanna could have played it safe and said no. Instead, she leaned into honesty, explaining that while this was uncharted territory for her, she had the knowledge and was excited to apply it. Her authenticity didn't scare the client away — it built trust.

The result? A successful project delivered with confidence, and a client who appreciated her transparency from day one. Suzanna's key insight: "The honesty I bring forward has been beneficial for me."

Using Maker Division's Power 150 strategy and drawing courage from the weekly coaching calls, Suzanna went from feeling overwhelmed to confidently saying "I've got this!" Her approach of intro pricing for new services while being upfront about the learning curve shows exactly the kind of sustainable, relationship-first business building we love to see.

That's the confident, authentic business approach that creates lasting success. Way to go, Suzanna! 🚀

Division Win

Suzanna Bunch

“This client came through a referral from someone in my Power 150 list, which shows how powerful that network-building strategy really is. I was completely transparent with them that this would be my first time applying what I'd learned in this area, and I think that honesty has actually been beneficial for me. The coaching calls have been the most helpful tool — it's been the regular attendance that's motivated me to try new things and given me the courage to just say yes! I remember that long call before the 4th of July when I was feeling overwhelmed — it took me from panic to 'oh, I've got this!' Even though this was intro pricing at $3K because my clients knew they were my guinea pigs, I feel good about it. If this becomes a regular service, I'll definitely be making adjustments to my pricing.”