A dead December predicts nothing; January comes back. Work on the business.
December’s always been a weird month.
When I was running my design studio full time, I found it was hit or miss.
Some years, December would be a break-neck, screaming sprint into the new year with clients going absolutely crazy to spend their budgets by year-end.
If this is you… If you find yourself slammed, with dread deadlines breathing down your neck and the holidays feel more like punishment… here’s your reminder to take a moment for gratitude. You won't be busy like this every December, in the best of ways (and the worst).
Because I remember other Decembers being absolutely dead.
The crazy thing is that there was rarely a correlation between December’s numbers and how we performed that year (or the next year, for that matter).
It felt unpredictable - and if I had a dead December, that unpredictability left me feeling a bit uneasy about the months ahead… especially when I was brand new to entrepreneurship.
But as the years passed, that uneasy feeling did too. Because inevitably, January always kicked off strong. I began to appreciate a slow December. It started to feel more like a reward than a crisis.
So if you’re slow this month, just remember: The new year is right around the corner. Clients will come back from their vacations with refreshed energy and renewed budgets. The phone will ring (and inboxes will ding) again.
It’s gonna be OK. I promise.
Instead of feeling uneasy about a slow month, let's reframe it. Let’s consider this time a gift. It's time we can spend on our business, instead of in it. Let’s get that case study finished. Make those changes on the website. Start gathering new emails. Get your books in order.
Or… you could learn something new.
And if you're looking to learn something that will help your studio grow, I’d like to offer you a gift. It’s a workshop I wish I had back in the early days of my studio called… The First Call Formula.
I don't know about you, but I used to hate sales calls. I’d do hours of research on the client beforehand, and obsess about saying the right things at the right time. I felt like I needed to impress (to perform for) the person on the other end of the phone.
The First Call Formula covers how I now run my discovery sales calls. It’s a light, question-based format that doesn't feel awkward, slimy, or high-pressure. It's the perfect sales call blueprint for creatives who don’t want to become salespeople. It works. And it's yours, absolutely free.
👉 Access the First Call Formula
However your December turns out, I hope you end 2025 feeling refreshed, confident, and armed for the year ahead.
See you soon,
Ben Burns
Co-Founder, Maker Division
P.S.Starting Jan 1, Maker Division membership dues will increase to $149/mo. Join now and lock in the current rate ($99/mo).
P.p.s. Congrats to the winners of the Designer’s Dream Giveaway! This was an absolute blast to run - I’m thinking we might have a new Division tradition!
A new age in Woodworking
The Watchlist
I'm an enthusiast woodworker (love working with my hands), and my buddy Nick Pedulla broke my brain with this build video. It's incredibly inspiring to watch a master of their craft at work.
Jaclyn Caris
Artist We Love
Jacklyn was one of our two portfolio picks for the recent Designer's Dream Giveaway. Her style is full of vibrant colors and whimsy - it's a breath of fresh air on my feed. Go show her some love:
“I’m Fine” by A30 / Dan Andriano
On Repeat
There’s something magical about seeing an artist in their environment, playing a song they’ve played thousands of times. Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio plays “I’m Fine” solo: A rendition just for me… but I guess you can listen too:
RElated issues
I didn't have a portfolio
The good idea fairy… and other momentum murderers
Looking back, I know now that was never the case.
Build a creative business you love
Start with a side hustle. Grow into full-time freelance. Scale into a studio. Maker Division gives creatives the systems, feedback, and community to keep growing.
