Division wins

I got a client from the community job board worth $3,000... I love the coaching I am receiving and I love that there is a structured programme to put the chaos of running a creative business in order. It finally feels like I'm on the right track.

When a member inquired about needing a Webflow developer, I was referred by Ben and Stephanie … within the first week I booked 2 more projects with him and now I have entered into a long term relationship with his design studio … My website got featured in the newsletter by Ran Segall, and I got enquiries based on the personal projects I put on my website. The endorsement from Ben and Stephanie was a significant win in itself … through the community's modules and coaching calls, I have repeatedly learned how to convey my value beyond technical expertise and how to follow up with the intent to help and nurture the relationship.

Before joining, I realized I hadn’t invested much in my education since graduating from college. I was searching for a coach to guide me through my entrepreneurial journey, but I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. When I came across this, it felt like the perfect fit.Joining seemed like the next logical step. I wanted to connect with like-minded individuals, build a supportive community, and receive expert guidance as I navigated the challenges of growing my career. It’s been an exciting opportunity to invest in myself and my goals. Working on bettering my work quality, portfolio, website and capability deck have really helped. Having community, being able to ask questions, or in one word - having support! is gold.

I am just starting, and it helps me build my foundation. It was clearly explained, practical, and full of real-life examples. The structure was logical and easy to follow, which made the concepts easy to understand and remember.

The project kicked off with a pro-bono landing page redesign … they hit me with, "Hey, can you also create detailed case studies for our client acquisition funnel?" I took a breath, reminded myself that exposure doesn't pay the bills, and said: "I'd love to help, but this would need to be a paid engagement." And guess what? No drama. They said yes. I used valuables like creating contracts to honor the agreement and not let deliverables to creep in from outside.

Over the last few months, I've had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with an Maker Division member named Saral. Some time ago, I was deciding whether to teach myself Webflow so I could add web design to my list of branding services. I asked the Division group for advice and Saral reached out and offered an absolutely stellar response.It was at that point, I decided I should not become a Webflow developer, because I was never going to be able to have the focus, care, and talent of someone like Saral. But I could still charge for web services, and simply hire out the development, bringing in expertise and providing my clients with the best. So I immediately reached out to Saral and started an incredible working relationship on a few projects. Check out this site here. It was through this process I realized the value of someone freely sharing their expertise with others. He wasn’t trying to convince me to hire him. On the contrary he was trying to help me do it on my own. But in displaying his knowledge it led to a display of trust which ultimately led to what I hope is a long working relationship. The Division program is filled with countless individuals that are always encouraging and lifting each other up. Sometimes they become wind in your sails, offering advice to help you take that next step as an entrepreneur… and sometimes, they can become the sails themselves, joining alongside as a collaborator in the work self. Ben and Stephanie are always pushing us to understand our strengths and double down on what we do best. And the beautiful thing about this group is that it’s an enormous talent pool of creatives that are like-minded, skilled, and diverse, offering just about every creative service imaginable... Through this collaboration I’ve closed $44k worth of web deals. I L Y S M

I booked a client off a referral from someone I did a free discovery call/website audit for (expecting nothing to come from it, I just wanted to help them out). The power of serving others! The Division program gave me the knowledge and confidence to reach out to the initial person, whom I saw could benefit from my insight. I landed a $2,250 project, a big win given that this was my 4th ever client! The Division team and community is the greatest thing since (and including) sliced bread. I would name my firstborn Accel if I could.

Having the guidance, the direction, and on my part committing to the work, allowed me to find my joy! The case studies were challenging, but having Ben and Stephanie, I felt accountable to make sure I completed the work. I felt my work has grown, and a lot of it was because of the Division program... Maker Division has provided me clarity, that I was able to walk away from jobs that didn't fit my joy. I was able to focus more on my craft and the area that I wanted to work in. For me, the best part was the structure of the program. I felt like I had better direction. It does take a lot of thought and effort to do the homework right. But it helps get important aspects of your business together.Ben and Stephanie are great, and the community is awesome. We share a lot of the same struggles and experiences, which helps the journey be that much more meaningful.

I have invested in other coaching and communities, but I vibe best with this group. I've made leaps that I haven't been able to manage in my 20+ years as a designer... Maker Division is a hidden gem. This training is imperative to anyone targeting a creative career, whether they are seeking employment or building a business. It's priceless!

It all started with a free project I did for my Vietnamese community in Helsinki … One of the musicians referred me to shooting for a company headshot … I made 3,200 euros in revenue, and minus the cost that'd be 2,800 in profit. The first thing I did after I got the client email was to ask Stephanie and Ben during a coaching call … I was thinking of charging around 1,000-1,500 euros for the shoot, but after the call, I recalculated my work's value and time, and finally arrived at 3,200 euros.

Helped me streamline my process, go deeper in my work, and better underdtand the value I offer. A true deep dive into process, it was incredibly insightful

I completed the Capabilities Deck from module 3, and used it to pitch to publishers who focus on nature-related titles. From my first week of pitching, a publisher got back to me with a project illustrating a series of nature books! It is a $18k job, the biggest illustration project I've ever received. They have more books planned in the series, and I hope I do a good job with the first 3 so I can keep working on them! From the nitty gritty of creating a capabilities deck, to doing dream client research, to crafting an email that sounds authentic, Maker Division provided the structure and knowledge I needed to build a solid foundation for my business. I've joined many online courses and memberships throughout the years. Maker Division is by far the most effective one that got me taking actions and helped me with the right mindset. The connections I've made in the community are priceless, and the quality of courses is top-notch. I plan on coming back to the materials over and over again.

Since joining I am so much more confident positioning myself as a business and not just someone who does design and photography … Also my biggest project ever happened! A 10k website project, and I am able to collaborate with someone from the group on it. This is something that probably would have taken me years to ever quote that high. The course materials themselves are extremely beneficial, but the group aspect is really what makes this program stand out. The group is super active and helpful to gain insights, feedback, and is very motivating. I joined because I wanted to feel more confident pricing my work and communicating with clients. Basically I have very little clue how to act like a business. Love it! I talk people’s ear off about it lol

I completed the Capabilities Deck from module 3, and used it to pitch to publishers who focus on nature-related titles. From my first week of pitching, a publisher got back to me with a project illustrating a series of nature books … It is an $18k job, the biggest illustration project I've ever received. Everything! From the nitty gritty of creating a capabilities deck, to doing dream client research, to crafting an email that sounds authentic, Maker Division provided the structure and knowledge I needed to build a solid foundation for my business. I've joined many online courses and memberships throughout the years. Maker Division is by far the most effective one that got me taking actions and helped me with the right mindset … I plan on coming back to the materials over and over again.

The workshop helped me get unstuck in developing my personal brand, realizing that I can absolutely make things for the fun of it and that can lead to attracting the right opportunities … A golden moment was when I arrived at my catchphrase: "Finding the perfect moment of play." I loved the group activities in break-out rooms. It was so great to connect with other creatives who were trying to figure out the same things as me … I felt like we all walked away learning something about ourselves, and each other.