by Muhammad Ibrahim, Founder and Creative Director of Creasions
Being an entrepreneur is like jumping into a vast ocean — exciting and full of possibilities, but also a bit daunting. My journey from an individual creator on Upwork to the creation of Creasions, an agency based in Texas, has taught me that managing teams and serving clients is far from working by yourself. It’s a transformative process that requires more than just technical expertise but emotional intelligence as well as business acumen and the ability to motivate others.
The whole thing began with just a single Upwork profile. It’s true that I started as an independent contractor on Upwork and built my profile, establishing my name by delivering projects and gaining experience in communication with clients and managing projects. These early days provided me with the foundation I needed and as demands from clients increased, so did my desire to grow.
In this article I’ll be sharing my most beneficial lessons I’ve learned along this journey. If you’re a freelancer thinking about the next step or managing the team, I’m hoping these lessons can assist you with the obstacles and help you build a company that is successful.
Lesson 1: Trust is the Foundation of Everything.
When you are a freelancer, clients choose you by your portfolio and ability to meet their expectations. However, as a founder trust goes beyond personal reassurance. Your team needs to believe in you for providing an unambiguous direction, support as well as fair and equal opportunities. Your clients need to trust that your agency, regardless of which team member is involved in the project — will deliver the same quality.
I have learned that trust can only be built by creating expectations early and proactively communicating. Regular check-ins with the team, clear timelines for projects, and an environment of honesty create an enduring base. Once trust is built, the creativity can flourish.
Lesson 2: Leadership Means Letting Go (Sometimes).
One of the most difficult transitions from freelancer to founder is learning how to delegate. As freelancers, you’re the marketer, designer, writer as well as a project manager combined into one. You’re in charge of every pixel and word.
As a founder, having to manage everything could hinder your growth as well as the potential of your team. I needed to adopt the notion that leadership isn’t about doing everything, but about helping others achieve their goals. The power of delegation lets you focus upon strategy and goals while allowing your team to think differently and be a part of the solution.
Lesson 3: Culture Starts with You.
It’s not just about amusement or team-building activities. This is the thread that invisibly connects your team. As an entrepreneur your beliefs, values, communication style, and attitude determine the foundation for your team’s culture.
I realized that creating positive environments starts with setting the example by creating an environment that encourages open discussion, celebrating successes (big or small) and establishing an open and safe environment to give feedback. A solid culture encourages loyalty and helps your team face difficulties together.
Lesson 4: Clients Are Partners, Not Just Projects.
As freelancers, you could treat each client as only a one-off job; however, when you work for an agency, relationships that last are crucial to the longevity of your company. The most productive customer relationships I’ve experienced are ones where the clients feel like they are true collaborators in the creative process.
Participating in brainstorming sessions with clients and sharing their progress publicly and working together on goals does not just build trust, but also results in better results. If a client feels valued and listened to, they have a higher likelihood to stay and will recommend your company to friends and colleagues.
Lesson 5: Learning Never Stops.
The work of running an agency involves being a project manager salesperson, mentor, budget planner and even a cheerleader. I soon realized that my success as founders is tied to my desire to continue learning.
The time I spent reading as well as attending webinars and social media made me develop skills I didn’t realize I required. Also the opportunity to learn from my team members proved to be important. Listening to their perspectives and experiences helped us improve our processes and encouraged creativity.
Lesson 6: Structure Without Stifling Creativity.
One of the common misconceptions concerning creative agencies has been that having too many rules can kill creativity. However, I discovered the reverse to be the case, that structure allows creativity to flourish. The clear workflows, the system for managing projects, and realistic deadlines will give your team the trust and freedom to focus on the work that is important.
I used collaborative tools such as Design review meetings and boards for projects, which let everyone stay on the same page without having to constantly micromanage. The result? More innovation and better results for our customers.
Moving from a simple Upwork profile to the founder of an organization is a path full of growth, challenges as well as incredible benefits. The process is more than just a matter of titles. It’s about transforming into a person who inspires others, builds trust and influences the future of the creative industry.
For those who are on this path, take the lessons learned. Keep learning, be flexible, and keep in mind that the best change happens when you go outside of your comfortable zone.
Muhammad Ibrahim is the Founder and Creative Director of Creasions which is a Texas-based digital agency that specializes in branding, web design, and marketing. With more than 17 years experience in the field, Muhammad has helped numerous established and emerging businesses to improve their online presence as well as achieve their goals in marketing. He is enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge on the business of entrepreneurship, design thinking and efficiency.