'T-Shirts and Suits': Free eBook

Thanks to David Parrish for sending me a link to a free eBook copy of his book 'T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity' in interactive PDF format. You are free to copy it, distribute it and print it - provided you do not claim it as your own work, amend it, or sell it. It's also worth checking out the Tshirts and Suits Blog

Download free eBook - Tshirts and Suits (PDF, 1,976KB)

[PC - Right click and 'Save Target As' to copy to hard drive.]
[Mac - Hold down Ctrl and 'Download Linked File'.]

About the Book
T-Shirts and Suits' is a practical, useful handbook for creative entrepreneurs to refer to and find information, examples from other businesses, and practical tips about using powerful business ideas in a creative context.

The book condenses over twenty years' experience of working in the creative enterprises, combined with learning from clients and from business school.

Here's what it says on the back of the book:

Successful creative enterprises integrate creativity and business. T-Shirts and Suits offers an approach which brings together both creative passion and business best practice. Written in an engaging and jargon-free style, the book offers inspiration and appropriate advice for all those involved in running or setting up a creative business.

Marketing, intellectual property, finance, competition, leadership - and more - are included in this guide. Examples of best practice are illustrated in eleven 'Ideas in Action' sections featuring a range of creative businesses and organisations.

The eBook is made available for free distribution under a Creative Commons licence.

See full details of the copyright and licensing arrangements.

Copyright David Parrish and Merseyside ACME. Some Rights Reserved.

The ISBN of the eBook is 9780953825455

Small is Essential

I'm a fan of the products in the 37 Signal range due to their simplicity in managing projects and remote collaboration. An article in Time Magazine titled Small is Essential outlines how 37 Signals both practice and create what they preach. The best ideas are usually driven by need which is how they come up with their new product ideas and improvements:

"Unconventional organization is proving to be one of 37signals' biggest assets. The company creates programs that facilitate teamwork, and it ends up relying on the very same tools it builds. "We are growing in the same way a lot of our customers are, so we build products that we need to run our own business," Fried says. "We just build stuff we want to use. If we need it, they need it."

They also keep an active blog called Signal V Noise to outline a lot of their experiences and philosophies.

Successful freelance design tips

Some good tips for design freelancers such as:

"It’s important not to fall in love with one of your designs. It can be very easy to be wedded to an idea or a design and convince yourself of its brilliance, especially if you are working in isolation.

All feedback is good feedback. So ask anyone, your other half, the kids, the janitor, your opponent what they think. It may be you’ve spent ages perfecting the typography of a headline that’s spelt wrong!"

Here's a tip from me. Always read your proofs backwards.

The Dangers Of Working For A Living

Here's a great article on the Dangers of Working for a Living at LifeReboot:

"By choosing to work for myself, I am made responsible for my own fate.

Admittedly, it’s challenging to accept this responsibility. If I fail, then it will be my fault. Consequently, I don’t always feel safe, I occasionally become discouraged, and the difficult path I have chosen often intimidates me.

By the same token, fear can be a powerful motivator. Since I don’t want to face that feeling of self-induced failure, I’m determined to succeed.

Being faced with a feeling of self-induced failure is probably the primary reason people are so anxious to work for someone else. What else could cause them to so willingly seek out jobs where they’re overworked, underpaid, and/or miserable?"

MsBehaviour on Kiwi FM

I've started a new regular Big Idea slot on Kiwi FM, chatting to Wammo every fortnight about the MsBehaviour Files. Catch me live at 4.10 p.m. on the Kiwi.

Meet Miss Candy Phloss

My favourite Kiwi club kitten and a new member of the TMet Crew, has recently been featured in an article by Gay NZ titled: 'Meet Miss Candy Phloss'

"With their fluffy fluorescent wigs and wondrous costumes, the lively 22-year-old Aucklander and her friends are a fabulous and extensively photographed addition to the Queen City’s nightlife. If you haven’t seen them, you’re not at the funkiest parties!"

For more pics and blogs from Phloss check out her MySpace page.

New! The MsBehaviour Files at The Big Idea: Mindmaps

I'm delighted to have started writing a new column this week, for Creative Kiwi Community The Big Idea. My first 'MsBehaviour File' explores using Mindmaps as one method of making sense of your 'Big Ideas'. Read The MsBehaviour Files: Mindmaps @ The Big Idea - the global home of New Zealand's creative communities.

For more MsBehaviour Files....