If you want to win as a techie.
First know that tech is hard.
Want better clients?
Stop building a portfolio for designers.
Build one for founders.
Founders don’t buy pretty screens.
They buy outcomes.
Attend events and spaces.
Be a Design leader not just a spectator.
Be Likeable, be fun, be easygoing.
Presentation matters a lot. You can have the best work but shows it in a boring way. Show it with motion. Spectacle.
Leverage Ai. I can’t stress this enough. Go for Cohorts.
@druids01 is hosting one. I highly recommend.
Show a lifestyle outside of tech. You’re human. You connect with people that way.
Lastly Work like a mad man. Work like your next meal depend on it. Challenges will come so be delusional. Have crazy faith. It will help you. Tech is hard.
If you want to fail as a designer:
Never talk to people.
Never post your work.
Keep using the same portfolio.
Blame AI.
Blame the algorithm.
Blame clients.
Just refresh your inbox every 5 minutes waiting for a $10k client.
Repeat.