Luke Tonge studied graphic design at Falmouth University in Cornwall, England. He completed his studies in 2007, and he assumed he would find a good position immediately, but it didn’t happen that way. Even though he had written many letters of inquiry to design agencies, it wasn’t until a coworker at his hopefully temporary job at Woolworth’s offered to help him. She said her ex-husband was in graphic design and she could ask him to give special consideration to Luke’s CV at his agency. This kindness led to Luke’s first position as a graphic designer. Networking does pay off!

 

Luke was enthusiastic as he took on his first professional graphic design job. The agency was somewhat overwhelming as it was large and Luke was assigned many tasks which, as a neophyte, he had not expected to encounter. But the exposure to the firm’s many artistic endeavors gave him varied experiences that helped him narrow and refine his true design interests. It was in this way that he found he retained his youthful desire to work with poster and magazine design.

 

In order to do that sort of work, Luke began seeking side gigs. After three years or so of balancing his agency position with his outside work, Luke was ready to pivot. Not yet ready to go out on his own, he decided to change jobs. Not only did he move from one employer to another, but he also changed his bachelor status to that of married man. In doing so, he relocated to Birmingham. He was hired by another large agency which was similar in many ways to his previous firm. He continued though to expand his personal portfolio and his favorable reputation. His side work had also become more lucrative. But now the longer Luke stayed with the agency business, the more he realized his desire to work independently. Sometime during his seventh year at the Birmingham firm he determined the time had come to strike out on his own. Ten years at two large design agencies gave him the confidence to know he was capable.

 

Fortuitously on his final day with the Birmingham agency, he was offered a part-time visiting position at Birmingham City University. Although he had planned well and felt he could manage financially in his own fledgling business, the teaching job would provide a steady income stream to count on regularly. This reassurance prompted him to accept the offered position, though the idea of the act of teaching was daunting to him.

 

What followed was surprisingly fulfilling. After his initial tentative efforts, Luke found he enjoyed the type of interactions he had with students and faculty at Birmingham City University. He discovered teaching and consulting there to be rewarding. His new, independent freelance business was doing well too. His days were full, but now a third appealing opportunity presented itself. He became part of a team promoting, directing and encouraging art and cultural events in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. This work tied in readily with his professional projects as well as his educational duties at Birmingham City University.

 

How does he manage these three demanding facets to his career? He says it’s a constant balancing act, and he shares with Amy some of the habits needed to keep everything running smoothly. He describes himself as a “funlancer” rather than a “freelancer”. He believes that if you are following your passion, you will experience joy in your work. He is glad to share his thoughts on this with groups and individuals, and consequently Luke is often sought out as a speaker. He shares some of his career advice with Amy today, and you will want to listen to his story for some good tips if you’re considering freelancing yourself.

 

Topics in this episode:

• How networking proves vital and why you must “put yourself out there”
• How to build a case to yourself for a pivot out on your own
• Don’t disqualify yourself if asked if you are able do something
• How you can establish balance and boundaries
• Honing organizational skills and time management tips is essential
• How to prepare to take on work you may not want or like to do in order to advance
• How to plan your freelance work in order to maximize success
• Plan, think, and plan some more

Links:

• luketonge.com
• Luke Tonge | LinkedIn
• @luketonge on all social platforms