The mindset killing your creativity and your jobs is simple: designing like a technician instead of a designer. Too many guys hold back, skip the peak, avoid the island, and limit the portrait because they’re already worried about ladders, sidewalks, or wire runs. That thinking kills creativity and costs you work.

I break down why you need to switch hats and collect all the photos and site info during the walkthrough, then shut off the tech brain and go full designer. Sell the illumination portrait first. Figure out the install after you’ve been paid to do it. That’s how you push boundaries, close more work, and give clients the projects they deserve.

If you want to separate yourself from the “side hustlers” and the cookie-cutter lighting guys, this is the shift you need to make. Stop wasting time planning wire runs for jobs you haven’t even closed. Start thinking like a true designer, pitching the portrait your client deserves, and then let the install brain kick in once the deal is signed. That’s how you get better projects, happier clients, and a business that actually grows.

Lights. Legacy. Living. Captain’s Crew. Sink or Swim.

Ready to join Captain’s Crew?

🔹 Apply to work with Captain Matt or hire him for elite outdoor lighting design: https://www.captainmattoutdoors.com/

🔹 Explore design + install services at Barefoot Lighting: https://barefootlighting.com/

🔹 Join the movement at The Lighting Trade School: https://lightingtradeschool.com/