Elevating the profession
Follow these guidelines in order to elevate your career and the profession as a whole.

Be a professional. Clownish attitudes, clothes and hair was cool in art school, but not any more. Circus freaks are relegated to the sideshow, never center ring. You may be a creative but you have to deal with the business world and they sign the checks.

Value your work or no one else will.

Work towards being valued as a Strategic Business Partner, not just a pair of hands.

Keep your rates in check with the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines.

Don't work on spec. Have you ever gone to another professional such as a dentist, lawyer, accountant or doctor and said, "Go ahead and do the work. I have 4 other firms working on this problem. If I like your work I will pay you."? I didn't think so, you shouldn't be expected to work this way either. Establish a business agreement or Creative Brief before beginning work and expect to get payed.

If you are doing work for a charity or cause that you believe in, pro bono work is acceptable.