INspired INsider Podcast: Why You Need to Know Your Limitations with Tom Ross Founder of Design Cuts

Why You Need to Know Your Limitations with Tom Ross Founder of Design Cuts

Feb 21, 2019

Tom Ross is the founder and CEO of Design Cuts. He has built an audience of 400,000 designers and grew the business to multiple 7 figures with more than 16 full-time staff. He is also one of the hosts of The Honest Designers Show which is one of the most popular shows in the design community and host of The Honest Entrepreneur Show where he gives a candid look at the life of an entrepreneur.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[1:30] Jeremy introduces his guest, Tom Ross.
[3:15] Tom talks about the “Dark Side” of the entrepreneurial life.
[10:30] How did Tom turn things around for his health and his business?
[14:30] What did Tom learn from his father?
[19:00] How do you build highly engaged communities?
[21:00] What does it take to wow customers?
[24:00] Why branding and website design is so important.
[28:30] Tom talks about what they feature on Design Cuts.
[31:20] Who should be using Design Cuts?
[36:15] Creating value for your target audience.
[39:00] Tom talks about some of the clients that he has worked with.
[41:00] Common challenges in the design community.
[43:30] Tom explains why Pinterest is so popular with designers.
[45:15] What was it like dealing with health difficulties?
[47:20] Why it’s important to loosen up and have fun.
[49:00] Tom talks about some proud moments in his career.

In this episode…

Are entrepreneurs superhuman? That might sound like a crazy question, but the reality is, many entrepreneurs have bought the myth that you can work at a superhuman level without any negative consequences. On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business leader and innovator, Tom Ross. In his conversation with Jeremy, Tom opens up about the limitations of the “Hustle” mindset, what it was like hitting rock bottom, how he built a solid team, why it’s important to provide value to your audience, and much more. Don’t miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Tom’s story!

While entrepreneurs have always been known as the type to push boundaries and live on the cutting edge, there is a difference between that reality and burnout. Have you bumped up against that often hard to define, line? What do you do to keep yourself grounded and safe from burnout? In the early days of his business, Tom Ross saw all the positive results of his “hustle” mindset, but he ignored the negative aspects. Soon, Tom’s health was rapidly headed in the wrong direction, and he had no idea what to do. Thankfully, after an operation and a significant reevaluation of his personal and professional lifestyle, he was able to recover. Do you know your limitations?

What is the best way to connect with your target audience? Is it reasonable to expect them to flock to your website or follow you on social media? Do businesses and brands have a responsibility to engage and cultivate a relationship with their audience? According to Tom Ross, it all comes down to providing value. Tom saw support and enthusiasm for Design Cuts grow when he and his team focused on delivering value to their target audience. Instead of an attitude where they expected their customers to flock to them, Tom and his team sought out their audience and provided them with helpful resources. What will you do to stand out from the rest of the competition in your industry?

When was the last time you visited a businesses website and found yourself shocked at the lack of functionality and attractive aesthetics? Unfortunately, even in our uber, digitally-focused world, big organizations and businesses fail to understand the value of consistent branding. Tom Ross is passionate about making sure that Design Cuts and other projects he gets involved with, take the subject of branding seriously. In his mind, it is unacceptable for serious businesses to put zero effort into telling their story and connecting with the public in a meaningful way. Every business won’t have a polished and seamless brand as the likes of Apple, but the effort and energy can go a long way to show the public that they care.

Resources Mentioned on this episode

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