10 ways running a business is like being a parent

Image by Jason Varney

As someone who has parented two amazing kids (now grown-ups), I’ve experienced many parental challenges and learned a lot of lessons along the way. Haven’t we all?

Over the years, and after consulting with hundreds of creative firms, I had a big 'aha' moment. To put it simply: parenting and running a creative firm are one and the same, or are at least, closely related. 

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A brutally honest consultant, Emily Cohen has been honoured to consult and work with many leading design firms. Through these experiences, she has developed, tested, and curated key business insights and strategies that have helped firms become more effective, profitable, and fun to work at. Emily conducts strategic business planning retreats and provides confidential, best-practice insights and advice on staff, client, and process-management strategies. She loves sharing her expertise through speaking engagements, guest posts, her Skillshare class, webinars, industry activism, and, most recently, in her new book: Brutally Honest, No-bullshit business strategies to evolve your creative business. She is also fast-talker, a designer by degree, an avid reader, a trend-spotter, a connector, and her clients’ advocate.