Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1254: Become a MASTER OF YOUR CRAFT and authority figure in your industry (and achieve 40+ years of relevance and success!) w/ David Drucker
Tired of hearing that your industry is "dead"? In this episode, David Drucker, a 42-year veteran of the printing world, proves that mastery and innovation can make any craft thrive. He shares his incredible journey of starting a business at 23 with no experience, navigating three major economic crises, and reinventing himself from a local shop to a global influencer. David explains why your clients "don't know what they don't know" and how educating them is your biggest sales advantage. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, craftsmanship, and the entrepreneurial courage required to dig in when quitting seems like the easiest option.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- How to turn your expertise into your greatest sales tool by educating clients on what's possible.
- The strategy for expanding from a local client base to a national and worldwide audience using LinkedIn.
- How to showcase high-quality, tangible products in a virtual world by digitizing your portfolio.
- Why "the grass is greener where you water it" and how to find motivation when you feel like quitting.
- How to reinvent your business and find new opportunities during major economic downturns.
- The importance of becoming an influencer in your industry to attract new clients and elevate your craft.
📝 About David Drucker
David Drucker is the CEO of High Resolution Printing, a print consultancy and production management firm with bicoastal clients. With over 40 years of deep technical experience, David partners with creative executives and brand managers to enhance printing, packaging, and signage productions at a strategic level. He started his company in 1983 in Manhattan with no prior business or printing experience, learning the trade by visiting local printers and pushing the boundaries of what was possible. After the pandemic, he transformed his business by leveraging LinkedIn to showcase his work, expanding his reach globally and establishing himself as a thought leader through articles, webinars, and his own podcast.
🎯 David’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Number one, is definitely become an influencer at your profession. Try to get that information out, educate the younger people that are coming up, be open and free to share information. There are no secrets anymore. Industry is not going to survive if we don't give out that information."
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “Our clients don't know what they don't know.”
- "As an entrepreneur, as a solopreneur, you have to consistently evolve, you have to consistently educate yourself.”
- “If you get into a slump, then dig into what you want to do, show and preach what you want to do. And you know, if you throw enough spaghetti on the wall, it'll stick.”
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- Digitize Your Portfolio: If your work is tangible, take high-quality images and create a digital portfolio to share during virtual presentations, allowing prospects to see the quality of your work.
- Educate Your Audience: Take every opportunity to teach prospects and clients about the nuances of your industry. This builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
- Reframe a Slump as a Challenge: When facing a downturn, analyze your past successes and look for new niche markets or networking groups that align with your best work.
🔗 Links & Resources