Honestly, most business books are just fluff wrapped in a glossy jacket. You know the ones. They promise a "revolution" but give you three hundred pages of a CEO bragging about their morning routine. Make Your Mark: The Creative's Guide to Building a Business with Impact is different. Published by 99u and edited by Jocelyn K. Glei, it’s basically a punch in the face for anyone who thinks "creative" means "disorganized."
It’s about the grind. It’s about the specific, often annoying mechanics of making an idea actually survive in the real world.
If you’ve ever felt like your best work is getting lost in the noise, you aren’t alone. Most people struggle with this. We live in an economy that eats "good ideas" for breakfast and asks for seconds. The Make Your Mark book doesn't try to teach you how to paint or code; it teaches you how to build a structure so your painting or your code can actually pay the rent and, maybe, change something.
The Myth of the Lone Genius
We love the story of the solitary artist. It’s a lie.
In reality, the creators who actually "make a mark" are the ones who understand systems. Scott Belsky, the founder of Behance and a heavy contributor to this volume, has spent years hammering home a single point: ideas are easy, execution is everything. When you dive into the chapters of this book, you realize it’s less of a textbook and more of a collection of hard-won wisdom from people like Seth Godin, Stefan Sagmeister, and Leo Babauta.
Success is messy. It’s non-linear.
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Most people get this wrong because they focus on the "what" instead of the "how." They think if the product is good enough, the business will just happen. Nope. Not even close. You need a purpose that goes beyond a paycheck, but you also need a workflow that doesn't leave you burnt out by Tuesday afternoon. The contributors here argue that your business model is just as much a creative project as your art.
Defining Your Purpose Without the Corporate Speak
One of the most refreshing things about the Make Your Mark book is how it handles the concept of "purpose." Usually, when a business book talks about "mission statements," I want to roll my eyes. It feels like something written by a committee in a windowless room.
But here, purpose is treated as a practical tool.
Take the insights from someone like Simon Sinek or the case studies mentioned throughout the text. They aren't talking about posters on a wall. They’re talking about "The Why." If you don’t know why you’re doing what you’re doing, you will quit when things get hard. And things always get hard.
It’s about intentionality.
Are you building a lifestyle business? A venture-backed startup? A non-profit? Your answer changes every single decision you make. The book forces you to stop and define these parameters before you get too far down the road. It’s better to realize you’re on the wrong path now than five years and fifty thousand dollars later.
Building a Brand That Isn't Fake
Branding isn't a logo. It’s a promise.
A huge chunk of the book focuses on how to communicate what you stand for without sounding like a marketing bot. In a world full of AI-generated junk, humans crave authenticity. They want to know there’s a person behind the screen.
- Be consistent.
- Tell the truth, even when it’s ugly.
- Don't try to appeal to everyone. If you’re for everybody, you’re for nobody.
Leading a Team When You’d Rather Just Work
Let’s be real: most creatives are terrible managers.
We want to do the work, not talk about the work. But as soon as your project grows beyond yourself, you’re a leader. You’re a manager. You’re the one responsible for the culture. The Make Your Mark book tackles this transition with a lot of nuance. It acknowledges that leading a team of "misfits" or high-level creatives requires a different playbook than leading a sales team at a Fortune 500 company.
You have to empower people.
You have to give them enough room to fail without letting the whole ship sink. It’s a delicate balance. The advice from experts like Keith Ferrazzi on building relationships is gold here. It’s about radical candor and deep empathy. You aren't just managing tasks; you’re managing egos, fears, and aspirations.
It’s exhausting. But it’s the only way to scale.
The Financial Reality Nobody Wants to Talk About
Money is a taboo subject in creative circles. We act like caring about margins and overhead makes us "sellouts."
That’s a dangerous mindset.
If your business isn't profitable, it’s a hobby. There’s nothing wrong with hobbies, but don't call it a business. The Make Your Mark book nudges you to look at your numbers. It encourages a healthy relationship with profit. Profit is what allows you to keep creating. It’s the fuel for your mission.
Without it, the mission dies.
Actionable Steps to Actually Make Your Mark
Reading is great, but doing is better. If you want to take the principles from this book and apply them to your life right now, don't try to change everything at once. You'll fail. Pick one area and obsess over it for a month.
Audit your "Why"
Sit down and write out why your business exists. If the only reason is "to make money," keep digging. What problem are you solving? Who are you helping? If you can’t answer this in one sentence, you haven't thought about it enough.
Fix your workflow
Creativity needs a container. Set specific hours for deep work. Turn off your notifications. Stop checking email every six minutes. You can't build something impactful if you're constantly distracted by the "urgent" at the expense of the "important."
Focus on "The Who"
Look at your team or your collaborators. Are they the right people for the next stage of your journey? Sometimes the people who helped you get started aren't the ones who can help you grow. It’s a hard truth, but it’s a truth nonetheless.
Simplify your message
Go to your website or your social media profile. Is it clear what you do? Or is it buried under layers of jargon and clever-sounding phrases? Make it so simple a fifth-grader understands it.
Stop waiting for permission
The biggest takeaway from the 99u philosophy is that no one is going to "discover" you. You have to put yourself out there. You have to ship the work. You have to take the risk. The Make Your Mark book is a guide, but you’re the one who has to walk the path.
Get started. Now.