Young Entrepreneurship: Reflections on Taking the Road Less Traveled
I had run a boutique design studio for over a decade by the time I was barely out of my 20's...
It was ALL the things, all at once.
It was freeing…
- For all the reasons people like remote work.
- Because I got to decide which accounts/projects to pursue (or not).
- To get to create and/or work with so many different brands.
It accelerated my skill progression…
- I had to learn to solve both design and business problems creatively.
- I procured 150+ accounts, over time, and maintained those relationships.
- I acted as my own IT and finance teams.
It was scary…
- Because sometimes client accounting departments went to sleep in the summer.
- Because work came in waves, so the downswings could cause anxiety.
- Because imposter syndrome runs wild when you’re young and you work alone.
It was hard…
- Because my network was small, and LinkedIn was brand new and unheard of.
- To have 2 babies in that time, without paid maternity leave.
- To handle all of the business operations when my strength is in design.
Like any big thing we do in life, my experience with design studio ownership was both enriching, and complex. It made me have to embrace uncertainty, sit with discomfort, and ultimately…
Sometimes the hardest things we do in life grow us the most. As for me – I have no regrets for taking the road less traveled in my career.
Ultimately, it made me grateful…
- To get to work with so many local small businesses and non-profits.
- To have been able to hone my skills instead of losing them to a career break when having kids.
- And to have gained enough experience to be able to walk into a senior-level corporate design role when I was ready to move on.
Sometimes the hardest things we do in life grow us the most. And as for me, I have no regrets for taking the road less traveled. I’m all the better for it.
