Earning A Full-Time Living From Creative Work

I was recently interviewed by Canvas Rebel about earning a full-time living from my creative work. It’s a journey that was not a straight line but one I’m really glad I stuck with over the years.

Here’s the interview…

Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I feel so fortunate that I have gotten to a point where I earn a full-time living from my creative work but it definitely did not start off that way. At first, I had other part time jobs that helped me pay the bills while I was getting clients here and there. Also, when I started I didn’t have a great handle on how much to charge for my creative work. It’s such a tough spot for creatives! Overtime, I learned more about how much value I was bringing with my work and I also improved my processes as a designer so I could increase my rates. I also invested in courses and mentors that helped me focus on growing my business into what I really wanted it to be. For awhile I was making a living from my creative work but I never felt like I could grow my income, like I reached a cap of what I could make with the energy I had to give. That’s when I was introduced to a new business model that changed everything from me. Now, I’m able to grow my income, work less, and focus on other projects to support the evolution of my business.

All this to say, when you’re starting out you will likely need to hustle with other gigs to gain some traction. Overtime, those will fall away so you can focus on your business and watch it grow. And never underestimate the value of exploring a variety of business models until you find the right one for you!

Can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got my start in this industry as a graphic designer (something I actually did go to school for!) back in 2012 when I was fresh out of college. I landed a job as a designer at a print marketing company and I hated it. But overtime, I came to appreciate that job for all it taught in terms of client management, sales, design, and so much much. After a couple years gathering those skills and with a yoga teacher training under my belt, I transitioned to being a freelance graphic designer so I could start designing life on my own terms. Since that point in 2016, I’ve been consistently growing my businesses and have termed into a Branding Expert and Website Designer. I love supporting folks who are in touch with their unique purpose (their dharma) and are here to make a positive impact on the world. Through the power of design and visual story-telling, I support my clients and their brands be seen for who they truly are in the digital landscape and beyond.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Providing exceptional customer service and really getting to know my clients well so what I create for them is always exactly what they are looking for. This is all about listening to them and everything they share so when it’s time to deliver, you know just what they want. The more I focus on delivering a really great client experience for the folks I am currently working with, the more they share my name with other people!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The moment that my clients feel seen for exactly who they are. I get to reflect everything they’ve shared with me back to them and it always amazes them. The confidence that our work together brings is also so rewarding. They feel excited to share their work with the world because of what we created together and that’s super powerful.