Digital Tools to Succeed in Your Business - Alisha Rosen

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in design services but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Alisha Rosen, a digital designer based in San Francisco, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I do many things, but the easiest for people to understand is my web design business. I create websites for small and medium businesses, and then I often do branding for them as well and create print materials for them depending on need. Sometimes I help out with pitch deck design and have worked on and off helping with architectural proposals, and I've recently done some package design. I develop relationships with my clients, and sometimes they come to me for things I've never done before, but they want to work with me because we have a good working style together.

One client in particular works in high-end interior design, and she's been using my services to create custom fine art and custom wallpaper for her clients. Working with her on that has been so fun and interesting I'm beginning to invest more time into it. I've recently been working in the evenings on a line of "trippy yet sophisticated" wallpapers, as that is an area my interior design client feels is missing from the market and something her clients want. So really, I do a bit of everything, but it's easiest to just say I make websites and do graphic design projects. I'm really looking forward to seeing where the wallpaper design goes, and maybe in a year, I'll be calling myself a wallpaper designer.

Tell us about yourself

My mother is an artist, and her mother was an artist, and I grew up being encouraged by both parents to be creative. On my dad's side, I'm the fourth generation of business owners, though it took me several tries and a decade to make it really work.

The first thing I ever did "as a business" was sculpting people's pets out of polymer clay for them when I was 10. They would bring a picture or two, and I would make their pet, plus two accessories for them so you could have a little scene on a shelf. Obviously, I've moved on from there in the past 25 years, but I still see that first venture as foundational to who I am. Being able to say that I work for myself producing art, even if it's not exactly "fine art," is very rewarding.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Finally making it! I had resisted becoming a web designer for years even though everyone thought I was one already and wanted me to be one, but finally saying, "ok, I'll give it a shot," and learning how to do it is what really launched me. I wasn't making enough to sustainably work for myself until really just jumping into web design with both feet. Now I make more than I ever have, and with less stress, I get way more sleep than I used to. I used to work (in an office) 60-hour weeks sometimes and didn't make as much or live as well as I do now.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Self-discipline. I am someone who thrives on deadlines and external structure, so it's been a real challenge for me to motivate myself, but ultimately I love working, so I'm always happier when I get myself going and have a really productive full day. Also, I hate marketing myself - I'd rather just do the work and be good at that instead of spending time promoting myself... which is somewhat ironic, as I help others market themselves. I'd just rather do it for other people for some reason.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Do something you like doing. Your best competitors are going to like what they do, and it's really hard to compete at something you don't like. I knew I had found the right web design platform (Webflow) when I would stay up late playing with it, even when I didn't have a deadline.
2. Surround yourself with supporters. Spend time with people who care about you and want you to succeed. That means people who are willing to give you constructive criticism but believe in you at your core. Also, finding friends who are in complementary industries can be very helpful.
3. Start small, build your confidence, and get a little bigger. You should always be slowly leveling up, building a more robust and stronger foundation. You'll be so much better 1 year in, 2 years in, 5 years in than you were when you started. Put one foot in front of the other and focus on attainable next steps to make you better, to get you bigger clients, and to make more money. Getting rich quick is rare - get rich slowly - now that's very realistic.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.alisharosen.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fishfulls/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisharosen/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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