Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in graphic design but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lisa Kludy, Owner of L.M. Kludy Design, LLC., located in Beaverton, OR, USA.

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

I am a graphic designer specializing in page design, which means I help clients take their standard, run-of-the-mill documents and turn them into professional, visually interesting marketing pieces. A majority of my business involves designing pitch decks, white papers, case studies, eBooks, and the like.

I work within an online platform called Upwork, where they match clients with freelancers. It has been a lifesaver for someone (like me) who isn't good at sales. Instead of grinding leads on social media or cold-calling local businesses, I was able to build a business on the platform. I also have several clients outside Upwork who came from referrals or because they found my website. I don't focus on any single industry because I love learning about all companies across all industries and working with people from all walks of life. I have clients all over the country - even one in Canada!

Tell us about yourself

I've always known that I wanted to be a graphic designer ever since we got our first computer back when I was a pre-teen. I even had the opportunity to attend a trade school for graphic design during my junior and senior years of high school, and I LOVED IT. I am honestly not sure what drew me to the work, especially so early on, but it's just always been my career goal.

While I always knew I wanted to be a designer, I never really wanted to be a business owner - it just looked like too much work. So, I took the traditional route out of college and was hired by a growing corporation as an in-house catalog designer. I stayed with that company for 14 years, going well beyond all reasonable expectations for my position, and instead of being promoted or rewarded, I became highly unpopular with management because I "couldn't leave well enough alone." So, I left the company (and the state) to move to a city with a more creative background to see if I could find a career instead of just a job. After bouncing around a bit with a few boutique businesses (I'd had my fill of corporate life), I realized that I was just as capable as any of the other small business owners and decided to go for it.

It is definitely a lot of work (and stress), but I stay motivated because I love my job. I get to pick my own clients, and I only work with people I find enjoyable. I make my own schedule, so no more 8 am start times. There is also no more 45-minute commute (both ways), and I can work in my pajamas if I choose to. So, whenever I feel my motivation slipping, I remind myself how lucky I am to have a job that I love and that is so perfectly suited to me.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Just getting started! The LLC paperwork, the insurance, the invoicing, the taxes - it all seemed so overwhelming. But bouncing from job to job every 12 months was even more unappealing, so I just dove in and went for it. Now, I barely even remember what it is like to have a "normal" job.

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

Dealing with the anxiety that it is all just going to disappear one day. Anytime I have a few days in a row without work, I find myself panicking, so the hardest thing is to keep myself calm. I have a budget and know exactly what I need to meet my goal, so I break that down into terms of projects so the end goal seems much more achievable. Then I tackle the goal one project at a time, and suddenly, I meet the goal and am onto the next month. It's great to have a big-picture plan, but sometimes you just need to go day-by-day to get through the stressful times.

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

  1. Talk to someone who owns their own business. They probably have tons of experience they can share that could help you avoid some of the pitfalls. They also can understand the stresses that you are going through and are great for venting sessions.
  2. Set boundaries. A lot of "unpaid" work goes into getting started and maintaining a business, so it is easy to think you need to work 24/7. You don't. Set business hours, set communication expectations with your clients, set reasonable deadlines for yourself, don't accept just "any" job, etc. Good clients will respect boundaries, and bad clients are ones you don't want to work with anyway.
  3. Be flexible. In my experience, the work comes in waves. Sometimes there is a lot, and sometimes there is a little. So far, it has all balanced out. So, take the time to enjoy your life when the work is a little slower because it won't be that way for long! Also, as much as I love planning my days in advance, I know there will be clients who don't get back to me as soon as I'd like or will have a rush project that needs to be finished last minute. I could choose to be frustrated, or I could choose to see it as an opportunity to ensure a repeat client. And trust me, repeat clients are the real key to success.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.lmkludydesign.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkludy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lmkludy/

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.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.