Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brianne Swezey, founder and CEO of Authentic Edge Design + Co., located in Tampa, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a creative entrepreneur, mother, empath, Pisces, and above all things, lover of all things Health and Wellness. As founder & designer of Authentic Edge Design, I help holistic practitioners move out of DIY piecemeal marketing and build recognizable, profitable Health & Wellness brands through targeted creative strategy and design.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up an only child, which in itself forces creativity. I am a lover of art. After graduating with a BFA and working for 20 years in design, leading brilliant teams, and creating award-winning designs for agencies, design firms, and internal marketing teams, I knew I wanted more. More flexibility for my busy mom-of-two life. More control over my schedule and creative process. More purpose in helping others succeed.
My perfectly healthy mom, my best friend and "Nana" to my two young boys, was diagnosed with liver cancer. She lost her battle in 2015. Shortly after my mother passed away, I realized that it was time for me to stop building somebody else's dreams and start creating mine, so I started my own company. After some soul searching and personal development, I discovered that Health and Wellness were at forefront of my passion and the clientele I want to serve.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I was able to take the company globally and land a client in London during the pandemic. I mostly serviced Tampa Bay clients before this, but during Covid, I was blessed to connect with a holistic life coach, Mel Clerc, in London, who I was able to brand and create multiple workbooks for her new budding holistic business.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Balance as a business owner, mother, wife, and caregiver are always challenging. When you are a one-woman show, it's finding that daily drive. I have found grounding tools in yoga, meditation, journaling, and energy healing. I also stumbled onto the Japanese philosophy of the ikigai. I used that methodology to help me center and ground myself to show up in my business authentically doing what I love with who I love to serve. This was such a success for me that I now offer it as a service to clients.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't underestimate your mindest. Having a growth mindset and a healthy money mindset will be driving factors in achieving your business financial goals.
- Find a tribe to keep yourself accountable. Surround yourself with successful women. I was lucky enough to find a local female-led CEO group, babecrafted.com. They paved the way for best practices, shoulders to lean on, and mentors to follow.
- Get realistic about the financial goals and how many hours and clients you need to serve. When you are clear that you don't need to be able to market and serve everyone, the faster you'll gain traction in your authentic business success.
Photo credit: Andrejka Photography
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://authenticedgedesign.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthenticEdgeDesign/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authenticedgedesign/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breeswezey/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.