Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Susi Clark, Owner of Creative Blueprint Design, located in Ellicott City, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Creative Blueprint Design is a graphic design company that elevates brands and brings books to life. On the one hand, I work with businesses of all sizes and help them with logo design or any marketing collateral needs. On the other hand, I work with authors and publishers, working on cover designs and interior formatting and also guiding them through the self-publishing process until they see their book on Amazon or can hold the printed book in their hands.
Tell us about yourself
I came to the US on my own and studied graphic design. Then worked as a Graphic Designer and relatively quickly became the Art Director for a large financial publishing company for over a decade while also nurturing a freelance business on the side. My motivation stems from bridging the gap with my family being in Germany, from having more flexibility and being able to see them more often. Finally, having the courage to create my own business in 2019 was the beginning of making that dream come true.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
That my business is continuing to grow while being able to meet and help so many incredible people along the way with my services, being the designer of a congressional campaign, working with authors and seeing their books hit #1 on the bestseller lists, being a part of empowering young authors, or nurturing client relationships that last for decades makes all the hard work so worth it.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The overwhelm. Finding the right balance between the time you spent working on your business vs. client work, finding a place for all your ideas and ways to implement them, as well as finding the right systems and, of course, attracting the right client while not comparing yourself to others or letting imposter syndrome get a hold of you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Create a Referral network! Find other service providers that work with the same audience as you do (in the same and different capacities as you), learn from others, and support each other.
- Timelines are relative! Keep working towards your goals, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t accomplish something within x-amount of time... just keep making progress, and you will get there.
- Do what you love, and never give up! Know that success won’t happen overnight and will take hard work. The ups and downs are part of running a business, and be willing to pivot when needed but don’t lose sight of what you love doing most.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.creativeblueprintdesign.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreativeBlueprintDesign
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CreativeBlueprintDesign/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creativeblueprintdesign/
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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