2018 Year in Review

Only working on digital graphics/assets.

I was advised several times by several knowledgeable people to only dabble in digital products because it’s easier on your time, taxes and sanity. Once I launched, I knew I couldn’t only sell digital graphics. I missed that extra design component that I was encouraging so many others to do. I also kept coming up with ideas and ways to use my graphics that made me feel like I was missing out or holding back. Launching my product line at the end of the year has made me appreciate what my digital products are and knowing there is a place for both digital and tangible products at MALWEST design.

 

Relying on naptime to do work.

Maybe with two naps a day I could get a few things done but with a toddler and going down to a single nap (and not a very good one at that) working and keeping the house together was a struggle. I didn’t like choosing between a tidying and working because working in my business always suffered.

 

 

Friends make the best clients.

I always thought my clients had to be strangers that could look at my work and just know and trust me with an instant connection. That initially chemistry is very hard to find especially in the saturated online sphere. I worked with so many more clients this year that we’re friends or people I knew in other capacities and I think it made all the difference. My favorite aspect of working with any of my clients is the ongoing relationship we build so I’m happy to get a jump start on that with people I already know and love.

 

 

Keeping my shop going not growing. With a baby soon to make his debut I don’t want to over commit myself. My word of the year is *present* and I want to keep myself present for every project, event, endeavor I take on without losing these precious early moments with my kiddos. I still want to only take clients/projects I love and that align with my aesthetic. I want to push myself creatively, but I’ve loved having my voice and style come through and want to keep that momentum going.

 

Courses: I’ve purchased two courses in 2018 that I want to work through in 2019. First is Ashlyn Carter’s hefty course: Copywriting For Creatives that helped me with my website but a course and I need and want to finis h that will apply to many aspects of my business.

Second, is Paper and Spark's Asana For Makers. So many good tips and tricks in this for staying organized and working in varying lengths of time. I’ve started but I can’t wait to implement more.

 

Goals: keep my website and Etsy shop up to date. I want to use both of those more and learn how to maximize growth from them as tools.