Business Challenge:

Having been an independent business person for most of the past 27 years I have always relied on local networking organizations and in-person client contact to get me out of my office, provide human contact and create situations offering design inspiration. When my website went live in 1998 it was intended to be a local online portfolio. I was not prepared for the huge change where 85% of my business was coming from outside of my home state and I began feeling a bit isolated. Meeting with few local clients, and making use of almost no local vendors, only magnified the feeling of working on a deserted island.

Solution:

The challenge of being isolated as an independent designer was largely met by getting involved in online design and business forums with individuals in similar situations. That international networking also led to articles being writing about my business, requests to write for magazines and webzines, and being ask to write two books at this point in my career. I am also often asked to speak to college students, business organization and design conferences as a result. My blog, bLog-oMotives, has resulted in even great networking on an international level. I no longer feel like an isolated entrepreneur. On a local level, for the past five years I've been meeting once a week with a small group of other independent business people for a "koffee klatch," often leading to discussions about the challenges of being small business owners.