We recently connected with Theresa Wilmot and have shared our conversation below.

Theresa , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of our favorite things to brainstorm about with friends who’ve built something entrepreneurial is what they would do differently if they were to start over today. Surely, there are things you’ve learned that would allow you to do it over faster, more efficiently. We’d love to hear how you would go about setting things up if you were starting over today, knowing everything that you already know.

If I was starting over, I’d start networking sooner! My business grew slowly over time as my 2 daughters grew up, and while I don’t regret the extra time and space I gave to my family, networking has taught me so much that would have been helpful even then. I have learned from others in their own journey, things that have helped me in mine. Things like how to properly set yourself up with a system that manages your client information, scheduling and invoicing, creating processes that make it easy for people to work with me, and having the right mindset to grow and achieve more.

I had the wrong impression of networking from the start. I didn’t realize there were different kinds of networking based on the group you join or the event you attend. The networking groups I ended up finding and joining were more about creating relationships and getting to know other business owners and their businesses. They helped me learn how to talk about how I serve my clients and from there I found new clients and referrals.

Theresa , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Theresa Wilmot and my business is Wilmot Designs, LLC. I am a graphic designer specializing in custom brand development. I decided early on that I wanted to be two things: an artist and a mom. Being both goal-oriented and nurturing, I have made both dreams a reality. While I love the creative process I’m not the messy artist type, which made graphic design a perfect fit. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I applied my­ creative talents in packaging design, theatre playbill publication, and textile design as a hat designer.

My clients typically come to me a little overwhelmed about what it means to develop a brand. I have developed a unique 3 step process that guarantees they will walk away with a successful brand system that communicates their unique expertise. My process is one that involves creative collaboration ensuring a strong, consistent brand, and eliminating fear and confusion on their end.

I have been in this industry for over 25 years and have learned a lot along the way about what business owners struggle with when it comes to their marketing and design needs. I have been in business for 18 years but started actively growing my business in the last 8 years. I’m proud of my progress as a business owner and grateful to those who have helped and taught me new things along the way!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Being an entrepreneur is a journey of both business and personal growth. I have found personal development to be essential in developing better discipline and maintaining the best possible mindset for moving forward in a productive, healthy way. Among my favorites are The Five Second Rule by Mel Robbins and The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown.

These books have helped me overcome self-doubt, given me ways to increase productivity and taught me things about the power of my mindset. When you are in business for yourself, it’s difficult to have a clear line between your business and personal lives. This makes it even more important for you to be aware of how the two impact each other and what you need to do in order to ensure you are showing up in the best way for both.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2020 I lost my oldest and most regular client due to the business being sold to a larger entity that would not need my services. It was during the pandemic and my husband was unemployed at the time. I definitely felt some panic and also some sadness. This was a client I had enjoyed working with for some time, so there was a personal sadness that accompanied the financial loss. I believe what really helped during this period was the personal development I was involved in (through reading and my online fitness community) and networking. My networking groups were teaching me about the value of my services and also helping me make connections that would result in finding business to fill the gap.

I have always believed that when one door closes a window opens. While this can be difficult to embrace when receiving difficult news, it is definitely true for what is to come!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wilmotdesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilmot.designs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilmotDesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-wilmot/

Image Credits
Elevate Brand Photography Stories Framed Photography