Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Micaela Nauman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Micaela , thanks for joining us today. How do you think about vacations as a business owner? Do you take them and if so, how? If you don’t, why not?

As a digital nomad, I’m a big advocate for supporting creatives and entrepreneurs in building a business and lifestyle they don’t need a vacation from! When you work for yourself – especially online – you have the freedom to choose when, where, and how you work. But as a business owner on the move – regularly changing time zones, cultures, and living and working environments – all while running a business requires intentional breaks to be sustainable and healthy.

Along with the freedom of being an online entrepreneur comes a lot of responsibility. Not just internally in running my business, but more importantly, in being able to show up and deliver my best, creative design work for my incredible clients! The flexibility to choose when I need days off has been pivotal to maintaining a high quality of work and supporting my design business’s success over the last 11+ years. When you lead with passion first, I’ve learned that entrepreneurship’s demands can sneak up on you and consume all of your time and energy if you aren’t careful. Blocking time off on my calendar has been vital to keeping my mental health in check and combatting creative block when it strikes. It keeps my creativity fueled and inspired and keeps me motivated to stay focused and disciplined even when distraction comes knocking.

There’s a common misconception that this unconventional lifestyle means I’m on an endless vacation (guess what, I’m not!). But consciously taking time to recharge and step away from the laptop will always be a priority, especially when there’s the opportunity to explore a new corner of the world between projects! Building a freedom-based lifestyle from my laptop has allowed the best of both worlds between work and life balance. I’m on a mission with my design business to encourage and support the entrepreneurial success of others so they can experience the same in their life!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Micaela Nauman, and I run a nomadic branding and web design studio for coaches and online business owners who dare to be different – in business and life! I craft bold, standout brands and Showit websites, build sales pages and launch graphics for my client’s growing businesses, programs, and offers.

Growing up, I was always exploring my creativity, so it was only natural that my career went down that path. Then, in college, I got the opportunity to intern and freelance for a world-class agency – a dream job! But post-college, I closed my first entrepreneurial endeavor (started at age 7) and sold the rest of my sheep flock to fund my first trip abroad. That trip changed the trajectory of my life and opened my eyes to a whole new world of opportunity, and gave me the push to build a career on my terms. So I returned, traded my small-town, country girl roots for the west coast, and from there, my design business was born!

Almost 11.5 years later, I’ve been designing remotely in 60+ countries and 6 (soon-to-be 7) continents. Last year I decided to pivot my business in a direction that had been pulling at my heartstrings for years. To create for fellow female entrepreneurs with the shared passion for building a soul-aligned business that fuels their adventurous spirit and allows them the opportunity to choose how and where they want to live their life. Taking my clients’ ideas and visions and turning them into visuals that capture their essence and amplify their success because they are proud to show it off to the world is an indescribable gift to share as a service provider.

Whether my clients are building their first business or growing and scaling their existing business with exciting new offers and programs, I blend strategy, creativity, and intention to make unique branding and high-converting website and sales page designs. Working with me means you’re not going to get a cookie-cutter look that blends in and gets lost amongst the sea of other coaches and service providers. Instead, my clients get a unique look that makes them stand out and own who they are in the online space.

When a brand translates the heart, soul, and essence of a business owner and their mission while capturing their dream audience, it elevates how they show up, share, and sell their services and products. It’s my job to strategically and creatively bring this all together into a fun and supportive experience that sets my clients up for success and brings even their wildest business vision to life!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The goal of my design business and lifestyle has always been to encourage, inspire and support more people on their journey to pursuing a life where they feel fulfilled and lit up by the work they do, and they get to be the boss of their own life!

Growing up on a farm in small-town Ohio, I didn’t know a life like I’m currently leading was even a possibility, let alone something I could turn into a reality. I’d only flown once to the Miniature Horse World Championships (yes, my family raises miniature show horses, too!), and travel wasn’t even on my radar or of any interest until I graduated. So who knew I would turn into a globetrotting business owner. I still pinch myself daily!

Not having anyone to show me the ropes in a time when online businesses, courses, and being a digital nomad weren’t typical, I built through trial and error. With Create & Wander Design Co., I’m now on a mission to be the creative sidekick and kindred adventurer for others who need someone to believe in them. As a creative, I bring their vision to life through the strategy and impactful design they need to build their online business empire. And as a wanderer, I seek to inspire and showcase what’s possible while supporting my clients and audience in building their freedom-fulfilling lifestyle.

If a little farm girl from the Midwest can sell her sheep, start an online business with no experience or mentor and travel the world full-time, you can do it too. No matter what chapter in life we’re currently writing, we have the power to write the next chapter. So don’t forget to dream big!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding feeling as a brand designer is being able to empower a fellow female entrepreneur by turning her vision into badass visuals. Working with women in the online service-based industry, their brands reflect just as much who they are as what they are offering. So to make my clients feel seen, heard, and understood by creating a reflection of themselves and their work into designs that have the power to amplify their message and elevate their success. That is what I do this for!

To see women in their first time in business step into their power and light up when they see their brand and website for the first time, and they have their “holy shit, this is all becoming real” moment. Or when my established entrepreneur clients crush their launches because they felt so aligned and empowered from this vision coming to life. In these moments, when you know your creative work has the power to shift someone’s life and future – energetically, emotionally, or financially – that is the ultimate reward of the work that I do. After over a decade of working for myself, I firmly believe I have aligned my purpose and passion with my career with this latest pivot, and I’m only getting started with what’s to come! :)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.createwander.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createwander/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createwanderdesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micaelanauman/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/createwanderdesign

Image Credits
Kiley Shai Photography