We were lucky to catch up with Carey-Lee Dixon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Carey-Lee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
If I were to start over today, armed with the knowledge and experience I have gained as a growing entrepreneur, I would focus on honing my strengths and cultivating confidence right from the beginning.
During my initial journey, I struggled greatly with imposter syndrome and confidence. I encountered challenges in fully embracing my creative skills in graphic design. Imposter syndrome plagued me, and I often compared myself to other designers who I believed had received formal education in graphic design. However, I realised my lack of traditional schooling did not diminish my abilities. My mom’s mentorship and self-taught expertise in other areas have taught me valuable skills. Unfortunately, my self-doubt hindered me from seizing numerous opportunities, and I would sometimes undervalue my work due to a lack of awareness of my true worth.
It took me considerable time to recognise the greatness within me.
As an entrepreneur, confidence and self-belief are crucial in navigating the competitive business landscape. I advise aspiring entrepreneurs to avoid shortchanging themselves simply because they believe they are incapable. Instead, it is vital to identify and embrace our strengths, continuously improve upon them, and eradicate any lingering doubts through learning and mentorship.
Entrepreneurship is already challenging, requiring tremendous effort to build and grow a business. Battling with self-doubt and a lack of confidence only exacerbates these difficulties, impeding progress and hindering growth. Possessing confidence, grit, the will to keep learning, and self-belief is necessary to succeed in entrepreneurship.
By acknowledging our strengths and wholeheartedly embracing them, we gain the confidence to share our knowledge and expertise with our audience.
Carey-Lee, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My journey through my entrepreneurial endeavours and how I found my passion for design, creativity, and helping women entrepreneurs thrive has been an interesting but exciting one.
It started in high school when my Geography teacher approached me with an intriguing proposition. She needed someone to photocopy class materials, and she and the students were willing to pay. I had access to a photocopy machine, a perfect opportunity to make extra cash. That was my first taste of hustling, and it sparked something within me—a desire to explore the business world.
Shortly after my photocopying gig, I ventured into one-on-one tutoring. I realised that my true passion lay in teaching others about the basics of computers and how to use technology and its tools. That’s when I started teaching Information Technology (Computer classes) to one of my mother’s clients. I would spend afternoons and weekends imparting computer skills and the basics of Microsoft Word to my eager student. Seeing excitement as he grasped the concepts and learnt how to better utilise Microsoft Word for his projects was incredibly rewarding.
As I entered university, a spark of creativity ignited in me, and I decided to venture into the world of graphic design. Initially, I was designing flyers for socials and community service clubs, and soon after, I got the idea to start charging for my services to make extra cash. My first real business revolved around creating personalised birthday cards, calendars, and photo portraits for my clients. I wanted to provide a unique gifting experience for people who wanted to surprise their loved ones with personalised design items. Although I only achieved a little success with that venture, it was a valuable learning experience and allowed me to gain insights into entrepreneurship.
After my initial business failure, I rekindled my entrepreneurial spirit and dived into the world of graphic design after quitting my 9-to-5 job without a backup plan or savings. To kickstart my freelance design business, I turned to Fiverr. Those initial months were tough, and I found myself charging a measly $5 for my gigs, which seems laughable to me now. However, through those gigs, I learnt about pricing strategies, learned to negotiate, and improved my design skills.
During my time on Fiverr, I discovered that clients often required graphic design work in Canva, a user-friendly design tool. Embracing the opportunity, I began specialising in Canva designs, helping clients reduce their graphic design costs. As I delved deeper into Canva and graphic designing, I sought to diversify my design skills based on client requests, including custom-template social media designs. Eventually, I recognised an opportunity to create passive income by designing templates and selling them on platforms like Creative Market. That business was booming and gave me more confidence in my design skills. It was also a perfect opportunity to earn passive income while doing project-based design services.
Through my journey of designing templates and offering graphic design services, I acquired a wealth of knowledge and experience. Word-of-mouth referrals and social media exposure allowed me to expand my clientele and reputation. Today, I find myself in a unique position as a growing business owner, utilising my graphic design skills to assist women entrepreneurs in building their online presence and monetising their skills online.
During the pandemic, I started a Youtube channel (Carey Digital – https://www.youtube.com/@CareyDigital) to help a wider audience of women transitioning to side-hustling online and pivoting their businesses to online spaces, helping them to build their online presence and monetise their skills through sharing my knowledge and expertise in utilising Canva and the social media.
I am shifting from offering only à la carte graphic design services to providing comprehensive packages encompassing branding, rebranding, design, social media marketing, and website design – this allows me to merge my strengths and empowering women entrepreneurs to stand out online with confidence while monetising their skills online. By the end of the year, I will be incorporating an exclusive suite of design and digital services and coaching services, helping introverted women build their online presence and harness their potential.
What sets me apart is my deep passion for this journey. As an introvert, I have experienced the struggles of building an online presence, standing out in a crowded market, and learning how to monetise my skills. Through it all, I’ve learned valuable lessons I want to share with more women, those transitioning into entrepreneurship, and those who want to pivot. My mission is to be the right-hand woman for women entrepreneurs, helping them step boldly into their purpose, own their knowledge and expertise, and create a solid online presence while making money from it without burnout and overwhelm.
I am incredibly proud of my growth and impact thus far. But what matters most to me is the transformation and success of my clients. Seeing them gain the confidence to showcase their unique offerings, attract their ideal audience, and achieve their entrepreneurial goals brings me immense joy.
I want potential clients to know I am more than just a graphic designer. I am a partner on their journey, dedicated to helping them build a strong foundation for their businesses. My expertise extends beyond aesthetics to encompass strategic branding, effective social media marketing, and compelling website design. I take a holistic approach, understanding that every element of their online presence is vital to their success.
I am also proud to be at the forefront of helping introverted women navigate the online space. As an introvert, I know firsthand the struggles of stepping into the spotlight and look forward to helping them through coaching to help them overcome their fears, build their confidence, leverage their strengths and use the right strategies to make a genuine impact in their respective industries.
Through my brand and work, I aim to inspire women to break free from the shadows and step into their greatness. I want them to know they can create a thriving online presence and monetise their skills. I aim to provide the tools, guidance, and unwavering support needed to realise their entrepreneurial dreams.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I didn’t quite understand social media presence worked in the early stages of building my online presence. I knew I wanted to share my work online, but I was doing it without a strategy or clear intention – the most I knew was that I wanted people to see my work. Social media was an easy choice for me as I was shy and introverted; it allowed me to showcase my work and then go back into my “shell” and hide; however, as I became more acquainted and knowledgeable about the digital space, building a personal brand and growing a solid online presence, I realised it required more than creating a profile and posting random updates to ‘grow’ online. It required being intentional about what I wanted the world to know about who I am, what I am great at and how I can add value.
The approach I have adopted over the years was to showcase my work, what I was creating, successful projects and what I knew well. I have gone from being known as ” the girl who blogs” intertwined with “the fashion accessories girl” to “the girl building community through a women empowerment platform” and, more recently, “a Canva ambassador, go-to or guru of some sort.” All these ‘titles’ were formed based on what I consistently presented online, whether through sharing my knowledge or projects.
Through my experience as an introvert, I have learnt ways to show up, especially in a world that celebrates extroversion. I’ve had my fair share of wondering what and how to share, all while being a little overwhelmed at times, but it was challenging the comfort zone that has helped me to build my online presence.
When I had just started on my journey, I chose to blog because it was more popular then but also because it felt comfortable, and I could easily share my thoughts and expertise and then retreat to my corner. However, over time, I realised that more was needed to grow beyond the confines I created for myself. I would then explore other areas to stretch my capacity, from blogging to posting more than static images and random social media posts to sharing videos on Instagram stories and Snapchat to posting videos on YouTube and Instagram to even going live to share my knowledge.
While it was a bit nerve-wracking at times, it also enhanced my capabilities and helped me to figure out what worked for me.
Instead of hiding behind the label of an introvert to stay within my comfort zone, I stretch myself and open myself to greater opportunities, showcasing my talents and sharing my knowledge.
I recall one of the earlier parts of my journey, where I started a blog to reach a wider audience while selling fashion accessories — it was my way to keep busy and make money while job hunting. The blog, which I intended to be a place to help me sell my accessories, wasn’t as ‘low-key’ as I had intended it to be, as it got its fair share of recognition and challenged me not to dim my light.
At this point in my journey, I was so shy — oh man, I enjoyed being the behind-the-scenes girl, and my blog created that space for me to ‘do the work, keep my head down and not be seen’ – but when I won ‘Best New Blog’, guess what, I had to come out of my ‘shell’ to show up and share more of my magic and the work I’ve been doing behind the scenes.
While I understood the value of holding your head down and working and doing what feels comfortable, I also realised that stepping outside my comfort zone as I built my brand was valuable.
To help me navigate the online space as an introvert, I focused on curating authentic and thoughtful interactions that leave a lasting impact. I engage in one-on-one conversations with my community of followers, clients, or peers, respond to comments and messages, provide personalised advice, and foster genuine connections. These individual conversations have had a profound impact and strengthened my brand.
I also found value in engaging in relevant online communities. I would seek online communities that align my interests and expertise, connect with like-minded individuals, and share valuable insights. By joining these platforms, I got the opportunity to engage in discussions and establish myself as a trusted resource within these communities.
To eliminate overwhelm, I sought to identify what made me comfortable while finding something that would stretch me and contribute to my growth instead of spreading myself thin across various platforms.
A few ingredients have helped me, especially in recent times: be authentic, be consistent, identify the platform that works for you and provide value.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
One book that has left an indelible mark on my entrepreneurial journey is “You’re a Badass” by Jen Sincero. This book has been a game-changer for me, transforming how I approach self-belief, self-confidence, and the relentless pursuit of my dreams.
I first heard about this book through Myleik Teele of Curlbox and decided to read it when I felt stuck and uncertain about my path in life. I was grappling with the overwhelming feeling of stagnation, desperately seeking a way to break free from the confines of my comfort zone. Through this read, “You’re a Badass,” I discovered the power to reignite my passion and unlock my full potential.
Jen Sincero’s candid approach to writing this book made it feel like she spoke directly to me as a friend.
Through the book, I learnt that self-confidence is not some elusive trait reserved for the lucky few but rather a skill that can be cultivated and nurtured. I realised I had the power to overcome my fears, doubts, and insecurities and instead lean into my strengths and harness my creativity to its fullest potential.
As an entrepreneur, self-confidence and self-belief are paramount. This book shifted my perspective on pursuing what I truly wanted, despite the inevitable challenges and setbacks of the entrepreneurial journey. It instilled the courage to take risks, embrace failure as a stepping stone to success, and persist with unwavering determination.
If you seek a raw and candid resource that will kick you into action and challenge you to lean into greater self-belief and self-confidence, I wholeheartedly recommend “You’re a Badass” by Jen Sincero. Prepare to be inspired, challenged, and transformed as you embark on a journey of self-discovery and unapologetic pursuit of your passions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://careydigital.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/careydigital.co/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/careyleedixon/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CareyDigital
Image Credits
Bryan R. Smith Photography