We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Heather Schiefer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Heather thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.

If I were to start over with freelancing today there are SO many things I would do differently. I think the biggest ones are building a network and having a financial plan though.

When I started out, I thought building networks was just for old white dudes. One of the biggest benefits in my mind was not having to work with other people. Maybe it sounds silly, but I’m naturally a pretty solitary person and consider myself sufficient company most days. Working eight hours a day managing myself and a small team’s projects, time and emotions was too much. So to start out, working solo sounded like heaven. I was not prepared for the way it would limit my creativity and ability to serve my clients. If I had seen the value in working with other people right from the beginning I could have been able to offer services to my clients that complimented my design skills. It’s only just now, after fifteen years, that I’m really working toward building relationships with strategists, SEO gurus, copywriters and other designers. That’s just mindboggling to me. That I spent that long just thinking I was enough. Talk about ego! I’m hoping this is the year that I build that collective of professional people that will serve all of our clients as well as us.

When I went out on my own, I was just working on fun projects and getting paid. I wasn’t thinking about how I was spending (or saving) that money. My main focus was just to make more of it so that I could continue to spend it. Not super sustainable. I came up with an obscure number to pay myself each month that wasn’t based on anything other than what I felt was left over after I paid for business subscriptions and whatever I splurged on. What ever was left went into our joint checking account for bills. My finances were literally all over the place. One year would be magically abundant and the next I would realize I had $5,000 in debt and spend the next 18 months paying it down only to start over again. I would have created my LLC and business accounts right away and talked with a financial advisor. I wish I would have heard about the profit first method YEARS ago too. It has literally saved my butt! I didn’t realize back then that it was actually really simple to manage my own finances.

If I had just known these two facts fifteen years go; 1. Support other people and they will support you. Working with other people is a privilege, not a punishment. 2. Get your finances in order and stop creating famine for yourself. Financial advisors are our friends and you don’t have to be rich to have one. My whole life would have been so much easier and less stressful.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started working in design at the turn of the Century. In 2008 I had tired of the B.S. that came with an agency job so I started freelancing. It hasn’t always been fun or easy, but I love what I do.

I call myself a Brand Designer. I create brand packages that consist of a Creative Brief, final logo design and Brand Guide. I also design and build websites in conjunction with a client’s existing branding or new branding that we define together. I also design any printed or digital collateral a client may need to promote or market their brand. Think print pieces and digital graphics as well as professional brand photography. I have been working to build a collective of other professionals who provide services like brand strategy, copywriting, SEO and marketing strategy.

I love meeting clients who have a disjointed brand and a messy website. I really enjoy taking all of that in and dismantling it and rebuilding it in a way that will propel my clients forward.

Another facet of my business is teaching my clients how to use digital marketing tools. They will inevitably turn to Canva or start managing their own website or email marketing. It’s going to happen. I can’t stop it, but I can teach them how to do it better so that the work we’ve put in isn’t for nothing. Building these relationships has been something that I take a lot of pride in.

If a client feels like they are a bother and a mess then that’s how they will conduct their business. If I can give them enough knowledge and confidence to be a partner in managing and developing their brand then they will, likewise, conduct their brand in a more professional, organized manner from a place of confidence and abundance.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Referrals have definitely been a big reputation builder for me, but there’s something to be said for the way I do business. I don’t tell people what they want to hear and I don’t have much of an ego.

I’m quick to tell client’s the truth when they ask my advice, but I try and come from a healthy, constructive place. I never tell them something is badly done or poorly executed. Many times, they’ve been piecemealing things together themselves with no professional guidance. I try and start with ways to improve rather than what they’ve gotten wrong.

I also love to share tools, resources or people that have made my life easier or have improved my business. I don’t want to keep secrets from my clients that could, potentially, be good for their business. If I think someone can help the grow and meet their goals, I’ll pass their info on. Even if it means they also outgrow me.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is pretty damn simple. I want to design cool stuff that my clients love and find useful. Part of that is walking along side them and trying to foster a feeling of partnership and community. I don’t want them to feel like I’m just the design guy they hired to design a website. I want them to tell me how that website is going to make their life better so that I can make sure I integrate that into the project and then walk them on to the next thing that will improve their life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heathermarie.design
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/heathermarie.creative
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/heathermariecreative
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/heathermschiefer

Image Credits
Photography and mockups are by Heather Marie Creative LLC.