We recently connected with Madeline Pace and have shared our conversation below.

Madeline, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

Yes, overall, I’m happy as a business owner! I’m grateful to have turned something I enjoy into a full-time career that supports me financially—something I once dreamed about while working for someone else. Looking back at the variety of business owners I’ve worked with and the exciting projects I’ve taken on, it brings me a lot of joy. I don’t think I would have gained this range of experience or met so many interesting people if I hadn’t taken the leap to work for myself.

There are days when I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. I run my business from home to cut down on expenses, which means I work remotely most of the time. While this gives me flexibility, it can also be a bit lonely. But even with the occasional challenges, I wouldn’t trade it for going back to an office or working for someone else. I think a lot of business owners can relate, especially since remote work has become so common. Having experienced both sides as a business owner and a full-time employee, I’ve learned that on tough days, it’s easy to think the grass might be greener on the other side. Both paths definitely have their pros and cons!

The last time I had this thought was… WEEKLY! Haha. I’m getting married this summer and plan to take a long honeymoon, and down the road, we’d love to start a family. I often wonder how I’m going to make it all work, since I don’t have paid vacation time, maternity leave, or employer-matched retirement contributions. These are all things you just have to figure out on your own when you work for yourself.

Whenever I think this way, I remind myself, “I’ll figure it out when the time comes, and I’ll pivot if I need to.” That was exactly my mindset when I decided to start my business: “I’ll figure it out, and if it doesn’t work, I’ll move on to the next thing.”

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.

My business is called Creatively Madeline Design Studio, and I’m a website and graphic designer. I specialize in Squarespace website design, brand identity, and various graphic design services. Essentially, I create a wide variety of visuals that businesses need. Business owners have to market themselves constantly, which often involves using high-quality visuals. It’s crucial to have visuals created by a professional designer because it truly makes your business stand out and appear more professional. Think about all the times you’ve come across an outdated, hard-to-navigate website, or seen a DIY logo on someone’s marketing materials. Your visuals represent your business, and people will form an opinion based on them!

I’ve always been very creative and wanted to find a college program and career path that allowed me to use my creativity. While touring Bowling Green State University with my parents, I heard about their Visual Communication Technology program. Just as one of the professors was leaving the building, he offered to give us a tour and explain what a VCT degree could be used for. It felt like such a perfect fit for what I wanted to do! Throughout college and after, I gained diverse experience as designer, working across various industries. I’ve created designs for corporate settings, sports organizations, retail brands, and the bar and spirits industry. All of this gave me the boost I needed to start my business!

I feel fortunate to use my passion for design to help other passionate business owners. What sets me apart is my genuineness. I genuinely enjoy listening to other business owners’ stories and finding the best solutions I can offer. I’m not pushy and don’t try to upsell potential clients. One of my core values is trust and honesty, and I take pride in upholding that.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, I’ve had to do this many times! At every career milestone, I had to pivot and figure things out as I went. Initially, it was about finding relevant experience that future employers would value after graduation. Then, when I graduated in May 2020 right at the peak of COVID absolutely no one was hiring entry-level designers. I had to resort to option B: just finding a job.

I ended up working at a furniture store for seven months, which had nothing to do with web or graphic design. At the time, I felt like I had failed or should have chosen a different career path. But I don’t feel that way anymore. I think many people my age, or those entering the workforce at that time, felt the same way.

I believe it’s better to find a job temporarily to support yourself while you work toward finding something more ideal for yourself. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing your career to someone else’s—whether they seem to earn more, have a cooler job, or appear to have it easier but the truth is, no job is perfect. Everyone faces their own challenges, even if they’re not seen from the outside!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Networking! I used to be nervous about attending networking groups and didn’t really know what to expect, but I found a great local group that was a perfect fit for me. I feel very supported by them, both personally and professionally. Once I started attending these meetings regularly, my clientele grew significantly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://creativelymadeline.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativelymadeline/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativelymadeline
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-p-463792156/