We recently connected with Makena Delaney and have shared our conversation below.

Makena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I really am happy as a business owner. I love the autonomy and freedom that come with it. Of course there are times when it feels like you’re glued to the computer or like the work never shuts off, but honestly, at similar pay levels in corporate jobs, I think people face the same problem of not being able to fully disconnect.

What I can’t deny is that sometimes I think about how nice it would be to step off the hamster wheel of client acquisition. That’s probably the hardest part of running a business. Even though I enjoy sales and I’m good at it, you can’t ever really take a break from it, and that can wear on you. After a tough client interaction or when things get quiet, those thoughts of “maybe I should just apply for a job” definitely creep in.

The last time I really had that thought was this past summer, when business slowed down. And I wasn’t the only one; things got quiet for a lot of people. It had me thinking, what if I went and project managed for a branding agency? I could still do the creative work I love but without the pressure of sales. That idea of a steady paycheck and a clear job description is tempting sometimes, especially since I’ve never had a traditional nine-to-five.

But then, things picked back up like they always do. And when I get to work with great clients, or take an afternoon off to recharge, I remember not everyone has that level of freedom. Yes, business ownership takes sacrifice, but it’s worth it for me.

Makena, 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?

That’s such a great question, thank you for asking. For anyone who hasn’t heard of me or my business before, I run Makena Creative Brand & Website Design. I got into this work in kind of a roundabout way. I had to build a website for my family’s business, I was in school for IT at the time, and I also loved creating little digital sticker designs on my iPad. Eventually I realized those interests actually blended together really naturally in the branding and website design world. So I sold my very first website in 2019, and I’ve been all in ever since.

What I really do for clients is solve two problems that are critical for any business but especially for solopreneurs: credibility and confidence. You need credibility so that your prospects will take you seriously and actually book with you, and a strong brand and website strategy go a long way toward building that trust. But you also need confidence. If you don’t feel good about your brand, if you’re second guessing how professional you look, it comes across in the way you show up. I help people reclaim that confidence so they feel proud of their business and excited to put themselves out there.

That’s honestly what sets my work apart. Yes, I design websites that help clients attract and convert, but at the end of the day that’s what every website should do. What I’m most proud of is giving my clients both the credibility and the confidence to step into the business they’ve been dreaming about. That’s the heart of Makena Creative and what I’d want anyone new to my brand to know.

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

The most effective strategy for building my clientele has definitely been local networking. It’s been absolutely huge for me. Through networking I’ve built amazing relationships, friendships, and strategic partnerships, not just locally, but even connections that reach around the world.

I always tell people who are just starting out that networking is the easiest, fastest, and warmest way to market your business. In many cases, you can actually network your way to a full-time income, which is such an encouraging thought for new business owners. Now of course that’s not true for every situation. If you’ve got a big team or a lot of overhead, you may need additional client acquisition strategies. But for most solopreneurs and small business owners, networking does the trick. And for me personally, I’ve absolutely loved it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A big lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the people-pleasing side of myself. For a long time I thought bending over backwards for clients was the right thing to do, but the truth is you have to hold firm to your business policies. That’s been one of the hardest lessons for me. I’ve been at this for six years, and I still sometimes find myself slipping into old habits when I’m in a tough situation with a client.

The reality is, you create policies for a reason. They exist to protect your time, your energy, and the outcome you want for your business. Sticking to them doesn’t make you a bad person. It just makes you a business owner who knows how to run things well. I think about it like TJ Maxx; if you’re one day outside the return window, the system won’t even allow the cashier to process that return. They’re firm, and we need to be more like that.

The piece I had to unlearn is the idea that “the customer is always right.” Because they’re not. Some people really will try to take advantage, even other business owners. So part of this journey has been toughening up, thickening my skin, and realizing that holding boundaries is part of running a successful business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.makenadelaney.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/makena_delaney
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makenadelaney/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/makena-delaney-ab74234b