We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mary Leingang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mary below.
Mary, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I am truly a self-taught designer who has taken the scenic route to becoming an agency owner. I originally learned to design out of necessity. After leaving a corporate consulting position, exhausted and burned out, I was committed to building a life that I didn’t need a constant “break” from. I started a pet sitting service to earn income while I figured out what I wanted to do long term. In a matter of 90 days, my schedule was already fully booked and I had people finding me on Google. Many of my new clients commented on my website and how professional and easy to navigate it was. My friends, who were also small business owners, started asking me for advice on how to build their own websites and how to rank in search engine results. I found this to be the perfect marriage of my consulting background and creative, artistic instincts, and found it to be incredibly rewarding. I started taking on small projects to build my skills and portfolio, and paid clients started coming through word of mouth and referrals. I’m forever grateful for those early years I spent walking dogs and teaching myself web design. It gave me the mental break and the space to really tap in to what I truly wanted, and how I wanted to structure my business around my life.
Sure, there are some things I could have done that would have “sped up” this process, but I don’t think learning quicker would have made me a better business owner. We need to make those first mistakes. We need to learn to be resourceful and creative. Trying to side-step the early pitfalls of entrepreneurship just guarantees that you’ll make those mistakes later on when the stakes are even higher.
When you’re first starting out, it’s crucial that you develop a high tolerance for discomfort. Skills can be taught. Talent can be developed. We often underestimate just how uncomfortable the learning process is. You’re going to be overwhelmed at times, you’re going to doubt yourself, and you’re going to want to quit. Learn to stay persistent and dogged even in the face of all that. Keep going. Most people quit before they ever see any level of success. Learn to outlast them. It’s a game of consistency.
You’ll also need to sharpen your instincts and your discernment. There will be a ton of “coaches” and “experts” coming out of the woodwork trying to sell you courses and programs, ESPECIALLY in the design, branding, and marketing spaces. Don’t fall for the pain point and shame driven marketing. Keep your head down, stay focused, and stay authentic to yourself.
Mary, 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?
I specialize in helping small businesses and non-profit organizations establish a strong online presence through strategic brand identity and web design. My mission is simple but powerful: to empower business and organization leaders to stay within their “zone of genius.” In doing so, I enable them to excel in what they do best while their website and marketing materials work tirelessly on their behalf.
The products and services I provide are centered around creative branding and website design. I don’t just create visually appealing websites; I craft immersive online experiences that tell a compelling story about my clients’ brands. I believe in the power of collaboration and consultation. By deeply understanding the essence of a business or organization, its unique narrative, and the vision of its leaders, I create designs that resonate with both my clients and their target audience.
One of my core strengths is my unconventional approach to design. I’m not interested in following trends or building templated, one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, I tailor each project to the specific needs, values, and goals of my clients. This approach ensures that every design element aligns with their mission and speaks effectively to their audience. The best designs are born from a genuine connection between the brand and its audience.
What I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about me and my work is that I’m not just a designer; I’m a collaborator, a problem solver, and a partner in achieving your vision. I’m committed to staying at the forefront of design trends and technologies to ensure that my clients receive the best solutions. However, I also believe in the value of timeless design principles.
In essence, I’m here to help you translate your brand into a captivating visual identity and a functional website. I’m here to simplify the complex, clarify the message, and elevate your online presence. I’m here to empower you to focus on what you do best while your website and marketing materials work as powerful ambassadors for your brand.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Entrepreneurship is a crash course in personal development and my biggest challenge has been unlearning a lot of beliefs I’ve held around money and finances.
I grew up in a middle class home that never discussed money unless there wasn’t enough of it. Money was never discussed in a positive context. Asking for money to buy school supplies, clothes or participate in activities made us a burden. Money was used to manipulate and control. We were told that accepting gifts or wanting nice things made you materialistic. Decades of watching corporate leadership betray themselves and their teams in pursuit of larger bonuses only reinforced this belief. Then, when I started working for myself, this deeply held hatred of money started to manifest as self sabotaging behaviors. I hated invoicing. I even feared it. I avoided it. I hated discussing money and would delay sending proposals or giving quotes. I would go months without invoicing clients and under price my services, to my own detriment. My desire to serve and my hatred of money was a deadly combination that nearly broke me, AND my business.
Unlearning this and repairing the damage is a slow, lifelong process that requires constant practice. There is no way around it, only through it. Unraveling conditioning is no joke. You’re allowed to charge what you’re worth. You’re allowed to charge for your time. Sending an invoice doesn’t make you a burden, and you’re allowed to earn money doing what you love. Being successful doesn’t rob you of your humanity or empathy. Money is morally neutral and can be a powerful tool for good.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
TikTok has always been my space to talk about and show up however I wanted, and it’s been incredibly freeing. I talk about business, relationships, books, movies, tell stories, give advice, and generally just have fun.
I didn’t initially set out to build an audience or a following, and I’ve never followed a traditional strategy. I started using short form video as a way to speak to and connect with my friends, and it grew organically from there. In a time where social media was ruled by the “clean aesthetic”, I made a choice to show up messy and unfiltered. A majority of my clients came to me from word of mouth and referrals, so I always saw social media as a creative space, and never the primary driver of sales for my business. This was a blessing, because I was never concerned about “being professional” or putting on a performance to gain followers. I never approached social media with the intention to monetize my content. When I was happy, I showed up happy and shared my wins. When I was angry, I showed up angry and shared my struggles. My authenticity is what I’m known for, and I’m proud of that.
Building an audience on social media is a game of consistency. Know who you’re speaking to and address them directly. Focus on the audience you have, and deepen your connection with them. Don’t take a single one of your followers for granted. 30 people may not sound like a lot, but it’s enough to fill a classroom. 300 people will fill most event venues. 3,000 will fill the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Elections are won or lost by slimmer margins. Your voice matters regardless of how many people hear it. A small, highly engaged audience is more powerful than a large following.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.qmecreative.com
- Instagram: @sixfootsmokeshow
- TikTok: @sixfootsmokeshow
Image Credits
Christy Hunter