We were lucky to catch up with Meredith Cancilla recently and have shared our conversation below.

Meredith, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

Throughout my life and career, I have constantly heard the dismissive phrase, “art doesn’t pay the bills.” I have personally experienced the discouragement that can come from those who underestimate the value of art and creativity. I vividly remember my high school guidance counselor advising me to abandon my thoughts of being an artist and instead focus on becoming a venture capitalist if I wanted to “make money.” According to their perspective, my art was merely a “hobby” that might be enjoyable but would never lead to a stable income. At the time, their words left me disheartened and questioning my own dreams. However, as I’ve journeyed through my career, freelancing, working for angencies, and now running my own business, I’ve realized that this couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Artistic and creative careers, like brand and web design, have unfairly earned a reputation as the domain of the “starving artist,” seen as unreliable and unstable. This perception has discouraged many from pursuing their creative passions and pushed them towards more conventional career paths. Yet, the reality is that creative careers are thriving. They offer immense potential for exponential growth and the opportunity to achieve a true work-life balance while doing what you love every day. Today, starting an online business that nurtures your dreams and allows you to explore your creativity has never been more promising.

Meredith, 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?

I’m Meredith! CEO + Creative Director of Quixotic Design Co., and brand and web design expert.

I went from 9-5 corporate designer working with high-profile brands, to broke freelance designer, working from my studio apartment, to thriving CEO of my own design agency* (*see also: 6x my 9-5 income and working on my own terms) in just a few years.

My focus is on intelligent design, brand strategy, and helping women-owned businesses to scale and succeed. I believe that design is more than just a facade – it can truly maximize a brand’s potential, audience connection, and revenue.

I’ve helped hundreds of women-owned businesses become the go-to in their industry with Quixotic’s signature, results-driven branding process.

What I offer:
Brand and web design for women owned businesses looking to become industry leaders
Courses and products for brand and web designers who want to build a successful design business

How I got started:
I was working at a restaurant in Santa Barbara and the manager asked me to try my hand at designing the menu. I got lost in the joy of the project. After I thought “maybe I could JUST DO THAT.” Since then I have trained at top tier agencies with high profile brands before launching Quixotic and building the design agency I dreamed of.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Referrals are a designer’s best friend, and the backbone behind my client base. Here’s the deal: forget about just racking up a bunch of clients. It’s all about going the extra mile and giving each and every client an unforgettable experience, and results that actually improve their business (like increased podcast downloads, boosted website traffic, increased conversion rate, etc.). Quality over quantity, my friend. When you build a relationship, blow their socks off and exceed their wildest expectations, something magical happens. Your clients become so stoked about your work that they start raving about it to anyone who will listen. That word-of-mouth buzz? It’s like a secret weapon that brings in new leads without you even lifting a finger. So, focus on wowing your current clients. They’ll become your biggest fans, spreading the word and helping you grow your client base effortlessly.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the whole idea of trading time for money. I used to believe that working nonstop and piling on the hours was the only way to reach my financial goals. But let me tell you, that path leads straight to burnout. The reason we set those financial milestones in our business is because we crave something more profound: freedom. We yearn for the freedom to explore the world with a partner, to spend quality time with our kids, or just to savor an afternoon without feeling chained to our inbox. Sure, financial growth plays a crucial role in attaining that freedom, no doubt about it. But here’s the thing: making more money or working yourself to the bone won’t guarantee the dream lifestyle you’ve been longing for. It’s all about intentionality. Careful planning, strategic moves, and sometimes even making daring shifts in your business are what truly unlock the doors to freedom—financial freedom, time freedom, and so much more!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.quixoticdesignco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quixoticdesignco/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@quixoticdesignco

Image Credits
Nick Vaughn