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

Michaela, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I have been very lucky to earn a full-time living from my creative work since I began my professional career. I am also very lucky to have chosen a degree in college that I still use every day. I studied Graphic Design and began working in-house as a designer/in marketing when I graduated. I don’t think I necessarily could have sped up the process in any way, and I’m not sure I would have wanted to. I believe that every step of the way — school, my first job, transitioning to freelancing, and so on — were all important parts of the process that allowed me to learn and grow into who I am and where I am now.

Michaela, 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?

My name is Michaela, and I am a Graphic Designer. I’ve always been a creative spirit, which led me to pursue a degree in Graphic Design. I worked in-house as a designer in my first two jobs, and ultimately transitioned to self-employment where I established my design studio called JoieWorks Creative Cartel. I specialize in graphic, website, and brand design, and am also an illustrator. I believe that good design is intentional — I dig deep and ask the nitty-gritty questions upfront to create designs that are intentional and impactful.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In our society, there is often this idea that there is only one acceptable path you can take — go to high school, get good grades so you can get into a good college, pick a major when you’re 18, study hard, get a job in your field, and start working. While this is a wonderful path for many, I really had to unlearn the idea that this was the only option. When I first started thinking about working for myself, I had many limiting beliefs circulating in my mind that were holding me back. Can I even do something like this? Is this an acceptable thing to do? Can I really leave my corporate job and work for myself? In reality, there are endless paths you can take on your personal and professional journey. And why do we have to decide it all at age 18? Maybe you take a gap year, or go traveling, or work in a few different fields until you find something you love. Everyone’s journey is different, and it’s okay to not have everything figured out. You figure things out along the way.

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

I have made multiple major pivots in my career. I switched from working full-time to working for myself and setting up my own business to switching back to working full-time. There are no rules. As I said above, everyone’s journey is different. It’s all part of the process. What works for you now may not work for you in six months, and that’s okay. I believe every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow, and you might find something exceptional when and where you least expect it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joieworks.com
• Instagram: @michaela.joie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelajoiegalvin/

Image Credits
Jon Kohlwey Beth Johnston, Yellow Feather Photography