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

Mischell, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I graduated from college in 2004. Once I graduated, I worked at McDonalds for about 11 years. I didn’t have any plans on having my own business or even working in this industry because it was challenging to land a job after college. While working at McDonalds, I met my husband, and he convinced me to quit my job and start my own business. So, I can’t even take credit for the idea. I’m grateful to my husband for not only having the idea but motivating me to do the hard work and succeed. After I quit my job, I took on a few projects here and there, but it was nowhere near enough. There were so many start up challenges! But I stayed motivated until my computer crashed and I had no money to buy a replacement.

My father in-love stepped out on a limb and invested in me by buying a laptop for me. Now, I really needed to learn how to make it happen! I didn’t want his investment to be for nothing. I had to figure out how to be a project manager, how to set up my website, how to onboard clients, what software to use, and all about payment processors. It was a lot to figure out, but I’m grateful for the time it took to learn what I needed to learn. It all paid off eventually! Now, I’m able to run my business with the help of various software automations. I love it!

Mischell, 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?

The first thing anyone should know about me is that I love God and I love my family. My parents taught me to keep God first and take care of my family. I am a workaholic and love to just stay home and relax — when I’m not working, of course.

I’ve been into art since I can remember. I didn’t go anywhere without a sketchbook, a pencil, some crayons, and colored pencils. In grade school, I collected gel pens so that I could draw and color all day. Students paid me to decorate their books and lockers! I spent my time drawing and learning new artistic techniques. My habit was so bad, my grandmother used to collect various colored ink pens for me and every time we went to visit, she gave me a bag full. Those were the best days of my life! In high school, I entered an art contest and traveled to New Orleans. Although I did not win, it was fun being around other designers and having the opportunity to explain my artwork.

During my college years, I enrolled in several art and graphic design classes. This is where my artwork turned digital. I had a professor spend time teaching me how to digitize my work and how to conceptualize without paper. I was addicted, at this point!! I continued my graphic design college courses and earned a bachelor’s in graphic design.

For my current clientele, it is important for me to help them with getting their message out visually, maintaining how their brand message is communicated, and applying strategy to keep them relevant in their industry. Yes, this can be a challenge! I say that because, by default, I’m also tasked with helping them understand why they should trust my methods and brand decisions. So, my creativity is not just in the final product (which is what is seen), it also lies in the process.

My business is so named “Creativ Freedom” because my best results come from having creative freedom. It’s hard to design when I can’t freely think. The creative process includes strategy. That means allowing me to help even when the client can’t see it. That’s what I do!!

My patience sets me apart from others. I don’t give up easily and I view challenges as motivation. Unbelievably, I’m proud of my background at McDonalds. Working there taught me customer service and how to turn an unpleasant experience into a great one. I also learned how to work well with others and be a part of a team. My managerial training has been immensely helpful on this journey.

Sometimes, the creative process can be frustrating, but seeing it all come together and seeing how this process has a significant impact is well worth it! Just remember, if you read this article and decide to reach out, be prepared to give me creative freedom!! You’ll be glad you did!

Have you ever had to pivot?

There was a time that I thought everything was going well. My project management system was holding up, I had great returning clients, consistent income, boundaries that were adhered to, and time set aside for family. Then, the pandemic happened, businesses began to heavily rely on graphics and live streaming because, of course, we were all advised to stay inside for our safety.

It was during this time that I realized that I didn’t set my business up for growth. I felt like I was back at square one. I had to learn a new project management system, try to set up client portals, figure out another way to accept payments, and a host of other things. On top of all that, I had to let go of my office space! Don’t get me wrong, I was grateful for the influx of new clients and work, but I wasn’t prepared. As a result, I had to turn down projects just because I didn’t have capacity to onboard them. I had to pivot.

Thankfully, I learned to set up my business to manage evolution. It was small minded of me to not think ahead. But I overcame this obstacle and learned how to work with the future in mind.

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

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been through old-fashioned word of mouth. I have not taken part in a lot of the various methods of advertising. Most people reach out because someone else told them about my services and well I worked out for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.creativfreedom.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativfreedom/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mischellthacreativ
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creativfreedom/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thaCreativ