We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natasha Clawson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natasha below.

Natasha, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

If I were starting my business over today, there are several key lessons I’ve learned that would allow me to approach things more efficiently and effectively. One of the most significant changes I would make is to actively seek out and connect with like-hearted individuals who have already paved the path in my industry. When I began my entrepreneurial journey, I had the opportunity to work with two partners in a small brand agency while still in college. Although we benefited from working together, I lacked a go-to mentor who had already experienced the ups and downs of building a successful business.

As I ventured into freelancing fully on my own, I faced long days and hard lessons as an entrepreneur. Eventually, the weight of it all led to complete burnout, and I made the difficult decision to step away from my business. It wasn’t until I joined an emerging biotech startup led by a female CEO that I discovered the immense support network of women building businesses and supporting one another.

While it is true that you can learn a great deal on their own, each lesson learned through hard knocks is hard-earned. However, there is an incredible wealth of wisdom available through networking and business groups that can significantly accelerate your progress. Why go through all that extra work when you can save years of trial and error by benefiting from the guidance of a wise mentor?

For those seeking mentorship, there are a few ways to engage with experienced individuals in your field. First, take advantage of the wealth of free resources available, such as podcasts, YouTube channels, and social media platforms.

Additionally, finding a seasoned mentor who is willing to meet with you occasionally and share their wisdom can be incredibly valuable. It is important to approach this relationship with respect and gratitude. Always work around their schedule, offer to buy them lunch or coffee as a gesture of appreciation, and don’t forget to express your gratitude with a heartfelt thank you. Many people genuinely enjoy helping others succeed, but it’s essential never to take advantage of their generosity.

Lastly, consider the option of paid mentorship or coaching who you can meet with regularly or as needed. Investing in one-on-one support allows you to receive tailored advice and guidance specific to your niche. Working with a mentor who specializes in your industry can provide invaluable insights and accelerate your progress.

In my personal experience, it wasn’t until I reached a point of complete burnout and stepped away from my business that I discovered an entire ecosystem of support for entrepreneurs like me. Today, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and empowering others to avoid the hardships I faced. By seeking out mentors, building a network, and leveraging available resources, aspiring entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success from the very beginning.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

In high school, I found my nerdy escape in text-based role-playing games. Yes, I was fully engaged in the realm of dungeons and dragons-esque adventures. During that time, creating photo collages of characters was all the rage (think blinking webpage text and all). To pursue this creative outlet, I enrolled in a regional occupation program for graphic design at my high school, where I discovered my love for Photoshop and even dabbled in HTML-based web design.

Little did I know that my teenage fascination with sci-fi and fantasy would pave the way for a career path in graphic design. I went on to attend the University of California, Davis, where I studied design. Since then, I’ve been working in the field, primarily focusing on branding and packaging. Over time, I realized my passion for supporting personal brands, specifically authors, speakers, and coaches.

With over a decade of experience under my belt, my goal now is to utilize the wisdom I’ve gained to empower and encourage other women entrepreneurs. Whether it’s crafting a comprehensive brand build-out, developing a stunning website, providing one-on-one mentorship, or collaborating with my colleague Jen Oliver to co-operate The Women’s Connective, a women’s networking and resource group in Northern California, I find immense joy in the work I do every day.

We’d love to hear about how you met your Co-Collaborator for The Women’s Connective.

I’m a member of a local to me co-working space, Granite City in Folsom, CA. I love the energy of co-working and it allows me a guaranteed once a week social experience outside of my home office, and I always make valuable connections there. One day one of my friends at the co-working space told me I just had to meet Jen Oliver.

I got connected and met Jen the night before Thanksgiving, it was late and there was no one else in the co-working center and she walked in and lit up the room with a magnetic presence, like I’d known her my whole life. From there we engaged on a brand journey to create a new look for her and her business, but what sprang out of our brand work was something we in no way expected.
She hated doing social media marketing for her business (a lament shared by many personal brand owners I meet) and she was longing for something different. I suggested she utilize public speaking to build her audience and trust factor, as well as creating a monthly event where women could gather and network. “Done, what date do you want to launch the first one?” was her response, and the rest is sort of history.

A year later we are gaining momentum, women are connecting and doing business with other women they have met through our group, and it’s a beautiful symbiosis of like-hearted people coming together and doing wonderful things in our community, and it all comes back to two key principles – personal relationships and connection.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! Networking and mentorship. I’m sure those ideas aren’t new to most people, but the differentiator is finding the RIGHT one for you. I think a lot of times you might happen upon a mentor, or try out a new networking group, and write it off because at the end of the day the interaction didn’t feel good or didn’t yield the results you were looking for. You have to be intentional about who you choose as a mentor or networking group, and that means you might have to try out many different ones to find what works for you (same thing is true for therapists folks!). When you find your people though, dang, hello community! Hello success! The right people help propel you to new heights.

One parting thought – as your business grows and changes, so do you. Some relationships that once served you are meant to be let go, to allow space for new ones. This is a natural part of the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: aspireenco.com
• Instagram: natasha.la.clawson
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspireencompany
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nclawson/

Image Credits
In Her Image Photography