Squarespace Designer Mentoring

My Story

And more importantly, my values.

From the outside, my business success probably looks like it happened overnight. In reality, I set the wheels in motion about a year before I went full-time and six months before my first client build. Over that first six months I planned my offerings, I built out my own website, I brushed up on my coding skills, I had a photoshoot done, I worked with a branding designer and I got my financial ducks in a row. I’m convinced that getting that first stage right resulted in the thriving business and perfect-for-me lifestyle I have today. Think of it as planting a seed that you water and check on every day. Nothing is happening but if you’re doing the right things, you just have to trust that the seed is germinating under the soil.

Then the first little shoots of green came poking out of the ground. I ‘went live’ and had my first two clients booked in within three weeks. I refined my marketing, tweaked my packages and switched a few things up until they felt right to me – the equivalent of getting the right light and heat and amount of water for your little piece of greenery. Within a few short months that plant was bearing enough fruit for me to live off.

Two years later, my business was no longer a little green sapling. It became a tree that I attached my hammock to, and I’ve remained booked up with client builds about 2-6 months in advance, depending on the time of year, ever since.

I split my time between London and New York City. I also have the ability to travel to wherever I like and can keep on working, assuming there’s strong internet! When I don’t want to work on vacation – or want time off for any other reason – I simply block it off on my calendar. No boss to say I can’t.

I relish the fact that I can take a walk, work out, spend time in nature, meet a friend for lunch, take a power nap or watch a movie when I feel like it. Sometimes I get up and work early in the morning, sometimes late at night. My schedule is flexible and works around me. I’m lucky to have worked with clients all over the world. From New Zealand right around the globe to Hawaii and everywhere in between.

I started my own business to give myself a certain lifestyle and to do work that I love and look forward to. I wanted to work for a company with integrity. I dreamt of working on projects that excited me, with clients I could connect with. I wanted to feel I was helping people not companies. Now, I get to meet clients over Zoom from the comfort of my home office, rather than in a stuffy boardroom. I get genuinely excited when they tell me about their budding business, rather than listen to a well-rehearsed schpiel from a man in an ill-fitting suit and a horrendous tie. I also get to rest, eat and move when my body needs it, not when a boss says I can.

I have time to spend on the things that really light me up and I have more time to give to other people. And as I can travel as often as I like, I get to spend more time with the people I love.

I read a fair few books and blogs but honestly, I ignored a fair amount of what they taught me. I firmly believe the only way to build a business that Is not only successful but gives you the freedom and happiness you’re looking for in the world of self-employment is to do it in a way that’s true to you. A way that utilises your existing strengths and the things you love to do. A way that overcomes your weaknesses and the stuff you hate (well, mostly… I can’t get you out of taxes I’m afraid).

I’m incredibly intuitive and sensitive. I pride myself on getting to understand my clients specific needs and then serving them from that place and I’d hope to do the same for you. Your business doesn’t need to – and shouldn’t – look like mine. It should look like you. What we discuss and work on will be led by where you’re at in your journey and where you feel you need guidance the most. We can look at whichever client site you’re working on at that moment and you can receive real-time actionable feedback, or I can jump in and work out any technical difficulties you’re having and make design suggestions live on the call.

I’m often asked if web design can provide a sustainable living. I know that selling an easy six-figure dream is how every course on the internet is seemingly marketed these days but I’m no snake oil salesman. I’ve written about how much I make a Squarespace Web Designer right here, in an effort to be as honest and transparent as possible.