Year 26. That’s where I am in my amazing journey of working for myself.
1985 | College Graduate Searching to Find Herself
When I started in this career, it was rough going. Not gonna lie! Graphic Design is a tough industry to break into. I’m embarrassed to tell you just how many jobs it took to finally land a job at an advertising agency. Let’s just say in one year, I had 9 jobs and moved 7 times…or was it 7 jobs and moved 9 times? It’s all a blur now. I once decided to sell furniture instead of doing graphic design. Suffice it say, I’m a TERRIBLE sells person. LOL! Fortunately, several years in I finally got a job at a nice small advertising agency in Charlotte, NC.
Graphic Design in the 80s was a completely different, hands-on tactual job than it is today. Personal Computers weren’t even a dream. We had to draw hand-drawn “Comps” of ads and brochures or billboards and show the client what it “might” look like. Then once we’ve done our dog and pony show, the hard work started. Specking type (sending it out to the typositor. This software I’m writing this post in doesn’t even know that word. It’s a person who used a DOS computer to set words on paper so we could “Cut” and “Paste”), cutting poster board and drawing blue lines on it for size and crop marks. Then glueing the type down, hoping that on the way to the printer it would stay. Drawing illustrations. Working with a photographer who provided negatives. Creating art to be printed was a complex skill, but it was fun!
1998 | Mighty Mouse Productions, Inc
After 7 years at a local agency here in Greenville, I’d had 2 kids and I asked myself, “Why did I have kids, I never see them?!” After much prayer and giving God a challenge that I couldn’t quit my job on my own, I walked into work and was presented with the option to either come in on time or be fired. (Come on people, I’ve been late for the last 7 years!) I quit right there, giving my 2 week notice – which turned into 2 months.
The first work I got was designing a logo and I was hooked. How did I get so off coarse all those early years? I’d just gotten lost in someone else’s agency, but I learned A LOT and loved working there. After putting my name out there, the work started coming in. I’ve always had a deal with God. He brings the work and I try to be easy to work with and ultimately strive to create designs my clients love.
Just yesterday, I came across one of my first sketch books. Inside of it was my original logo sketch for Mighty Mouse Productions. I had no idea I had this! It made me feel so nostalgic I decided to write this post. It’s been an amazing ride the past 26 years. I’ve worked on over 2,400 jobs and hundreds of clients. I’ve kept my business simple and lean. I’ll only take a job if I feel I can do it well.
2014 | Mighty Mouse Gets a New Face
10 years ago I was encouraged to “redo” my website by some respected guys at a CoWork space I was at. In the process of doing that, I rebranded myself. Yeah, I had 15 years of equity in the brand, but it wasn’t me any more and it didn’t speak well for my business. That’s the question you have to ask yourself. Today I spoke with a new client who was hesitant to rebrand after 20 years, but I encouraged him to consider keeping an element of the old and doing something better. I’m excited for the challenge!
2024 | Still Going Strong!
People have started asking me, “Are you still working?” I say, “Heck yeah! I LOVE what I do. Why would I quit?” Not many people can say that! I feel completely blessed to be still designing logos, websites, ads, brochures and many other great forms of marketing.