I absolutely love web design! For the past few months, I’ve taken a break from it, however. I needed to pull back to focus on my rebrand and creating high-quality, valuable content for my new space. While I would have loved to have been able to balance it all, something had to go and it was web design.
Designing premade themes and doing custom web design and development exclusively for the Genesis Framework (aff link) was awesome, but I struggled to find my own real aesthetic and style in doing so. When I first started designing premade themes, I took inspiration from everywhere and so I felt my designs ended up not looking unique and too much like those in the industry. The last thing I want to be known for is biting off of someone else’s style and aesthetic, when I feel so passionate about design and developing my own. Those feelings of feeling fraudy and like an imposter severely held me back. It took for me to pull away, rebrand, refocus, and decide where I really wanted to take my businesses to come to terms with how I was feeling. I came to the conclusion that I had to let something go in my preexisting business and focus it back on what the original intent for it was a graphic design boutique. I pulled all of the web design and development aspects from it because I felt it wasn’t a good fit. The one thing that helped me reach this conclusion was me rebranding New Mama Diaries to Bliss & Faith.
Those feelings of feeling fraudy and like an imposter severely held me back. It took for me to pull away, rebrand, refocus, and decide where I really wanted to take my businesses to come to terms with how I was feeling. I came to the conclusion that I had to let something go in my preexisting business, and focus it back on what the original intent for it was, a graphic design boutique. I pulled all of the web design and development aspects from it, because I felt it wasn’t a good fit. The one thing that helped me reach this conclusion was me rebranding New Mama Diaries to Bliss & Faith.
As I was taking myself through the rebranding process, I realized that web design and development made more sense to be a part of Bliss & Faith, rather than Sweet Face Studio. The reason being is because I enjoy creating custom and unique things that can serve a specific purpose for business. The thing is that I love being a part of defining that purpose, I love being a part of the whole process from start to finish. Its the one thing that made rebranding to Bliss & Faith so fun.
[Tweet “Enjoy creating custom and unique things that can serve a specific purpose for business or someone.”]
In doing so, I found that I was still passionate about web design and development, but more from the standpoint of branding. I’ve always been a ‘full story, behind the scenes’ kind of girl. Someone buying a premade theme of mines and taking it and running just wasn’t enough. I wanted to know the story behind the business and how their branding encompasses the theme. This led me to have more of an interest in helping to create brand identities, rather than just create one component of it.
I take my hat of to all of the designers and developers that offer premade themes, because they are offering a great option for those who can’t quite make the investment in a custom design. I just know for right now that I would rather focus on custom work, seeing the entire branding process all the way through. Its what’s right for me and my business at this time. However, this is not to say one day that I won’t ever offer premade themes again, because I haven’t completely taken doing so off the table. One of the most important parts of running a business having the ability to effectively decipher what to offer and what not to offer. Another important part is to be able to solve a problem that already isn’t being solved. There are a ton of other premade designers out there, even more so in the feminine design aesthetic niche. While, yes I can create themes in my own unique way, if they aren’t really doing anything different than what’s already out there then there isn’t really a clear purpose for creating them. I love being able to create something exactly for an individuals needs, which is why I love branding and brand identity design.
[Tweet “One of the most important parts of running a business having the ability to effectively decipher what to offer and what not to offer.”]
When it comes to branding, everything about it revs my engine. I love the critical and analytic thinking that it requires. As a business minded person (and someone who hold a business management degree) it allows me to think through and be able to solve a problem through a process. Business is all about processes and its what I’ve always loved about business. In being an entrepreneur, I afford myself the opportunity to be able to create the processes, instead of having to follow pre-established one. Its the best of both worlds, because not only do I get to use my left and right brain, I’m able to help take someone’s business to the next level. I’m able to educate other’s on the process as well, by sharing those experiences of helping others here on my blog. Additionally, I’m able to create content to help other like business owners in their quest to help others and succeed.
[Tweet “By sharing experiences, you build connections and help others in so many ways.”]
There’s nothing more enlightening than getting to know yourself and your true passions, and knowing that those same passions can help others. Its been quite a journey for me reaching this point, and I definitely did’t reach it overnight. Its taken me months to dig deep, let go and start new. I can honestly say that its still not the most comfortable place to be in, because I’m used to certainty. I’ve realized as an entrepreneur that certainty and it don’t always exist in the same world. I know that all the passion in the world can’t make my business successful without having some real business sense.
[Tweet “All the passion in the world can’t make a business successful without having some real business sense.”]
Obtaining business sense is what has allowed to both define and expand my offerings and realize that the things I love to do still have a place in those offerings. I’m so glad that I know how to develop and design websites, because it helps me with part of the branding process. It honestly makes me a better brand identity developer, because I’m able to know exactly who my target client should be, because I now know my style and aesthetic better. I’m confident that when I design now, that I’m doing it for someone who I know understands my aesthetic, appreciates it, and that it fits their business.
[Tweet “Know yourself and your true passions, you never know who they can benefit one day.”]
Listen to more about this topic on the Branded Bliss Podcast!
Have you ever lost your passion for something and then gained it back? – What prompted it and what steps did you take to get it back?
