30 Things I Learned about Myself in 30 Years as a Designer, Woman, Human
As my 30th birthday rapidly approaches (on August 30th, my golden birthday) I couldn’t help but reflect on the 30 years I’ve lived. After all, doesn’t it feel extra special that I’m also turning 30 during a global pandemic? We’ve all had birthdays in this pandemic (except for you January and February babies, but don’t worry, the pandemic isn’t over yet. You’ll get your turn.) And I don’t know about everyone else, but this birthday feels like, more than ever, a time to look back.
What lessons have I learned? What tips and tricks do I now know? What things can I parse down to a fun, 30 item list?
Well, of course most of my list has to do with design and my role as an owner of a company. I started a version of my LLC in 2014, so not only is it my 30th, it’s also my business’ 6th. That’s a lot of years of ups and downs, lessons learned, tears shed, and victories celebrated.
Here are 30 miscellaneous things I learned on my 30 years on this planet.
Then first item on my list has to be recognizing my privilege. First as a white woman. While being a woman hasn’t always been easy, being white has given me advantages that I can’t begin to comprehend. Using my voice to uplift others is one of the biggest things I can do as a person.
Second, I am privileged as someone whose business is on the internet, unaffected by COVID-19. Many of my friends are out of jobs, and my older family members live in uncertainty.
These things have been clear to me this year, and I feel extremely fortunate.I’m really bad at living in the moment. As I write this, read this, think of this: it’s today! It’s now! Enjoying the good things that have happened to me, and living in the present, is something I work toward.
I firmly believe that art and design are two very different things, and that I’m not an artist. This has been interesting to learn about myself as I have struggled to create anything that’s not on a computer.
You can’t change your own rhythm. A lot of you have followed my sleep issues. Waking up before 9:00 has been a mystery to me for years. I’ve stopped caring. 9:00 it is!
When people are mean to you, it means they’re insecure. It’s really not hard to be nice, or humble, even if someone has messed up. That’s why I’ve truly learned that harsh words are a reflection of inner turmoil from the speaker.
My creativity waxes and wanes, like a moon. In fact, visualizing my creativity as my own personal moon is the most fitting metaphor I can think of.
Calls, while necessary, drain me. Future Olivia: make sure you have at least one day a week, call-free. How I wish everyone was on Slack or was as comfortable with email as me.
I’m so tech-savvy! Like, really. I learn new tools and apps like they’re made for me. This has been a blessing and a curse.
Design should be invisible. If it sticks out too much, it’s not good design. (See: #3)
I’m unsure when coffee became such an unbreakable ritual to me, and I’m also not sure about how I feel about it.
It’s okay to let something sit for a while while you learn to understand your feelings around it. Decisions don’t always have to be made immediately.
I’m not sure about the word “anxiety.” Do I feel it? Yes. Is it something I don’t feel I can say out loud, still, to others? Yes. Do I think that all millennials feel some form of it as a result of our society? Yes!
Breaking down your business operations into steps that can be automated has been a huge help to the year 2020. I’ve saved so, so much time with automation! Thank you Calendly, Bonsai, and Later.
My business is successful enough to warrant having team members! This year, I had 3 people working for Bold August. What a blessing, and I cherish all of them!
Don’t work weekends, unless necessary. This is one I luckily learned early, early on. Weekends are sacred family, rest, and personal time. Without it, I would burn out much more often than I do now.
I absorb negativity like a sponge. If a client says something negative to me, but I got 10 other positive comments that day, guess which one plagues me. I try to remember #5.
I hate reading nonfiction, even when it comes to learning new design. I’m not sure what it is. Perhaps it feels like more work on top of work. But, I love reading fiction!
I’ve designed close to 100 sites! Nothing else to say here. This one should shine on its own.
I’m fortunate to have a family that has supported my business from day 1! In fact, my mom has her own consulting business and helps me quite often.
I do genuinely like creating, despite not considering myself an artist. My podcast (co-hosted with Jessie McCrary) and my instagram have been two incredible outlets. And of course, I think I’m hilarious, so be sure to check out my Reels.
I have a love / hate relationship with routine. I know it’s important, but after three days of doing something similar, I feel an overwhelming need to change it. Don’t even get me started about rearranging my furniture.
Sometimes I have to really think about it when people ask me what I do. Despite the fact I’ve been literally only a designer for most of my life, it has somehow not defined itself as my identity.
However, I do not like the term “graphic designer.” Most likely because it belittles what I do: I own my own web design company, manage my own clients, do my own finances, taxes, and create literal businesses on the internet out of thin air. Designer, business owner, solopreneur. Not graphic designer.
YOLO may be a silly term, but I totally embrace it. I love launching a random new product, trying out the next new thing for my business, taking a chance. It’s why I have courses and freebies. I suppose you could also say it’s “throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks,” but YOLO is funnier.
I love Atlanta. This was where I planted my flag when starting my life after college. I have no idea what the future holds, but Atlanta will always hold a really special place in my memory.
Breaking my time into hours is painful and tough for me. It’s a necessary part of this industry, but I’ve not enjoyed it since drama at my first design position over being an hourly worker. (Trauma shows up in different ways!) I believe that value is in what I deliver, not the amount of time I spend on it. After all, see #6.
BUT, when I have a productive day, it’s an amazing and wonderful feeling. Launching websites and making clients happy is where my purpose lies.
…and the flip side is, I have bad days. I do. I wake up frantic and crazy, and it’s okay to take these days off. After all, I always say, I didn’t become a doctor. A website launch is not something worth sacrificing my mental health over.
The list wouldn’t be a list without mentioning my husband, who I recognize as being insanely supportive. The fact is, I am self-employed. This isn’t for everyone, nor is it always a stable living. Not once has he doubted me, worried about my business, or said anything that wasn’t full of support. I could write a whole other 30 item list about marriage.
Overall, (and this is me trying to embrace #2) I’m happy. Turning 30 in a space where I feel fulfilled, successful, and challenged is a wonderful place to be. If this list has shown me anything, it’s that I’ll continue to grow and cherish life, and my place in it.
Thank you for reading, truly. If you’ve made it this far, I hope you grabbed a few lessons for yourself. And, if you felt I left something out, or want to impart some 30s wisdom of your own, please feel free to comment.
