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Meet Liz Mozley, graphic designer, solopreneur and mum of two
Q. Inform us a bit about your background, the place you are from, and about your children?
Liz: I grew up in Cardiff in Wales, within the UK. After which I went away for a very long time, to review, work and reside in London for about 10 years. After which I had my first little one and got here again to Cardiff.
I’m a graphic designer and I began off in just a little company; then went in-house at huge college, after which whereas I used to be there, began getting requests for freelance work. And apparently, working for myself had by no means been a purpose or wasn’t actually one thing that I used to be eager about, however I began to tackle these aspect tasks.
And I truly actually loved it, obtained a style for working for myself, after which I had children and realised that I did not wish to return to working for another person.
Fortunately I had began constructing my very own enterprise earlier than having children. All of it moved very slowly in the beginning as a result of I used to be taking maternity go away and like juggling it with childcare. However now at 5 and seven years previous, my children are a bit older, I’ve actually gone all in alone enterprise and I believe I might actually battle to return to work for another person now.
Q. The rationale I began following you was your Instagram put up about “embracing rejection”. That put up actually resonated with me as I am beginning my very own enterprise. Are you able to inform us extra about the place that got here from and the concept of “rejection remedy”?
Liz: So I invited somebody who was far more excessive profile than I’d often ever ask to be on my podcast. And he stated no, as a result of I did not have sufficient downloads per episode. He stated it very properly. He stated to get in contact with him once I had extra downloads. And what was attention-grabbing to me was how I felt. It wasn’t even a horrible rejection, it wasn’t public, it is not like anyone else knew about it, however I nonetheless had fairly robust emotions about it. I’d catch myself saying to myself, that did not really feel good, I am not gonna ask anybody of that stage once more, I do not wish to really feel like this once more.
And I began to assume if that is how I used to be reacting simply from a reasonably minor rejection for my podcast, what was I lacking out on as a result of I wasn’t even asking for it due to this worry of being rejected. I had seen another individuals do that and a buddy of mine who’s an illustrator known as Katie Chapel additionally did a rejection problem just a few years beforehand to me.
So I set myself the problem to get 100 rejections inside six months, which it seems was fully by no means going to occur. And I failed the problem however what was actually attention-grabbing to me was the minute that I made it a problem and I gamified it, it grew to become one thing that was enjoyable for me and I created a win-win scenario and it simply gave me this actual boldness and confidence. And so I used to be simply going out and simply asking for what I wished.
Surprisingly, I obtained far more yeses than I anticipated; about 50 p.c sure’s, 50 p.c no’s. And I simply obtained a lot better at dealing with the rejection. A lot, a lot better at transferring on faster. I nonetheless really feel the detrimental emotion when it occurs, like the frustration, however I do not dwell on it.
Q. What sort of issues had been you asking for as a part of your problem?
Liz: Most of it was business-related. I pitched visitors for my podcast, sought podcast sponsors, and requested for talking alternatives at occasions. A few of it was additionally about cold-pitching potential purchasers. It was a combination, primarily targeted on pushing my enterprise ahead.
Q. After having children, because you already had a aspect enterprise, at what level did you determine not to return to your earlier job?
Liz: I had a fantastic maternity bundle at my job, permitting me to take an entire 12 months off. By the top of my maternity go away, I did not wish to return, primarily as a result of lengthy commute and the will to spend extra time with my little one. I resigned and began constructing my enterprise, which allowed me to scale up or down primarily based on my household wants. After my second little one, I absolutely dedicated to my branding enterprise, which has been actually fulfilling.
Q. How did motherhood change your notion of labor?
Liz: Motherhood made me extra bold. Earlier than children, I used to be content material however not pushing myself. Now, with my very own enterprise, I am pushed to make it profitable and sustainable, permitting me to have the flexibleness to be there for my children.
And for me, what feels profitable is that flexibility that I’ve. And I suppose I really feel bold within the sense of creating that work; making a enterprise that enables me to reside that way of life slightly than bold to be like probably the most well-known branding designer.
I believe the phrase, ‘you’ll be able to have all of it’ has been actually damaging. I believe you’ve the potential to have all the issues that you really want, however not essentially on the similar time. I believe we simply should be a bit extra sensible about that.
It’s about understanding what you need after which understanding what you are keen to sacrifice to make that occur since you do need to sacrifice one thing. For instance, what we have sacrificed is the steadiness of a daily revenue and advantages from an organization, to have the ability to spend extra time with our youngsters.
Q. The place do you get your inspiration?
Liz: I believe individuals, truthfully. I’m positively an extrovert. I really like being round individuals. I believe speaking to individuals about totally different matters and what they’re engaged on, issues I am desirous about, and bouncing that off different individuals actually evokes me.
I additionally discover it actually useful to get out of my work bubble and discover inspiration outdoors of that. I discover going to new locations actually inspirational. Additionally, I’ve just lately been to various conferences. So networking, listening to talks, I discovered that that is actually been good for me as properly. So, a change of surroundings, totally different individuals, totally different concepts, spark issues for me.
Q. What’s your largest productiveness hack?
Liz: Truthfully, a to-do record is probably the most motivating factor for me. Quite simple, it is simply on my telephone, I make one for every day, and I try to get as many issues completed on it as potential. I additionally attempt to break duties into small chunks and use a timer. I get simply distracted, so setting brief closing dates helps me focus and get issues completed.
Q. What’s your parenting mantra?
Liz: Effectively, it relies upon what part I am in. I believe once they had been little, ‘This Too Shall Cross’ is kind of a mantra for lots of oldsters, figuring out that when issues felt laborious, that it wasn’t going to be like this without end.
It is so laborious as a result of while you’re within the thick of that although, just like the sleep deprivation and every little thing, you simply cannot think about ever popping out the opposite aspect of it.
One of many issues that I am not excellent at and I wish to be higher at is simply being actually current within the now, and so I believe my mantra is to simply actually settle for the part that I am in of parenting, get pleasure from it as a lot as I can, and be as current as potential with my children.
Q. What recommendation would you give to new mums seeking to begin working once more or begin their very own enterprise?
Liz: I believe my recommendation could be to be actually type with your self.
I believe as mums we’re so laborious on ourselves if we simply do not get it and do it immediately.
Every thing is a studying course of and a journey. I used to be so so annoyed at myself originally, that I wasn’t additional alongside; I gave myself a very laborious time, that I wasn’t incomes sufficient, all of those form of issues, and I simply want I might been kinder with myself.
We beat ourselves up about so many issues, so be light with your self as you begin a brand new factor. And in addition acknowledge that it is actually regular so that you can not really feel like your self, to have misplaced confidence, and to really feel a bit misplaced. See it as the start of a journey of rediscovering what you wish to do and who you wish to be.
Q. Do you’ve a favorite software that makes your life simpler?
Liz: I’d say the Notes app on my telephone. It is useful for jotting down concepts and holding every little thing in a single place.
Q. What are your ideas on AI and its influence on work and our youngsters?
As a inventive, I suppose generative AI makes me uncomfortable a bit, and I fear concerning the moral implications. I attempt to not fear about it an excessive amount of however that is at the back of my thoughts.
From a mum perspective I believe there’s numerous actually thrilling issues happening. I get enthusiastic about AI when it is serving to me with the roles that I do not wish to do. When it is doing the roles that I do wish to do, like being inventive and designing, then I am not !
Q. What’s a parenting e book or recommendation that was a sport changer for you?
Liz: “The E book You Want Your Mother and father Had Learn” by Philippa Perry was insightful.
To be completely sincere, the factor that has helped me most as a mother or father was getting remedy.
When my first child was younger, I went to remedy for some time. I believe having children is actually triggering and it brings up a variety of undealt points for individuals. So I believe truly coping with these and addressing these has been one of the best factor that I’ve completed and probably the most useful for me. Realizing that that is what’s occurring after which looking for assist is tough, particularly while you’re like sleep disadvantaged and also you’re simply within the midst of it and every little thing’s foggy.
Q. What’s one of the best factor you’ve got learn or watched currently?
Liz: I simply watched “Ted Lasso,” which I loved for its light-heartedness.
I really like escapist TV – issues that I haven’t got to assume too laborious about. I’ve simply watched Ted Lasso and actually loved it.
For studying, a e book known as “The Greatest 90 Days Ever” by a buddy of mine provides each day advertising prompts, which I discover very helpful.
You will discover Liz on Instagram right here.
And he or she has a very cool podcast, right here.
In different information…
I’ve so many different updates for you, each life and my enterprise journey, I’ll cowl all of it in a juicy e mail subsequent week.
Free session: How I’m establishing my on-line revenue streams
Subsequent week I’m doing a free session on how I began my side-hustle and then took it on to construct a enterprise round it which was all potential because of the web, social media and AI instruments.
Primarily, you’ll be able to take any ability, curiosity or ardour you’ve, and construct a enterprise round it. Once I discovered this was potential, because of the web and new expertise, I discovered every little thing about how to do that.
I’m sharing extra about my journey and the way I did it in a free session on July 10. Particulars to enroll right here in case you are . Replay can be despatched!