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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 youngsters?
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 dwell 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 a bit of company; then went in-house at massive college, after which whereas I used to be there, began getting requests for freelance work. And curiously, working for myself had by no means been a objective or wasn’t actually one thing that I used to be occupied with, however I began to tackle these aspect initiatives.
And I really actually loved it, obtained a style for working for myself, after which I had youngsters and realised that I did not need to return to working for another person.
Fortunately I had began constructing my very own enterprise earlier than having youngsters. All of it moved very slowly in the beginning as a result of I used to be taking maternity depart and like juggling it with childcare. However now at 5 and seven years outdated, my youngsters are a bit older, I’ve actually gone all in by myself enterprise and I believe I would actually wrestle to return to work for another person now.
Q. The explanation I began following you was your Instagram publish about “embracing rejection”. That publish 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 after I had extra downloads. And what was fascinating 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 need to really feel like this once more.
And I began to suppose 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 folks do that and a good friend of mine who’s an illustrator referred to as Katie Chapel additionally did a rejection problem a couple of years beforehand to me.
So I set myself the problem to get 100 rejections inside six months, which it seems was utterly by no means going to occur. And I failed the problem however what was actually fascinating to me was the minute that I made it a problem and I gamified it, it turned one thing that was enjoyable for me and I created a win-win state of affairs 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 shifting 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 have 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 centered on pushing my enterprise ahead.
Q. After having youngsters, because you already had a aspect enterprise, at what level did you resolve not to return to your earlier job?
Liz: I had a fantastic maternity package deal at my job, permitting me to take an entire yr off. By the top of my maternity depart, I did not need to return, primarily because of the 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 youngsters, 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 pliability to be there for my youngsters.
And for me, what feels profitable is that flexibility that I’ve. And I assume I really feel bold within the sense of creating that work; making a enterprise that permits me to dwell that life-style fairly than bold to be like essentially 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 the entire issues that you really want, however not essentially on the identical time. I believe we simply must be a bit extra reasonable about that.
It’s about figuring out what you need after which figuring out what you are prepared to sacrifice to make that occur since you do must sacrifice one thing. For instance, what we have sacrificed is the soundness of a daily revenue and advantages from an organization, to have the ability to spend extra time with our children.
Q. The place do you get your inspiration?
Liz: I believe folks, actually. I’m positively an extrovert. I really like being round folks. I believe speaking to folks about totally different subjects and what they’re engaged on, issues I am occupied with, and bouncing that off different folks actually evokes me.
I additionally discover it actually useful to get out of my work bubble and discover inspiration exterior of that. I discover going to new locations actually inspirational. Additionally, I’ve lately been to various conferences. So networking, listening to talks, I discovered that that is actually been good for me as effectively. So, a change of surroundings, totally different folks, totally different concepts, spark issues for me.
Q. What’s your largest productiveness hack?
Liz: Actually, a to-do listing is essentially the most motivating factor for me. Quite simple, it is simply on my telephone, I make one for every day, and I attempt to get as many issues executed on it as doable. I additionally attempt to break duties into small chunks and use a timer. I get simply distracted, so setting quick cut-off dates helps me focus and get issues executed.
Q. What’s your parenting mantra?
Liz: Nicely, it relies upon what section I am in. I believe once they have been little, ‘This Too Shall Go’ is sort of a mantra for lots of oldsters, realizing that when issues felt arduous, that it wasn’t going to be like this ceaselessly.
It is so arduous as a result of if you’re within the thick of that although, just like the sleep deprivation and all the things, 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 need 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 section that I am in of parenting, get pleasure from it as a lot as I can, and be as current as doable with my youngsters.
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 can be to be actually form with your self.
I believe as mums we’re so arduous on ourselves if we simply do not get it and do it immediately.
Every part is a studying course of and a journey. I used to be so so annoyed at myself initially, that I wasn’t additional alongside; I gave myself a very arduous time, that I wasn’t incomes sufficient, all of those form of issues, and I simply want I would 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 likewise 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 need to do and who you need 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 helpful for jotting down concepts and preserving all the things in a single place.
Q. What are your ideas on AI and its affect on work and our children?
As a inventive, I assume generative AI makes me uncomfortable a bit, and I fear concerning the moral implications. I strive 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 plenty of actually thrilling issues occurring. I get enthusiastic about AI when it is serving to me with the roles that I do not need to do. When it is doing the roles that I do need 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 trustworthy, the factor that has helped me most as a dad or mum was getting remedy.
When my first child was younger, I went to remedy for some time. I believe having youngsters is actually triggering and it brings up loads of undealt points for folks. So I believe really coping with these and addressing these has been the very best factor that I’ve executed and essentially the most useful for me. Realizing that that is what’s occurring after which in search of assist is tough, particularly if you’re like sleep disadvantaged and also you’re simply within the midst of it and all the things’s foggy.
Q. What’s the very best factor you have learn or watched these days?
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 suppose too arduous about. I’ve simply watched Ted Lasso and actually loved it.
For studying, a e book referred to as “The Greatest 90 Days Ever” by a good friend of mine affords each day advertising prompts, which I discover very helpful.
You’ll find 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 doable due to the web, social media and AI instruments.
Primarily, you’ll be able to take any talent, curiosity or ardour you’ve, and construct a enterprise round it. After I discovered this was doable, due to the web and new know-how, I discovered all the things 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 if you’re . Replay shall be despatched!