120. Beyond the Milestones: 7 Lessons After 7 Years of Entrepreneurship

In this episode of Behind the Design, I’m diving into a topic that’s been on many designers’ minds—how to bounce back after a slow season in business. This year has been challenging for many, including myself, as my studio, Current, saw a slower-than-usual July and August.While it’s comforting to know we’re not alone, at the end of the day, we still need to make money and keep the business moving forward. So, in today’s episode, I’m sharing four practical strategies you can start implementing right away to regain momentum and finish the year strong. Plus, I’ll share a little about my personal experience and the lessons I’ve learned over the years on how to navigate these slower periods. Mentioned in this episode: Goals by Design Mini-Course Studio Growth Accelerator

Join me as I celebrate seven years in business, from starting in 2017 to going full-time in 2019 to today. In this episode, Olivia dives into the seven crucial lessons she's learned over the years, touching on resilience, daily habits, the importance of knowing your numbers, and more. Olivia also offers practical advice for new entrepreneurs and reflects on her vision for the future. Don't miss out on inspiring insights and valuable tips to help you thrive in your business journey. LINKS: https://byoliviaaustin.com/studio-growth-accelerator https://www.instagram.com/byoliviaaustin/

In this episode,I dive deep into the behind-the-scenes experience of launching my first course, Studio Growth Accelerator. I cover the entire journey from preparation to execution, including successes, challenges, and valuable lessons learned. Whether you're thinking of creating a passive income stream in your business or are curious about different marketing strategies, find out what worked, what didn't, and how you can apply these game-changing insights to your own business. LINKS: Studio Growth Accelerator waitlist - https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/mqtmd5tdlk Free Quiz: What's Holding You Back from Hitting 6 Figures - https://byoliviaaustin.com/six-figure-designer-quiz Kay's Sales & Marketing Lab Waitlist - https://kacmarketing.co/lab

In this episode, we're ditching hustle culture and going in-depth on what it actually takes to work less and make more as a brand and website designer. Forget the hustle—it's time to discover how strategic shifts in your business can lead to more freedom and higher profits. We’ll debunk the myths of hustle culture and explore the essential steps to streamline your processes, attract high-paying clients, and finally break through that income ceiling. Plus, I’ll share actionable tips and real-life success stories that prove you can achieve financial freedom without burning out. Ready to transform your business? Tune in to learn how you can make it happen, and get a sneak peek into how my Studio Growth Accelerator course can guide you every step of the way. LINKS: https://byoliviaaustin.com/studio-growth-accelerator **[USE CODE: BTD10 for 10% off SGA!!!!]** for podcast listeners only!

The path to my first six figures as a brand and website designer was rocky and in the 7 years of building, running and scaling my design studio haven't been linear. However, once I ditched what wasn't working and refined what was, my business and LIFE changed forever. In today's episode I'm breaking down the 5 Pillars of a Multi-Six Figure Design Studio to help you hit this milestone in your design career and accelerate your growth. What's Holding You Back From Hitting 6 Figures as a Brand & Website Designer? Take the quiz to find out → https://byoliviaaustin.com/six-figure-designer-quiz

In this episode of 'Behind the Design,' we're breaking past barriers holding that could be holding you back from reaching six-figures as a brand and website designer. I'm drawing from my personal journey and mentorship of other designers to highlight three critical areas: positioning and marketing, pricing and offerings, and systems and processes. The main goal of this episode is to help you decipher your ONE key area that is holding you back from reaching 6 figures, with action steps you can take today to reach your goal. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom from someone who's been in the trenches and emerged victoriously. TAKE THE QUIZ! What's Holding You Back From Hitting 6 Figures as a Brand & Website Designerhttps://byoliviaaustin.com/six-figure-designer-quiz Other links: Episode 91: What I'd Do if I were Starting my business from Scratch Episode 88: Building & Pricing Your Design Services Episode 77: how I went from charging $5k to $15k in 2 years Episode 65: The unfolding of my business(es) over the yearsEpisode 64: How I 2.5x'd my revenue in one year

While I don't believe in quick fixes when it comes to business, I do believe there are key things that make or break a business. Most of the time, these things are overlooked because they seem small and don't feel like "revenue-generating" tasks, but not all of those tasks are about sales and marketing. When you break down your financial goals and what you need to do to increase profitability and the overall health of your business, it often comes down to one thing: your process. For me, this was absolutely true. When I look back over the last 5 years and how I've grown Current to a multi-six figure business that has allowed me to work with amazing clients and start other business ventures, it's because of my design process. A streamlined and strategic design process allows you to stay in your genius zone and produce better results for your clients which increases client retention and revenue...  it allows you to show up as the expert and position you more professionally, which sets expectations and boundaries upfront and doesn't cause issues later in the project, which overall allows you to be more profitable in your business. In today's episode we're talking about the importance of a streamlined + strategic design process, how it directly correlates to hitting your revenue goals + the next steps you need to take in order to create a design process that works for you. FREE GUIDE: ⁠3 Elements Most Designers are Missing in their Brand + Web Process

In this episode of the Behind the Design podcast, your host Olivia Austin, brand designer, strategist, and business mentor, dives into the five things she's doing differently during her second maternity leave and the mistakes she made the first time around. Olivia shares valuable insights on planning for maternity leave as a business owner, including the importance of having a clear calendar, setting up a strong automated lead generation process, and creating a plan for passive income. She also emphasizes the importance of having zero expectations and simplifying everything in your business to prioritize time with family. Whether you're anticipating your own maternity leave, planning to have kids in the future, or simply curious about balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with practical tips and heartfelt advice. Don't miss out on Olivia's upcoming course, Design Freedom, which focuses on building a thriving brand and website design studio around your dream life. For more details and to join the waitlist, visit byoliviaaustin.com/courses. Tune in to get inspired and equipped with the tools to manage your business and personal life seamlessly during maternity leave!

As ambitious entrepreneurs it's very easy to just keep your head down and keep working until one day you finally look up only to realize the year is over and you're basically in the same place you were in January. Or maybe you have goals that seem simple, yet you can't seem to figure out how to accomplish them. You know I'm here to help you build an intentional & aligned design business AND life. It's not just about revenue, growing and getting more licents, it's about using your design studio to fuel your dream life outside of work. In today's episode I'm walking you through the exercise I do after every quarter and then how to plan for the rest of the year, to not only hit all of your goals, but feel purposeful in your business. LINKS: Design Freedom Waitlist: https://delightful-glade-81121.myflodesk.com/mqtmd5tdlk Free Course: Aligned  Designer’s Growth Guide https://byoliviaaustin.com/growth-guide

[ Pssttt ones busy working moms can do too! ] In this episode of Behind the Design Podcast, Olivia shares practical time management tips specifically tailored for busy entrepreneurs. Olivia shares personal insights and effective strategies that have transformed her life and business even after having a baby with limited childcare. She covers the importance of core focuses, realistic planning, designated times for administrative tasks, and eliminating distractions. Olivia also addresses common issues faced by entrepreneurs and provides actionable advice for better managing your time and achieving your goals. Tune in to hear Olivia's tips and answers to listener questions on time management among other insights. links: FREE COURSE: https://currentdesignstudio.mykajabi.com/offers/SjdqDFT7 Weekly Planner template: https://byoliviaaustin.com/clickup-weekly-to-do-template (use code BTD10)Goals tracking template: https://byoliviaaustin.com/clickup-goals-template (use code BTD10) byoliviaaustin.com @byoliviaaustin