Celebrating 10 Years as My Own Boss this Women’s Day

International Women's Day always prompts a bit of reflection for me. This year, that reflection is

particularly meaningful, as it marks a significant milestone: 10 years of running my own creative business. A whole decade of being my own boss!

Looking back on that first, nervous, and excited month, one vivid memory stands out. I was attending a workshop specifically for mums who were new business owners in the making.  The defining piece of advice I took away that day and really stuck with me - was the absolute necessity of having a niche. To succeed, especially in a market as crowded and competitive as graphic design, I was told I needed a tightly defined niche.

I left that workshop determined. For years, I put a tremendous amount of energy into figuring out my perfect niche. The pressure to define my business so narrowly felt incredibly stifling.

Today, with 10 years of self-employed creative work under my belt, I can honestly say: that advice isn't universally accurate, and for me, it simply didn’t fit.

Over the past decade, some of my most rewarding, creative, and yes, profitable projects have come from industries and niches I never would have expected or pre-selected for myself. I’ve worked with hospitality, finance, non-profits, and health and social services, and each one has taught me something new.

And so, as I celebrate this 10-year anniversary, I've made a firm decision. I am officially done expending my energy trying to squeeze my diverse interests and skills into a singular, narrow box. Having a niche is a lovely ideal for some, but I’ve learned that it’s not the only path to a thriving business.

Instead, I’m redirecting all that energy toward what has truly made my business successful over the long haul:

• Learning and Curiosity: I'm a naturally curious person. I'm putting my energy into mastering new skills and experimenting with the latest software and creative tools. This keeps my work fresh, modern, and exciting.

• Flexibility and Adaptability: The only constant in the creative world is change. I’ve learned that being adaptable; to new client needs, to shifting market trends, to entirely new industries - this is what keeps me relevant.

• Being Open-Minded: I'm no longer closing doors before they're even opened. I’m welcoming the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of industries, because you never know where the next great creative challenge will come from.

This Women’s Day, I'm celebrating the freedom that this design journey provides, not just the freedom from a 9-to-5, but the freedom to build a business that is as diverse as I am. Here’s to the next 10 years of creativity, curiosity, and writing my own rules.