listen to my latest podcast episode:
February + March 2024 Income Report EP 87
byShannon Mattern
WDA Live Strategy Call 03/26/24


Summary + Transcript

Chat

00:01:24 April Ray: Hi everyone!
00:02:35 April Ray: I'm leaving for spring break with my family on Friday and this will be the first vacation I've had since starting my business that I'm able to totally CHECKOUT! I've worked hard to setup systems, boundaries, and a development calendar that allows for this. I cannot wait!
00:02:42 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “I'm leaving for spri…” with ❤️
00:02:45 Erica Nash: Reacted to “I'm leaving for spri…” with ❤️
00:02:54 Kim Blake: Reacted to “I'm leaving for spri…” with ❤️
00:02:57 Erica Nash: Replying to “I'm leaving for spri…”

HUGE!!! So excited for you.
00:03:00 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “I'm leaving for spri…” with ❤️
00:03:30 April Ray: Thanks. 🙂
00:04:35 April Ray: Reacted to “HUGE!!! So excited f…” with ❤️
00:04:44 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: O.M.G. I just love him. That was probably my fav of the presentations I watched.
00:06:30 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: I get his newsletter – mentioned it every time
00:07:58 Erica Nash: For questions! https://airtable.com/appBKMODI6rJUNuPk/shrQMjgC7CiiWTBsh
00:08:11 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: OH win —> Client hadn’t paid her final invoice and I held boundaries on launching – she had actually just forgotten so I gently reminded her, and today we do a wrap up call on her project!
00:08:23 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “OH win —> Client had…” with ❤️
00:08:34 Erica Nash: Reacted to “OH win —> Client had…” with ❤️
00:08:37 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: (and she paid her invoice right away)
00:08:43 Erica Nash: Reacted to “(and she paid her in…” with ❤️
00:08:46 Erica Nash: Reacted to “(and she paid her in…” with 🥳
00:09:30 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: I was nervous reaching out to her to say “hey can you pay this please?” hehe
00:11:37 Angelica Hidalgo: Hello everyone! I’m late but my win is –
I’ve started my 100 rejections and my first two people I thought they wouldn’t respond and they both did and have been so lovely and trying to help!!!
00:11:47 Erica Nash: Reacted to “Hello everyone! I’m …” with ❤️
00:11:59 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “Hello everyone! I’m …” with ❤️
00:12:01 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “Hello everyone! I’m …” with ❤️
00:12:11 Erica Nash: Replying to “Hello everyone! I’m …”

Love this!! I’m thinking I’m going to do the rejection challenge also.
00:12:57 Ivy Neal: Replying to “Hello everyone! I’m …”

Way to go! This is so interesting…the idea has been bouncing around in my head since I listened to that episode. I take rejection WAY too personally. 😂
00:13:17 Angelica Hidalgo: Replying to “Hello everyone! I’m …”
I get surprised every time because people are always so helpful!
00:13:25 Erica Nash: Replying to “Hello everyone! I’m …”

Same Ivy! 🙃
00:13:27 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “I get surprised ever…” with ❤️
00:13:30 Erica Nash: Reacted to “I get surprised ever…” with ❤️
00:13:33 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “Hello everyone! I’m …”

I like to look at it as “one less rejection to my next YES”, too.
00:13:34 Angelica Hidalgo: Replying to “Hello everyone! I’m …”
Hahahahahahaha same! That’s why I’m doing it 😂
00:13:42 Erica Nash: Reacted to “I like to look at it…” with ❤️
00:13:42 Ivy Neal: Replying to “Hello everyone! I’m …”

@Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC that's so wise.
00:13:49 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “I like to look at it…” with ❤️
00:13:50 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “Same Ivy! 🙃” with ❤️
00:13:53 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “@Tracy Trathen • e d…” with ❤️
00:14:00 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “Hahahahahahaha same!…” with ❤️
00:15:49 Anika Loewen: Win… after a really frustrating week, I had an amazing style shoot this weekend, and I get to eat one of the most delicious sandwiches in the world right now.
00:15:59 Erica Nash: Reacted to “Win… after a really …” with ❤️
00:15:59 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “Win… after a really …” with ❤️
00:16:01 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “Win… after a really …” with ❤️
00:16:10 Angelica Hidalgo: Replying to “Win… after a really …”
Go Anika!!
00:16:31 Erica Nash: Replying to “Win… after a really …”

An amazing style shoot is such a great win! But a good sandwich puts it over the top 😆
00:16:31 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “Win… after a really …” with ❤️
00:17:56 Anika Loewen: Replying to “Win… after a really …”
We had so much fun… and this is from our Edmonton Italian centre… it’s something that dreams are made of… on the crispiest baguette ever.
00:18:07 Erica Nash: Reacted to “We had so much fun… …” with ❤️
00:18:29 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Hello everyone! I’m …” with ❤️
00:20:37 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “An amazing style sho…” with 👌
00:20:46 Anika Loewen: Reacted to “Go Anika!!” with 😂
00:23:14 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: I love that “Wait… It’s my business… I make the rules!”
00:23:29 Erica Nash: Reacted to “I love that “Wait… I…” with 🙌
00:24:38 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “I love that “Wait… I…” with 🙌
00:25:27 Angelica Hidalgo: Can I please talk about it quickly?
00:28:50 Angelica Hidalgo: Yes let’s pair up!
00:29:05 Maddison Manente: Reacted to “Yes let’s pair up!” with ❤️
00:29:48 Ivy Neal: Let's go!
00:30:14 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: I love it because it helps you figure out how to handle how you feel, and how to frame it in a better way that it’s NOT about you…. it’s about them, and it’s okay
00:30:14 Angelica Hidalgo: Yes thank you Jessica!
00:30:22 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “I love it because it…” with ❤️
00:30:26 Ivy Neal: Reacted to “I love it because it…” with ❤️
00:30:36 Erica Nash: Reacted to “I love it because it…” with ❤️
00:31:30 Jessica Aiese-Davoli: I’m parked! Ready when you guys are. 🙂
00:31:34 Shannon Mattern: Reacted to “I’m parked! Ready wh…” with 👍
00:32:30 Jessica Aiese-Davoli: Agency work is a great way to get a lot of experience!
00:32:50 Anika Loewen: Can you subcontract? I’ve done that before
00:34:52 Jessica Aiese-Davoli: And yes, I’m late bc I was working at a school today. It’s just something I’m doing until my business gives me full time work.
00:36:38 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: For me – I work two part-time jobs in addition to my business. Biggest thing I have to remember is… it’s not an “either or” situation. It’s just an “in addition”. – that and balancing my energy (sleep is HUGE for this for me anyway).
00:38:00 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “For me – I work two …”

And my two part-time job facilitate being able to work on a business for myself and for my future.
00:38:55 Erica Nash: It creates freedom and space
00:39:18 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Reacted to “It creates freedom a…” with ❤️
00:41:34 Angelica Hidalgo: Thank you everyone 💛 I appreciate it xx
00:41:46 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: That’s what I love about my retail job onS Saturday mornings. I get to hang out with my friends there (retail clothing!). It’s fun!
00:42:31 Kim Blake: Reacted to “That’s what I love a…” with ❤️
00:42:36 Angelica Hidalgo: I’m wondering about going for a job that’s in my niche, could they potentially not allow me to freelance on the side? Would I be better working for a designer that’s more general or a different niche?
00:42:39 Erica Nash: Reacted to “That’s what I love a…” with ❤️
00:42:56 Angelica Hidalgo: Replying to “Can you subcontract?…”

How did you go about finding these people?
00:43:00 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “Can you subcontract?…” with ❤️
00:43:03 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “Agency work is a gre…” with ❤️
00:43:22 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “For me – I work two …” with ❤️
00:43:29 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “And my two part-time…” with ❤️
00:43:47 Maddison Manente: Chiming in as well, I do two less than part time jobs teaching kids art and working at an art museum on the side as well – very similar situation it’s kind of like my social hour in a way
00:43:50 Angelica Hidalgo: Replying to “For me – I work two …”

How do you go about communicating with clients and letting them know you’re only available certain hours?
00:43:53 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “It creates freedom a…” with ❤️
00:43:57 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “That’s what I love a…” with ❤️
00:44:11 Angelica Hidalgo: Reacted to “Chiming in as well, …” with ❤️
00:44:14 Kim Blake: Reacted to “Chiming in as well, …” with ❤️
00:44:45 Angelica Hidalgo: Replying to “Chiming in as well, …”

I love the thought of it being the social hour! I definitely don’t see enough people hahahahaha
00:45:09 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “For me – I work two …”

I make sure they know this in advance. What days I’ll be working on their project(s), when I’m available. I also let them know that I try to get back with them within 48 hours during business days. So they know that I may be busy but I’ll respond as soon as I’m actually able and within the boundaries I’ve set.
00:47:58 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: Replying to “For me – I work two …”

I also tell them extra time, so that when I actually finish, I’m not rushed. So if I think I can get that thing done in 1 day, I tell them 2, etc.
01:02:46 Tracy Trathen • e design studio, LLC: I have to go get ready for my client wrap up meeting. Have a great week everyone!!!
01:02:53 Kim Blake: I have to go and prepare for a 1:30pm meeting. See you next week.
01:04:34 Maddison Manente: Got to go! Thanks and see you all next week!
01:11:01 Angelica Hidalgo: Love you all, got to go! 💛