45: Kefir – Interview with Natasha Bowes from Bio-tiful Dairy

This time we interview Natasha Bowes from Bio-tiful Dairy. She runs a Kefir company and has even pitched inside the famous Dragons’ Den in Season 13 Episode 11. If you haven’t heard of Kefir – it’s basically a super healthy milk drink packed with billions of gut-friendly bacteria. Personally I recommend the Honey & Mint flavoured version Bio-tiful Dairy offers – so try it out if you have the chance!

Natasha Head Shot

What kind of business do you run? When did you start it and where is it based?
We make the tastiest, highest quality organic Kefir in the UK. I started Bio-tiful Dairy in 2012.

What inspired you to start this business?
I missed Kefir since leaving Moscow 17 years ago, and could not find good quality Kefir in London. I felt there was a market need for this genuinely healthy and entirely natural dairy drink here!

Lifestyle Kefir Smoothies 250ml landscape

What is your daily routine of running your business?
I typically work 8am to 7pm (occasionally starting earlier and finishing later), with little breaks for exercise!

What are the health benefits of kefir?
It is the best thing for your digestion and immunity, and I find it is amazingly useful for weight management! This is just the tip of the iceberg, the full list is much longer.

What was the hardest part of setting up this business? What are the challenges of a FMCG business?
Making the decision, in the context of family life and business risk assessment! There are plenty of challenges: it is non-stop and the margins in fresh food don’t allow you to sit back and relax 🙂

How does Riazhenka compare with kefir?
It is so creamy and luxurious, very satisfying if you like intense yet refreshing taste.

What was your experience like at “Dragons’ Den”? Looking back do you think it was the right decision to reject Deborah Meaden’s offer?
It was an amazing experience – exhilarating and educational in equal amounts. The decision was most certainly right, as I have subsequently attracted a larger investment on better terms.

You know you’re an entrepreneur when …
It does not come up in your head as a question of choice between going out or working, if you have a business goal to achieve.

To learn more about Natasha’s Kefir company please visit Bio-tifuldairy.com.

Lifestyle Granola Landscape

44: Interview with entrepreneur Celia Gates from Doctor Cook and Whether Forecast

Today we feature inventor, author and entrepreneur Celia Gates, who I met in 2011 at the British Invention Show in London. She tells us all about her journey of setting up her cookware company “Doctor Cook” and what other projects she’s been involved in since then.

Awards-2007

Tell us about your book “From Brainwave To Business”? Could you summarise the best tips?

From Brainwave to Business is the book I wished I’d read when I started out with my cookware invention – Doctor Cook. I reckon I could have saved about £94,000 in costly mistakes had I known what I learnt along the way. The book shares these lessons. It is a start up guide for innovators and creative entrepreneurs. Key points include; not underestimating your competition, developing your market in line with your ideas and evolving yourself as the aim of your success. Originally the book was called From Inventor to Entrepreneur. It is about the journey from being the person with just an idea to the person who makes money from their concepts. Concentrate on developing your ‘self’ to build a business and profit from your products.

What would you advise people who want to publish a book?

The publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2012 when “From Brainwave To Business” was published as part of the Financial Times Series by Pearsons Prentice Hall. I approached the publisher directly with a clear book proposal and the majority of the script. They told me to find a celebrity forward and they’d publish it. The deal was done quite quickly but I don’t believe this is the norm.

If you want to publish a book then you must first ask yourself why. Why do you want to publish your book? If it’s to share your story with a wider world and build relationships with your readers then self-publishing is an accessible and immediate way forward. If it’s to establish credibility then collaborating with reputable publishers may enhance this. If it’s to make money then you should see your book as one string in your ‘Profit Parachute’ and build multiple ‘strings’ to ensure a safe landing from the leap of faith you’ll invariably take. If it’s to make sense of your own experience then write quickly and pour it all out onto the page. Inevitably you’ll end up re-writing whatever you first write so see the initial draft as a prototype and get it done as quick as you can – otherwise you’ll lose the momentum from your inspiration and it will be quite hard to pick back up and start writing again.

From Brainwave To Business

Tell us about your Doctor Cook saucepans! Are you still involved in this company?

Doctor Cook was my leap of faith. I believed in the concept. Cookware had always had long straight handles forcing the user to awkwardly bend their wrist to hold a pan. My background in Industrial Design meant I knew this was not ergonomic. Watching my Granny struggling to lift a hot and heavy pan inspired me into action; ‘bend the pan and not the man’. Saucepans with curved handles were born and at the beginning they very much felt like my babies. Now they have ‘fled the nest’ and taken on a life of their own. I still hold intellectual property but other people make and distribute them.

5088

What are your best inventions?

The ones that are yet to come!

How do you judge a great idea? One of my favourite inventions is a solar cooker from a cardboard box that inspired a wave of similar products in Malaysia. The concept of turning packaging into a socially responsible bi-product that was as valuable (or more valuable) than the product it protected, appealed to me.

I love, love, love my current ‘invention’ – the Whether™ forecast – a lateral and literal thinking tool that helps other people to stimulate sparks of genius and come up with inventive ideas. We are all so much smarter than we think and (in my opinion) our mindset – or the way we think and work together, is one of the greatest challenges we face in the western world. The best inventions are always born as solutions to genuine problems. Mental health – or the lack of, is certainly a growing concern. Plus, I love seeing the light come back into a person’s eyes once they’ve gained enough perspective to solve their own conundrum. This is what Whether™ does.

Do you consider yourself an inventor or an entrepreneur?

An ‘Inventor’ paints the picture of an obsessive scientist secluded in a shed somewhere whilst an ‘Entrepreneur’ is the hotshot, outward focused, energetic, well connected business builder. You can decide. I’m just me, constructively learning, challenging myself (and conventions) relentlessly, failing freely, succeeding regularly and revelling in a life that I take responsibility for. If Entrepreneurs make money then Inventors spend it. In this context I’m an Inventive Entrepreneur!

What are you currently doing?

I love what I am doing. I’m maximising minds that make a difference. In other words I’m bringing brains together for creative and constructive collaboration, conflict resolution and greater growth. It is both rewarding and thrilling and I get to travel the world. I help other people design lives they want to lead and as I approach 40 this feels like it is exactly what I was designed to do. There is a lot to build on too. The face of education is shifting. Collaborating constructively is critical and there is a long way to go before we’ve optimised the use of our amazing minds. I find it a fascinating field of study. If inventions have got us into a mess then, inventions will get us back out of it. So, I’m currently facilitating fresh thinking and empowering others to broaden their perspective and evolve ingenious ideas.

Celia Gates & Ainsley Harriott

What inspired you to start this business?

More than inspiration is was a natural evolution. If writing From Brainwave To Business made sense of my experience developing Doctor Cook then, developing Doctor Cook as a business showed me what I’m really good at and what I love to do. When you know what this is, do more of it! In this guise Whether.to and theGlobalBrainstorm.com are evolutions in action – or learn-as-you-grow vehicles to deliver inspiration and information to a wider world.

What is your daily routine?

People often asked this question and I’m not going to tell you that I get up at 5am, go for a run, drink Misu soup and drum positive affirmations into my mind before most people are out of bed. My life is much more varied than that. Sometimes I’m up until 2am working online with clients from around the world, other times I’m in bed by 10 pm and off to see people face-to-face first thing. It’s the lack of routine that makes my life exciting. On the whole and if I’m not delivering workshops, I’ll get up and start writing or working on my own stuff way before I check emails, the news or social media. This stops me being distracted or influenced before I’m fully focused on how I feel and what I need to get done that day. Yoga happens daily and sea swims when the weather allows. Exercise of any kind has always been important as I get restless if I sit for too long. I also meditate and can combine this with my yoga if I’m short on time. More interesting for you is that I hold weekly meetings with myself whereby I define my targets, design my direction and account for the past week’s action. This is quite a formal process I’ve come to rely on through tough times.

What would you recommend new entrepreneurs? How to get started?

As well as all the usual advice; take action, go for it, just do it, believe in yourself etc. there is one key bit of advice: know your numbers. As innovators and inventors we’re not always keen on the accountability of our actions (largely because we’re spending money we’d rather not be worrying about and the worry stops us thinking inventively). When we’re stressed or scared parts of our brain actually prevent us from thinking as critically and creatively as we’re capable. Effectively our brains let us down when we need them the most. To avoid this situation and as a priority to any new business venture you must attach what I call a ‘life line’ to your Profit Parachute. Know the bare minimum money you need to keep the bailiffs at bay and secure this income stream. Whether pulling pints after hours, working a part-time job until your business starts to make money or establishing a repeat relationship with an initial client that you can rely on, know how you’re covering your basic bills and putting food on the table. This will give you the peace of mind you need to make your business prosper.

Oh… and of course, read From Brainwave to Business!

Above all don’t go looking for your passion, look for problems to solve as these are often easier to find. As you solve a problem your passion will become apparent to you. As you discover what you love to do, do more of it. The biggest investment you’ll make in anything is that of your precious time.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and do reach out if you think I can be of help to you!

To learn more about Celia Gates please visit  http://celiagates.com/ and http://whether.to/you-think/ (Whether tool eBook)

43: Luxury Tea – Interview with Samir Balwani from Turvani

Today we feature Samir from Turvani who runs a tea business.

final_secondary_-_web_res

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

Sure, my name is Samir Balwani, I’m the founder of Turvani and all around tea lover. Turvani is a luxury tea brand that elevates the tea experience. I started Turvani because of my background and my passion for tea. I’ve been working as a marketer and programmer for years, and have experience in the world of luxury branding and design. I knew it would be a long and difficult journey to get started, but I felt confident in my experiences and the help I could get from friends I’ve made among the way.

What kind of business do you run? When did you start it?

We officially launched Turvani in early 2016, but we’ve been working on it since 2014. Turvani is a luxury tea brand that sells premium quality tea and elegant teaware. We focus on the experience that is drinking tea. We’re all extremely busy, we’re double booked and always on our email. We never have time for ourselves. Yet, when we make ourselves a cup of tea, we suddenly afford ourselves time to enjoy, time where we can relax and energize. The process of making tea and the tea itself, gives us an opportunity to stop and smell the proverbial roses. Our mission is to change the world to be a happier place, by helping more people enjoy quality tea.

What inspired you to start this business?

It all started because of my passion for tea and the experience. I knew how great I felt after having a cup of tea, I wanted to spread that message and share it with the world. As I told people, their excitement fueled my drive. I’m forever inspired by each cup of tea I have, each new tea I try, and the people I share the experience with.

What would you recommend new entrepreneurs? How to get started?

The first thing I would say is “just get started”. As soon as you take that first step, you’ll suddenly have the wind in your sails and you’ll have momentum to push you towards your goal. Know what you’re trying to accomplish, be as bold as possible. You have to be a leader, not only of your team (if you have one), but also of your customers. People have to trust you and your mission before they’ll buy from you or work with you – so know exactly why they should. As soon as you get started, as soon as you take that first step, things will start to fall into place. Be tenacious, be gritty, be persistent and every day will get you closer to success.

3556d7ce-fbcb-4042-9966-8210aed57ac4

What would you say is the hardest part about running a business?

Surprisingly, I’ve found the hardest part about running a business to be all the little things. It’s making sure our accounting is up to date, our paperwork is organized, that we’re legally covered, and are in line with our compliance needs. It’s the little things that start to take a lot of time, and they can definitely be confusing and annoying. We’ve found tools to help us reduce the amount of effort it takes, but even then you’re stuck giving it a lot of thought and energy.

What is your single best non-obvious tip for running a business?

It might be obvious to some people, but my number one tip is to ask for help. Don’t hesitate to ask people to help you, give you their advice, or share their thoughts. Find a mentor and meet with them regularly. Without an outside point of view, you can quickly fall into a rut where you can’t see beyond your own preconceived notions.

What should you take into account when starting a business?

It’s hard work: it takes time, it takes a lot of energy, a lot of sleepless nights, and has as many downs as it does ups. It’s not always clear what tomorrow will bring, that’s why passion is so important. It’s the driver and motivation; it’s what will help you move forward even when you feel like it just doesn’t matter. If you have a passion you want to share with the world and can convince people to buy into that passion, you should start a business.

How do you stay productive and not get distracted?

I use Todoist, a simple to do tracking application that I can add what needs to get done. We make sure to prioritize each action based on the impact it’ll have on the business and the amount of time it’ll take to complete. Once we have our priorities we just start executing. One of the most important things we do is make sure we never overload anyone. As long as what we’re working on is manageable, we can keep things moving forward, stress free, and sometimes even fun.

What are your future plans for the company?

Our immediate plans are to continue to grow. We’re doing a great job of reaching consumers, but I really want to start to expand our wholesale business. We have a handful of channels we need to tap into, and we’ll be planning to prioritize them over the next few months. We’ll also be expanding our tea collection, adding a number of herbals and blends. Lastly, we’ve been working with some amazing teaware manufacturers and will be adding a series of elegant and modern teaware items. We’re really excited about 2016, there’s a lot of opportunity for us to grow and we plan on taking full advantage of it.

Outside of business what do you enjoy doing? How do you recharge your batteries?

The best part of being part of a tea brand that focuses on the experience of tea, with the hope of helping people slow down and relax, is that it recharges my battery. We really try to make sure that we’re never overly stressed out or overwhelmed. There’s stuff we need get done, we’re still trying to do exceptional things, and achieve ambitious goals, but we want to make sure we don’t burn out.

Outside of the fun of trying new tea and sharing the experience with my friends, I also make sure to set time aside to work out and travel. I try to run every other day. It’s a great way to just burn some energy and keep fit. Staying healthy is really important to me. We also try to take a big trip every 6 months. Travel gives us the opportunity to learn something new from different cultures, to try new experiences, and expand our horizons. We always come back fully refreshed, bustling with new ideas, and ready to tackle the world.

What are the pros and cons of running your own business?

There’s nothing like owning your own business. You’re suddenly given so much freedom, to make the decisions – you’re the boss. It’s a great feeling to follow your passion and start making your dreams a reality. While it may seem like all positives, the truth is you’re not in charge. Your decisions will impact your business and other people’s livelihood. Your mistakes could kill your business, could you kill your dream. It’s a difficult road, filled with obstacles. Yet even with all the hardships I know I’ll have to overcome, I would never give up the chance to start my own business. I know we’ll be successful, it’s just a matter of time.

For more information please visit Turvani.com.

42: Fragrant Candles – Interview with Louise Cox from Kiss Air Candles

Today we interview Louise from Kiss Air which sells fragrant soy wax candles.

Kiss-Air Candles Logo for web

Tell us about yourself and your background!

I always knew I wanted to be a in business so rather than doing A-Levels I did an Advanced GNVQ in Business then got accepted to Bournemouth University to study marketing and advertising. It was on a work placement I discovered a love for PR and when I left uni got a job in the industry. I liked my job but not working for someone, so in 2008 I handed in my notice to start my own agency specialising in fashion and beauty.
My sister, Laura and I bought a house and were spending money on candles that didn’t fill a room with scent when burning so, we decided to have a go at making our own. After lots of research and experimenting we had the perfect combination and gave some as gifts at Christmas. Things snowballed from there and we launched Kiss Air Candles in March 2013 with a small range of nine scents and I decided not to renew any of my PR contracts to focus on Kiss Air.

Louise and Laura Cox Kiss Air Candles

What kind of business do you run?

We hand make soy wax candles infused with fabulous and unusual fragrances such as Mojito, Really Rhubarb and Rum & Raisin!
We now have over 25 scents, independent stockists up and down the country, been featured in the Daily Mail, Metro and Coast to name a few, have celebrity fans including Denise Van Outen, Danniella Westbrook and many of the actresses from Hollyoaks. We were chosen as one of Theo Paphitis’ Small business Sunday winners, Jacqueline Gold’s Women on Wednesday (WOW) winners and were selected as one of the #smallbiz100 in 2015 as part of the Small Business Saturday initiative.

What is your daily routine of running your business?

Before anything there is coffee! I’m at my desk for 9am and check our social media accounts, emails and print off and pack new orders. After that, I head to the workshop and make candles – whether it’s for trade orders or just our own stock. I always take a lunch break and usually take the dogs for walk, so I get some fresh air and it also gives me some time to think about anything that might have dropped into the inbox that morning. After lunch, I work on the business – brainstorming marketing ideas, new products, keeping social media up to date, writing press releases, touching base with stockists/agents and doing general admin. I usually finish work about 6pm but keep abreast of social media throughout the evening.

What is your favourite fragrance? Which fragrance sells best?

My favourite changes all time – we’ve just made a batch of Toasted Marshmallow and I had forgotten how great it smells. But the fragrance I always burn is Peach Bellini – you can actually smell the Champagne bubbles!
Our bestselling fragrance is Sun Kissed Raspberry which is a lovely scent of the berry slowing ripening in the sun. Our top 10 is also flooded with our 5 Cocktail Hour candles – Pina Colada, Mojito, Frozen Margarita, Peach Bellini and Strawberry Daiquiri – it’s a really popular range but then again who doesn’t love a cocktail!

How did you set up the website? Did you build the website yourself?

When we launched we didn’t have a huge budget for an ecommerce website and wanted to be able to update it ourselves as and when. So we looked at do-it-yourself options and finally settled on Create which was easy to use to build a professional website and gave us full control. We still use the platform now but as we grow, we’re realising it can’t do everything we want it to do.

Tell us what important lessons you have learnt creating this business?

Always go with your gut instinct – it is rarely wrong.

How did you manage to get featured in so many magazines?

I have the experience of getting products featured in the press from my PR background. I am super lucky that PR and marketing comes easily to me and is a transferable skill.
My top tip to businesses wanting to get their products on the pages of the press is to know the magazine you’re targeting. There is no point pitching carpet slippers to Cosmo!

What are the best and worst parts of running your business?

The best part is getting emails and messages from customers that love Kiss Air Candles because it’s a product we’ve made. On the flipside, there are occasionally times when a customer doesn’t like a fragrance or has a complaint and it’s hard not to take it personally when you’ve created it but the positives far outweigh the negatives. Another great thing about running a business is doing what you want both within the business and on a personal level.

Can you recommend any books or websites to learn more about starting a business?

I like to read books for inspiration like Coming up roses by Cath Kidston rather than reference and guidance books. Having said that I have just purchased ‘Build a Business From Your Kitchen Table’ by Not on The High Street founder, Holly Tucker after hearing her speak at an event and I’m hoping there may be a useful nugget or two in there. I also look online for coaches and mentors for handmade and online businesses – there is loads of great information on the web (and it’s free). I’m always looking for ways to improve and grow the business.

What is your experience with paid ads? Do you recommend Google Adwords or Facebook Ads?

We don’t spend a lot of money on paid advertising and never do it in the printed press as we don’t feel it pays – that’s the PR in me talking! We only pay to boost Facebook posts every now again and found boosting the right one gives us good engagement and new likes. I’m sure paid advertising on Google, Instagram, Twitter, blogs and other platforms have benefits and it is something we will consider but at the moment we’d rather spend money on product giveaways and collaborations with other brands.

If you could start your business again what would you do differently?

I don’t think I would do anything differently. Running a business is a massive learning curve but we’ve not made any massive errors and are on the right track and growing steadily.

How much time do you spend running your business per day?

As it’s just Laura and I in the business – I spend near on all day working in and on the business. I try not work at the weekend (although I do check social media!) but we often find ourselves brainstorming over tea and toast on Saturday morning and if we’ve had a new scent come in I’ll often pop in to the kitchen to experiment!

You know you’re an entrepreneur when …

… you see opportunity in everything!

To learn more about Louise’s business please visit Kiss-Air.com.

41: Website Design – Interview with Isabella Burket from Juicy Design

Today we talk to Isabella Burket from Juicy Design, who runs a web design company in Austria.

Juicy_Logo_2015_RZ

Tell us about yourself and your company!

I began my Graphic Design education very early on, having moved out at the age of 14. I studied Media Design at the vocational school for Chemistry, Graphic work and Design in Vienna, Austria. Throughout my study, I worked closely with three different companies. It was a challenge to get a better education, and most importantly some experience, with these agencies due to the fact that they were less involved in the Media Design direction I saw myself moving towards. Upon receiving my degree, I went on to work at two different advertising agencies, which helped me to gain a lot of valuable experience working as a junior art director. Additional to varying life circumstances, I always felt very under-challenged and underworked at these agencies, which drove me to attempt a career as a self-employed graphic designer. Now I operate a successful graphic design business employing a small network of artists and other creatives from Austria, and various other places in the world. Our main focus is on offering custom design solutions at a high niveau.

DSC_2059_NEU

What tools do you use?

I mainly utilize the Adobe CC collection, and different organizational tools such as Evernote, Skype, Slack, Balsamiq Mockup, and Spotify for concentration! We are always up to date with the latest and greatest applications, thanks to following the latest design and technological trends. We spend a lot of time at our computers.

What would you say makes you stand out from other companies?

What makes us truly stand out is the fact that we custom-cater design solutions for our clients, from the very conception of a product all the way to post-production. We are constantly in contact with our clients and partners and are available almost around the clock, 7 days a week. The degree of quality and precision we focus on injecting into each and every project makes our final product truly stand out amongst the sea of code-monkey copy-paste work much of the industry is being flooded with. I have to admit that I abide by the time-tested cliché of perfectionism that every major company director seems to describe themselves by. I find it very difficult to release a final product to the client unless it is absolutely up to my degree of quality. Fantastic initial communications are also a large part of what has kept the ball rolling, due to the fact that we can come up with a very precise cost analysis for nearly any project, which makes the drop off from conception to actual structuration a breeze. And probably the biggest standout would have to be that we truly are not a faceless corporation (crosses fingers), as I personally visit with almost each and every client within the initial consultation stage, which brings things down to a much more human and personal level which we have found works wonders in all stages of the design process.

How many international customers do you have in comparison to Austrian ones?

Our major clientele is from Austria, with 10-20% of the work coming from Germany and other neighboring European nations.

How many years are you in business? How has the business changed throughout the years?

I have personally been in the Design business since I was 16, having become self-employed and creating Juicy Design at 22. The business has gone more and more in the direction of web/multimedia design and away from print, which seems to be a stifling design sector these days. Every year so far has been more profitable than the last, which is a trend I obviously hope continues. Even small growths are celebrated as I am very proud of what I’ve accomplished myself and am extremely dedicated to making it into a large success in the future.

What was your most interesting project?

The most interesting projects have been those where I had the most impact and influence in all sectors of the Design process, such as workshops, concept art creation and face to face consultation with the customer. Due to the non-disclosure agreement I sign with all major contracts, I have to refrain from naming the company I am currently working with, which has definitely had me working on the most interesting project yet. I am currently working with a team on creating user-interface designs for an internal shop system for one of the biggest furniture companies in Austria. I have also provided design workshops for the team in the topic of UI and User Experience design.

What would you recommend other website designers? How to get started?

I would recommend that they learn and work by doing. If it is not possible to work on real projects, always work on fictional projects, as it gives you far greater experience rather than just focusing on internet and program tutorials. Try and connect with other individuals that work in the industry by going to network meetings, connecting with other workers in the same branch, online networking, etc. And most importantly, always stay up to date with the latest programs and design trends, as these can make or break your entire business.

How do you acquire new customers?

At the moment 90% through recommendations, the rest through social media advertising and freelancer group ads.

Do you use LinkedIn or Xing?

Yes, I used LinkedIn, I think it is a fantastic way of having a free business card for the internet to see.

What is the best business decision you’ve ever made?

It would have to be creating a network, which helped me meet more people and expand my knowledge of design. All the connections I made, as well as the information gathering associated with it amalgamated into the success I have today.

How did you come up with the name of the company?

I wanted to communicate the feeling and style of my design into the name somehow, and I associate the term juicy with fresh and energizing ideas. We wanted to appear as modern as possible, as we are always up to date with the latest design trends, so the association with freshness came from there.

How many people are involved in your business?

The core team consists of 4 individuals, but we work together with up to 10 freelancers at a time for larger projects.

How do you stay productive and not get distracted?

That’s a difficult topic and an incredible challenge, especially when one is self-employed and has no set time schedule. The best thing that always works is music, applying time-management techniques such as the pomodoro technique, as well as a few other time-management methods using the computer and phone. I especially enjoy walking my dog, which helps me clear my mind and is a nice change of pace during critical project sequences.

Any books about website design you can recommend?

Unfortunately, I have to say that it seems that not many people use books in the field of design anymore, with information and trends changing so fast that many can barely keep up. Instead, I follow various blogs in the field of Design and read books in my spare time, with my favorite genre being historical non-fiction.

What inspired you to start this business?

In the early days, I was constantly under-challenged and incredibly bored, which was the worst part of any job for me. I wanted to have more responsibility and manage more than just menial graphic design jobs throughout the day. I always enjoyed contact with clients, and the handling of the various phases of design from beginning to end. I thought I would just try it and see where it goes due to the minimal risks involved, and I’m glad I took the plunge as it has paid off quite well. At this point I can never see myself working in an office ever again, as I’ve become so accustomed to managing my own flow of work and client relationships.

What is your daily routine of running your business?

I am a late worker, so I never get up before 9. Late nights are a complete norm as well, as I find myself to be less distracted and most productive during late hours. First thing in the morning I check my emails, to see if any urgent work needs to be done right away. If there is, I jump out of the bed even earlier sometimes to take care of them as quickly as possible. If there’s nothing to do early in the morning, I get up and have a nice breakfast and plan the rest of the work day. I’m very addicted to making lists and planning my week accordingly. Every night before I go to bed I plan for the next day and mark things off in a to-do list fashion.

What are the best and worst parts of running your business?

The best part is most definitely the freedom of being able to manage my own time, choose when and where and who I work with, and also being responsible for myself and not relying on a fixed monthly paycheck, regardless of my performance. The absolute worst part would have to be the management of finances, the higher taxes, and the much higher health insurance costs that are associated with self-employment.

To learn about Isabella’s business please visit Juicy-Design.at.