Melissa here.
Yes, this is me on a beach.
But this isn’t one of those stories about how I made a ton of money on the internet (I haven’t) and how I have a laptop lifestyle (I don’t), and spend my days strolling along beaches.
I am on a beach, because I live in Cornwall, in the UK. It’s often cold (you’ll note I’m wearing a coat) and I have two kids who like running around outside whatever the weather.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me take you back to 1983. . . . . .
I’m eleven.
When you are born to two graphic designer parents who work from home, being able to touch type is considered an essential life skill. It means you can then work in the family business.
I say graphic design, but in those days, there were no computers. They did typesetting and paste-up.
My mother created the type with her IBM Selectric typewriter and my father sliced it up, took it away to be blown up at the print shop, then carefully created the artwork with a board, adhesive and a whole load of funny-looking tools ready for the printer to make a plate. There was a lot of Letraset involved.
If you wanted to print a form, you created it with a pen and a ruler.
I spent my after-school time proofreading medical catalogues (in German, fun!) and learning how to spot 12pt vs. 14pt type. Don’t get me wrong. Those are mad skills to have. Especially for a 12 year-old. Thanks mum and dad.
1985.
Computers happened. We bought one the size of our spare room. I have a fringe like Princess Diana.
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Then computers got smaller and everyone had one. It was harder to get work. It was a grind. We couldn’t often get away on holiday together, because someone had to always be doing the work. Sometimes that was me.
It didn’t look like a whole lot of fun. It wasn’t a whole lot of fun.
Fast forward to 1995.
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I’ve finished university (Drama and French). NOT graphic design of course.
Because, as we’ve already established…graphic design is clearly NOT FUN and working in your spare bedroom is for losers.
But, those skills though. Someone always needs you to design a brochure, or a poster for their missing cat, or a wedding invitation.
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Let’s skip through the next 10 years of travelling, working in the French Alps, opening businesses, closing failed businesses, teaching, running a hotel, meeting my husband (Chris) and having two kids.
2008.
It’s crunch time. I don’t want to go back to work long hours away from my family, but we are skint. We need money.
Maybe working in your spare bedroom doing graphic design isn’t for losers?
Maybe it doesn’t have to be boring.
Maybe it’s brilliant.
Maybe, just maybe, you can make good money doing this stuff.
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.
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I start a magazine. I am doing every single thing. I sell the ad space, write all the stories, take all the photos, design all the things.
Design, design, design.
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I need a website. I build one. Everyone loves it. People start wanting websites.
(First websites – a pet shop then a funeral directors).
I charge them £295 for a custom website.
Clearly, I HAVE HIT THE BIG TIME.
My oldest friend, a photographer, comes to stay. She has a horrible website. We make it lovely. She recommends me to all of the photographers she knows. (She knows a lot of them). She tells them all I charge £1,000. People believe her. Thanks Jaz 😉
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It’s now 2010.
I learn everything there is to know about photography websites. I build a lot of them. I charge 10 times more than I did at the beginning (hooray).
I have found my niche. I love my niche. My niche appears to love me back.
My niche is mobile, my niche is all over world.
I move to Cornwall. Where there are nice (occasionally warm) beaches.
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2010 – 2017. Skipped over that, didn’t I?
Everything I learned during those crucial 7 years, I learned the hard way. I made a lot of mistakes. Just about getting away with things. Doing a huge volume of work. Charging too little for a long time. Juggling too many clients. Late nights. Long hours.
That’s where you come in.
You don’t get to skip the hard work. Nobody does. But I can help you avoid many of the pitfalls.
Welcome aboard.
Melissa x
PS. Oh, you’re not on board yet?
Let’s fix that right now.
You can join one of my really really lovely Facebook groups.