Many branders love to tell you that the very first thing you need to start your business is branding. Or they tell you that if you already started your business without branding, these are the 15 reasons why you absolutely need branding right this second. Their lists includes things like…

I’m sure you’ve seen them around the web. They’re especially popular on Pinterest. And I get the feeling they’re supposed to inspire and awe all of us small business owners. I’m talking about those intricately detailed 50-page brand manuals. Even as a brand designer, I find these meticulous documents overwhelming…

It’s kind of funny that one of my most frequently asked questions doesn’t seem to have much to do with design. A surprisingly large and completely unscientifically measured percentage of the business owners I’ve talked to have asked: Should I have a business name or go with my name? Some…

or What I’ve Been Doing all Damn Year: Existential Crises on the Cusp of my 30th Birthday I started planning an official business right after my daughter was born. Large chunks of my days were spent lying in bed with her, trying to keep even my hair from moving so she wouldn’t wake up from her numerous naps. …

Not long enough ago, a stranger knocked on my door. She was young and seemed nice and, even though my toddler and I were home alone, I honestly didn’t think twice about opening my door to her. After telling me how cute my daughter is (so true) and making friendly…

I first heard it way back when I started planning my business, and I’ve heard it countless times since: Relationships are the key to building a successful business. I lost count of how many times this piece of wisdom presented itself to me before it actually, finally, sunk in. Funny…