Emily Larsen Design - Epic Launch!
WELCOME!
My name is Emily Larsen. Thank you so much for visiting my page. Effective December 22nd, I will be transitioning from the corporate world to the rewarding (and challenging!) world of being my own boss at Emily Larsen Design. I'm ramped up and ready for launch, and this fundraiser is to try and cover a few start-up expenses. I am beyond excited for this new chapter in my career and I look forward to supporting the greater Seattle area with my creative skills on a full-time basis. Please read on to learn more about this project.
MY (CONDENSED) STORY
In 2006, I earned my BFA in Graphic Design from Central Washington University and did my summer internship at CWU's Publicity Center. I knew my first quarter Freshman year that I wanted to be a graphic artist, and I thrived on logo design and anything hand-drawn or illustrated. After my internship I had a short stint designing ads for the newspaper in my hometown of Wenatchee, WA and in 2007 I landed a skilled union job with The Boeing Company and moved to the "big city." For the past 7 years I have worked in a small in-house print/production shop in Everett, WA supporting the airplane assembly lines. It's been quite a ride! The friendships I've formed and skills I have gained at Boeing are invaluable to me, and without a doubt are the reason I was able to prepare for this next step in my career. Don't get me wrong, the aerospace/factory life is fascinating in so many ways and I wouldn't trade my time at Boeing for anything. However with my day job lacking any kind of creative outlet, in April 2011 I launched my business, which I now lovingly refer to as Emily Larsen Design. With ELD I have been able to take on various side-jobs to supplement my creative itch, finally doing what I knew I loved years ago - logos and illustrations. Oh! And a new-found love; punching out fun little buttons. I don't know why I love making buttons but I do, ok?? But I digress. Earlier this year, I realized that I was actually turning away side projects because I didn't have the time. Eureka! Could I possibly build a full-time business around doing the type of work I truly loved? If I am going to spend 3 weekends a month toiling away in a factory, maybe I can instead spend that time doing work I am passionate about! Once that fire started inside me, there was no turning back. It was time to make my dreams a reality. It was time to make a change.
PLANNING
I have worked close to 350 hours of overtime just in the last 10 months, and countless weekends in years prior. It has been exhausting, and I've long prayed for a work/life balance. Once I made my decision, and the light at the end of the tunnel was clear to me, all those weekends and extra income fueled my plan. I paid off 100% of my debt and built a nest-egg. My monthly budget has become merely a skeleton of it's former self (Thank you Dave Ramsey!), and what free time I have is spent on freelance projects and building clientele. It should also be noted that since day 1, every penny I've generated through Emily Larsen Design has gone back into my business. I've been through all the fun steps of setting up my business: registering, new healthcare options, tax preperation, building a website (coming soon!) and everything else that comes with this transition. The final step will be saying goodbye to the corporate world and to all my amazing coworkers on my last day at Boeing, December 23rd 2014. And then the ship will leave the harbor and my journey will be underway.
WHY AM I FUNDRAISING?
My start-up costs are relatively minimal, and since I am going into this debt-free I'd like to continue that streak as long as possible. And I figured, it doesn't hurt to ask.
HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE USED?
Funds raised will go towards the following start-up costs for ELD:
-Adobe CC 1-year membership: My design software is about 4 years old (that is OLD by software standards!). Being on Adobe Creative Cloud will ensure smooth file transfers with printers, vendors and clients who most likely are using more current software. It will also give me the ability to take my work and my bookkeeping with me wherever I go (Yayyyy! Wait...), and update things at a moment's notice. Which leads me to the next item:
-Laptop: As a freelancer, having a portable laptop is essential to my business. I will be on the go, meeting clients and going on press-checks. Having constant access to my software and ongoing projects is a must.
-High quality printer: Working primarily from a computer I will need a printer/scanner of some kind. I will also use my printer to produce the art for my button/magnet orders.
-Lynda.com 1-year membership: The most accredited tutorial site for creatives on the web. This will help keep my software skills fresh and up-to-date. Since I currently refer to this site on a regular basis, I forsee it being an asset for me in my business.
Anything raised above and beyond my goal will stay in my business account and go solely towards business related expenses, including but not limited to: software, equipment or supplies.
WHY DONATE?
1) Because I am giving away some awesome perks to every person who makes a donation. Buttons! Hugs! Custom Art! Etc!
2) If the goal is reached, 5% of the total funds raised will be donated to "Pay It Forward! Be An Elf!", a GoFundMe campaign that is raising money for 15 families in need this Christmas season. 5 of these families will be single moms or dads. So you will be contributing to TWO very worthy causes!
3) Maybe you are reading my story and suddenly feel an urge deep within your loins to contribute to a budding semi-young entrpenuer's dream. Just think, your small contribution will go towards making a little girl's dream come true. A 30-year-old, adult-sized little girl. That will give you warm fuzzies at night. Also it will feel good to help a small, local start-up business. Also..'MERCUH.
4) Maybe you read all of this and feel like you can relate to my story in some way, or you've felt inspired to walk that unbeaten path that God has been encouraging you to follow for a long time, but you haven't felt that it's possible. At the very least, I simply want you to follow my story and know that you have the power to turn your dreams into actions, one step at a time. I've learned in years past that you actually have the power to do anything you set your mind to; all you have to do is take that first step. What is the first step? Telling yourself you can and WILL succeed at whatever that thing is, and without hesitation keep pursuing the next step. And the next step. And so on :)
***Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this. Every dollar raised will make a huge difference and is MUCH appreciated. This has been strategically in the works for over a year, and I will give this opportunity my whole heart. I am expecting to face challenges along the way, but I have faith that with continued hard work and dedication I can find success in the direction my heart is leading me.
If you have questions about my business, if you want to get ahold of me for design inquiries OR if you just to tell me I'm crazy, please feel free to drop me a line here. You can also find my business page on Facebook and my website is in wor!. I welcome any advice from those of you who own small businesses yourselves or have experience freelancing. I look forward to working with many of you in the near future and will keep everyone updated as I reach business milestones.***
Awkward hugs and kisses,
Emily
Emily Larsen Design
