Business these days: Sunshine and rainbows

Business these days: Sunshine and rainbows

I must be on the right track.

My customers, all super people, keep bringing me new work and I’ve had three meetings this week to get to know new and potential customers – with two more already planned for next week! Business is great. It makes me beam to think I can help so many people. It’s important to me that I stop and count my blessings every now and again. There are so many people out of work these days. Maybe someday Advokate will be an employer! It’s hard to hand anything off when folks are really coming to me because they like the way KATE does them, though. And I’m picky about the work I put out there.

Advokate keeps twirling into new horizons, too! I have two events I’m not only publicizing but also helping to plan: A music-themed art show this summer at Adirondack Audio and Video that I’m sure I’ll tell you more about as it develops, and an open house for a new ministry center in downtown Glens Falls called CentrePoint. Advokate does events planning. Who knew?

And I’ve been asked to create artist’s renderings for exciting new projects — I wish I could name the place and show them to you, but I’d be jumping the gun. I’m finding I can do all kinds of things, just so long as folks believe in me – and I believe in myself enough to give it a shot.

To take a snapshot of the moment for posterity… In Advokate’s six short months of business, I’ve created no less than TEN affordable websites for folks, with four more in the works right now. Graphic design, business cards, postcards, flyers, press releases – heck, Advokate was even responsible for coordinating installation of the big window lettering at CentrePoint’s location at 10 Warren Street in downtown! That was probably my biggest and most nerve-wracking job to date, but it came out great. I really appreciate every single customer who has made this possible for me. It must be some kind of planet alignment – I have only had GREAT experiences with the folks I’m working with. They’re all massively superb people.

Sure, sometimes I get freaked out trying to figure a good task management and time tracking system, or feel like I’ve worked six 12-hour days straight and only made a couple hundred bucks, I struggle with contracts and formalities and prices, I’m still volunteering time on two boards and balancing between Advokate and being part of the Shirt Factory‘s management team and I constantly feel like my email inbox is growing into a humongous hairy beast that could crush me any minute…

Totally worth it, though. I wouldn’t change a thing.

But hey. Know what? YOU should start something! Set out on your own. Create your own future. Have you seen that Mastercard commercial with the guy leaving his daily grind to chase his idea cloud to set up a shop? You can do it too. You can work for yourself. Be responsible for your own living. Chase the dream and see where it leads you!

And hey, if you decide to step out on your own? Give Advokate a call. I’ll help you out.

Kate Austin-Avon
kate@advokate.net

Kate E. Austin is known for her creative advocacy. She is a regular speaker on branding and social media with educational institutions and Chambers of Commerce. She owns and operates Advokate, LLC. Currently she serves on the boards of the Glens Falls Business Improvement District, is on the World Awareness Children’s Museum’s Advisory Council, and is involved in the Jackson Heights PTA. Originally from Killington, Vermont, she studied art at Hartwick College and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Art from Empire State College. She is a mother of three.