Ricka Raga

Ten years ago, I was still in college, doing design side hustle for my extra allowance and extra savings as a student.

I had no clue what I wanted to do in life. But since I did not have a lot of money, I had to figure out a way to pay for my college expenses. I made some collaborations with a friend and sold university T-shirts and lanyards. But selling shirts and lanyards are seasonal on campus, so I switched to creating final plates for my co-students. I up-skilled creating android game final plates that became my highest income source at that time. By the time I finished university, I had continued making plates for my friends because I considered it just a great side hustle, and now it was time to get a ‘real’ job.

I tried several jobs, but I never had the feeling that working for a boss was for me. So after a few years, I decided to become my own boss (which I have been doing ever since!). I tried opening my own brand of mall beverage kiosks. But it took a lot of time to manage and get ROI with this kind of business, so I also tried thrift clothing and opened up my thrift store. From thrift store I moved to dropshipping fancy jewelry with a webshop until I have to pause the operations of these businesses slowly since, COVID and lockdowns happened. 😔

Only recently, I started thinking about my businesses. Back then, I always saw e-commerce and retailing are the only way make stable money. I never considered myself an entrepreneur by being a freelance graphic designer. I thought I was too lazy to work in a corporate job, and I didn’t have any other skills.

Now, 10 years later, I realize I got such a kick out of setting up my own business, market my brand, and finding ways to become more successful. It turns out I was already an entrepreneur 10 years ago. I just didn’t know it myself.

To cut to the point: Sometimes, it’s good just to do something because it feels right, not because it fits your future plans. Only years later, you might realize that these steps actually defined your life choices. ✨

It would be best to have a deep understanding of how branding works and how it helps transform a business from a “meh” impression into a “wow” interaction. Communicating with clients can be challenging, but it helps you build a healthy collaboration. Asking questions engages your client with your dedication to conceive an unforgettable craft.

This is why I created a guidebook after noticing people asking for design help, when really what they needed was a solid brand strategy. When you skip straight to brand visuals, your brand’s visual identity will lack depth, cohesion, and you’ll find it hard to articulate what you want to your designer.

This Brand Audit Guidebook will teach you everything you need to know about your personalized strategy to help you carve a path forward that you can feel confident about and a brand you can grow with.

Learn how to use your experience, goals, values to refine your brand story and connect with your audience using my Brand Audit Guidebook. Click link (https://solafidestudio.com/journals/key-questions-to-ask-client) to get FREE copy. ✨

As a business owner wearing several different hats, it's often hard to remember you're only 1 person. At least that's what I've realized lately. I've said yes to too many things, taken on more and more roles, and before I realized it my "normal" workday became 15 hours long, 6-7 days a week. I've realized I can't do it all and do it all well. Here's to a new season of saying no, delegating, and getting my nights and weekends back 🤎