Breaking Free from the Beliefs That Held Me Back in Business

Running a design business has been an incredible ride, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. There were times when certain false beliefs tripped me up—holding me back from reaching my full potential. It took time (and a lot of lessons) to break free from those mental roadblocks, but each one has made me a better designer and business owner.

Here are the big misconceptions I had, and how I learned to ditch them.

"I Need to Do Everything Myself"

Let me tell you, I used to think I had to juggle every little task to keep my business afloat. Wearing all the hats—client communication, design work, marketing, admin—felt like the only way to stay on top of things. But, delegation is a total game-changer. Learning to trust others, outsource, and collaborate didn’t just free up my time; it allowed me to focus on designing. So instead of burning out, I’m all good, and everything still runs smoothly.

"Success Means Working Nonstop"

I was once convinced that working around the clock was the only way to get ahead. Hustle culture had me grinding non-stop. But after some serious burnout, I realized something huge: balance is key. Taking breaks, setting boundaries, and carving out time for self-care didn’t just protect my sanity—it boosted my creativity and productivity.

"My Work Needs to Be Perfect Before I Share It"

I used to hold off on sharing my work, tweaking and refining until it was "perfect". But that mindset was holding me back from moving forward. Now, I’ve embraced progress over perfection. Sharing work early, getting feedback, and iterating has done wonders for my growth.

"I NEED LOW, COMPETITIVE RATES TO GET Clients"

At the start, I thought I had to lower my prices just to land clients. I believed cheaper meant more work, but all it really did was undervalue myself. The truth is, clients who appreciate quality are willing to invest. I stopped undercutting myself and focused on showing the value behind my work, and the right clients started rolling in, without me needing to lower my rates.

"Failure is the End of the Road"

There was a time when I thought failure was the ultimate sign of defeat. One misstep, and it felt like my business would crash and burn. But after facing a few hiccups, I realized that failure is just a stepping stone. Every setback has taught me a valuable lesson and helped me grow as a business owner. The road isn’t always smooth, but each bump leads to new insights, making me stronger in the long run.

Breaking free from these limiting beliefs took time, but the shift in mindset has made all the difference. If you're struggling with any of these, just know you're not alone—and it’s never too late to rewrite the rules.