We were lucky to catch up with Laura Uber recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laura, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
Oof, creative and writer’s block is never fun. While it’s not always possible, I try to build additional time into project schedules in case I hit blocks. This is especially useful for creatively-demanding projects like logo creation, which involves creating something new from nothing. Building in that extra time offers me the flexibility to step away from a project until I feel more engaged and inspired to return to it. Sometimes creativity strikes in the middle of the night or while I’m completing a random house chore that has nothing to do with a project. Sometimes getting away from the pressure of creating is exactly what’s needed to generate the right ideas and concepts. By giving myself buffer time, I further alleviate the pressure to be creative RIGHT NOW. If the ideas are flowing and I don’t need the extra time, I now have the opportunity to rest before presenting something to a client or I can deliver a presentation sooner than expected.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My focus as a business owner and graphic designer is helping my clients present their brands consistently and purposefully. Having a clear and consistent message is not only crucial to connecting with your target audience and ensuring they know what to do when interacting with your brand, but it also reflects your own confidence as a brand. I love taking clients through what I call “brand interviews,” where we uncover the heart of who they are, what they offer, and why they do what they do. As I ask questions and work to understand my clients’ brands, they often come away with more confidence and clarity even before we really dive into the visual aspects of a project. It’s rewarding to help them discover and uncover those unique brand details!
I always say brand and website design and development is my bread and butter. I create or refresh visual elements like logos, colors, and typography, and then build or redesign websites for small businesses. I help them define their visual brands so that they can present themselves consistently so their target audience recognizes them.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities or skills that really influenced my entrepreneurial journey include humility, communication, and determination.
Entrepreneurs often need confidence to propel themselves forward with their ideas and in business dealings, but humility can be crucial to be sure that confidence doesn’t turn to arrogance. Practicing humility can also remind you to be willing to listen and learn. We should grow in confidence as we refine our skills, but the moment we forget to acknowledge that we don’t know everything is likely the moment we’ll halt our growth.
Communication is already a big aspect of the work I do — in getting messages crafted in an accurate and compelling way — but exhibiting clear communication with my partners and clients is more what I’m getting at here. I’m always trying to find ways to improve my communication so that my correspondence is clear. It helps set expectations and alleviate confusion in client partnerships. I try to remind myself to over-communicate rather than under-communicate.
Determination, motivation, resilience, whatever you want to call it — it’s tough to get by as an entrepreneur without it. I’m solely responsible for moving my business forward. No one else is going to have the same passion for my business! If you’re not someone who naturally possesses this, discipline is going to be huge to keep yourself moving forward toward small and big goals.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
My number one challenge is that I can’t clone myself — ha! I need more of myself to accomplish more in my business. Like any human, I’m limited to 24 hours in a day. I’m actively looking for design partners I can trust to support my work and take care of my clients. I mentioned that no one is going to care about your own business as much as you do, which can make it challenging to find the right people to come alongside you. I have a few great partners who help me serve my clients — and fill in gaps that I can’t meet — but I’d love to have more like them. All of this is a practice of relinquishing control too!
I’m also working on identifying tasks and tracking processes that someone else could handle for me — it doesn’t just have to be me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://designonpurposekc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designonpurposekc/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurauber/
