We were lucky to catch up with Alicia Cairns recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alicia, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
My optimism in life and in business stems from a couple of things, including past experiences, and my faith.
The truth is none of us know what the future holds, especially when it comes to running a business. I remember years ago I would worry about every little thing and I would need everything planned out and thought through before taking any leap of faith. I was such a planner that anytime something didn’t go the way I was hoping for, I would get discouraged. I reached a point in my life where I was tired of feeling like I was stuck. It initially took me a lot of courage to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new. I was always so fearful of what the future held that it kept me in the same place for years, working full-time at a job that made me unhappy just for security. I was shy and easily intimidated by others, which also didn’t help.
It wasn’t until about 7-8 years ago that I decided to start a side gig next to my full-time job. That way, I still had the security of my job while trying something new and different. I loved it because I was surrounded by uplifting people that were all excited about the future and pushing each other daily. It took time, but eventually I grew more and more confident and started to have more hope for the future. I’d say it was a baby step in my journey that ultimately led me to where I am today.
Fast forward about 3 years, in 2018, I had left my full-time job and was on a new journey of faith. I found God after a series of life-changing events with my now fiancé. I won’t get into all the details, but it’s an important part of my story because it is where the majority of my optimism comes from now. By letting go and trusting God, it gave me an entire new hope for the future that was unlike any other time in my life. I have learned to completely let go and give it to Him. I often say I am a business owner, but I work for God. (Colossians 3:23) He ultimately leads my life and future success of my business and, because of that trust, there is an unexplainable peace and joy that comes with it. I can honestly say I don’t worry about the future because I know that He is ultimately in control.
In 2019, I officially decided to start my own business doing what I went to school for. It wasn’t as scary as I thought because of my faith, but it was still a huge jump. When you start a business you never know where it is going to lead or if you will even be successful, so the only thing you can really do is trust and be hopeful for what’s to come. Every day won’t be easy and you will constantly face new challenges, but that is how you learn and grow. I have now been running my business for over 4 years and I have been so fortunate. I start each day with thanksgiving, prayer and reading my bible before I even start my work. Even though the future is so uncertain, I know I have God to guide me every step of the way!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have always had a huge passion for art and design from a young age. I used to draw and paint all of the time but was never sure if it would be a good career path. After learning a bit about design in high school, I decided to go to college for graphic design and ended up graduating with honours after 3 years. From there, I worked for a few advertising agencies, learning from a team of talented creatives. I gained so much knowledge on branding & design working with many high-profile clients. It was honestly such an amazing experience!
After being in the industry for over 6 years and coming from a family of entrepreneurs, I decided to start my own business in 2019. I specialize in branding, but I also do a lot of web design, print design and even social media design. I love working with small businesses to create effective brands and anything else they may need to get started off strong. Running a business is a lot of work, so any way I can help when it comes to design makes me so happy!
Over the past few years, I have worked closely with a wide range of industries, including real estate, food, beauty, health, education, and entertainment. The list doesn’t end there. I am always open to working with new industries and trying new things. As a business owner, I never stop learning and I try to stay on top of the design trends.
Not only do I love design, but I also have a huge passion for helping new business owners get started and feel confident about their future! I try to go that extra mile to set my clients up for success, so any tips or advice I can give I love to share.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I would have to say being yourself, trusting the process, and being organized have been the 3 most important things in my business.
When you’re running a business, especially in a saturated industry, it’s important to just be you. It’s easy to have imposter syndrome, but at the end of the day you have something to offer that others don’t. Authenticity and honesty are so important because people can feel it. When you’re honest and stay true to yourself, people will trust you and have more respect for you. Trying to be someone else is exhausting and you’ll end up unsatisfied.
Trusting the process is a big one. Life and business are so unpredictable, so just let go and enjoy the journey. Live in the now and be excited for each new day! I live by this daily through my faith and it’s a huge weight off my shoulders to not feel like I have to be in control of every little thing. Sometimes things will go the way you planned and sometimes they won’t, so it’s better to just go with the flow and not stress about it.
Even though letting go is important, I still think being organized is the best thing you can do for your business. It will only benefit you in the future if you have a system in place that works for you, especially when it comes to tax time. I have a file system I use for each job and organize everything by year, month, and project. I also number each invoice and track them so that I can easily go back and find what I need.
If you are just starting out, don’t worry. You won’t have it all figured out in the beginning. Things will slowly fall into place and you will learn so much as you go. It’s better to just start and enjoy the ride!
How would you describe your ideal client?
I would say my ideal client is someone who is passionate about what they do. When you are motivated about your business, it’s easy to help set you up for success. I have had many clients in the past who have had so much love and drive for what they do, that they were able to take what I have designed for their business and bring it to another level. Passion is contagious and it’s one of the main qualities I look for, along with honesty and someone who can be themselves. Life and business don’t have to be so serious. Yes, it’s important to be professional, but I also think you want to have fun and enjoy the process!
I am always open to working with small businesses, run by both men and women. No particular industry comes to mind as I love trying new things and designing for a wide range of businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iamdesigns.ca
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/iamdesigns.ca/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/iamdesigns.ca/
