We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily Wahl. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily below.
Emily, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose through intentional discernment prayer and a Japanese mental exercise called Ikigai.
After college and before I started my freelance business, I felt lost and that I didn’t belong in any job I worked. Ultimately, all opportunities ended and I would have to move on to the next thing. I loved my faith and I loved graphic design, but I was at a loss of how to combine those things. Catholic graphic design jobs were few and far between and there was no way I’d become a freelancer!!
I didn’t just lay around while I was between jobs. I kept God close. “Lord, what am I supposed to do with my career?” I spent many hours talking to God about different paths I could take. I focused on the ones that seemed to align with God’s law and felt right.
Furthermore, I attended countless networking meetings and organized many informational interviews. At one of the seminars I learned about Ikigai, a Japanese mental, spiritual, and emotional exercise to help discern one’s life direction. It’s a four circle Venn Diagram with the following questions written in each circle: “What do I have talent in?” “What am I passionate about?” “What does the world need?” “What’s going to make me a living?” Whatever is closest to the middle of the diagram is likely the direction you should take your life. For me, the answer was graphic design and the Catholic Church. I always knew this was the case, even as I was graduating college. I just had no idea how to manifest that.
I eventually started to market my services in small ways. Simply showing up to church hosted networking events and talking about my faith journey and passion for graphic design landed me PAID projects here and there. Eventually, the projects that were Catholic subject matter or from Catholic connections built up. I gained the confidence to register a sole proprietorship, graduate to a limited liability company, and gain the title of freelancer, a title I didn’t want years ago!
God never gives up on those who don’t give up on Him. He also has quite the sense of humor!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As mentioned, I am a freelance graphic designer. This means I create logos, visual identity systems, print designs, website designs, social media posts, and more. As a solo freelancer, I work directly with the client to clarify their goals and visions for their designs, hone those ideas with my knowledge of best practices in graphic and UX design, and bring them to life in digital art. There are many graphic designers who choose to specialize in one category. For example, logo design, website design, print design, etc. Not me, I keep my services broad to serve companies that have a variety of needs but don’t have the resources to pay multiple designers.
I am most proud to be a part of the professional Catholic community. Believe it or not, there are a a lot of businesses that are Catholic owned or that sell Catholic products and services that unapologetically proclaim their values. These people are trained in best practices of their respective industries, bringing the best the modern world has to offer to faith communities everywhere. Home décor, videography, children’s toys, board games, financial advisors… You name it! I’m even a part of the online Catholic Creatives community. It’s a good time to be Catholic in 2023.
I am expected to deliver my first child January 2024. I am setting up some passive income in the form of a shop on my website. I am so excited to do more graphic art inspired by the Holy Spirit and test out drop shipping!
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?
First of all, my commitment to my faith has been essential for my career journey. I spent a cumulative two years unemployed, constantly being rejected by hiring managers. That takes its toll. Of course I couldn’t have done this without a good prayer life, but also my job would not be possible without the Catholic community. I’m not just talking about Catholic businesses who will pay for my services. I’m talking about generous and loving people I’ve grown friendships with at church. They have offered a constant stream of encouragement and support. If you’re looking for wholesome friendships and relationships that help you be a better person, you’re bound to find one at church.
To improve this area, continuously work on your relationship with Christ, worship at a church, and get involved with the community.
The second is my talent. I am blessed with creativity in many different mediums. I began my journey to becoming a graphic designer by countless hours of drawing dragons, horses, birds, hands, eyes, and more during my classes (not just art classes, ha ha!) and personal down time. I believe I would be successful if I had chosen to go into professional drawing. I’m even playing with the idea of selling prints in my upcoming shop! So between being an avid drawer and computer enthusiast, I naturally chose to take the lucrative path of becoming a graphic designer. I also have been a musician for most of my life. My talents in the arts certainly have made my journey to becoming a graphic designer a little easier.
Talent really isn’t everything! To improve this area, remember to practice, practice, practice!
Thirdly, my love of learning has made an impact on my career. I’m subscribed to many blogs and podcasts that relate to my profession. I’m constantly being inspired by others and it shows in my work. My work doesn’t have that wow-factor when I haven’t been keeping up with what’s the latest and greatest in my interest areas.
Subscribe to leading voices in your areas of interest. Business, leadership, how to be a better person, industry specific and other thinktanks can cultivate your mind and your career. Stay up to date on what tools your peers are using. YouTube is an abundance of free knowledge!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My faith community. These people have been instrumental in giving me encouragement, connecting me with the right people, offering me resources, and even offering me critiques. Some of them have even offered my paid projects here and there.
Contact Info:
- Website: chrismstudios.com
- Instagram: @chrismstudios
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090269173116
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-abe-design/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZqNxT5UTIAAuBvXxBw8Y7A
