We recently connected with Whitney Zimmermann and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Whitney, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I used to really struggle with feeling “good enough” in many areas of my life. I was entirely hesitant to embrace who I was and make that person known. I constantly looked to others for validation or to set bench marks for what success should look like. But, then I met the person that is now my best friend (and husband). It certainly wasn’t an overnight transformation, but he was the one that constantly encouraged me to be myself, share my opinions, go after my goals. More importantly than his encouragement though, he led my example. He was unapologetically himself in all areas of life: his work, faith, friendships. He didn’t hold any part of himself back and I saw how that not only made me feel comfortable to do the same, but how it made everyone around him feel more at ease. I started seeing how he brought out new sides of everyone he met by being the first person to be vulnerable, weird, or embarrassing. It fostered an environment for everyone he spent time with to do the same. It was infectious in a way. And I not only reaped the benefits of that, but was also inspired to be that person for others as well and pay it forward. I think in a large part, I was scared of being myself because I was scared of rejection. That seems to be the truth for a lot of people.
Anyways, that’s just where it started. That first step towards stepping “into my own”. Along the way, I still had moments of doubt, fear, and thoughts like “am I capable of this?”. But by that point, I had the foundation I needed to embrace those fears and change them into “what if it does work?”, “what if I can do this?”, and a general focus on the person I want to be instead of feeling trapped by fear of my limitations.
My husband is actually the one that encouraged me to start a business in the first place. It was a long term dream of mine to work for myself and run a design studio but it was also a big leap. It required a lot of faith in myself, but he encouraged me in the face of every doubtful moment.
Of course, in the end, it took a lot of hard work, persistence, and passion to build the business I have today and I’m extremely proud of what I’ve built. But I can’t underscore the power of having someone in your life who truly believes in you, cheers you on, and encourages your aspirational thoughts to be louder than your doubts. It’s something I truly admire and that I have aimed to pay forward ever since.
Because choosing to grow a business and showing myself I could build it, was the moment that required me to go “all in” on myself. To truly bet on and believe in my ability to succeed. And when I believed I could, there was no turning back. Choosing to have confidence in my own ability to succeed had a powerful snowball effect that translated into all areas of life. It gave me the self-esteem and strength to build a 6-figure business, fight for the lifestyle I want, task more risks in life, and even seize new motherhood by the reins.
I look back at the person I was before I built a business and I hardly recognize her in the best way possible. It was through the hardships and ups and downs of those first few years building my business that truly strengthened that foundation that my husband first fostered and showed my that resilience and passion are the key ingredients to building confidence and self-esteem. It was through repeated trial and error that each failure turned into a learning moment that continued to propel me forward and not give up on myself or my dream. And that is what builds confidence because that process forces you to place your trust in the constant process of who you are becoming through each expereince, not the immediate results.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m the founder of WildHive Studio, a branding, packaging, and web design studio that focuses in helping eCommerce brands get noticed, connect with their audience, and sell more. I offer services such as psychology-based brand design, packaging design, and Shopify web design. My most booked offer is the my One Week Website service where I deliver a professional, strategic website in just one week.
This is the service that has truly transformed my business into something that gives me both the income and freedom I desire as a business owner and part-time SAHM.
So, I turned it into a course that’s launching this month called One Week Web Designer. The course helps other web designers build profitable, freedom-filled businesses using my proven 1-week method of delivering websites. Inside the course, I teach designers how to price profitably, attract high-ticket clients without being glued to social media, and deliver one week websites that their clients love.
AND, as of October 13th, the waitlist for my free training, The 3-Step Framework for a Profitable Web Design Business, is open!
Inside The 3-Step Framework for a Profitable Web Design Business, I show designers the exact system that helped me:
✅ Go from scattered, overwhelmed, and underpaid → to consistent $10K-$25K months.
✅ Work part-time while delivering premium websites in one week.
✅ Build a business that supports my life, not one that consumes it.
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?
Keep going! Building a business is a game of endurance. You don’t have to be the most talented designer, the most charismatic, the most organized, the best at coding etc. You just have to keep showing up with curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a passion for the goal you’re trying to achieve whether that’s financial freedom, work life balance, a creative outlet, etc.
Second, surround yourself with like-minded people. Having peers and friends who are also in the entrepreneurial space is priceless. Building a business is truly unlike a standard 9-5 job. It constantly pushes you to learn new skills, tackle new challenges, and show up as the leader. Having people who are willing to hear your concerns and experiences and then offer advice from their own journey makes all the difference. Having a community of support in that way is one of the most valuable things I’ve built along the way and I found a large part of my community through past coaching programs and courses. It’s a great place to network with people who share your passions, goals, and drive which will help you stay motivated and focused on your own goals.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client (or student) for One Week Web Designer is someone who is in that 0-3 year stage of growing their business. This typically looks like a freelancer or small studio owner who’s confident in their design skills but struggling to turn that talent into a streamlined, profitable business model.
For example, they might be:
A freelancer stuck in a cycle of burnout or desperation, who’s tired of unpredictable income.
A creative mom or multi-passionate entrepreneur who needs a business model that gives them flexibility.
A web designer who’s amazing at design but not so great at structure, pricing, or boundaries.
A web designer who’s ready to stop overdelivering and finally get paid for the transformation they create.
This is a person who wants to deliver websites without the chaos, long hours, and instability. They want to book high-ticket clients that value and respect the work they do and the solutions they provide. They want financial stability and the freedom and flexibility that running your own business should come with.
These people are a perfect fit because they’re ready to stop hustling. They want change in their business because that means change in their life. They want to step into the next phase of their journey and experience the confidence, clarity, and control that they see other web designers enjoying online.
They’re ideal because they already have design skills but need help structuring them into a profitable framework.
They’re ready to implement what they learn immediately.
They value results over generic fluff and “10K months” advice and want practical, proven systems.
Lastly, They’re motivated by time freedom, creative freedom, financial freedom which is exactly what One Week Web Designer was built to provide.
These are the ideal students that will thrive in One Week Web Designer and walk away feeling confident in their ability to command high-ticket prices, consistently book clients, and deliver amazing websites they’re proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wildhivestudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewildhivestudio/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-zimmermann/
- Other: oneweekwebdesigner.com/waitlist
Image Credits
Calling Beauty
