Meet Olivia Frederick | Brand and Web Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Frederick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I first began my freelance career full-time, I felt like I needed to work 24/7; I worked weekends, holidays from sun up to sundown. I knew that if I was not working, I wasn’t making any money. Well, that’s what I thought at the time. I was an advocate for the phrase,” never not working” and adopted a really unhealthy grind. I was a slave to my clients and their requests even if it was after hours. I was living in fear, lack, and not fully in control of my business.

In about year 3, I changed my mindset around a lot of things. I read the book Grace over Grind by Shae Bynes and followed the guidelines there. I took control back within my business by adjusting my pricing, implementing business hours, communication guidelines, and put myself on a schedule that allowed me to breathe. My clients were happily in acceptance of my new policies and new clients that came in never knew of my unhealthy work/life balance before.

Now, I run a business that allows me to breathe on weekends, holidays, and whenever I need a break. It took a mindset change, systems in place, and me taking total control of my business.
I encourage all business owners to do the same and NO LONGER be a slave to their business.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Branding your business is one of the most important investments you can make for your business. It helps to mold the difference between you and your competitors. I love being able to help my fellow service providers brand themselves personally so that their businesses can thrive.

Starting out, I did not brand myself. I only showed my work and much less of my face and personal story. Once I starting showing more of my brand story, face, and educational attributes — business changed for me. Marketing online came much easier and people were drawn to my brand story and in turn, hired me more.

I started my freelance business to break the stigma freelancers get with being unreliable and unresponsive and now I run my business to help other service providers use their craft to make more money.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ponce City Market rooftop
Bon Ton (for crawfish)
The Painted Pin for a Friday night bowling adventure
Oak ATL for a wilder night out
Top Golf for some competitive fun
Chateau Elan for Saturday or Sunday Funday
Sunday Brunch at The Warren City Club

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to dedicate my journey to 3 books; Grace over Grind my Shae Bynes, You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero and JUMP by Steve Harvey. I’ve taken lessons and mindset shifts from each of these books that I use everyday in my personal life and in business.

Website: www.creativelyolivia.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/creativelyolivia