Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Uber.
Hi Laura, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started my graphic design business, Design on Purpose, in May 2021. I can’t believe I’ve been running my business full-time for 3 years! When I started, I feared if I could do it. I was confident in myself, but I think any entrepreneur experiences that. It’s a total leap of faith to leave the security of a job and a steady paycheck. That fear quickly dissipated once I was in it. Starting was exhilarating, and it’s just grown to be more rewarding as time goes on!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Generally speaking, it’s gone pretty smoothly. But there have certainly been bumps and many learnings along the way. Saying yes to everything has been a big one. Especially when you’re new, you don’t want to pass up a single opportunity. What if it leads to a long-term partnership? What if it breeds another ideal connection? I never wanted to say no to any work, which meant I went through seasons of running myself into the ground. I was working almost constantly, which limited my ability to be present with my family and friends. When I had other commitments, I was very stressed by the workload I had to return to that night. I was thankful I had so much work, but it inhibited other parts of my life. I knew something had to change, so I started saying no when I was at capacity. In many cases, it’s been a lesson in adjusting expectations with new clients. Many people imagine that design work is created at the push of a button, so I’ve worked on communicating more specifically about their project requests. It’s also taught me to recognize the people I want to work with. I am so thankful to have a great base of clients who are just wonderful people — and they respect my time and talent. If someone comes in demanding things from me and there’s no respect, it will probably not be a good working relationship. So, I’ve worked on pausing to evaluate that before screaming YES.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in brand and website design and development. I take my clients through a discovery process to gather input to make intelligent and effective decisions based on their business goals. I regularly hear from clients that the process is very enlightening for them as well. They often come away with new language and clarity around their businesses that they hadn’t tapped into before! My clients say I’m very good at listening and interpreting what’s in their heads, then simplifying or visualizing it in a way that makes sense. That alone feels like such a win to me! I love that something I produce gives my clients new confidence in their work or gives them a new visual tool to communicate about their work. I’ve learned somewhat recently that my efficiency level is unusual, especially in my industry. I have a knack for identifying inefficiencies and recommending systems for how something can work better. One client has dubbed me an “efficiency expert!”
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Kansas City is so entrepreneurial and very encouraging of small business ventures. I’ve encountered that repeatedly in my interactions with others in the community and through networking. I’ve been fortunate to interact with many in our community with an abundance mentality — that there’s enough work. I’ve heard of others who have faced competitive challenges (e.g., someone doesn’t want to connect with them because they could be considered competitors). Still, in my experience, the majority is focused on collaboration and how we can lift each other in business.
Contact Info:
- Website: designonpurposekc.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/designonpurposekc
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/laurauber
- Other: https://wisewomen.education/members/laura-uber/
Image Credits
First personal photo upload — Husband & Wife Photography
