Kirstin Protsman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Kirstin, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start most days by hitting snooze a few times, I just can’t help it. I give myself grace and get out of bed.
As soon as I get up, I sit back down and start writing my morning pages (or journaling first thing). I do stream of conscious thoughts – whatever comes to me I write down or talk through. I’ve found this to be a great too to regulating my emotions by acknowledging whatever’s swirling around first thing and talking myself through it rather than letting it bother me all day.
Next up is setting a daily intention and writing my affirmations. I’ve been working through a set of 11 lately.
Then I get ready and eat something before sitting down at my desk to start my work day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kirstin, the brand strategist, designer and founder of Rae Design. I help established, small-town businesses get out of “good enough” and into brands that actually build trust with their people – online and off.
Small-town businesses deserve brands that think big and good design should be remembered, not forgotten. I blend brand strategy with identity and web so your visual system will build trust and grow with you… saving time, money, and building brand recognition across every touchpoint.
Lately I’ve been curating my portfolio, writing case studies, and shaping my email newsletter, Reporting In.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents. My dad who never stopped working to provide for our family and my mom who worked full time, took care of 4 kids, and still made time to volunteer and donate her time.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of rejection. Or being too “weird” or just not fitting in with the crowd. It makes it hard to want to put myself out there but usually when I do and am able to really be myself, I’m happy I did it.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
1 – A new logo will fix your business problems
Logos help people recognize you. The strategy and action behind them helps them choose you.
2 – Just doing the thing will automatically make you a success
Posting or just ‘showing up’ isn’t really a plan. Testing and learning what works best for you will be a great thing you can do for yourself and your business.
3 – Marketing more consistently online will bring in sales
Posting just to post or refining your messaging day after day wont guarantee results. Building relationships with people online and offline is a more productive form of marketing. Plus offline interactions give you the opportunity to observe – businesses, people, and what they need from you.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Sometimes! Definitely not always.
On the days I’m happy and loving it I’m usually working on a fun client project. Whether we’re rebranding their business, diving deep and having lots of conversations during the strategy session, or building out a website they no longer feel the need to give disclaimers when sharing (and anticipates what their audience needs when landing there)… we’re doing something creative that really lights me up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rae.design/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imraedesign
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raedesign
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imraedesign
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/rae.design
https://www.threads.com/@imraedesign
Image Credits
Brandy Owens Photography (https://brandyowensphotography.mypixieset.com)
Wild Bliss Photography (https://wildblissphotography.com/)
