Suzanne Chadwick 0:00
Hey, lovelies, welcome back to the brand builders lab podcast. awesome to have you here. I'm very excited to have one of my lovely clients, Rowena Preddy from Preddy Creative, talking all about how to really think outside the box when it comes to building your brand. And as a graphic designer and a Brand Builder, she is somebody that knows what it takes to build a brand as well. Rowena also did my branding for bold vibes consulting, which was an amazing process. She's got a really cool product called the brand quickie. And it gives you a number of different designs fairly fast if you're looking to upgrade your branding as well. So Rowena is bringing some of her expertise and her story and how she got to where she is today. And so I know that you're really going to enjoy this episode. I loved our conversation, and it made me really think about how I am being uniquely myself and embracing more of my weird, which we will talk about in this podcast episode. So without further ado, let's dive in. Right away now, welcome to the brandbuilders Lab podcast. Lovely.

Rowena Preddy 1:40
I'm so excited to be here.

Suzanne Chadwick 1:44
That we've been on podcast before so I was like, Were you on mine was I on yours? But I was on yours. I want to say like two or three years ago,

Rowena Preddy 1:53
I would say three years ago, I think it was very much when I had just started working with you as my coach. And I just launched my digital magazine. I think it was maybe the second issue. And that was hectic times and I was major fangirl moment when I when I got you on it. I was honestly I still look back on that time and some of the people I got to talk to you amongst them. Honestly, it was just, it was surreal. It was awesome.

Suzanne Chadwick 2:21
So good, I mean, I always say to people podcast is I'm a massive fan of podcasts. And you know that. But I'm just like, it just allows you to speak with so many different people and get to know their stories and learn from them and all the rest of it. And it's such a great thing to do. So I'm excited to have you on the podcast, as you said, You've been a client of mine for years. And I love working with you. And it's been really interesting to see your evolution and your iterations of business to maybe a few already. I know which we'll we'll talk a little bit about too. But for my listeners that don't know you introduce yourself.

Rowena Preddy 3:04
This is one of those things that I've been practicing. So I'm Rowena, I am a branding and magazine designer with pretty creative, it is my business it is me myself and I and I really only have plans for that to be that. I spent the first few years my business doing what graphic designers do taking on all the jobs. And it wasn't working for me. And so I created the cookie, which is my way of getting fast, quality and affordable by branding at two startups and level up businesses.

Suzanne Chadwick 3:42
Amazing. I love that. Yeah. And your brand quickie. I actually when I created BVC so bold vibes consulting, I got you to do the branding for that with your quickie offer, which is still one of my faves. antastic I love it. I love a good quickie. And I don't mean that in a you know, naughty way. But I do like your play on words. I know it's very much your brand voice. But talk to me about being a graphic designer. So how did you get into graphic design? Was it something that you were always really good at? Was it something that you just enjoyed? Like how did you kind of get to the beginning stages of having your own business?

Rowena Preddy 4:23
I would say it's not your typical graphic designers journey. I was the smart kid in school that was pushed to do the extra subjects. I think I was pretty stereotypical ADHD I haven't been diagnosed but you know, the one that doesn't seem to study much but got the a's and the b's. And so I was pushed into one of your fairly typical academic streams when I was in high school. So I was meant to be an accountant, according to the universe. Actually, no, not according to the universe. It was actually according to everyone who was trying to put me into a box and when I was in form five. So I think that's like year 10. Here in Australia, I was led to take a subject. And everyone was arguing for me to take all these like very academic subjects, my mum had to fight tooth and nail for me to be allowed to take up. Because I think she could see how pushed I was on the academic side, she saw how much I got out of art. And that being sort of almost like therapy for me. And I went from getting DS to A's that year, it became like my outlet. And so with over the next two years, two to three years of school, I actually ended up taking graphic design in school, I was like to take it as a subject. And it was my thing, like it just, it made me sing like it was like, these are all the things that I love to do it strategic thinking. It's being really creative. I love working with people like it was just all of these things that accounting most definitely was not for me at that time. Like I realize there's accountants out there that do things very different these days, but it was just the thought of staring down that barrel. For the rest of my life. Like I went and worked in an accountancy firm for two, two months, it was supposed to be a 12 month contract. I couldn't last past two months, like it was just it wasn't for me. But one of the really cool things about my graphic design journey is that my mum actually went back and studied graphic design and got her degree three years before me as an adult student. Gosh, so my mom is a graphic designer. And so I would say that she probably deserves about half of my fees for university. Because she was my mentor. She was my one that kicked me in the ass when I was trying to take the easy way out and pushed me to, you know, actively seek clients and real real briefs and those types of things. And she's still that person today. Like I still call her up and still cedis chat through projects with her. If I'm stuck on something, we'll zoom and chat through it. But like I said, I wouldn't have found this path if she hadn't fought for me to take up.

Suzanne Chadwick 7:00
Yeah, that's amazing. That's so good. And so when you finish university, did you go straight into your own business?

Rowena Preddy 7:07
No, I worked 15 years for the man. And I would love to say that it was an educational process. And I had amazing mentors and amazing but it taught me a lot of things where I became very disenchanted with the industry, I discovered very fast, I was seen as just a little bit too much. And that that wasn't a celebrated thing I needed to fit into a box. And I needed to do the things. And it was actually like, in hindsight, looking back, it was actually really sad not to have that mentor, all I ever wanted was that person that goes you know what, you have got this, you I believe in you, I see something big in you, I see something great in you. I want to support that and foster it. Like I just wanted someone to say those words to me, I never had it in those 15 years. I didn't get that during that time, I worked in advertising agencies that were very big advertising agencies in New Zealand, I really enjoyed the creativity like advertising. For me, it was just like, let the crazy ideas come. So that was really cool that I got to lean into that. It also taught me how much I love drinking wine on Friday nights and going out for time. Like that was a big part of that dynamic. But when we moved to Australia, I didn't I was burnt out honestly, like burnt out wasn't as saying then. But that's clearly what I was. So I worked hospitality lived the party life for a bit and found out I was pregnant. And I went and worked for organization. And this inkling like I'm not sure if it was having kids. But it was just like, I don't like this person I'm having to be just to live this life. I'm not particularly enjoying. Like to have the money to pay for the things that I don't even particularly need a wallet. Like it just like I said, I had been a process of becoming disenchanted with that sort of space. And but at the same time, I also got to work on some really amazing projects where I kind of got that energy back for the industry. And just when I was like super excited for the possibilities in that job, and I was communications manager I was made redundant. Okay. So it was like another line was another point where I had to, and at that point, I had to choose myself. Yeah, I knew that over sort of like learning and building myself up and the prior probably a year or two in that position. I couldn't go back to having my value determined by someone else. I had to it was a pretty ugly first year in business. I think I had to do a lot of personal growth. I've been out one and a half times. I say the half has been I pulled myself out of it halfway through and it was full on. I remember but like it's a journey. I would never, ever I would go back through it a million times to just be where I am in my business now.

Suzanne Chadwick 9:57
Yeah, I love that. That's so good. I think it's just natural. But you know, when you're first starting out, it is tough and you are figuring it out and you're finding your way and you're finding what works as well. And so I know that, you know, you talk about a number of things when it comes to, you know, building a brand that challenges the stereotype. And that, you know, you building a business and brand that really works for you. But one of the things that I want to kind of explore is you talk about really thinking outside the brand, the brand box, really thinking outside the brand box. And so I would love to know, how you've developed your business and your products and services. By thinking outside the brand box.

Rowena Preddy 10:46
Well, the very first step was I had to get really comfortable with embracing my weird things. And who I was, I had to get super comfortable with that, which after 15 years of being told I was a little bit too much. I it was a struggle at times. But I sort of leaned into those things, I started to have a level of awareness about what I really enjoyed doing and what I like, at first I jumped in, I think, like we all do, and just did everything for everyone in a very generic way and just kind of went at it like I was supposed to do. And then I started noticing that a lot of people when they would give me testimonials would use similar words, they would, you know, we would end up having amazing conversations that wasn't something that was supposed to be 20 minutes would end up being an hour, we'd have to remove the Zoom call. And I just started to get these, these clients that came back to me for the same sort of reasons. And I had to sort of start to initiate like that pause that stop and recognition of why. And awareness is a huge thing that I've built into my business of just kind of having those pause moments, whether it's for a positive or a negative, like if something annoys me, I do pause in my business and go, Why is that annoying me? You know, how can I make that not annoying me in the future. And I've sort of leaned into looking at why these clients coming to me. And it was for a lot of those things that I was like put into the box and sort of like tried to fit into a different shape. For all those years working for agencies, it was the fact that I was bold, it was the fact that I was confident it was the fact that I had this crazy strategic brain that would go wildly filled, when I could just do something really simple, it would sort of push the envelope for those clients. Realise really fast in my industry, honesty isn't something that apparently happens that often. And I it's just I can't, I can't lie in that sort of space at all whatsoever, like I am. So when at the client, that I'm going to say listen, I don't actually think you're ready for me, I think you'd probably go away and have a look at x, y and z first. And then I feel like we can do our best work together. You know, so I kind of have that raw honesty thing. And those are things that aren't apparently stereotypical in my industry, like the stereotypes to my industry are that it's really cool. And it's really modern. You know, it's really expensive. It was all of these things. And I was like, I'm actually none of those things. I probably lean into it here and there. But in my my own way. And and it's something I encourage my clients to do I so often, you know, I'll get people come and go, I want a logo like this. And like, there's a reason they have that logo. Because that's the logo that's a representation of them. That's what that's like when we worked through BBC together. Honestly, it's such a true representation of you and your color and your vibe that you couldn't not look at their brand global suits. Yeah, hands down.

I've really dig into getting to know the client and their business before working with them. And even though I've worked in a quick process, I've got that system down so that it's really about right from the start. I want people to sort of be thinking about themselves as unique, their business as unique. A lot of the questions I ask is, you know, how do you see yourself as different from your competitors and things like that because I think So often people tend to go into comparison mode and then shut down. But I kind of see it as a positive. It's like, well, what do you like from that? And what can we take from that? That's you, what don't you like? And what can we definitely stay far away from it. So it's sort of finding this amazing, like cross section between, you know, who they are, what are some of the cliches of the industry and things like that, and how they lean into it or away from it, and finding that cross section, and then my job is to give that visual representation to that. And, you know, often people go, how can you get through all of that in two days. And it's because it's all about the processes, it's all about that I take people along on the journey, like, I find that people out the other end, they often said, we have no frickin idea that branding could be fun. And I think that like starting to sort of lean into the things that make you different, lean into the things like, I think so often, we see those things as stuff to be shy about or embarrassed about, or, you know, like something that shouldn't be celebrated. But I think that, like, if you look at a series of brands, like some of your favorite brands, and names, some of the things you love most about them. They're their standout points. And so I always try to sell it say to people, you know, celebrate you and your brand. You know, think about those things like I show up and random, bright colors all the time, I have a crazy earring collections, that's part of my brand. It's part of a flow on representation of who I am. I decided to business cards for myself four years ago, five years ago, that I've only just done that to be able to use now. Thanks, COVID. But there's still a true representation of who I am, because I leaned into those things. And I think that by doing that with branding, it kind of creates permission. For some people like they go, Wow, that really feels like me, I'm so excited by it. And it gives almost people that permission to lean into some of those things more, that can often seem scary when you're just sort of throwing them out into the void. But by having a brand that strongly represents that for you, that can kind of do that for you when you're not even in the room.

Suzanne Chadwick 17:07
Yeah. What do you think are what are the things that you hear from clients that big concerns for them, or things that they worry about or things that kind of hold them back from stepping into that uniqueness or the things that really are them?

Rowena Preddy 17:24
I think often, the biggest one is that I'm not there yet, that people often will design for the brand of who they are now or yesterday, because they feel like they haven't come to own their future self yet. They haven't, you know, whether it's a confidence thing or things like that. But that's why I mean, a brand can really do some of that for you. And it's kind of looking at, you know, I've had my brand for six years now. And I can see it still being true to me in six years time, it may sort of have new edges, or new new colors are new something, but it's still an essence of who I am. So it will grow with you. I mean, cost is definitely something that comes into it. But it's it's partially why I sort of developed my packages, the way that I did was so that it could be something that's more looked at a marketing cost as an ongoing thing. I think so often people think of branding as a one and done. Yeah. And I think that they, a lot of people come to me with that fear, where it's just like the bag, and it's huge. And it's epic. And it's it just they they get it becomes this giant, colorful, colorful elephant and my my house is going to be a colorful world but in the room, and it just becomes too much. And that's why I really like the fact that they can do it and parts and looking at the brain can be something that grows and involves with you, if it's based in foundationally, who you are and what you stand for, because things can shift in it. But the core of that ultimately stays the same.

Suzanne Chadwick 19:02
Yeah. And I love what you said before, and I agree totally with this is that you want a brand for the vision that you have, not potentially where you are right now it's like, because it's about positioning you it's about when people look at it, or when you look at it. It's like what you're working towards, and it's what you're wanting to create. And so I think that that's such an interesting, an important thing to remember is that when you are getting your brand designed or when you're looking at evolving it, you really want to build it for the vision that you're building not for maybe exactly where you are now.

Rowena Preddy 19:44
Yeah, completely like so many people come to me and I have a client that's just coming to me recently, and we worked on her branding five years ago, and she's just come back to me and her business is growing and evolving. And she's like, but I don't want to change my life, I just needed to take these words out that don't apply anymore. Because it's still so true to who she was. And she saw it for the vision that she wanted in the future. Yeah. And she's grown. Like it's grown with her. And it's got the ability to shift and Ebb as she shifts nibs. Yeah, I'm just going to take a second and turn off my notifications, because they're driving me saying that I'm so sorry. I thought I had done it before.

I think, I mean, this has been a huge part. And it's ever evolving. For me, even in my own business, where it's kind of taking those moments and sort of seeing the things that have the most impact. Like I've rolled out a beautiful social media feed, like, I've got that down, you know, yes, maybe the consistency sometimes isn't the greatest, but it looks beautiful. But to quite honestly, my branding has definitely strongest rollout but part of my personality, it's my brand. So honestly, rolling out really good newsletters. I get way more response than that. I think it's just having that awareness of where your strengths lie and how you gravitate in different areas, but test them out and play first. I'm not saying you know, completely write things off. But I think branding has been taken so seriously. I think it has the ability to actually like make things a lot more fun. And I think we lose some of that fun, and the half decent, the shirts of business. And branding often becomes when those have to sell shirts and right moving back along to the paperwork, you know, but I think it can do it can really help you along that journey and like ways that you're better. So I often say to people, you've got to think yes, I'm branding but I'm also there's like, you know, copywriters, who are branding copywriters. And it's really thinking about that tone of voice and that consistency, you know, you can read my website, and you can hear me talk now. And you'll go on it and you go, Oh, well, it's totally her. And it's just having that consistency. And I often say to people, because they often come to me, after a couple of years to do it DIY. And they kind of have that. Like, it's kind of like bumps, like they don't have some things nailed. But then something's not quite working. And then other things nailed. And so it kind of has this not quite consistent, not quite, you know, level up branding, where it's like, you know, leveling up, who they're targeting it leveling up, you know, how they're portrayed to the world. So I kind of like to look at branding as nailing your foundations first. And in pulling up those areas. So instead of going to people, do you need a whole new revamp like this isn't working, this isn't working. It's 1000s and 1000s of dollars, it's going to what's going to have the most impact for you right now. And I think people get overwhelmed by all the branding things. But what's going to have the most impact for you right now? Is it having social media templates? So it relieves some of that pressure and stress? Is it for example, having your logos and all the formats? Because the one that you got back then didn't really have all that, you know, is that going to be really helpful for you? Is it that you're now becoming a speaker, and you need these things that go into the speaker will focus on that area, because it's going to bring in the money, it's going to bring in the competence, it's going to bring the brand awareness really focused, like what's going to have the most impact right now. If I put my marketing dollars into this, is it going to stand the test of time? Is it something I can use forever? Is that a template so that I can do the editing after the fact? So that then you can come back to me for the next amazing thing?

Suzanne Chadwick 24:11
Yeah, I love that. And I think that's such a good point as well, Rowena is that sometimes people feel like, well, I have to get everything done, all at once. One big bang, one massive cost. And I think the fact that people can get, you know, elements done like as and when they need it. And also just remembering that, you know, the whole reason and the whole point of having like your social templates, or having your logo in certain formats, or your colors and all the rest of it is so that your brand is recognizable. And people when they see it even before they see your name, they know that it's yours as well. So, I think that, you know, just knowing that you can do that as you go, I think can feel a lot more ease So for people, it can feel a lot more doable, affordable, as well. And so yeah, I guess that's, that's another thing is, don't wait for it all to you know, be for you to be able to do it all in one go.

Rowena Preddy 25:15
Branding supposed to actually make your life easier? Yeah. And I think so often people think, Oh, well, once I've done this, it should be hard. No, it's actually meant to be easier. So you know, I hand over templates to people, I say, don't change them, give them exactly as they are, like, really, like, these have been designed for you to think in the areas that have the most impact. These are designed so that you can put your amazing content into it. And you don't have to think about it and press around with fonts for like three hours. Launch that be honest, so many people do it, you know, it's actually designed to relieve some of that pressure, not add the pressure on. So I have a client now that comes to me, once, once a quarter. And she's put it into a marketing budget. And some quarters, she does some courses. She does two days. Like it's just, it's about what she needs most in her business. But she said the thing that she loves the most is now that she's got all these layers. Like she's got all these templates, she's got, like all the foundation. So So now she's like, well, what next? You know, it becomes more of a less of a reactive thing and more of a proactive thing.

Suzanne Chadwick 26:25
Yeah, yeah, for sure. And it like you said, it's fun. It's like the fun, beautiful stuff that you get to create and build. And that elevates your brand that helps you be able to charge more, because it looks amazing. That makes you feel more professional as well. And, and also, I think one of the biggest things that I discovered when I first came into business is that a lot of women in business because that's who we both work with. A lot of women in business weren't putting themselves out there because they hated the look of their brand. They thought it was like not professional, it didn't reflect them. It wasn't the quality that they wanted it to be. And so I think that that's also like a really big element for having your brand be what you want it to be to have it working for you, is for you to be like yes, I can't wait to put this out there, I can't wait to share this. When I look at it, I feel so proud. And I feel like that is a total reflection of me and who I am and how I want to be in the world as well. And so I think that if your brand, your visual brand, does not make you feel like that, I think that that's the time to kind of be like, Okay, time to make this a priority, bite the bullet budget for it, take the action to make it happen. Because I think yeah, it's so important. And one of my other clients has actually just booked in with you as well. And that was the conversation that we had was that she was just like, I didn't like the last branding shoot I had, I don't like my colors. I like I want to stand out, she's in the financial services industry. She's like, I want to stand out. And I just don't think that what I have is reflective of who I want to be. And so you know, I'm working on all the brand strategy elements with her around her personal brand, and and monetizing and elevating that and now she's come to you to get her visual brand re done, which she is very excited about. And I just think that that is also you know, you've kind of got the if you're at the beginning and you don't feel proud of it, you can even be I mean, she's years and years and years in business. And so it doesn't matter. Like you could be at all different stages of business, when you have that feeling, when you have that feeling that your visual brand. And the way that you're visually representing your business and yourself is just not where you really want to see yourself. It's not reflective of you. And it's not reflective of the quality of work that you deliver, or how you want to represent yourself. So I think it's I think that, you know, I think sometimes we know in ourselves that we don't love it. And I think when you know that, that's when you gotta take action.

Rowena Preddy 29:19
But it's even like, it's almost like a full circle moment there when you think about it, because my brain is bold, my brand out there. My brand is very true to who I am. But the client that you've referred to me, those are the things that she's looking for. Those are the things that she needs. And so by me having a true to me brand, I'm attracting clients that are true to who I am and attracted to me as a person as well as what I can do for them. And so it's you know, it's done the work for me. I mean, you did some of the works well, but

Suzanne Chadwick 29:52
but with all my clients I mean I have like a couple of I have like say three designers and with different brands themselves. All clients of mine, you're one of them. And I'm like, because everybody's very personal, like everybody makes their own personal decisions, I would say, Well, I say I'm not the coach for everybody, like you speak to me speak to one or two other coaches decide whose flavor who, whose brand whose, you know, manner really speaks to you and then make a decision, which is why I'm like, these are three people I trust, I think that they're great. I think that the, you know, I've worked with them, or I feel like their work is high quality. And so now you have to go and make the decision, who resonates with you the most. And so I love to give my clients that, like, you know, that kind of referral, where I'm just like, you decide, but I trust all, all three of these people. And so, yeah, I think that your brand, who you are the way that you work, the processes that you work through, I think that that speaks to the right clients, for sure.

Rowena Preddy 31:02
That's exactly why I chose you. Like, it was exactly the same, your brand was such a true representation of you, or were everywhere that I stopped you for a long while, like, you know, beforehand, it was like there was a level of consistency. And that was important to me, because it developed trust, and it developed all these other things that like helped me to make that decision. Now, could you speak on stories, and I still watch all your stories every morning, when I saw you on stories, I heard you on the podcast, and of course, I judge your graphics. And I was like, well, that's clearly aligned with who I am. And what I love. It just made it a no brainer. You know, because it was such a visual, and it was audio. And it was all these different ways that you were the person that I needed you to be for me in that situation. But so much of that was what your brand did for you as well, like your brand, if your brand had felt disconnected to that, and had probably been, you know, a lot of coaches, for instance, quite modern or quite restrained, or those sorts of things. That was new. You know what I mean? Like, when you listen to you on these podcasts, it's like, I got a true representation of that when I went and had a colorful blast on your feet. You know?

Suzanne Chadwick 32:17
Yeah, yeah. And I think what you said before, that is another really big thing that all that sometimes we don't attribute to visual branding is the trust building is that consistency builds trust. It's like, when everything that you do everything that you say everything that I say all connects, and feels cohesive, it makes me feel like that's actually who you are. Like, that makes me feel like I can trust you. Because it's not like I'm going to your website and seeing one thing, going to social and seeing another thing going, you know, to the podcasts or wherever else and hearing something different. I think that we underestimate the power of a really cohesive, strong and connected visual brand, that not only represents what we're doing now, but who we want to be in the future as well. So that brand vision. So yes, I am here for all of that, and I love it. And so Rowena, what do you feel have been your biggest lessons in business that you think could help others.

Rowena Preddy 33:22
I actually went through this last year. So I had five years in business last year, which felt huge, it was almost the longest I'd been employed at one place. You know, like, technically, that's this year for me. Like it's the longest I've been employed in one place. And so I felt like, I wanted to look back on that and look back on the change, because I felt like a completely different person. Like I knew that my, my values and my core traits was still throwing through me. But I just knew that there was some things that have been really pivotal. So one of them was, and we've already talked about this personal growth equals business growth, professional growth, you are often when you're stuck, it's because you're stuck. The business isn't stuck, you need to look inwards. And I say this all the time when I was going through the coaching programs, if you're gonna jump in and out of BBA when if there was a line of decision, even if it felt like the other sessions I was kind of across, I would still jump into the mindset one because there were times I jumped into it. I totally got this and it would highlight things. And it taught me that that's really valuable that often if I'm feeling a certain way, I have to look personal rather than professional, you know, a course or a new this or a new that isn't the answer. The answer is I've got to figure out why that's happening. And that that's that firmly sits on the personal side of things. What else would be Oh, this one was a biggie for me. beautifying your version of success was freaking huge for me. I've been living most of my career, living up to other people's goals living up to other people's, you know, what I should be doing? You know, and all of that sort of stuff. Success meant being a millionaire success meant being having a big house success meant all of these things. But all those things didn't all that pressure does make me stressed and give me anxiety.

Suzanne Chadwick 35:22
Yeah, and I've heard so many people. And I mean, obviously, it's not, not everybody feels like this. But I have heard quite a few business owners and I heard one just recently as well, where she was like, I made the millions, I bought the big house, I had the huge team, I did everything that I was supposed to do in order to be successful. And she said, and I was miserable. So she, like went on sabbatical for a year, got rid of her whole team. Like, she's like, I love my house, but you know, sold all the cars, because I thought that was the status symbol that she needed. And I just think it's really interesting, I think that, you know, feeling like you have to be posting about the millions of dollars that you're making, or the, you know, the massive successes that you're having. And I'm just like, you know, something, if I can get a massage and a facial, like regularly, if I can, like not work, whenever I choose not to, if I could go away on holidays for three weeks or four weeks, and the business continues to run. And I've got happy, like clients who are doing what they want to do, you know, in something, I am successful, because that's my definition of success, and everybody is going to have their own thing that they love, and that they're like, that is what makes me feel successful. So I'm such a huge advocate of success your way, because I think that you end up very unhappy when you chase success, other people's way.

Rowena Preddy 36:57
Oh, honestly, it was one of the hugest things that I realised. And I have to admit, they mourned it a little bit, because I mourned a little bit of like, the amount of time that I've been chasing other people's, like version of what my life should be. And the second, like, I'm very similar to you, I'm very simple needs. And I feel like a freakin millionaire when those needs are met. And I think it's just having that awareness. Again, awareness. I feel like if I say that word a lot, some of the other things would be if you start talking about and for me that was being in a coaching program was really finding networking spaces that supported that, because I realised how often I got on my own head. And as soon as I got out of my head, often things would supercharge. Because I just got rid of all the like, endless round circles on my head. Boundaries, I would say that's another, like, my biggest lesson has been boundaries, I feel like it goes hand in hand with like, personal growth, as well. Like, I think that's it, though, I have everything from like boundaries in, you know, like for silly things, but it's like silly things that protect my mental health. So they're not so silly, you know, to like the bigger things to, you know, for instance, I even got to the point where I was like, You know what, I actually hate chasing money. Like, it's literally the thing I hate most, I'm actually going to build into my process that a deposit to secure your days and a deposit before I hand over files. Simple as that it's all part of the process. I've got beautiful written emails that actually make it a fun thing, like something exciting to look forward to. Because then you're going to get the fun files, you know, and just figuring out the things that those boundaries and what they protect for me, and what they the stress and the pressure that they relief. I love boundaries.

Suzanne Chadwick 38:46
And I think boundaries are really just a way of saying yes to yourself. Yeah. Like, honestly, what do I want? How do I want to work? And then how do I set the parameters around? around that? Yeah. And I think I love the fact that you identified that there was something happening in your business that you really hated. And you're like, Alright, how do we go and fix us so that I don't have to deal with that anymore, but in a way that also works for my clients and works for me. So I think he wouldn't put this about me, but I get cranky over little things. Sometimes, like little things like that will annoy me and so if something's gonna annoy you that chasing money is not a little thing. Like it's a pain. Nobody wants to do it. Nobody wants to do it. And so I think that if you're a well and really any business most of the time, you should be able to just set that this is how you work.

Rowena Preddy 39:37
And also that most of the things that I will say that most of my big things has been around money like across mindset and other things as well like moving past some of those things. But just learning to, again, it's one of those things that as soon as you actually address it or talk it out with someone it's like, let's even just do that then don't fix why do I stress six months about something that took me six minutes?

Suzanne Chadwick 40:04
But the thing is, is that sometimes we don't know, before it happens. We're like, I didn't even realize that that was a that's how I could do it or, yeah, I, you know, you're not alone,

Rowena Preddy 40:15
I'll probably say my very last thing. My very last thing is taking the time to work on your business and actually having those reflection points. I mean, I have a CEO day now because these things advocated for them. But it's also all of my clients have been CEO day, you know, something, you can have a CEO two hours, or an hour, minus whatever it takes. Yeah. But it's, it's just having that level of reflection and growth. Like, for instance, this may not seem like a huge deal. But I grew 30 new followers this month, I haven't grown that much in a month, and like, a couple of years, but because I was following the numbers and doing the figures and sort of having that awareness and that sort of like, actual things to check against. So while I've done these things, and it's had this result, yes, you know, and it's just, I think having that level of awareness, whether it's positive or negative, like if something's not working at taking that time, instead of like, literally flogging a dead horse, taking that time to sort of step back and figure out why be a bit raw, be a bit honest, give yourself a little slap on the wrist if it's needed and move along.

Suzanne Chadwick 41:27
Yeah, but I also think just like that, I mean, I shared a while ago that we had a massive dip in podcast listeners. And it was because two of the apps had updated, something added unchecked in our podcast, app distribution. So we like had half the number of listeners, but it was only because we look at our stats, that we were able to see that whereas I could have just that could have gone on for months and a year. And I just wouldn't have known that a technocrat like a technicality happened. And we would have had half of our listeners and I would have just continued on. So I am you know this, I'm such a big believer in looking at your numbers. And you know, you can't Don't call yourself a CEO, if you're not doing the things that is required as a CEO, which is really understanding your business. And it doesn't take long. It doesn't have to be like really cumbersome with everything that you're doing. But I think it just makes such a huge difference to the way that you operate your business. So I love that.

Rowena Preddy 42:33
Hands down, honestly, it's working through. Like I will actually say one of the most pivotal things has actually changed. How I've branded my business in the last three years was your brand strategy module. Like as a brand designer, just working through someone else's version of brand and thinking of it outside of my little box, really helped me to realign myself with the direction I wanted to be heading in and helped me to make tweaks to my own visual branding? To align with that. Yeah, I love you know, yeah. So going.

Suzanne Chadwick 43:12
Yeah, I love the brand strategy stuff. I'm just like, I'm obsessed with it. I love it. I'm in a group with somebody who you know, is all about branding. And even as somebody who has used to run a brand agency and works with brands as well. I'm just like having other people around you who stretch your thinking. You know, I love the fact that you're like a graphic designer, and you're in branding. But the brand strategy module was a big one for you. I think sometimes in business, we think oh, yeah, like, I know that. Like, I know, Oh, good. Like, I already know that. So I don't need to do that. And I think that coming back, which is one of the things I would say about BBA I go through it every year. I'm like, Is my brand strategy still the same? Or are we changing it up this year? You know, what am I products and services? How much are we earning? Like, what are my systems? Like? I think that I think that you we should never get too comfortable. And that's not a negative thing. I think it's just the market moves, we've got to move in and keep up with it as well.

Rowena Preddy 44:15
So and that's what going through BBA in each time that I do, I often give myself a different purpose and a different focus each time I go through it. And so I take something different from it because it's a different angle, or it's a different, you know, service that I'm looking at offering or, you know, it just helps me to dig into the thing that maybe has fallen a little by the wayside. And those are the things that I often find that when you put that little like I said working on the business is one of the biggest things that will actually get your business moving forward because it just gives you space to think about things instead of just doing the things. Yeah, absolutely. You know, and we can so easily get tied up and just doing things like I get to work with shiny pretty colors all the time. So like, hence my word of the year being consistency .We'll see because honestly, I get distracted by shiny things all the time.

Suzanne Chadwick 45:04
Yeah, I love it cocoa amazing are so many good, so many good tips. So what are you working on now? And where can my listeners find you?

Rowena Preddy 45:14
So this year, I've realised that obviously, there's a lot of foundational work for branding to be done. And but then I've also realided that I've had so many wonderful clients that have now they're like, yeah, cool, sweet. I got this nailed. Now, what next? So I'm starting to offer really niche quickie packages. So I have one for course creators, which has just come out, which basically helps creatives figure out and create templates for all the things for the course. So they can be really control of having a course that they can easily market right through to offering a complete user experience. But then I'm also rolling it up speakers, because I've had a lot of speakers come across my face, but really like leaning into how we can be creative for some of these things. Because if I don't see another boring PowerPoint for the rest of my life, it won't be too soon. Like, honestly, let's have some fun with stuff. And I really love that energy that speakers bring to the table. So I feel like we can definitely have some fun with that. And then also, I am actually doing a podcaster one as well, for people that have gone yeah. Cool. So next to my business is a podcast, and what does that look like? And how can it be an extension of my brand and an extension of me. And so it's a really fun way to sort of take that branding, and sort of pop it in a different direction. But you can find all the information on all of that stuff over on my website, which is preddycreative.com.au

Suzanne Chadwick 46:41
can you just spell that for us right now all the links will be in the show notes as well. But those walking the dog

Rowena Preddy 46:47
Yeah. So my last name is Preddy. And I love a pong and a day job. And I put all of these like super modern super creative names out to the world when I was naming my business and everyone just laughed there are sort of it pretty creative, which is p r e, d d y creative.com.au. So, so I've been ever since.

Suzanne Chadwick 47:11
Amazing, so so good. So and I also love because obviously it's close to my heart, all the personal brand niches, where it's like course creators podcasters speakers, basically like any of my amplify mastermind clients. I'm just like, just go speak to Rowena she'll sort all your assets out perfect alignment. So so good. But yeah, go follow Rowenaon all the socials and everything else. And I've even You've inspired me a little bit. I'm like, I think I need to get my social templates updated to have a think about that and maybe something for our new community. I'm gonna have to work on that too. But Rowena, thanks so much for being on the party and sharing all of your awesome thoughts and tips and your experience as well. We love a good Fireside Chat.

Speaker 1 7:00
Yeah,

Suzanne Chadwick 7:07
No,

I love it. I love it. That's so good. And so when it comes to kind of thinking outside the brown box, what are some of the things that the you know, my listeners can really think about? Because I think that, you know, the market is so noisy, and it's really easy. I was on a call just before this where somebody sort of mentioned, you know, it can sometimes feel hard when everybody's doing things a certain way. And you want to do things your way, and really finding I guess you know, what works, and how to find your own flavor, your own style, those sorts of things. And so how do you work with clients when it comes to really understanding them and bringing that to life?

Speaker 1 19:02
Yeah.

Rowena Preddy 20:25
That's okay. You can be trimmed off to just do. It can be turned off. My daughter left your iPad on here and it gets on my notifications. So I'm just going to do not sips. All. Right. Apologies for

Suzanne Chadwick 20:40
that month. Okay. All right, cool. So when you talk about building a brand that works for you, what do you mean by that? And how can we think about that for

But

Rowena Preddy 46:37
dot Comdata you

Well, anytime you've got space for a fireside chat, I'll bring the wine.

Suzanne Chadwick 48:03
Sounds good. Thanks. Lovely.