My Journey from Overlooked to Understood
For years, I believed that if I simply poured my passion and skill into creating beautiful designs, success would find me. In the early days of my business, I worked tirelessly—investing in top-of-the-line equipment, hiring the best talent I could find, and even adding extra services like photography and virtual tours. I was convinced that presenting an impressive portfolio and a shiny new building would bring clients knocking on my door.
But it never felt like enough.
I remember the first time it truly hit me. I was part of a local networking group, hoping that showing off my final design pieces would spark immediate interest. But while people admired the visuals, there was always a sense of disconnect—like they liked what they saw but weren’t quite sure what it did for them. Sure, I was proud of my work, but I wasn’t showing them how I could solve their problems or grow their businesses. And, in truth, they just didn’t care about my fancy tools or clever ideas until they saw how those skills translated into tangible results.
Over time, frustration built up. I wanted to help people. I wanted to share my expertise. Yet, I was stuck in a cycle of hoping my reputation would do the heavy lifting. Looking back, I see that I was inadvertently peacocking—proudly spreading my feathers, waiting for someone to notice how special my work was.
Then, one day, I realized: No one truly cares about how I make things look unless I can show them why it matters. Clients need to know how a design (or a photograph, or a virtual tour) can speak to their audience and their goals. They need a blueprint for taking their vision and making it a reality. They need solutions, not just impressive visuals.
That was my turning point. Little by little, I shifted gears:
I started leading conversations with the question, “What challenges are you facing?” instead of “Look at this cool new design I made.”
I listened more than I talked in client meetings, uncovering what kept them up at night.
I streamlined my services to focus on what I truly did best and what genuinely helped people.
I crafted proposals that aimed to solve problems instead of just showing off a gallery of past projects.
It took time and humility—realizing that the world wasn’t waiting on my next creative idea. But once I recognized that people need to see the benefit before they care about the beauty, everything began to change. Clients started asking for exactly what I was so passionate about offering, and new ones showed up, saying things like, “I heard you can help me get my message out there.”
If I could go back to my earliest days, I’d reassure myself that it’s not about me; it’s about them. My skill is important, but it’s not the star of the show. Solving a client’s problem is.
If any part of my story feels uncomfortably familiar to you—
If you’re pouring your heart into your work but still hearing crickets—take a step back. Ask yourself: “Am I showing people that I understand their struggles? Am I offering a real solution to their problems?”
Stop waiting for them to come just because you built something beautiful. Go out and show them you can ease their worries, take their vision to the next level, and give them results that matter. That’s when they’ll care about who you are. And that’s when they’ll come.